Is the Chevrolet Suburban more reliable than the GMC Yukon?

Based on our data, the Chevrolet Suburban is more reliable with an average score of 68/100 compared to 67/100. The difference is modest, so both are reasonable choices.

Which has more recalls, the Chevrolet Suburban or the GMC Yukon?

The GMC Yukon has more recalls (56) compared to the Chevrolet Suburban (27). More recalls don't always mean worse reliability — some are minor — but it's worth reviewing what each recall covers.

Which has fewer owner complaints, the Chevrolet Suburban or the GMC Yukon?

Adjusted for sales volume, the Chevrolet Suburban has a lower complaint rate at 4.3 per 10,000 sold versus 11.1 for the GMC Yukon. This per-sales normalization gives a fairer comparison than raw totals.

Which is cheaper to maintain, the Chevrolet Suburban or the GMC Yukon?

Based on independent repair cost estimates, the GMC Yukon is cheaper to maintain at $747/year versus $944/year for the Chevrolet Suburban.

Is the Chevrolet Suburban or GMC Yukon safer?

Both the Chevrolet Suburban and GMC Yukon received the same NHTSA overall safety rating of 5/5 stars. Check the frontal, side, and rollover sub-ratings above for a more detailed comparison.

Last updated: 2026-03-04

Chevrolet Suburban vs GMC Yukon: Reliability Compared

More Reliable

Chevrolet Suburban

Good

GMC Yukon

Good

Choosing between the Chevrolet Suburban and the GMC Yukon? This page compares their reliability scores, NHTSA recall history, owner-reported complaints, and estimated annual repair costs so you can make a confident long-term ownership decision between these two full-size suvs.

Our reliability scores are based on NHTSA recall and complaint data, independent repair cost estimates, and sales-normalized complaint rates. The Chevrolet Suburban currently leads with an average score of 68/100 compared to 67/100. Scroll down for the full year-by-year breakdown, common problem areas, and repair cost comparison.

How Do the Chevrolet Suburban and GMC Yukon Generations Compare?

The Chevrolet Suburban is currently in its twelfth generation, which started in 2021, indicating it's relatively early in its generation cycle. Early in a generation, vehicles may experience first-year issues as manufacturers work out initial production kinks. The previous eleventh generation (2015–2020) had several updates, including a significant mid-year update in 2018, suggesting improvements in reliability over time. In contrast, the GMC Yukon is in its second generation, which began in 2015 and received a facelift in 2020. This mature platform is likely to be well-sorted, as it has been refined over several years. Buyers might find the Yukon to be more reliable due to its well-established design, whereas the newer Suburban platform might still be ironing out early issues.

Verdict

The Chevrolet Suburban is more reliable than the GMC Yukon, scoring 68/100 vs 67/100.

The GMC Yukon edges out the Chevrolet Suburban in reliability, with a slightly higher average reliability score of 72/100 compared to the Suburban's 68/100. However, the Yukon has a significantly higher owner complaint rate of 11.1 per 10,000 sold, versus the Suburban's 4.3, indicating more frequent issues reported by owners. Despite this, the Yukon benefits from a lower estimated annual repair cost of $747 compared to the Suburban's $944. Both vehicles share common problem areas such as the engine and power train, but the Yukon's lower repair costs may offer a financial advantage for long-term ownership.

Key Differences

1GMC Yukon costs $197 less per year to repair
2Chevrolet Suburban has 29 fewer total recalls
3Chevrolet Suburban has 6.8 fewer complaints per 10k sold

Category Scoreboard

4Chevrolet Suburban

—

2GMC Yukon

Reliability ScoreTotal RecallsComplaint RateAnnual Repair CostRepair FrequencyMajor Repair RiskSafety Rating

Chevrolet Suburban vs GMC Yukon: Which Is More Reliable?

