2011 Chevrolet Suburban 1500: problems, recalls and reliability
2 recalls and 80 owner complaints on record; the weakest area is air bags (49% of complaints).
Data updated weekly · latest recall Jun 2011
All counts are reports filed with NHTSA in the United States - US market only, not worldwide totals.
Common problems
Computed from 80 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for this exact model year.
“My name is [xxx] I'm the owner of a 2011 chevy suburban and one day I took my wife to the hospital for surgery and when I came out after 4 hours my suburban had 2 cracks on the dashboard one next to the passenger airbag and one next to the left on top of the gauges panel. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6). *tr”Owner report · Structure · Jul 2019
“Takata recall has still not been resolved after 3 years. I drive my family in this car and until it's fixed we have to take 2 separate cars. It's okay, I've made my payments to gm in a timely manner on a car I don't feel safe driving my family in. Recall # : 49151”Owner report · Air Bags · Feb 2019
“While in park in our driveway, engine turned off, and keys in my hand the suburban rolled backwards down our driveway, knocking me down and rolling over my leg where it then stopped in the middle of the street. 911 was called and I was transported from the scene to the hospital where I was admitted. We are highly concerned about this incident”Owner report · Unknown Or Other · Sep 2018
Show 7 more owner reports
“Dashboard has cracked around the air bag area. I am concerned that if in an accident, this could affect air bag performance or dashboard could come apart easier on impact and cause bodily harm.”Owner report · Unknown Or Other · Jul 2018
“As I am driving the vehicle turns on and off which is very dangerous while driving. Also the electrical goes bad in the car causing the navigation and radio tongo on and off. Stabiltrak goes off on the vehicle and then comes back on. Today as I am driving my car lost power and now the service airbag light came on.”Owner report · Air Bags · Jun 2018
“Dashboard is all cracked around side airbag and may affect deployment. Dash is also cracked at on driver side. Cracks just appeared no accident, regular around town driving.”Owner report · Unknown Or Other · Jan 2018
“I received a letter 1 and half years after the recall of my airbags. I went to www.airbagrecall.com to get my airbags replaced, walked through the system and it sent me to a local dealer. Called them and they said there is no fix yet for the airbags”Owner report · Air Bags · Nov 2017
“The dashboard is severely cracked in multiple spots. I fear if involved in an accident my airbags would be compromised. Not to mention one crack is on the passenger airbag which is recalled due to the takata inflators recall that seems to never be resolved. I am aware of many gmc/chevrolet owners that have this issue.”Owner report · Air Bags · Nov 2017
“Takata recall- I contacted the closest dealership to my house and they informed me that chevrolet has not provided the replacement airbag inflator to the dealerships to fix the issue even though this recall is dated may 27, 2016, a year and a half later they haven't provided the parts to the dealerships to fix this problem. There has been no incidents or injuries yet, but I am concerned for my family that rides in the vehicle with a defective airbag inflator.”Owner report · Air Bags · Nov 2017
“The battery cables failed which caused the vehicles motor and power to shutdown while driving 70mph with a wife and 4 children in the vehicle.”Owner report · Electrical System · Nov 2017
When filing, owners marked a crash in 1 of these complaints and injuries in 1 - self-reported to NHTSA, not verified accident statistics.
Recalls - 2 campaigns
GM IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2011CADILLAC ESCALADE, ESCALADE ESV; CHEVROLET SILVERADO HD, SILVERADO LD, SUBURBAN, TAHOE; AND GMC SIERRA HD, SIERRA LD, YUKON, AND YUKON XL VEHICLES. THE INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT ATTACHING BOLTS MAY NOT HAVE BEEN TIGHTENED TO THE PROPER SPECIFICATION.
Remedy: GM DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND ENSURE THAT THE INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT BOLTS ARE TIGHTENED TO THE PROPER SPECIFICATION. THE SAFETY RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN ON OR ABOUT JULY 13, 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CADILLAC AT 1-800-458-8006, CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438 AND GMC AT 1-866-996-9463.
GENERAL MOTORS IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2011 CADILLAC ESCALADE, ESCALADE ESV, ESCALADE EXT; CHEVROLET AVALANCHE, COLORADO, EXPRESS, SILVERADO, SUBURBAN, TAHOE; AND GMC CANYON, SIERRA, SAVANA, YUKON AND YUKON XL VEHICLES. THE REAR AXLE CROSS PINS WERE NOT PROPERLY HEAT TREATED AND COULD FRACTURE AND BECOME DISPLACED WITHIN THE REAR AXLE. SHOULD THE PIN SHIFT OUT OF POSITION, IT COULD CREATE AN INTERFERENCE CONDITION AND CAUSE THE REAR AXLE TO LOCK.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW REAR AXLE CROSS PIN FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JANUARY 11, 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CADILLAC AT 1-866-982-2339, CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438, GMC AT 1-866-996-9463 AND AT THE OWNER CENTER AT WWW.GMOWNERCENTER.COM.
How other years compare
Counts are not adjusted for time on the road here - see all Suburban 1500 years ranked fairly for the age-adjusted comparison.
Check your exact Suburban 1500 by VIN
Recalls and equipment differ between individual vehicles. Decode your VIN to see what applies to yours.
Open VIN decoderFrequently asked questions
Is the 2011 Chevrolet Suburban 1500 reliable?
NHTSA has 80 owner complaints and 2 recall campaigns on record for the 2011 Chevrolet Suburban 1500. The most complained-about area is air bags (49% of complaints).
At what mileage do 2011 Chevrolet Suburban 1500 problems usually appear?
Half of the complaints that mention mileage were filed at 80,000 miles or less.
Does the 2011 Chevrolet Suburban 1500 have open recalls?
2 recall campaigns have been issued, the latest concerning steering. Check your specific vehicle by VIN - recall repairs are free at franchised dealers.
Source: NHTSA recall campaigns and owner complaints (public domain). Counts reflect reports on file and are not a defect rate.