CHEVROLET SUBURBAN · model year

2021 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN

205 NHTSA complaints, 12 crash reports, and 12 active recalls for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

4 / 5 ★

New Car Assessment Program

The 2021CHEVROLETSUBURBAN carries 205 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 12 crashes, 3 fires, 13 injuries, and 0 fatalities. For crash performance, NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program gave this cohort an overall 4/5 rating, with 4/5 front crash, 5/5 side crash, and 3/5 rollover scores derived from standardized barrier and dynamic tests.

Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 2021 SUBURBAN is engine with 66 filings, followed by power train (22) and fuel/propulsion system (19). 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. This model year has 12 active recall campaigns, which means the manufacturer is obligated to remedy the covered defect at no charge for the life of the vehicle — the full NHTSA campaign numbers are listed below.

NHTSA currently has 57 investigation files overlapping the 2021 SUBURBAN, 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.

205
Complaints
12
Crashes
3
Fires
13
Injuries
0
Deaths
2021 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN — NHTSA crash-test profile NHTSA NCAP crash-test star ratings for the 2021 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN. Overall composite: 4.0 of 5 stars across 3 safety dimensions. Front CrashSide CrashRollover 4.0 NHTSA NCAP of 5 stars
  • Front Crash 4.0 ★
  • Side Crash 5.0 ★
  • Rollover 3.0 ★
NHTSA overall 4.0/5 stars, with front-crash, side-crash and rollover ratings from standardized NCAP barrier and dynamic tests.

Total Complaints

205 filings

Crashes Reported

12 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

At or below the fleet median complaint volume.

NHTSA NCAP overall: 4/5 — Strong NCAP rating · Front: 4/5 · Side: 5/5 · Rollover: 3/5

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
ENGINE66
POWER TRAIN22
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM19
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM14
UNKNOWN OR OTHER11
SERVICE BRAKES8
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: WARNINGS7
SEAT BELTS7
AIR BAGS6
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE5
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING5
WHEELS4
EXTERIOR LIGHTING4
SEATS3
LANE DEPARTURE: WARNING2

Recalls (12)

22V03600027/01/2022

POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DRIVESHAFT

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.

20V73500025/11/2020

SEATS

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 co

24V79700024/10/2024

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:CONTROL MODULE:SOFTWARE

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 caus

25V27400024/04/2025

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:HARD PARTS INTERNAL/MECHANICAL

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 d

20V81100023/12/2020

SEAT BELTS

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 m

21V73900023/09/2021

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP:CONTROL/DRIVE MODULE

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 un

21V19000018/03/2021

SEAT BELTS

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 resu

20V79200017/12/2020

SEAT BELTS

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 fram

21V45500017/06/2021

STEERING:STEERING CONTROL MODULE

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.

22V61700011/08/2022

SEAT BELTS:CRITICAL FASTENERS

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

21V42100010/06/2021

AIR BAGS:SRS MALFUNCTION WARNING LAMP/LIGHT

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),

22V82700003/11/2022

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:LIGHTING CONTROL MODULE:SOFTWARE

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 requireme

Recent Complaints

20260218POWER TRAIN

The contact owns a 2021 Chevrolet Suburban. The contact stated that while driving 45 MPH, the accelerator pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended, and the vehicle decelerated unintendedly. Additionally, the vehicle failed to exceed 42 MPH. Later in the day, the gear shifter was shifted to reverse; however, the vehicle failed to reverse as intended. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed with transmission valve body failure. The contact was informed that the transmission valve body needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The contact stated that the vehicle was at the dealer from December 2024 until June 2025. The vehicle was picked up from the dealer. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the engine seized and failed to restart. The vehicle was towed back to the dealer, where the contact was informed that the fuel pump had failed, and the battery was drained. The contact was informed that the batte

Mileage: 35,000

20260218FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

The contact owns a 2021 Chevrolet Suburban. The contact stated that while driving 45 MPH, the accelerator pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended, and the vehicle decelerated unintendedly. Additionally, the vehicle failed to exceed 42 MPH. Later in the day, the gear shifter was shifted to reverse; however, the vehicle failed to reverse as intended. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed with transmission valve body failure. The contact was informed that the transmission valve body needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The contact stated that the vehicle was at the dealer from December 2024 until June 2025. The vehicle was picked up from the dealer. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the engine seized and failed to restart. The vehicle was towed back to the dealer, where the contact was informed that the fuel pump had failed, and the battery was drained. The contact was informed that the batte

