Last updated: 2026-10-10
Chevrolet Suburban Reliability by Year
Chevrolet Suburban scores well, but failed valve lifters and sudden transmission failures are what to check before you buy a used one.
Chevrolet Suburban Reliability Overview
Used Suburbans rate good for reliability and sit close to average among SUVs, though yearly repair costs run above the full-size SUV norm. The 2024 is the pick, and 2021 is the year to avoid. The two problems that matter most are valve lifter failure, which brings ticking, misfires and sudden power loss, and transmissions that fail suddenly, often with no warning light.
Current generation: 11th gen (2015–2020), facelifted 2018, 2016, 2017.
Best & Worst Chevrolet Suburban Years
Best Chevrolet Suburban Years to Buy
Based on reliability index scoreThe 2024 has one recall and 27 owner complaints, against 12 recalls and 149 complaints for 2021. Its complaint rate is also well below 2022 and 2023. Unlike 2025 and 2026, it has had a couple of years to collect a record. Some owners still report engine failures, so run the VIN through the recall lookup.
Chevrolet Suburban Years to Avoid
Engine trouble dominates. Valve lifters fail with loud ticking, shaking and power loss at highway speed, and some owners faced a seized engine and a replacement near $14,000. Others report stalling from the fuel pump power control module, hard shifts, and a Reduced Acceleration message. Several say their VIN was excluded from recalls.
Chevrolet Suburban Reliability Score Trend
Chevrolet Suburban reliability has remained consistent across model years, averaging 69/100.
Scores 0–100. Higher is better.
| Year | Score | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 68/100 | Good |
| 2019 | 68/100 | Good |
| 2020 | 68/100 | Good |
| 2021 | 60/100 | Good |
| 2022 | 65/100 | Good |
| 2023 | 65/100 | Good |
| 2024 | 72/100 | Good |
| 2025 | 78/100 | Good |
| 2026 | 76/100 | Good |
Year-by-Year Reliability
2026 Chevrolet Suburban
0 recalls · 0 complaints
Good standing with no complaints or recalls yet, though that clean record reflects little time on the road, and 2025 rates about the same.
2025 Chevrolet Suburban
0 recalls · 0 complaints
Best-scoring of the nine scored Suburban years, with no complaints or recalls on file, though repair costs run above its class.
2024 Chevrolet Suburban
1 recalls · 27 complaints
Among the stronger Suburban years, held back by sudden engine failures and a recall repair some owners wait on for parts.
2023 Chevrolet Suburban
3 recalls · 86 complaints
Final year of the twelfth generation, with sudden engine seizures and recall parts shortages leaving it below most 2023 SUVs.
2022 Chevrolet Suburban
3 recalls · 83 complaints
Rated good but among the weaker Suburban years, with engine bearing failures and sudden highway shutdowns, though it has far fewer recalls than 2021.
2021 Chevrolet Suburban
12 recalls · 149 complaints
Weakest of the nine scored Suburban years, with lifter and engine failures and sudden fuel pump module stalls leading owner complaints.
2020 Chevrolet Suburban
3 recalls · 38 complaints
Last year of its generation, with good reliability in the middle of the Suburban range and far fewer recalls than the 2021.
2019 Chevrolet Suburban
2 recalls · 61 complaints
Middle of the pack among Suburban years, with transmission failure as the leading complaint and two recalls covering brakes and seat belts.
2018 Chevrolet Suburban
3 recalls · 75 complaints
Facelift year with good but middling reliability, marked by sudden transmission failures, three recalls, and more owner complaints than the 2019.
Found Your Chevrolet Suburban? Check Its History
Engine (8) problems come up most in Chevrolet Suburban owner complaints, and 27 recalls cover the years we track. A VIN check shows whether the car you found had its recall work done, plus accident and title history.
- Accidents
- Open Recalls
- Title History
- Odometer Rollback
Chevrolet Suburban Repair Costs
Reliability Rating
3/5
Annual Repair Cost
$944
Repair Frequency
0.5/yr
Major Repair Risk
15%
$160 above the fullsize SUVs average of $784/yr.
Ranked #11 of 14 among fullsize SUVs.
Chevrolet Suburban Resale Value
The Chevrolet Suburban is estimated to retain about 66.4% of its original value after 5 years, based on observed used-car listings.
- Value Retained
- 66.4%
- Depreciation
- 33.6%
- Listings Analyzed
- 106
after 5 years
over the same period
U.S. used-car listings
Listings observed in . This is a historical market benchmark, not a current price quote.
Explore Chevrolet Suburban depreciation and resale value on CarResaleValue.comChevrolet Suburban Years to Avoid
See which model years have the most problems
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Compare Chevrolet Suburban With Similar SUVs
The Chevrolet Suburban competes with other full-size suvs such as Cadillac Escalade, GMC Yukon, and Kia EV9.
Suburban vs Cadillac Escalade
8 years tracked · 496 complaints
Suburban vs GMC Yukon
9 years tracked · 1357 complaints
Suburban vs Kia EV9
2 years tracked · 224 complaints
Suburban vs Chevrolet Tahoe
9 years tracked · 971 complaints
Suburban vs Lincoln Navigator
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Compare Chevrolet vs Cadillac→
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Frequently Asked Questions
- What is the best year for a used Chevrolet Suburban?
- The 2024 is the site's pick. It has been on the road long enough to build a record, and its complaint rate is far below 2021 through 2023. The 2025 and 2026 rate highest, but they are too new to judge, so do not favor them yet.
- Is the Chevrolet Suburban reliable long term?
- Reliability is good and sits close to average among SUVs, but the long-term worry is mechanical. Owners report transmissions failing suddenly, mostly between roughly 60,000 and 111,000 miles, and valve lifters failing with ticking and misfires. No recall covers the lifter problem.
- What are the most common Chevrolet Suburban problems?
- Engine complaints lead, mainly failed valve lifters that cause ticking, rough idle and sudden power loss. Next come transmission failures, often with no warning light. Owners also report the engine shutting off while driving from electrical faults, and a brake pedal that turns hard and is nearly impossible to press.
- How much does it cost to repair a Chevrolet Suburban?
- Independent repair-cost data puts the estimated annual cost at $944. The average for full-size SUVs is $784, so a Suburban runs higher. Lifter repairs are the big risk, with owners quoted several thousand dollars, and no recall covers them.
- Does the Chevrolet Suburban have brake problems?
- Some owners report a brake pedal that turns hard at highway speed and in reverse, which sharply cuts stopping power. Dealers replaced the vacuum pump and then the brake booster in some cases. Service brakes have fewer complaints than engine or transmission, but three of them are crash-linked.
How we score the Chevrolet Suburban
Scores weight complaint severity at 35%, repair costs at 30%, recall impact at 20%, and the spread of complaints across systems at 15%, with complaint counts adjusted for US sales. Read the full methodology.
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