2021 Chevrolet Suburban: True Cost, Problems & Verdict
189 NHTSA owner complaints · 12 recalls · data-computed verdict. No opinions — public data only.
Owner complaints: 189 filed with NHTSA
Complaints per year on the road: 37.8
What owners say
Verbatim reports filed with the United States safety regulator (NHTSA) by owners of this exact model year. Public record.
This vehicle has been towed approximately 7 times in the last year. For all instances in [XXX] in 2025, the dealership told us there were no issues. The completed the recall on the L87 and it 'passed'. The dealership then updated the oil to 40W and sent us on our way. We continued to have issues, but it was deemed to be the transmission. We had that relaced earlier this year. On XXX the car shut off again while drivi…
Another 6.2 Liter Engine Failure in a 2021 Chevrolet Suburban that is not included in the original Recall affecting 2021 Suburbans Starting March of 2021 this on was purchased in Dec. of 2020.
The contact owns a 2021 Chevrolet Suburban. The contact stated that while driving approximately 40 MPH, the vehicle failed to accelerate as needed. The contact was able to coast to the side of the road, and the vehicle was turned off. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the dealer and was diagnosed with fuel pump power control module failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact di…
Recalls: 12 campaigns (7 severe)
| Campaign | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|
| 22V827000 | 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. |
| 21V421000 | 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), causing the air bag malfunction indicator light to… |
| 22V617000 | 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 may have been improperly formed. |
| 21V455000 | 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. |
| 20V792000 | 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 frame in the front-row center seating position. |
| 21V190000 | 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 result in damaged seat belts. |
| 21V739000 | 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 unexpected engine stall. |
| 20V811000 | 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 may have been used at one or more fastening locations to… |
What it costs to buy — and what owning it really takes
Class-level estimates, priced as a full-size SUV of its model year, re-priced to your country. Not a quote, not a valuation of one specific car — condition, mileage and options move it. How these are computed.
What it costs to run
EPA combined 17 MPG · estimated annual fuel cost $4,450
Re-priced automatically from your country's retail fuel, electricity and parts indices — change country in the bar at the top. Estimates; see methodology.
What this car's problems cost to fix
Ranked by the components owners of this exact model year actually complain about. Each figure is flat-rate labour hours x the local shop rate plus a parts band — an estimate of what this kind of failure costs, not a quote, and not a prediction that this car will need it. Formula.
- Engine80 complaints · typical job: Cooling-system or timing-drive repair (6.0 h labour + parts)$1,040–$2,220
- Power Train36 complaints · typical job: Transmission service or clutch-pack repair (7.0 h labour + parts)$1,290–$4,040
- Fuel/Propulsion System22 complaints · typical job: Fuel pump or injector replacement (3.5 h labour + parts)$680–$1,620
- Electrical System17 complaints · typical job: Alternator, battery-drain or body-module diagnosis and replacement (3.0 h labour + parts)$540–$1,310
- Unknown Or Other13 complaints · typical job: Diagnosis and mixed repair (2.0 h labour + parts)$360–$940
- Forward Collision Avoidance11 complaints · typical job: Radar or camera module replacement and calibration (3.0 h labour + parts)$780–$2,160
Other Chevrolet Suburban years
Chevrolet Suburban years to avoid, and the best years to buy →
FAQ
What is the most common problem with the 2021 Chevrolet Suburban?
The most-reported issue in NHTSA complaint data is Engine (80 complaints in our indexed sample).
Is the 2021 Chevrolet Suburban a good used car to buy?
Our data verdict is CAUTION with a reliability score of 54/100, computed from 189 NHTSA complaints and 12 recall campaigns. See the verdict card for the top reasons.
How much does it cost to fix the 2021 Chevrolet Suburban's most common problem?
80 of the NHTSA complaints filed against the 2021 Chevrolet Suburban sit in the Engine group — more than any other component on this model year. The representative job there is cooling-system or timing-drive repair: about 6.0 hours of labour plus parts, roughly $1,040–$2,220 at a US independent shop and re-priced to your country at the top of the page. It is an estimate of what this class of failure costs, not a quote for this car.
What does a 2021 Chevrolet Suburban cost to run per year?
About $6,537 a year in fuel or energy plus the maintenance band — roughly $32,688 over five years, before purchase price, insurance and depreciation. Figures come from available EPA fuel-economy data and industry maintenance averages, and are re-priced to your country.
Does the 2021 Chevrolet Suburban have recalls?
Yes — NHTSA lists 12 recall campaign(s) for the 2021 Chevrolet Suburban, 7 of them touching fire, crash or stall risk, the most recent recorded 03/11/2022. Check this car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls before you buy.
Compare with
Other fullsize suvs of about the same age.
What will a 2021 Chevrolet Suburban really cost YOU per year?
Fuel, maintenance band and depreciation — computed from public data in 10 seconds.
Open the true-cost calculatorData sources
Complaints & recalls: NHTSA ·
Fuel economy: EPA fueleconomy.gov ·
Scoring: our published methodology.
Maintenance bands are industry-average estimates (AAA Your Driving Costs, CarMD index) — labeled estimates, not measurements.
Last updated: 2026-10-04.
Strong evidence — 189 complaints, 12 recalls on record
- 189 NHTSA complaints on record (37.8/yr of exposure) — worse than a typical year of this model (29.4/yr)
- 12 recall campaigns, 7 touching safety-critical systems