NHTSA (USA)Critical
At a glance
What can fail
The connecting rod and crankshaft in the 6.2L V8 engine may have manufacturing defects that cause engine damage and failure.
This page covers 12 recalls, 167 owner complaints, NHTSA crash-test ratings and EPA fuel economy for the 2021 Chevrolet Suburban.
16–22 mpg combined
10.7–14.7 L/100km
Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD
Fuel economy data from fueleconomy.gov (EPA / U.S. Dept. of Energy). Annual cost based on 15,000 mi/yr at 55% city driving and current fuel prices. MPG is U.S. gallons; L/100km converted. Ranges reflect the 5 tested variants for this model year.
4/5 Overall
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Rating
The 2021 Suburban's complaint picture is dominated by engine and powertrain problems. On the engine side, owners most commonly report misfires, loss of power, and in several cases metal contamination requiring engine replacement. Powertrain complaints center on the transmission behaving erratically, rough or jerky shifts when moving between drive and reverse, sudden reductions in power while underway, and in some cases the vehicle refusing to engage reverse entirely. The fuel system is the third most-reported area, with owners describing no-start events traced to fuel pump and fuel pump control module failures, sometimes requiring out-of-pocket repairs. A smaller cluster of complaints involves the driver assistance suite, adaptive cruise, automatic emergency braking, lane departure, and forward collision warning going unresponsive simultaneously, typically attributed to the front camera failing.
167
Total Complaints
6
Crash-Related
1
Fire-Related
2
With Injuries
By System
The 2021 Chevrolet Suburban has 12 recalls, the most serious involving drivetrain and engine failures: the rear driveshaft can break and cut power without warning, a transmission control valve on diesel models can lock the rear wheels, and the 6.2L V8 engine can suffer internal failure.
Three separate seatbelt recalls affect this vehicle: the front-row center seat belt bracket may not be secured to the seat frame, incorrect bolts may have been used at other seatbelt attachment points, and third-row buckle rivets may be poorly formed or the belts themselves routed incorrectly and damaged behind the seat-folding mechanism. Any of these can allow a belt to fail in a crash. Front seat attachment bolts may also be loose or missing, letting an occupied seat shift during a collision.
On the mechanical side, a fuel pump control module can cause the engine to stall unexpectedly, and a software fault in the electric power steering system can make steering go heavy at startup or while driving. The airbag warning light may not illuminate reliably when a fault exists in the airbag system. Daytime running lights on some vehicles may stay on when the headlights are active, creating glare for oncoming drivers.
At a glance
What can fail
The connecting rod and crankshaft in the 6.2L V8 engine may have manufacturing defects that cause engine damage and failure.
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Driver Assistance
Ratings from NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program (NCAP). Based on 2 tested variants; worst-case ratings shown.
Complaints are owner-reported and reflect individual experiences, not confirmed defects. They are distinct from recalls. Data sourced from the national vehicle safety complaint database. See trending complaints →
What the fix does
Dealers will inspect your engine and repair or replace it if needed. Passing engines receive higher viscosity oil, new oil filter, and manual updates.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The transmission control valve may fail, causing the rear wheels to lock up unexpectedly.
What the fix does
Dealers will install updated transmission control module software and repair or replace defective control valves as needed.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The daytime running lights stay on when the headlights are turned on, instead of turning off as they should.
What the fix does
Dealers will install a free software update to the Body Control Module over the internet.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The rivet holding the buckle to the mounting bracket in the left or right third-row seat belt buckle assembly may not have been formed properly, potentially affecting the buckle's retention.
What the fix does
Dealers will inspect the rivet head formation on both third-row seat belt buckle assemblies and replace them as needed at no cost.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The rear wheel driveshaft assemblies may contain internal components that were not properly heat-treated, which could cause the driveshaft to fail.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the left and/or right rear driveshaft assemblies at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The fuel pump power control module may fail or work inconsistently, interrupting fuel delivery to the engine and causing unexpected stalling.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the fuel pump power control module at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
A software issue in the power steering module may cause loss of power steering assist when the vehicle starts or while driving.
What the fix does
The power steering module software will be updated at a dealer or through an over-the-air update, at no cost.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The communications gateway module doesn't properly handle lost connection with the sensing diagnostic module, causing the air bag warning light to turn on and off unpredictably.
What the fix does
A dealer will update the communications gateway module software for free, or the update will be sent to your vehicle wirelessly.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
Third-row outboard seat belts may be trapped or misrouted behind the seat-folding mechanism, causing damage to the belts.
What the fix does
Dealers will inspect third-row outboard seat belts, replace any damaged ones, and reroute them as needed at no cost.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
Seat belt fastening bolts may be incorrect, causing seat belts to not attach properly to the vehicle.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the suspect bolts with correct ones at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The seat belt brackets in the front-row center seating position may not be properly secured to the seat frame, reducing their ability to restrain occupants.
What the fix does
Dealers will inspect the seat belt bracket attachments on both sides and reassemble them correctly if needed, at no cost.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
During factory repairs, front seat attachment bolts may not have been properly reinstalled, which could allow seats to move or detach.
What the fix does
Dealers will inspect both front seat attachments and install bolts as needed at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.