CHEVROLET SUBURBAN 1500 · model year

2009 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN 1500

70 NHTSA complaints for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 2009CHEVROLETSUBURBAN 1500 carries 70 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.

Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 2009 SUBURBAN 1500 is air bags with 25 filings, followed by unknown or other (14) and electrical system (6). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability.

NHTSA currently has 57 investigation files overlapping the 2009 SUBURBAN 1500, and 2 remain open. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.

70
Complaints
0
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

70 filings

Crashes Reported

0 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

At or below the fleet median complaint volume.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
AIR BAGS25
UNKNOWN OR OTHER14
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM6
ENGINE6
STRUCTURE5
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES3
STRUCTURE:BODY3
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)2
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM2
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC1
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL1
POWER TRAIN1
WHEELS1

Recent Complaints

20190530AIR BAGS

TAKATA RECALL RECALL 16V381 IS QUITE OLD AND NEEDS TO BE FINALIZED. IT IS DIFFICULT TO TELL IF THIS IS A SERIOUS ISSUE OR NOT.

Mileage: 84,000

20190422FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

I RECENTLY EXPERIENCED THE CONDITIONS DESCRIBED BY THE GM RECALL 14515 IN MY 2009 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN 1500. IN THE PAST 6 WEEKS, THE CAR HAS FAILED TO START. THE FIRST INCIDENT REQUIRED NEARLY 10 MINUTES OF STARTING THE CAR BEFORE IT WOULD START. ONCE STARTED THE CAR WAS FINE. IT WAS A COLD START - FIRST THING IN THE MORNING. ABOUT A MONTH LATER IT FAILED TO START GAIN, AFTER BEING PARKED FOR APPROXIMATELY 2 HOURS. AGAIN, AFTER ABOUT 10 MINUTES, THE TRUCK STARTED AND DROVE FINE AFTERWARDS. TODAY - ABOUT 2 WEEKS AFTER THE 2ND INCIDENT, THE TRUCK STALLED WHILE MY WIFE WAS AT A STOP LIGHT. IT TOOK 6-7 ATTEMPTS TO START BEFORE THE TRUCK AGAIN FIRED UP AND WAS ABLE TO BE DRIVEN. THIS CONDITION IS EXACTLY WHAT IS DESCRIBED IN GM RECALL 14515. HOWEVER, GM IS SAYING THAT MY VEHICLE (VIN: [XXX]) IS NOT COVERED IN THE RECALL. I THINK THAT AN ERROR AND DISAGREE WITH HOW NHTSA AND GM DETERMINED WHICH CARS ARE AFFECTED.... I AM APPALLED THAT GM IS ABLE TO GET AWAY WITH THIS. INFORMATION RED

Mileage: 260,000

20190421AIR BAGS

THE DASHBOARD CRACKED IN TWO PLACES AT AROUND 50,000 MILES. THERE IS A CRACK BETWEEN THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG COVER AND THE FRONT EDGE OF THE DASHBOARD AND ONE OVER THE INSTRUMENT PANEL TO THE FRONT EDGE OF THE DASHBOARD. I WAS TOLD INITIALLY THAT THIS IS SIMPLY A COSMETIC ISSUE, BUT SUBSEQUENT REPORTS SUGGEST THAT THESE CRACKS MAY CAUSE THE DASHBOARD TO SPLINTER WITH AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT, CAUSING PREVENTABLE HARM TO PASSENGERS.

Mileage: 50,000

20190421UNKNOWN OR OTHER

THE DASHBOARD CRACKED IN TWO PLACES AT AROUND 50,000 MILES. THERE IS A CRACK BETWEEN THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG COVER AND THE FRONT EDGE OF THE DASHBOARD AND ONE OVER THE INSTRUMENT PANEL TO THE FRONT EDGE OF THE DASHBOARD. I WAS TOLD INITIALLY THAT THIS IS SIMPLY A COSMETIC ISSUE, BUT SUBSEQUENT REPORTS SUGGEST THAT THESE CRACKS MAY CAUSE THE DASHBOARD TO SPLINTER WITH AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT, CAUSING PREVENTABLE HARM TO PASSENGERS.