Chevrolet Suburban vs GMC Yukon at-a-glance reliability comparison
Metric	Chevrolet Suburban	GMC Yukon
Reliability Score	68/100	67/100
Years Tracked	9	9
Total Recalls	27	56
Complaints per 10k Sold	4.3	11.1
Annual Repair Cost	$944/yr	$747/yr
Repair Frequency	0.5/yr	0.3/yr
Major Repair Risk	15%	16%
Safety RatingNHTSA overall	2026 NHTSA	2026 NHTSA
Frontal
Side
Rollover
Year Wins	5 (1 tied)	2 (1 tied)

What Are the Common Problems With the Chevrolet Suburban and GMC Yukon?

The Chevrolet Suburban and GMC Yukon both encounter significant issues with their engines, though the Yukon reports a higher volume, with 571 complaints compared to the Suburban's 148. The Yukon also experiences more electrical system problems, totaling 140 complaints, which is nearly three times the Suburban's 50 complaints, and includes four crash-linked incidents. Both models have crash-linked complaints in several categories, but the Suburban reports a higher proportion of such incidents related to service brakes. Overall, while both vehicles show vulnerabilities in engine and power train systems, the Yukon presents a broader array of issues across multiple components.

Chevrolet Suburban vs GMC Yukon common problem areas comparison
Component	Chevrolet Suburban	GMC Yukon
ENGINE	1.2Low	4.7Average
POWER TRAIN	0.9Very Low	1.8Low
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM	0.4Very Low	1.1Low
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING	0.2Very Low	0.9Very Low
UNKNOWN OR OTHER	0.2Very Low	0.5Very Low
STEERING	0.2Very Low	0.4Very Low
SERVICE BRAKES	0.2Very Low	0.3Very Low
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM	0.1Very Low	0.2Very Low
AIR BAGS	0.1Very Low	0.2Very Low
SUSPENSION	—None	0.2Very Low
SEAT BELTS	0.1Very Low	—None
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL	—None	0.1Very Low
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE	—None	0.1Very Low
VISIBILITY/WIPER	—None	0.1Very Low
FUEL SYSTEM	—None	—None
STRUCTURE	—None	—None
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)	—None	—None
SEATS	—None	—None
BACK OVER PREVENTION	—None	—None
EXTERIOR LIGHTING	—None	—None
VISIBILITY	—None	—None

Complaints per 10,000 units sold, aggregated across all tracked model years from NHTSA owner reports.

Which Is Cheaper to Maintain: Chevrolet Suburban or GMC Yukon?

Independent repair cost data highlights that the Chevrolet Suburban incurs an annual repair cost of $944, which is $197 more than the GMC Yukon's $747. Over a 5-year period, this difference amounts to nearly $1,000. The Suburban also requires more frequent repairs at 0.5 visits per year compared to the Yukon's 0.3 visits, indicating a higher likelihood of inconvenience. Despite the Yukon's slightly higher major repair risk at 16% versus the Suburban's 15%, the lower annual costs and less frequent repair visits make the Yukon a superior choice for cost-conscious buyers looking to minimize maintenance expenses.

How Does Chevrolet Suburban vs GMC Yukon Reliability Compare by Year?

Chevrolet Suburban vs GMC Yukon year-by-year reliability scores
Year	Chevrolet Suburban	GMC Yukon	Edge
2025	78/1000R / 0C	76/1001R / 52C	Chevrolet Suburban
2024	72/1001R / 27C	68/1002R / 45C	Chevrolet Suburban
2023	65/1003R / 86C	61/1008R / 329C	Chevrolet Suburban
2022	65/1003R / 83C	62/1009R / 248C	Chevrolet Suburban
2021	60/10012R / 149C	55/10025R / 410C	Chevrolet Suburban
2020	68/1003R / 38C	71/1005R / 59C	GMC Yukon
2019	68/1002R / 61C	71/1002R / 95C	GMC Yukon
2018	68/1003R / 75C	68/1004R / 108C	Tie
2026(predicted)	72/100(predicted)	68/100(predicted)	Chevrolet Suburban

Best years to cross-shop: The 2025 Chevrolet Suburban scored 78/100 and the 2025 GMC Yukon scored 76/100 — these represent the strongest model years in our tracking range.

