2011 Chevrolet Suburban Reliability Data: Problems & Recalls
Caution The 2011 Chevrolet Suburban has a complaint index of 70, ranking 7th worst out of 21 model years, and carries a Caution verdict. Airbags are the top problem area with 102 complaints (43% share) at a median 75,000 miles, backed by 5 recall campaigns.
Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology
YearToAvoid Scorecard
- Complaint Index
- 70/100
- #7 of 21 Suburban years
- Verdict
- Caution
- vs. other years of this model
- Complaints
- 235
- unique NHTSA reports
- Recalls
- 5
- distinct NHTSA campaigns
- Crashes
- 4
- reported in complaints
- Fires
- 1
- Injuries
- 11
- Top issue
- Airbags
- NHTSA overall rating
- Not rated
- EPA combined MPG
- 14.5
- 12.5 city / 18.5 hwy
- Injuries / deaths
- 11 / 0
Top 2011 Chevy Suburban problems
Share of this year’s NHTSA complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Airbags102 (43%)
- Other80 (34%)
- Structure & Body49 (21%)
- Engine17 (7%)
- Electrical System15 (6%)
- Brakes14 (6%)
- Fuel System9 (4%)
- Transmission & Powertrain8 (3%)
- Visibility & Wipers5 (2%)
- Seat Belts3 (1%)
A complaint can list more than one component, so shares add up to more than 100%. Shares are % of complaints.
What owners report
- Front passenger airbag inflators are reported to be defective, raising owner concern about safety during humid or hot conditions.
- Owners describe frame or hitch-receiver failures while towing that led to sudden loss of vehicle control.
- Some drivers report the transmission lunging or lurching forward just before coming to a complete stop, close to hitting the vehicle ahead.
- One owner reported the accelerator pedal sticking at highway speed, causing the vehicle to continue accelerating despite braking.
- The power tailgate is reported to stop partway while lifting, then drop suddenly with a loud noise and lock shut.
- Rear propshaft yokes were reported as severely rusted on a nearly new vehicle.
2011 Chevrolet Suburban recalls
5 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.
- NHTSA 21V050000Feb 5, 2021Airbags2,641,272 vehicles
Air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator module
General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2007-2011 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, Escalade EXT, Chevrolet Avalanche, Silverado 1500, Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Sierra 1500, Yukon, Yukon XL, and 2009-2011 Chevrolet Silverado 2500, Silverado 3500, GMC Sierra 2500 and Sierra 3500 vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U.S. Virgin Islands or "Zone A." Additionally, GM is recalling certain 2007-2008 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, Escalade EXT, Chevrolet Avalanche, Silverado 1500, Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Sierra 1500, Yukon, Yukon XL vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia or "Zone B." These vehicles are equipped with non-desiccated passenger frontal inflators containing phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate (PSAN) propellant. These inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, high temperatures, and high temperature cycling.
Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator with an alternate one, free of charge. Interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk were mailed on February 22, 2021. Second notification letters will be mailed once the remedy is available. Owner notification letters were mailed on March 1, 2021. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020; Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006; and GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is N212328760.
- NHTSA 21V054000Feb 5, 2021Airbags1,778,128 vehicles
Air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator module
General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2014 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Silverado 2500, Silverado 3500, Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Sierra 2500, Sierra 3500, Yukon, and Yukon XL vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of AL, CA, FL, GA, HI, LA, MS, SC, TX, PR, AS, GU, the MP, and VI or "Zone A." Additionally GM is recalling certain 2011-2014 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Silverado 2500, Silverado 3500, Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Sierra 2500, Sierra 3500, Yukon, Yukon XL and 2011-2013 Cadillac Escalade EXT, Chevrolet Avalanche, Silverado 1500, and GMC Sierra 1500 vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of AZ, AR, DE, DC, IL, IN, KS, KY, MD, MO, NE, NV, NJ, NM, NC, OH, OK, PA, TN, VA, and WV or "Zone B." Additionally, GM is recalling certain 2010-2014 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Silverado 2500, Silverado 3500, Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Sierra 2500, Sierra 3500, Yukon, and Yukon XL and 2010-2013 Cadillac Escalade EXT, Chevrolet Avalanche, Silverado 1500, and GMC Sierra 1500 vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of AK, CO, CT, ID, IA, ME, MA, MI, MN, MT, NH, NY, ND, OR, RI, SD, UT, VT, WA, WI, and WY or "Zone C." These vehicles are equipped with non-desiccated passenger frontal inflators containing phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate (PSAN) propellant. These inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, high temperatures, and high temperature cycling.
Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator with an alternate one, free of charge. Interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk were mailed on February 25, 2021. Second notification letters will be mailed once the remedy is available. Owner notification letters were mailed to 40 VIN owners on May 11, 2021. A second owner notification letter was mailed to all other owners on January 24, 2022. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020; Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006; and GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is N212328800.
- NHTSA 14V827000Dec 30, 2014Electrical System84,192 vehicles
Electrical system:ignition
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2011-2012 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, Escalade EXT, Chevrolet Avalanche, Silverado HD, Silverado LD, Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Sierra LD, Sierra HD, Yukon, and Yukon XL vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the ignition lock actuator may bind, making turning the key difficult or causing the ignition to get stuck in the "Start" position.
Risk: If stuck in the "Start" position, the ignition may suddenly snap back into the "Accessory" position, causing a loss of engine, steering, and braking power, increasing the risk of a vehicle crash. If the vehicle is in a crash, the air bags may not deploy, increasing the risk of occupant injury.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and replace the ignition lock housing, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on February 12, 2015. Owners may contact GM customer service at 1-800-458-8006 (Cadillac), 1-800-222-1020 (Chevrolet), or 1-800-462-8782 (GMC). GM's number for this recall is 14696 for the original equipment, and 14912 for the service replacement parts.
2011 Chevrolet Suburban fuel economy and fuel cost
- City
- 12.5 MPG
- Highway
- 18.5 MPG
- Combined
- 14.5 MPG
- Annual fuel cost (EPA)
- $4,600
- 15,000 mi/yr
- Fuel
- Gasoline or E85
- Current regular gas
- $4.32/gal
- national avg.
EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.
2011 compared with other Suburban years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2011 Chevrolet Suburban reliable?
- It carries a Caution verdict based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, with a complaint index of 70 that ranks 7th worst among 21 model years of the Suburban.
- What are the most common problems with the 2011 Chevrolet Suburban?
- Airbags are the top problem area, making up 43% of complaints (102 total) at a median 75,000 miles, followed by Structure & Body issues at 21% (49 complaints).
- Does the 2011 Chevrolet Suburban have any recalls?
- NHTSA lists 5 recall campaigns for the 2011 Suburban, covering airbags, an ignition lock housing, a steering shaft bolt issue, and a rear axle cross pin defect.
- How does the 2011 Suburban compare to other model years?
- Its complaint index of 70 is worse than years like 2012-2014 and 2020, which carry Best or lower Caution verdicts, but better than 2007, 2008, 2015, and other years rated Avoid.
- What is the fuel economy of the 2011 Chevrolet Suburban?
- EPA rates it at 14.5 mpg combined (12.5 city / 18.5 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $4,600.