The Lemon Index

All cars · Chevrolet Suburban

2020 Chevrolet Suburban.

The 2020 Chevrolet Suburban is one of the most reliable years by owner complaints: 13 complaints in its first 3 years and a Lemon Index of 35, where 100 is the average car. Owners complain most about steering, it has 4 recalls, and it gets 16 to 18 mpg combined. The best Chevrolet Suburban year is 2014.

35Lemon Index · 100 = average car

One of the most reliable. 2.9× fewer complaints than average.

Best year 2014 · Worst year 2015

Chevrolet Suburban
Photo shows a 2017 Chevrolet Suburban. Ethan Llamas, Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0 · background removed

Before you buy. What matters most for this car.

Owner complaints13first 3 years
Fuel economy16–18 mpgcombined, EPA
Crash test★★★★☆NHTSA overall

How serious. Out of 44 owner complaints, owners reported:

2crashes
0injuries
1fires
6tows

What owners complain about most. From owner complaints to the government.

steering23%
brakes23%
electrical15%
stability control15%
airbags8%

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.

Transmission problems in every Chevrolet Suburban year →

When owners reported problems. From owner complaints to the government.

half by 30K
0K50K100K150K200K

Most owners who filed a complaint with NHTSA had 0K to 91K miles on the car (13 complaints listed the miles). This shows when people who had a problem reported it, not the odds that your car will have it.

Recalls 4

  • 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.

  • tires 2021

    The affected tires were cured for too long during production.

  • fuel system, gasoline 2019

    The fuel pump may be missing a pressure regulator, allowing for over-pressurization of the fuel system.

Show all 4 recalls
  • 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.

Recall repairs are free at any dealer. A recall only matters if it's still open on that exact car, so check its VIN.

Check a VIN for open recalls

Safety

Stability controlStandard
Collision warningOptional
Lane departure warningOptional
NHTSA front crash test of the 2020 Chevrolet Suburban
Front crash test · NHTSA
Crash test details
VersionOverallFrontSideRollover
Chevrolet Suburban 1500 SUV 4WD★★★★☆★★★★☆★★★★★★★★☆☆
Chevrolet Suburban 1500 SUV RWD★★★★☆★★★★☆★★★★★★★★☆☆
Fuel cost and engines

About $3550–5000 a year in fuel (EPA estimate). Engines: 5.3L 8-cyl, 6.2L 8-cyl.

Quick answers

Is the 2020 Chevrolet Suburban reliable?

Yes, it is one of the most reliable by government complaints. It drew 2.9× fewer complaints than average filed with NHTSA in its first 3 years, per car sold (Lemon Index 35; 100 is average, lower is better). The best Chevrolet Suburban year by this measure is 2014.

What are the most common 2020 Chevrolet Suburban problems?

In owner complaints to the government, the parts named most are steering (23%), brakes (23%) and electrical (15%). That is the share of complaints, not the share of cars that break.

How many recalls does the 2020 Chevrolet Suburban have?

4 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 2020 Chevrolet Suburban get?

16 to 18 mpg combined, depending on the engine (EPA estimate).

Is the 2020 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.

Does the 2020 Chevrolet Suburban have transmission problems?

Transmission and drivetrain issues aren't among its top 5 complaint areas.

How much does the 2020 Chevrolet Suburban cost in fuel a year?

About $3550 to $5000 a year, by the EPA's current estimate.

What engines does the 2020 Chevrolet Suburban have?

5.3L 8-cyl, 6.2L 8-cyl.

What Chevrolet Suburban year is better than the 2020?

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

Updated

Free to use with credit: Source: The Lemon Index (lemonindex.com). Get the data