Mileage: 35,000

20260218ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY

The contact owns a 2021 Chevrolet Suburban. The contact stated that while driving 45 MPH, the accelerator pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended, and the vehicle decelerated unintendedly. Additionally, the vehicle failed to exceed 42 MPH. Later in the day, the gear shifter was shifted to reverse; however, the vehicle failed to reverse as intended. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed with transmission valve body failure. The contact was informed that the transmission valve body needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The contact stated that the vehicle was at the dealer from December 2024 until June 2025. The vehicle was picked up from the dealer. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the engine seized and failed to restart. The vehicle was towed back to the dealer, where the contact was informed that the fuel pump had failed, and the battery was drained. The contact was informed that the batte

Mileage: 35,000

20260217ENGINE

Engine failure at 86,000 miles with documented regular oil change and recommended services

20260214ENGINE

My vehicle was taken in to shop due to recall recommendation I received in GM app for fuel pump control module . After repair was done my engine begin ticking the same day and failed a week later . I documented the whole thing and filed a claim with GM however the dealership that did the repair are not responding to GM . The dealership is alm Chevorlet south in Jonesboro ,GA this vehicle stalled out while I was on the highway . Please help me this vehicle belongs to my limo fleet and this is detrimental to my business . After multiple attempts to get it diagnosed they kept telling me I had to wait in line for weeks out to get it checked out although the problem arose after the new part installation . Then when I brung it back with failed engine soon after they told me that I had to sign a liability release waiver for them to check out the vehicle stating that the vehicle was high mileage and not their fault . The service manager literally instructed me not to leave my vehicle when I w

20260211POWER TRAIN

The contact owns a 2021 Chevrolet Suburban. The contact stated that while in reverse (R), the vehicle failed to reverse as intended. The contact’s wife continued driving at approximately 55 MPH, and an unknown message was displayed, and the vehicle failed to exceed 55 MPH. Additionally, the transmission was stuck in gear and failed to upshift into the next gear as designed. The vehicle was pulled over to the side of the road, and the battery was disconnected and reconnected, but the message remained displayed. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic, where it was determined that the transmission control valve needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 81,600.

Mileage: 81,600

20260210ENGINE

My vehicle is having an oil consumption problem. 2 quarts were missing from my oils consumption test. The dealer is now doing a secondary oil consumption test and I’ve read up and learned that there have been a lot of recalls with the engine and oils changes.

20260210UNKNOWN OR OTHER

My vehicle is having an oil consumption problem. 2 quarts were missing from my oils consumption test. The dealer is now doing a secondary oil consumption test and I’ve read up and learned that there have been a lot of recalls with the engine and oils changes.

20260210ENGINE

The contact owns a 2021 Chevrolet Suburban. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, an abnormal oil consumption was noticed. No warning light was illuminated. In addition, the vehicle was previously taken to a local dealer, where an oil consumption test was performed; however, the contact was advised to bring the vehicle back for further investigation. An appointment with the same local dealer was scheduled to inspect the vehicle. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 60,000.

Mileage: 60,000

20260204POWER TRAIN

My vehicle will not go in reverse.

20260201CrashSUSPENSION

There is an electronic problem that continues to trip the warning for the Air Ride suspension system to fail leaving the vehicle stuck at its current ride height or it drops eithee the front or rear suspension to the ground while simultaneously raising the front or rear to its highest setting. It also causes the vehicle speed to drop immediately to 56 mph. Issue has been scanned by several dealers to determine air leaks, pinched wires, failing compressor and all were found to be in normal operation. This is a huge safety concern as well as a huge financial concern for the consumer.

20260201CrashVEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

There is an electronic problem that continues to trip the warning for the Air Ride suspension system to fail leaving the vehicle stuck at its current ride height or it drops eithee the front or rear suspension to the ground while simultaneously raising the front or rear to its highest setting. It also causes the vehicle speed to drop immediately to 56 mph. Issue has been scanned by several dealers to determine air leaks, pinched wires, failing compressor and all were found to be in normal operation. This is a huge safety concern as well as a huge financial concern for the consumer.

20260130FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

My 2021 Chevrolet Suburban stalled while driving in late September 2025 and had to be towed to a dealership. The vehicle is subject to an active fuel pump power control module safety recall that has been in effect since 2021. The vehicle was brought in specifically for repair of this issue. The work was processed under warranty, and I was charged a deductible. After learning the repair was directly related to an active safety recall, I requested reimbursement of the deductible, as recall repairs should be completed at no cost. That reimbursement request was denied. I have since been informed that the recall repair was never “completed,” and the recall still shows open in the manufacturer’s system. I am now experiencing shuddering and symptoms consistent with a potential stall recurrence. The original stall occurred while I was transporting my children, including special needs children who require regular transportation to school and therapies. The vehicle failure left us stran

20260128FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

The front of the fuel tank is hanging down and nearly dragging on the ground. This was with normal driving on a highway. No hitting bumps or aggressive off-road anything. We noticed when we heard a scraping noise going slowly over a slight incline in a driveway that it was hanging down.

