2021 Chevrolet Suburban

◆ Worse than typical
2021 Chevrolet Suburban
RENDERED 2026-11-01T13:34:03.548Z

This year had 30% to 100% more complaints than this model's typical year.

This verdict reflects complaint volume compared to this model's typical year. Recalls and safety issues below apply regardless of the verdict — always check them.

Complaints
202
Recalls
12

Campaigns on file for 2021

Investigations
4

Opened by NHTSA

Top problem
Engine

45% of complaints

Complaints per year

1981: 1 complaint 1981 1982: 1 complaint 1983: 3 complaints 1984: 6 complaints 1985: 9 complaints 1986: 7 complaints 1987: 18 complaints 1987 1988: 30 complaints 1989: 62 complaints 1990: 54 complaints 1991: 52 complaints 1992: 189 complaints 1993: 500 complaints 1993 1994: 876 complaints 1995: 457 complaints 1996: 360 complaints 1997: 414 complaints 1998: 201 complaints 1999: 634 complaints 1999 2000: 282 complaints 2001: 440 complaints 2002: 286 complaints 2003: 301 complaints 2004: 204 complaints 2005: 129 complaints 2005 2006: 23 complaints 2007: 292 complaints 2008: 213 complaints 2009: 106 complaints 2010: 117 complaints 2011: 148 complaints 2011 2012: 101 complaints 2013: 118 complaints 2014: 59 complaints 2015: 431 complaints 2016: 219 complaints 2017: 142 complaints 2018: 84 complaints 2019: 77 complaints 2020: 44 complaints 2021: 202 complaints 2021 202 2022: 121 complaints 2023: 129 complaints 2024: 45 complaints
1981: 1 complaint 1981 1982: 1 complaint 1983: 3 complaints 1984: 6 complaints 1984 1985: 9 complaints 1986: 7 complaints 1987: 18 complaints 1987 1988: 30 complaints 1989: 62 complaints 1990: 54 complaints 1990 1991: 52 complaints 1992: 189 complaints 1993: 500 complaints 1993 1994: 876 complaints 1995: 457 complaints 1996: 360 complaints 1996 1997: 414 complaints 1998: 201 complaints 1999: 634 complaints 1999 2000: 282 complaints 2001: 440 complaints 2002: 286 complaints 2002 2003: 301 complaints 2004: 204 complaints 2005: 129 complaints 2005 2006: 23 complaints 2007: 292 complaints 2008: 213 complaints 2008 2009: 106 complaints 2010: 117 complaints 2011: 148 complaints 2011 2012: 101 complaints 2013: 118 complaints 2014: 59 complaints 2014 2015: 431 complaints 2016: 219 complaints 2017: 142 complaints 2017 2018: 84 complaints 2019: 77 complaints 2020: 44 complaints 2021: 202 complaints 2021 202 2022: 121 complaints 2023: 129 complaints 2024: 45 complaints
1981: 1 complaint 1981 1982: 1 complaint 1983: 3 complaints 1983 1984: 6 complaints 1985: 9 complaints 1985 1986: 7 complaints 1987: 18 complaints 1987 1988: 30 complaints 1989: 62 complaints 1989 1990: 54 complaints 1991: 52 complaints 1991 1992: 189 complaints 1993: 500 complaints 1993 1994: 876 complaints 1995: 457 complaints 1995 1996: 360 complaints 1997: 414 complaints 1997 1998: 201 complaints 1999: 634 complaints 1999 2000: 282 complaints 2001: 440 complaints 2001 2002: 286 complaints 2003: 301 complaints 2003 2004: 204 complaints 2005: 129 complaints 2005 2006: 23 complaints 2007: 292 complaints 2007 2008: 213 complaints 2009: 106 complaints 2009 2010: 117 complaints 2011: 148 complaints 2011 2012: 101 complaints 2013: 118 complaints 2013 2014: 59 complaints 2015: 431 complaints 2015 2016: 219 complaints 2017: 142 complaints 2017 2018: 84 complaints 2019: 77 complaints 2019 2020: 44 complaints 2021: 202 complaints 2021 202 2022: 121 complaints 2023: 129 complaints 2023 2024: 45 complaints

2021: 202 complaints

View as data table
YearComplaints
19811
19821
19833
19846
19859
19867
198718
198830
198962
199054
199152
1992189
1993500
1994876
1995457
1996360
1997414
1998201
1999634
2000282
2001440
2002286
2003301
2004204
2005129
200623
2007292
2008213
2009106
2010117
2011148
2012101
2013118
201459
2015431
2016219
2017142
201884
201977
202044
2021202
2022121
2023129
202445

Known problem areas

Percentages can add to more than 100% — a complaint can name more than one system.

