The Lemon Index

All cars · Chevrolet Suburban · 2021

2021 Chevrolet Suburban. Advanced data.

The raw numbers: engines, recall campaign numbers, failure mileage and manufacturer communications.

Lemon Index142100 = average car
Complaints66NHTSA, first 3 years
Sold48,214U.S. model year
Per 100K sold137complaints
Year rank#19 of 21#1 = fewest complaints

Engines and drivetrains 6

EngineTransmissionDriveCity / hwy / combinedFuelFuel cost/yr
3.0L 6-cyl turbo dieselAuto 10-spdRWD21 / 27 / 23Diesel$4,100
3.0L 6-cyl turbo dieselAuto 10-spd4WD20 / 26 / 22Diesel$4,300
5.3L 8-cylAuto 10-spdRWD16 / 20 / 18Regular$3,450
5.3L 8-cylAuto 10-spd4WD15 / 19 / 17Regular$3,650
6.2L 8-cylAuto 10-spdRWD15 / 20 / 17Premium$4,550
6.2L 8-cylAuto 10-spd4WD14 / 19 / 16Premium$4,850

EPA test versions for this model year. Fuel cost is the EPA's current estimate, not the price in that year.

Failure mileage by system

Half of owners who gave a mileage reported the problem between 30,000 and 95,900 miles. Median 68,400, from 37 complaints with a mileage.

SystemMedianMiddle halfComplaints
Engine48,10017,400–104,50010
Engine109,100102,500–136,0009
Fuel system, gasoline58,00037,800–85,0008

Mileage owners typed into their NHTSA complaint, all complaints for this model year. People report some problems late, so read it as a range.

Complaints by system

SystemShare of complaints
Engine26%
Automatic emergency braking15%
Fuel or ev drive system14%
Electrical12%
Transmission & drivetrain11%

One complaint can name more than one system, so shares can add to more than 100%.

Severity, all complaints

TotalCrashesFiresInjuriesDeathsTows
201612019

As reported by owners to NHTSA. Not verified.

Recall campaigns 12

  • 25V274000 Apr 2025 Engine And Engine Cooling / Engine / Hard Parts Internal/Mechanical

    Defect. General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2021-2024 Cadillac Escalade and Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Silverado 1500, Suburban, and Tahoe, GMC Sierra 1500, Yukon, and Yukon XL vehicles equipped with a 6.2L V8 gas engine. The connecting rod and/or crankshaft engine components may have manufacturing defects that can lead to engine damage and engine failure.

    Risk. Engine failure increases the risk of a crash.

    Remedy. Dealers will inspect the engine, and as necessary, repair or replace the engine. For vehicles that pass inspection, dealers will add higher viscosity oil, install 6 oil fill cap, replace the oil filter, and update the owner's manual. Repairs will be performed free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 18, 2025. Owners may contact Cadillac customer service at 1-800-333-4223, Ch

  • 24V797000 Oct 2024 Power Train / Automatic Transmission / Control Module / Software

    Defect. General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2020-2022 Chevrolet Silverado 1500, 2500, 3500, GMC Sierra 1500, 2500, 3500, 2021 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Tahoe, Suburban, GMC Yukon, and Yukon XL vehicles equipped with diesel engines. The transmission control valve may fail and cause the rear wheels to lock-up.

    Risk. Rear wheel lock-up can increase the risk of a crash.

    Remedy. Dealers will install new transmission control module software, free of charge. GM will provide a special coverage program to cover the repair of transmissions that are identified by the remedy software as containing a defective control valve. Owner notification letters were mailed December 12, 2024. Owners may contact GM customer service at 1-888-988-7267, Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458

  • 22V827000 Nov 2022 Exterior Lighting / Lighting Control Module / Software

    Defect. General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2021 Yukon, Yukon XL, Chevrolet Tahoe, Chevrolet Suburban, Cadillac Escalade, and Cadillac Escalade ESV vehicles. The daytime running lights (DRLs) may not deactivate when the headlights are on. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."

    Risk. Daytime Running Lights that do not deactivate as intended may cause a glare, reducing visibility and increasing the risk of a crash.

    Remedy. Dealers will provide an over-the-air (OTA) update for the Body Control Module software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 15, 2022. Owners may contact GM customer service at 1-888-988-7267, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, or Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006. GM's number for this recall is N222382220.

  • 22V617000 Aug 2022 Seat Belts / Critical Fasteners

    Defect. General Motors, LLC (M) is recalling certain 2021-2022 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Yukon, and Yukon XL vehicles equipped with third-row seats. The rivet that retains the buckle to the mounting bracket in the left or right side third-row seat belt buckle assembly may have been improperly formed.

    Risk. A seat belt with a deformed rivet may not properly restrain an occupant, increasing the risk of injury during a crash.

    Remedy. Dealers will inspect the rivet head formation on both the left and right side third-row seat belt buckle assemblies and replace seat belt buckle assemblies, as necessary, free of charge. Interim owner notification letters informing owners of the safety risk were mailed September 28, 2022. Owner notification letters were mailed on November 1, 2022. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service a

  • 22V036000 Jan 2022 Power Train / Driveline / Driveshaft

    Defect. General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2021 GMC Yukon, Yukon XL, Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Suburban, and Chevrolet Tahoe vehicles. The rear wheel driveshaft assemblies may have internal components that were not heat-treated properly, possibly resulting in driveshaft failure.

    Risk. Driveshaft failure can cause a sudden loss of drive power, increasing the risk of a crash.

    Remedy. Dealers will replace the left and/or right rear driveshaft assemblies, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on March 14, 2022. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020; Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006 or GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is N212351030.