Mileage: 50,000

20190313AIR BAGS

"TAKATA RECALL" YOUR WEBSITE STATES THAT IF THE RECALL IS NOT FIXED IN A TIMELY MANNER TO CONTACT YOU OR FILE A COMPLAINT. IT HAS ALMOST BEEN 3 YEARS SINCE I WAS NOTIFIED OF THIS RECALL AND NOTHING HAS HAPPENED AND I HAVE NO IDEA OF WHEN THE FIX IS COMING. I HAVE TWO VEHICLES UNDER THIS RECALL, I AM HOPING YOU MAY BE ABLE TO SHED MORE LIGHT ON THIS SITUATION AS GM DOES NOT CARE ABOUT THE COMPLAINTS FROM ITS CUSTOMERS. I HAVE CONTACTED THEM IN THE PAST AND HAVE NOT RECEIVED A ANSWER.

20190131AIR BAGS

DASHBOARD IS CRACKED IN SEVERAL PLACES FROM DRIVER SIDE TO PASSENGER SIDE. IT HAS CRACKED ALL AROUND THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG. IN THE EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT I'M VERY CONCERNED THE DASH WILL INTERFERE WITH THE AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT. I AM ALSO CONCERNED IT WILL BECOME LIKE PIECES OF FLYING SHRAPNEL. THE DASH IS DEFECTIVE AND SHOULD HAVE A RECALL.

Mileage: 60,000

20190131UNKNOWN OR OTHER

DASHBOARD IS CRACKED IN SEVERAL PLACES FROM DRIVER SIDE TO PASSENGER SIDE. IT HAS CRACKED ALL AROUND THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG. IN THE EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT I'M VERY CONCERNED THE DASH WILL INTERFERE WITH THE AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT. I AM ALSO CONCERNED IT WILL BECOME LIKE PIECES OF FLYING SHRAPNEL. THE DASH IS DEFECTIVE AND SHOULD HAVE A RECALL.

Mileage: 60,000

20181226UNKNOWN OR OTHER

ON THREE (3) SEPARATE OCCASIONS IN THE PAST YEAR, THE VEHICLE ENTERS WHAT APPEARS TO BE AN "ELECTRICAL SYSTEM RESET" OF SORTS. THIS HAS OCCURRED ON LONG DISTANCE TRIPS DURING OPERATION AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. THE ENTIRE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM WILL SUDDENLY POWER OFF AND ON REPEATEDLY, THE ELECTRIC DOOR LOCKS WILL UNLOCK AND RELOCK, THE ENGINE WILL LOSE POWER (QUITE SCARY AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS) AND THE VEHICLE MUST BE REMOVED FROM THE ROAD, POWERED DOWN, LET SIT IDLE FOR 5-10 MINUTES AND THEN CAN BE RESTARTED TO A NORMAL OPERATING CONDITION. IT IS ALMOST AS IF THE COMPUTER SYSTEM IS RESETTING ITSELF WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN OPERATION AND MOVING. THIS HAS HAPPENED THREE (3) TIMES IN THE PAST YEAR - ALL ON LONG TRIPS - MARCH, JULY, AND NOVEMBER. THE MOST RECENT, INSTANCE OCCURRED ABOUT THREE HOURS INTO A RETURN TRIP HOME AND RECURRED AGAIN ABOUT 1-1/2 HOURS LATER (10 MINUTES FROM HOME) DURING THE SAME TRIP. BY RESTARTING/RESETTING THE VEHICLE, I WAS ABLE TO GET HOME. I TOOK TO ADVANCED AUTO AND THE D