Engine

45% · 90 reports
CRASH
Show complaint excerpts

my car was hit on the side passenger back door in a parking lot while parked and nobody inside- had it look at by the chevrolet dealer- diagnosis is it needs a new engine??? make this make sense???

NHTSA ODI report, 2024-05-22

The contact owns a 2021 Chevrolet Suburban used to tow a 30-foot trailer. The contact stated that while towing the trailer and driving 60 MPH up an incline with no shoulder, the vehicle shut off in a remote area.

NHTSA ODI report, 2026-07-31

Power train

19% · 39 reports
Show complaint excerpts

What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? (On our 2021 gasoline suburgan, the rear wheels locked up at free-way speeds, which nearly caused a possibly fatal accident.

NHTSA ODI report, 2026-07-15

COMPONENT: The 10-speed automatic transmission failed on 6/29/26, locking the vehicle completely in neutral. The neutral override could not be disengaged even by dealership technicians.

NHTSA ODI report, 2026-07-13

Fuel/propulsion system

11% · 22 reports
FIREINJURY
Show complaint excerpts

Pulled out in 4 lane traffic. Got almost to 55mph. Vehicle lost all power, slowed down and auto shifted to neutral, vehicle stopped and went to park. Vehicle would not start back nor transition to Neutral to remove from highways.

NHTSA ODI report, 2026-07-26

Electrical system

9% · 19 reports

Most commonly citing 12v/24v/48v battery.

FIREINJURY

Forward collision avoidance

7% · 15 reports

Most commonly citing warnings and automatic emergency braking.

CRASH
Show complaint excerpts

We were stopped at a red light on Florida state road 54 turn lane to go on us 75 when the other car rear ended us and drove us into the car in front of us. No air bags deployed. Florida highway patrol crash number 88482185.

NHTSA ODI report, 2021-04-13

Also filed under Lane departure

Safety timeline

12 recalls · 4 investigations · oldest first

To check one car, enter its VIN on the NHTSA recall page. Check a VIN →

  1. R
    2020-12-21Seats20V735000 General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2021 Chevrolet Suburban and Tahoe and GMC Yukon and Yukon XL vehicles. During general assembly, a repair involved removal of one or both front seats.

    Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the seat attachments for both front seats and install attachment bolts as needed, free of charge. The recall began December 21, 2020.

  2. ▮
    2021Complaint volume 202 complaints filed for this model year.
  3. R
    2021-01-26Seat belts20V792000 General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2019-2021 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 and GMC Sierra 1500, 2021 Chevrolet Suburban and Tahoe and GMC Yukon XL and 2020-2021 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 and 3500 and GMC Sierra 2500 and 3500 vehicles.

    Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect left-side and right-side front-row center seat-belt bracket attachments and reassemble it correctly as necessary, free of charge. The recall began January 26, 2021.

  4. R
    2021-01-29Seat belts20V811000 General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2020 Chevrolet Bolt EV and 2021 GMC Canyon and Sierra 1500, 2500 and 3500, Yukon, Yukon XL, Cadillac Escalade and Escalade ESV and Chevrolet Blazer, Camaro, Colorado, Equinox, Silverado 1500, 2500 and...

    Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the suspect bolts, free of charge. The recall began January 29, 2021.

  5. I
    2021-04-09Preliminary evaluationClosed 2023-08-24 Air Bag Malfunction
  6. R
    2021-04-21Seat belts21V190000 General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2021 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, GMC Yukon, Yukon XL, Chevrolet Suburban, and Tahoe vehicles with third-row seating.

    Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the third-row outboard seat belts, replacing any damaged seat belts, and rerouting them if necessary, free of charge. The recall began on April 21, 2021.

  7. R
    2021-07-01Air bags, electrical system21V421000 General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2021 Buick Envision, Cadillac CT4, CT5, Escalade, Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Tahoe, Corvette, Suburban, GMC Yukon, Yukon XL vehicles.

    Remedy: The communications gateway module software will be updated by a dealer, or through an over-the-air (OTA) update, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on July 1, 2021.