  • 21V739000 Sep 2021 Fuel System, Gasoline / Delivery / Fuel Pump / Control/Drive Module

    Defect. General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2021 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Yukon, and Yukon XL vehicles. The fuel pump power control module may cause the fuel pump to fail or operate intermittently, which can interrupt fuel flow to the engine, and cause an unexpected engine stall.

    Risk. An engine stall increases the risk of a crash.

    Remedy. Dealers will replace the fuel pump power control module, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on October 14, 2021. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020; Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006; or GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is N212332040.

  • 21V455000 Jun 2021 Steering / Steering Control Module

    Defect. General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2021 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Suburban, Chevrolet Tahoe, GMC Yukon, and Yukon XL vehicles. A software issue may cause a loss of power steering assist at startup or while driving.

    Risk. Increased steering effort, particularly at lower speeds, increases the risk of a crash.

    Remedy. The power steering module software will be updated by a dealer, or through an over-the-air (OTA) update, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 13, 2021. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020; Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006; or GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is N212333900.

  • 21V421000 Jun 2021 Air Bags / Srs Malfunction Warning Lamp/Light

    Defect. General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2021 Buick Envision, Cadillac CT4, CT5, Escalade, Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Tahoe, Corvette, Suburban, GMC Yukon, Yukon XL vehicles. The communications gateway module incorrectly processes a loss of communication with the sensing diagnostic module (SDM), causing the air bag malfunction indicator light to inconsistently illuminate.

    Risk. The air bag malfunction indicator light may fail to warn the driver of a problem with the air bag, increasing the risk of injury.

    Remedy. The communications gateway module software will be updated by a dealer, or through an over-the-air (OTA) update, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on July 1, 2021. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300, Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, or GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for th

  • 21V190000 Mar 2021 Seat Belts

    Defect. General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2021 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, GMC Yukon, Yukon XL, Chevrolet Suburban, and Tahoe vehicles with third-row seating. The third-row outboard seat belts may have been entrapped or misrouted behind the outboard seat-folding mechanism, which could result in damaged seat belts.

    Risk. A damaged seat belt can break during a crash, increasing the risk of injury to the occupant.

    Remedy. GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the third-row outboard seat belts, replacing any damaged seat belts, and rerouting them if necessary, free of charge. The recall began on April 21, 2021. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782, and Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006. GM's number for this recall is N202313000

  • 20V811000 Dec 2020 Seat Belts

    Defect. General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2020 Chevrolet Bolt EV and 2021 GMC Canyon and Sierra 1500, 2500 and 3500, Yukon, Yukon XL, Cadillac Escalade and Escalade ESV and Chevrolet Blazer, Camaro, Colorado, Equinox, Silverado 1500, 2500 and 3500, Suburban and Tahoe vehicles. Incorrect bolts may have been used at one or more fastening locations to secure the seat belts to the vehicle. If an incorrect bolt was used, the seat belt may not be properly attached to the vehicle.

    Risk. If a seat belt assembly is not properly attached to the vehicle, the seat belt may not properly restrain an occupant in the event of a crash, increasing the risk of injury.

    Remedy. GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the suspect bolts, free of charge. The recall began January 29, 2021. Owners may contact GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8785, Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006, or Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is N202322230.

  • 20V792000 Dec 2020 Seat Belts

    Defect. General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2019-2021 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 and GMC Sierra 1500, 2021 Chevrolet Suburban and Tahoe and GMC Yukon XL and 2020-2021 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 and 3500 and GMC Sierra 2500 and 3500 vehicles. The seat belt brackets may not be secured to the seat frame in the front-row center seating position.

    Risk. If a seat-belt bracket is not secured, the seat belt may not properly restrain an occupant in the front-row center seat position, increasing the risk of injury in a crash.

    Remedy. GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect left-side and right-side front-row center seat-belt bracket attachments and reassemble it correctly as necessary, free of charge. The recall began January 26, 2021. Owners may contact GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is N202314670.

  • 20V735000 Nov 2020 Seats

    Defect. General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2021 Chevrolet Suburban and Tahoe and GMC Yukon and Yukon XL vehicles. During general assembly, a repair involved removal of one or both front seats. The attachment bolts for the front seats may not have been properly reinstalled after the repair was completed.

    Risk. If an occupied front seat has loose or missing attachment bolts, it may move during a crash, increasing the risk of injury to the seated occupant.

    Remedy. GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the seat attachments for both front seats and install attachment bolts as needed, free of charge. The recall began December 21, 2020. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, and GMC customer service at 1-888-988-7267. GM's number for this recall is N202312720.

NHTSA investigations

StatusSubjectOpenedClosed
OpenLoss of motive power due to engine failure post recall remedy2026–
OpenLoss of motive power due to engine failure2025–
ClosedLoss of motive power due to engine failure post recall remedy20262026
ClosedLoss of motive power due to engine failure20252025
ClosedAir bag malfunction20212023

Manufacturer communications 1367

Chevy filed 1367 service communications for this car with NHTSA.

  • Concernof running poor and stalling
  • Concern of service engine light, misfire
  • This Preliminary information communicates an issue with the power liftgate inoperative and…

Crash ratings by version

VersionOverallFrontSideRollover
Chevrolet Suburban SUV 4WD★★★★☆★★★★☆★★★★★★★★☆☆
Chevrolet Suburban SUV 2WD★★★★☆★★★★☆★★★★★★★★☆☆

Safety equipment

Electronic stabilityForward collision warningLane departure warning
StandardStandardOptional

Nearby model years

YearLemon IndexComplaintsSoldTop system
2018412560,633Brakes
2019432451,928Transmission & drivetrain
2020351337,636Steering
20211426648,214Engine
20221237750,951Engine
202323214852,820Engine
20241084444,398Engine

Sources: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer communications; EPA fuel economy data; YouTube video titles. Complaints are owner reports, not proof of a defect.

Updated

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