Mileage: 109,000

20181119AIR BAGS

TAKATA RECALL - I OBJECT TO GM FILING A PETITION FOR INCONSEQUENTIALITY. GM'S OWN WEBSITE STATES"THE PROPELLANT IN SOME TYPES OF TAKATA AIRBAG INFLATORS CAN DEGRADE OVER TIME, ESPECIALLY AFTER LONG TERM EXPOSURE IN HOT AND HUMID REGIONS. IF THE PROPELLANT DEGRADES TO A CERTAIN LEVEL, THE INFLATORS MAY RUPTURE DURING DEPLOYMENT, CAUSING SERIOUS OR FATAL INJURIES." AS THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN LOCATED IN SOUTHEAST FLORIDA SINCE I PURCHASED IT NEW, IT HAS BEEN SUBJECT TO BOTH HEAT AND HUMIDITY NEARLY CONTINUALLY SINCE ORIGINAL PURCHASE. GM AND TAKATA SHOULD NOT BE ABLE TO AVOID THE RESPONSIBILITY TO RESTORE MY VEHICLE TO A SAFE CONDITION.

Mileage: 160,100

20181117UNKNOWN OR OTHER

DASHBOARD CRACKING IN MULTIPLE PLACES. BY PASSENGER AIR BAG AND DRIVERS SIDE ABOVE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER

Mileage: 127,000

20180926UNKNOWN OR OTHER

THE DRIVER SIDE TEMPERATURE CONTROL IS VERY DISTRACTING WHILE DRIVING. THE SETTING STAYS AT MAXIMUM HEAT / HOT AND DOES NOT CHANGE WITH THE AC RUNNING. THE DRIVER IS ALWAYS EXTREMELY UNCOMFORTABLE AND DISTRACTED BY TRYING EVERYTHING TO OVER AND OVER. KEEPING THE UPPER VENTS CLOSED STILL HOT AIR COMES THROUGH. YOU MUST KEEP THE SYSTEM COMPLETELY OFF THE FLOOR VENT, THE DRIVER SIDE IS EXTREMELY HOT AND CAUSES DISTRACTION. IS THIS A NEW OR UNKNOWN REPORT FOR THIS VEHICLE? WHAT HAS FAILED TO CREATE THIS PROBLEM? IS THIS A SAFETY PROBLEM, ONLY WHILE DRIVER IS IN THE VEHICLE AND DRIVING FOR MORE THAN 15 MINUTES AND EVEN WORSE DURING SUMMER SEASON.

Mileage: 80,000

20180829AIR BAGS

MANUFACTURER RECALL NUMBER2049151 NHTSA RECALL NUMBER16V381 RECALL STATUSRECALL INCOMPLETE, REMEDY NOT YET AVAILABLE. THE RECALL STATUS HAS BEEN SHOWING AS REMEDY NOT YET AVAILABLE SINCE MAY 27,2016. WE HAVE CALLED DEALERSHIPS NUMEROUS TIMES ONLY TO BE TOLD THAT THE REMEDY IS STILL NOT AVAILABLE JUST LIKE THE WEBSITE STATES EVEN THOUGH IT HAS BEEN WELL OVER 2 YEARS. MEANWHILE THEY RECOMMEND THAT NOBODY SITS IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT UNTIL THE ISSUE IS CORRECTED. WE HAVE A SUBURBAN BECAUSE WE NEED THE SPACE TO FIT ALL OF OUR FAMILY, WHICH INCLUDES USING THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT, AND 2 YEARS WITHOUT BEING ABLE TO USE OUR CAR TO IT'S FULL CAPACITY IS UNHEARD OF.

20180809AIR BAGS

TAKATA RECALL IT'S BEEN OVER 2 YEARS NOW SINCE I FIRST RECEIVED THE RECALL NOTICE ON MY AIRBAGS. I CONTACTED A LOCAL CHEVROLET DEALER TODAY AND WAS TOLD THEY ARE STILL WAITING ON PARTS. NOW MY CONCERN IS WHEN WILL THIS RECALL BE FULFILLED? WHEN SOMETHING TRAGIC HAPPENS TO ME OR SOMEONE IN MY FAMILY? WILL THE RECALL NEVER BE FULFILLED AND MY VEHICLE EVENTUALLY "DIES" BEFORE THE RECALL CAN BE ADDRESSED? THIS VEHICLE COSTS A LOT OF MONEY AND TIME IS STEADILY GOING BY FOR A BIG COMPANY LIKE THIS NOT BE ABLE TO GET PARTS.

