The Lemon Index2017 Chevrolet Suburban.
The 2017 Chevrolet Suburban is about average by owner complaints: 53 complaints in its first 3 years and a Lemon Index of 88, where 100 is the average car. Owners complain most about brakes, it has 5 recalls, and it gets 18 to 19 mpg combined. The best Chevrolet Suburban year is 2014.
Before you buy. What matters most for this car.
How serious. Out of 142 owner complaints, owners reported:
Every Chevrolet Suburban year. 2017 is highlighted. Lower is better.
What owners complain about most. From owner complaints to the government.
Share of this year's owner complaints filed with NHTSA, not the share of cars that break. One complaint can name more than one area.
When owners reported problems. From owner complaints to the government.
Most owners who filed a complaint with NHTSA had 36K to 84K miles on the car (71 complaints listed the miles). This shows when people who had a problem reported it, not the odds that your car will have it.
- brakes complaints mostly came at 39K–61K miles
- transmission & drivetrain complaints mostly came at 50K–118K miles
Recalls 5
- transmission & drivetrain 2026
A component missing from the drivetrain transfer case may cause the front and/or rear wheels to lock up without warning to the driver.
- brakes 2019
If a wheel-speed sensor fails, while the vehicle is traveling between 41 and 60 mph in four-wheel or automatic mode, the Electronic-Brake Control Module (EBCM) software may activate the driveline-protection system.
- brakes 2019
The amount of vacuum created by the vacuum pump may decrease over time.
Show all 5 recalls
- visibility 2017
These vehicles were assembled with a convex right-hand outside mirror, instead of with a non-convex (flat) right-hand outside mirror.
- airbags 2016
In the affected vehicles, certain driving conditions may cause the air bag sensing and diagnostic module (SDM) software to activate a diagnostic test.
Recall repairs are free at any dealer. A recall only matters if it's still open on that exact car, so check its VIN.
Safety
Crash test details
| Version | Overall | Front | Side | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chevrolet Suburban 1500 SUV RWD | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★☆☆ |
| Chevrolet Suburban 1500 SUV 4WD | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★☆☆ |
Fuel cost and engines
About $3400–3550 a year in fuel (EPA estimate). Engines: 5.3L 8-cyl.
In owners' words
Brakes hard to stop when trying to park car. Feels as if brakes not working properly and car slowly moving forward or backward when in reverse
2017 Chevrolet Suburban owner · NHTSA complaint 11161079
More owner reports
When reversing applying more pressure to the brakes is required than the normal amount. The suv seems like it doesn't want to come to a complete stop and the brakes are failing.
NHTSA complaint 11300652
Quick answers
Is the 2017 Chevrolet Suburban reliable?
About average by government complaints. It drew 1.1× fewer complaints than average filed with NHTSA in its first 3 years, per car sold (Lemon Index 88; 100 is average, lower is better). The best Chevrolet Suburban year by this measure is 2014.
What are the most common 2017 Chevrolet Suburban problems?
In owner complaints to the government, the parts named most are brakes (43%), electrical (17%) and lights (8%). That is the share of complaints, not the share of cars that break.
How many recalls does the 2017 Chevrolet Suburban have?
5 safety recalls (latest: transmission & drivetrain). Recall repairs are free at any dealer; check a specific car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What gas mileage does the 2017 Chevrolet Suburban get?
18 to 19 mpg combined, depending on the engine (EPA estimate).
Is the 2017 Chevrolet Suburban safe?
NHTSA gave it 4 out of 5 stars overall in its best tested version. Ratings differ by body style, and the full table is on the advanced page.
At what mileage do 2017 Chevrolet Suburban problems start?
Half of the owners who gave a mileage reported the problem between 36,000 and 84,500 miles. The middle report was at 53,300 miles, from 71 complaints.
Does the 2017 Chevrolet Suburban have transmission problems?
Transmission and drivetrain issues make up 8% of its owner complaints.
How much does the 2017 Chevrolet Suburban cost in fuel a year?
About $3400 to $3550 a year, by the EPA's current estimate.
What engines does the 2017 Chevrolet Suburban have?
5.3L 8-cyl.
What Chevrolet Suburban year is better than the 2017?
By owner complaints per car sold, the best recent years are 2014, 2010 and 2020.
Lemon Index = safety complaints filed with the U.S. government (NHTSA) in a car's first 3 years, per car sold, against the average car of the same model year. 100 is average; lower is better. A complaint is an owner's report, not a confirmed defect. How it works