Who Should Buy the Chevrolet Suburban vs the GMC Yukon?

If you prioritize lower repair costs and less frequent visits to the mechanic, consider the GMC Yukon. With an estimated annual repair cost of $747 and a repair frequency of 0.3 times per year, the Yukon offers a more cost-effective ownership experience compared to the Chevrolet Suburban. Despite having a higher total recall count of 56, the Yukon's reliability score of 72/100 suggests a slightly more dependable vehicle overall. On the other hand, if you are concerned about the number of recalls, the Chevrolet Suburban might be more appealing. It has fewer recalls at 27, and with owner complaints at just 4.3 per 10,000 sold, it indicates a generally satisfied customer base. However, the Suburban's estimated annual repair cost of $944 and a repair frequency of 0.5 per year are higher than the Yukon, which might be a consideration if budget constraints are a significant factor for you.

Chevrolet Suburban vs GMC Yukon: Common Questions

Is the Chevrolet Suburban more reliable than the GMC Yukon?: Based on our data, the Chevrolet Suburban is more reliable with an average score of 68/100 compared to 67/100. The difference is modest, so both are reasonable choices.
Which has more recalls, the Chevrolet Suburban or the GMC Yukon?: The GMC Yukon has more recalls (56) compared to the Chevrolet Suburban (27). More recalls don't always mean worse reliability — some are minor — but it's worth reviewing what each recall covers.
Which has fewer owner complaints, the Chevrolet Suburban or the GMC Yukon?: Adjusted for sales volume, the Chevrolet Suburban has a lower complaint rate at 4.3 per 10,000 sold versus 11.1 for the GMC Yukon. This per-sales normalization gives a fairer comparison than raw totals.
Which is cheaper to maintain, the Chevrolet Suburban or the GMC Yukon?: Based on independent repair cost estimates, the GMC Yukon is cheaper to maintain at $747/year versus $944/year for the Chevrolet Suburban.
Is the Chevrolet Suburban or GMC Yukon safer?: Both the Chevrolet Suburban and GMC Yukon received the same NHTSA overall safety rating of 5/5 stars. Check the frontal, side, and rollover sub-ratings above for a more detailed comparison.

More Chevrolet Suburban comparisons

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More GMC Yukon comparisons

GMC Yukon vs Chevrolet Tahoe reliability GMC Yukon reliability by year GMC Yukon years to avoid

How We Calculate Reliability Scores

Auto Reliability Index scores are calculated on a 0–100 scale using a weighted formula that combines multiple public data sources. Each factor is weighted based on its predictive value for real-world ownership experience.

Key Ranking Factors

Complaint Severity

NHTSA owner complaints weighted by component category (e.g., powertrain, safety systems, electronics, cosmetic) — safety-critical issues carry more weight than cosmetic ones. Adjusted for sales volume so high-volume models aren't unfairly penalized.

Repair Costs

Independent reliability ratings based on repair frequency, average repair costs, and severity of typical repairs for each model.

Recall Impact

Number of NHTSA recalls weighted by severity. “Stop driving” and fire-risk recalls are penalized more heavily than minor software or labeling recalls.

Issue Diversity

Measures how many major vehicle systems (engine, transmission, electrical, braking, etc.) have recorded complaints. A vehicle with issues spread across many systems may indicate systemic quality issues.

Scores are grouped into four tiers:

80–100: Excellent — Top-tier reliability, minimal issues
60–79: Good — Reliable with some minor concerns
40–59: Mixed — Notable issues, research before buying
0–39: Risky — Significant problems, proceed with caution

Data is sourced from NHTSA recall records, owner complaint filings, and independent repair databases. Scores are recalculated as new data becomes available. While the weighting model is proprietary, all underlying data sources are public and traceable.

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