20180612AIR BAGS

TAKATA RECALL: I HAVE BEEN IN CONTACT WITH GM ABOUT THE RECALL SINCE 10/20/16 AND NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE ABOUT REPLACING THE INFLATORS UNTIL NOW. GM KEEPS TELLING ME THEY ARE TRYING TO SELECT A VENDOR TO DO THE WORK BUT HAVE NOT YET AND THAT THEY CONSIDER THE AIRBAGS SAFE FOR DRIVING. WHEN IS THIS GOING TO BE RESOLVED?

Mileage: 49,878

20180517AIR BAGS

TAKATA RECALL IN ADDITION THE DASH HAS SPLIT LEADING RIGHT UP TO THE INFLATOR COVER. VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY WHEN SPLIT APPEARED. GOT IN THE CAR (PARKED IN GARAGE) ONE MORNING AND SPLIT WAS NOTICED LEADING RIGHT UP TO THE INFLATOR OVER.

Mileage: 80,000

20180517UNKNOWN OR OTHER

TAKATA RECALL IN ADDITION THE DASH HAS SPLIT LEADING RIGHT UP TO THE INFLATOR COVER. VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY WHEN SPLIT APPEARED. GOT IN THE CAR (PARKED IN GARAGE) ONE MORNING AND SPLIT WAS NOTICED LEADING RIGHT UP TO THE INFLATOR OVER.

Mileage: 80,000

20180210UNKNOWN OR OTHER

DASH CRACKED NEAR AIRBAG - SAFETY PROBLEM

Mileage: 70,000

20180121STRUCTURE:BODY

DASHBOARD IS CRACKED AND CONTINUES CRACKING. THIS CONTINUES TO HAPPEN OVER TIME. NOT ONLY IS IT UNSIGHTLY BUT IF THERE WERE A CRASH AND AIR BAGS DEPLOYED THE PIECES OF DASHBOARD WOULD BECOME SHRAPNEL.

20180112AIR BAGS

TAKATA RECALL. AIRBAG WAS RECALLED MAY 27, 2016. ITS NOW 2018. WHY ISN'T A REMEDY AVAILABLE?

20171028AIR BAGS

TAKATA RECALL. ON 10/19/17 WE RECEIVED A MAILED LEGAL NOTICE FROM TK HOLDINGS INC AND ITS AFFILIATES WHO HAVE FILED CHAPTER 11 BANKRUPTCY CASES IN THE US. THE NOTICE TOLD US TO TAKE OUR DEFECTIVE VEHICLE TO TO OUR NEAREST DEALER IMMEDIATELY FOR A FREE AIR BAG REPAIR. IT ALSO SAID VISIT WWW.AIRBAGRECALL.COM FOR MORE INFO ABOUT OBTAINING FREE REPLACEMENT AIRBAGS. HOWEVER OUR VEHICLE DEALER SAYS THERE IS NO SUCH REMEDY FOR THESE DEFECTIVE AIRBAGS.TODAY I CHECKED THE RECALL STATUS AT WWW.AIRBAGRECALL.COM AND IT SAYS " RECALL IS INCOMPLETE. REMEDY NOT YET AVAILABLE" IT SAID GM WAS SUPPOSE TO COMPLETE ITS INVESTIGATION BY AUGUST 2017. MY COMPLAINT IS THAT THE MANUFACTURER HAS FAILED OR IS UNABLE TO REMEDY THIS SAFETY RECALL IN A TIMELY MATTER. THE RECALL DATE WAS MAY 16, 2016.

Compare 2009CHEVROLETSUBURBAN 1500 to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations 2 Open

View all investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 2009 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN 1500 have?
The 2009 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN 1500 has 70 NHTSA complaints, 0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 2009 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN 1500?
The most-complained component for the 2009 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN 1500 is AIR BAGS with 25 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include UNKNOWN OR OTHER and ELECTRICAL SYSTEM.
Is the 2009 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN 1500 safe to buy?
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.

Vehicle Safety Guides

Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.