  8. R
    2021-07-13Steering21V455000 General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2021 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Suburban, Chevrolet Tahoe, GMC Yukon, and Yukon XL vehicles. A software issue may cause a loss of power steering assist at startup or while driving.

    Remedy: The power steering module software will be updated by a dealer, or through an over-the-air (OTA) update, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 13, 2021.

  9. R
    2021-10-14Fuel system, gasoline21V739000 General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2021 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Yukon, and Yukon XL vehicles.

    Remedy: Dealers will replace the fuel pump power control module, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on October 14, 2021.

  10. R
    2022-03-14Power train22V036000 General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2021 GMC Yukon, Yukon XL, Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Suburban, and Chevrolet Tahoe vehicles.

    Remedy: Dealers will replace the left and/or right rear driveshaft assemblies, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on March 14, 2022.

  11. R
    2022-11-01Seat belts22V617000 General Motors, LLC (M) is recalling certain 2021-2022 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Yukon, and Yukon XL vehicles equipped with third-row seats.

    Remedy: Dealers will inspect the rivet head formation on both the left and right side third-row seat belt buckle assemblies and replace seat belt buckle assemblies, as necessary, free of charge.

  12. R
    2022-12-15Exterior lighting22V827000 General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2021 Yukon, Yukon XL, Chevrolet Tahoe, Chevrolet Suburban, Cadillac Escalade, and Cadillac Escalade ESV vehicles. The daytime running lights (DRLs) may not deactivate when the headlights are on.

    Remedy: Dealers will provide an over-the-air (OTA) update for the Body Control Module software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 15, 2022.

  13. R
    2024-12-12Power train24V797000 General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2020-2022 Chevrolet Silverado 1500, 2500, 3500, GMC Sierra 1500, 2500, 3500, 2021 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Tahoe, Suburban, GMC Yukon, and Yukon XL vehicles equipped with diesel...

    Remedy: Dealers will install new transmission control module software, free of charge. GM will provide a special coverage program to cover the repair of transmissions that are identified by the remedy software as containing a defective control valve.

  14. I
    2025-01-16Preliminary evaluationClosed 2025-10-23 Loss of motive power due to engine failure
  15. R
    2025-06-18Engine and engine cooling25V274000 General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2021-2024 Cadillac Escalade and Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Silverado 1500, Suburban, and Tahoe, GMC Sierra 1500, Yukon, and Yukon XL vehicles equipped with a 6.2L V8 gas engine.

    Remedy: Dealers will inspect the engine, and as necessary, repair or replace the engine. For vehicles that pass inspection, dealers will add higher viscosity oil, install 6 oil fill cap, replace the oil filter, and update the owner's manual.

  16. I
    2025-10-23Engineering analysisOpen Loss of motive power due to engine failure
  17. I
    2026-01-16Recall queryOpen Loss of motive power due to engine failure post recall remedy

Buy-smart checklist

2021 Chevrolet Suburban — pre-purchase inspection

Inspect

  • Engine: 90 reports on file for this year.
  • Power train: 39 reports on file for this year.
  • Fuel/propulsion system: 22 reports on file for this year.

Verify these recalls were completed

  • Recall 20V735000 · Seats
  • Recall 20V792000 · Seat belts
  • Recall 20V811000 · Seat belts
  • Recall 21V190000 · Seat belts
  • Recall 21V421000 · Air bags, electrical system
  • Recall 21V455000 · Steering
  • Recall 21V739000 · Fuel system, gasoline
  • Recall 22V036000 · Power train
  • Recall 22V617000 · Seat belts
  • Recall 22V827000 · Exterior lighting
  • Recall 24V797000 · Power train
  • Recall 25V274000 · Engine and engine cooling

Other years of this model

See all years ranked →

Best years3 years

Worst years3 years

FAQ

Is the 2021 Chevrolet Suburban reliable?
Based on NHTSA complaint volume compared to this model's typical year, the 2021 Chevrolet Suburban is rated "worse than typical".
What are the most common problems with the 2021 Chevrolet Suburban?
The most-reported component is engine, accounting for 45% of complaints on file.
How many recalls does the 2021 Chevrolet Suburban have?
12 recalls on file for this model year.

Data updated 2026-11-01 · Complaints are unverified owner reports filed with NHTSA, not independently verified defects. Methodology.