Chevrolet Suburban Best and Worst Years

Recalls and crash-test ratings for every model year from 2000 to 2026, from official NHTSA data.

Model yearsData retrieved By Sources & methodology

Short answer

Among Chevrolet Suburban model years through 2024, 2002, 2006 and 2024 have the fewest NHTSA recall campaigns on record (2) and 2021 has the most (12). Recall counts are not a reliability score; they show how often a safety defect had to be corrected.

Quick read

Chevrolet Suburban: Key Facts

Model years with data
27 (2000–2026)
Distinct recall campaigns
69
Fewest recalls
2002, 2006 and 2024 (2)
Most recalls
2021 (12)
Most recalled system
Air bags (20)
5-star overall rating
2025 and 2026

Chevrolet Suburban Recalls and Ratings by Model Year

Chevrolet Suburban — NHTSA recall campaigns and overall crash rating, model years 2000–2026
Model yearRecall campaignsOverall crash ratingMost recalled systems
2026 Recent: still collecting recalls 3 5 stars Equipment, Power train, Wheels
2025 Recent: still collecting recalls 1 5 stars Wheels
2024 2 4 stars Engine and engine cooling, Service brakes, hydraulic
2023 4 4 stars Engine and engine cooling, Exterior lighting, Service brakes, hydraulic
2022 4 4 stars Engine and engine cooling, Exterior lighting, Power train
2021 12 4 stars Seat belts, Power train, Air bags
2020 4 4 stars Fuel system, gasoline, Power train, Service brakes
2019 3 4 stars Power train, Seat belts, Service brakes
2018 4 4 stars Power train, Seat belts, Service brakes
2017 5 4 stars Power train, Seat belts, Service brakes
2016 6 4 stars Seat belts, Service brakes, Service brakes, hydraulic
2015 11 4 stars Power train, Seat belts, Steering
2014 3 4 stars Air bags, Electrical system, Service brakes, hydraulic
2013 4 4 stars Air bags, Electrical system, Power train
2012 4 4 stars Air bags, Electrical system, Steering
2011 5 Not rated Air bags, Electrical system, Steering
2010 3 Not rated Air bags
2009 5 Not rated Air bags, Electrical system, Fuel system, gasoline
2008 4 Not rated Air bags, Electrical system
2007 4 Not rated Air bags, Electrical system
2006 2 Not rated Engine and engine cooling, Equipment
2005 6 Not rated Service brakes, hydraulic, Engine and engine cooling, Fuel system, gasoline
2004 4 Not rated Service brakes, hydraulic, Engine and engine cooling, Seat belts
2003 5 Not rated Structure, Fuel system, gasoline, Seat belts
2002 2 Not rated Service brakes, hydraulic, Structure
2001 6 Not rated Structure, Engine and engine cooling, Fuel system, gasoline
2000 8 Not rated Service brakes, hydraulic, Structure, Air bags

The scale of the difference

Recall Campaigns by Model Year

Distinct NHTSA recall campaigns per model year. Years after 2024 are recent and still collecting recalls.

  1. 20263 recalls
  2. 20251 recall
  3. 20242 recalls
  4. 20234 recalls
  5. 20224 recalls
  6. 202112 recalls
  7. 20204 recalls
  8. 20193 recalls
  9. 20184 recalls
  10. 20175 recalls
  11. 20166 recalls
  12. 201511 recalls
  13. 20143 recalls
  14. 20134 recalls
  15. 20124 recalls
  16. 20115 recalls
  17. 20103 recalls
  18. 20095 recalls
  19. 20084 recalls
  20. 20074 recalls
  21. 20062 recalls
  22. 20056 recalls
  23. 20044 recalls
  24. 20035 recalls
  25. 20022 recalls
  26. 20016 recalls
  27. 20008 recalls

Chevrolet Suburban: Analysis

How to read recall counts

A recall campaign is a safety defect that the manufacturer or NHTSA required to be fixed. Counts depend on how long a model year has been on the road, so recent years look better than they will in time; this page therefore ranks only model years through 2024. A high count can also mean a manufacturer reacts quickly to small defects, so it says little about breakdowns or running costs.

What the recalls were about

Across all model years, the systems named most often in Chevrolet Suburban recalls are air bags (20), service brakes, hydraulic (17), seat belts (16), power train (14) and electrical system (10). The number in brackets counts model-year entries, so one campaign that covers several years is counted in each.

Crash-test ratings

NHTSA has an overall star rating for 15 of these 27 model years, and 2025 and 2026 earned 5 stars. Ratings before 2011 come from an earlier version of the program and are not directly comparable with later years. A range such as 4–5 means versions of the same model year were rated differently.

FAQ: Chevrolet Suburban Best and Worst Years

What are the best years for the Chevrolet Suburban?

By NHTSA recall campaigns, 2002, 2006 and 2024 are the cleanest model years through 2024, with 2 each.

Which Chevrolet Suburban model years have the most recalls?

2021 has the most, with 12 recall campaigns each.

Does a recall mean the car is unreliable?

No. A recall is a safety correction filed with NHTSA, usually repaired free of charge. It does not measure breakdowns or running costs, so use these counts together with a vehicle history report and an inspection.

Sources & methodology

Recalls and crash ratings come from the NHTSA datasets and APIs, retrieved on 2026-10-03. A record counts for this model when its make matches and its model name starts with the same words as "Suburban", so variants such as body styles are included. Only model years from 2000 are used, and each recall campaign is counted once per model year. The data does not say whether an individual car was repaired, so check a specific car by VIN.

NHTSA, US Department of Transportation; this page is not endorsed by NHTSA. Maintained by . Editorial policy