20260126ENGINE

After purchasing the car, the engine oil low light came on after driving about 2,000 miles on a fresh oil change. We took the car to the Chevrolet dealer where they said the engine was over 2 quarts low on oil and recommended a fresh oil change. After another 2,000 miles of driving the low engine oil light came on again. We took it back to the same dealership and started the oil consumption test. After several months of oil checks, it was determined that the engine failed the test and service was recommended and would be covered under warranty. Extensive repairs were performed on the engine including piston replacement. After receiving the car back from repair, we continue to have the engine oil low life light appear after a few thousand miles of driving and have to add 2 quarts of oil to the engine. We contacted the Chevrolet dealership that performed the repairs and they said that prior warranty work would not be covered since we were now out of factory warranty. We were informed tha

20260122ENGINE

On January 13, 2026, the engine in my Suburban failed suddenly and completely, rendering the vehicle inoperable without warning. The failure left me stranded with my children, creating a serious safety concern and requiring immediate towing. Prior to that day, the vehicle exhibited no ongoing symptoms, warning lights, or performance issues, aside from a ticking noise that appeared only on the day of failure. The vehicle was towed to an authorized Chevrolet dealership, where it was determined that the engine was damaged beyond repair and required full replacement. I was informed a new engine would need to be ordered, at an estimated cost of approximately $14,000—an extraordinary and unreasonable expense for a vehicle of this age and price point.

20260114ENGINE

Engine is running low on oil all the time. took it to dealer they said, there is sludge build up. Found oil fouling on CYL 3 and and found Spark plugs with excessive oil no external leaks found recommend new engine

20251227ENGINE

The car was driving at 60 MPH on a regular commute to work and the car was stalling and shaking and soon after the check engine light came on with multiple issues.

20251215ENGINE

Vehicle experienced sudden engine malfunction including rough idle, hard misfire, and flashing check engine light. Vehicle was diagnosed with a collapsed lifter and internal engine failure. Metallic debris was found in the engine oil, including silver and gold/bronze particles consistent with bearing material. A Chevrolet dealer inspected the vehicle and determined that the engine requires complete replacement due to internal mechanical failure. Vehicle is equipped with the 6.2L V8 (L87) engine. The failure occurred without warning and presents a safety concern due to potential loss of propulsion. This vehicle is not currently included in the existing GM 6.2L engine recall, despite exhibiting the same failure characteristics reported in other affected vehicles with the same engine and year that were included in the recall. Vehicle has not been driven since metal contamination was discovered to prevent further damage

20251210POWER TRAIN

I have a 2021 Chevy Suburban with the L87 6.2L V8 engine. At 7k miles, we have lost propulsion, leaving the car undrivable. resulted in the dealer replacing all 16 lifters under a recognized bulletin. I never received extended 6yr 100k mile powertrain warranty as described in the bulletin. Since then, There have been 3 other issues with loss of propulsion, resulting in replacement of fuel pump modulator. belt pulley system, One of the incidents left us without power or control of our vehicle on the interstate, with no where to pull over or get out of the way of oncoming semi trucks. The last incident again left the vehicle undriveable at 84k miles, with the dealer currently reporting that it is a lifter and cam shaft issue. Resulting in a 10k bill. They state that it is not covered under the recall of these engines because it is the top of the engine versus the bottom. Clearly, the engine oil problem noted in the recall has contributed to these issues . and the cran

Compare 2021CHEVROLETSUBURBAN to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations 2 Open

View all investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 2021 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN have?
The 2021 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN has 205 NHTSA complaints, 12 crashes, 3 fires, 13 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What is the safety rating for the 2021 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN?
The 2021 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN received an overall NHTSA safety rating of 4/5, front crash rating of 4/5, side crash rating of 5/5, and rollover rating of 3/5.
Are there any recalls for the 2021 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN?
Yes, the 2021 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN has 12 recall(s). The most common affected component is POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DRIVESHAFT. Recalls are issued by NHTSA and manufacturers must provide a free remedy.
What are the most common problems with the 2021 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN?
The most-complained component for the 2021 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN is ENGINE with 66 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include POWER TRAIN and FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM.
Is the 2021 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN safe to buy?
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. The 2021 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN has an NHTSA safety rating of 4/5. 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.