2018 Chevrolet Suburban Reliability Data: Problems & Recalls
Caution The 2018 Chevrolet Suburban has 81 NHTSA complaints and 4 recalls, including a Do Not Drive recall, giving it a complaint index of 30 and a rank of 15th out of 21 model years. It carries a Caution verdict, capped from what its complaint index alone would suggest.
Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology
YearToAvoid Scorecard
- Complaint Index
- 30/100
- #15 of 21 Suburban years
- Verdict
- Caution
- vs. other years of this model
- Complaints
- 81
- unique NHTSA reports
- Recalls
- 4
- 1 Do Not Drive
- Crashes
- 3
- reported in complaints
- Fires
- 0
- Injuries
- 4
- Top issue
- Engine
- NHTSA overall rating
- Not rated
- EPA combined MPG
- 18.5
- 15.5 city / 22.5 hwy
- Injuries / deaths
- 4 / 0
Top 2018 Chevy Suburban problems
Share of this year’s NHTSA complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Engine20 (25%)
- Transmission & Powertrain17 (21%)
- Electrical System16 (20%)
- Brakes14 (17%)
- Other12 (15%)
- Steering8 (10%)
- Seat Belts5 (6%)
- Suspension, Wheels & Tires5 (6%)
- Airbags4 (5%)
- Fuel System3 (4%)
A complaint can list more than one component, so shares add up to more than 100%. Shares are % of complaints.
What owners report
- Airbags failed to deploy during front-end collisions, resulting in injuries even at highway speeds.
- The shifter could reportedly be moved out of park without the key or brake pedal engaged, letting the vehicle roll while parked.
- Owners described sudden stalling while driving, paired with a warning about doors and windows before the vehicle restarted.
- The fuel filler neck and cap-less filler flap failed early, in one case within three months of purchase.
- Frame wax was reported to peel, exposing the frame to corrosion over time.
- Brakes engaged on their own above 40 mph, pulling the vehicle to one side, and some owners waited on parts for the stability control brake recall.
2018 Chevrolet Suburban recalls
4 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.
- NHTSA 26V289000May 7, 2026Transmission & Powertrain66 vehiclesDo Not Drive
Power train:transfer case (4-wheel drive)
General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2026 Cadillac Escalade and Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Silverado 1500, Suburban, and Tahoe, and GMC Sierra 1500, Yukon, and Yukon XL vehicles with four-wheel (4WD) or all-wheel drive (AWD), and certain 2015-2020 Suburban, Escalade, Escalade ESV, Yukon, Yukon XL, and Tahoe vehicles. A component missing from the drivetrain transfer case may cause the front and/or rear wheels to lock up without warning to the driver.
Risk: Front or rear wheel lockup increases the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicle until the remedy is completed. Dealers will inspect and, if necessary, replace the transfer case assembly, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 18, 2026. Owners may contact GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020 or Cadillac customer service at 1-800-333-4223. GM's number for this recall is N262557620. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on May 7, 2026.
- NHTSA 19V761000Oct 24, 2019Brakes652,967 vehicles
Service brakes
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2015-2020 Chevrolet Suburban, Tahoe, and GMC Yukon, and 2014-2018 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 and GMC Sierra 1500 vehicles equipped with a 5.3-liter engine, a 3.08-ratio rear axle and four-wheel drive. If a wheel-speed sensor fails, while the vehicle is traveling between 41 and 60 mph in four-wheel or automatic mode, the Electronic-Brake Control Module (EBCM) software may activate the driveline-protection system.
Risk: Unintended activation of the driveline-protection system will cause unintended braking on the wheel on the opposite side of the failed sensor, causing the vehicle to pull to one side unexpectedly, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the EBCM, free of charge. The recall began December 11, 2019. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-630-2438 or GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is N192261050.
- NHTSA 19V645000Sep 6, 2019Brakes3,456,719 vehicles
Service brakes, hydraulic:power assist:vacuum
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2015-2017 Cadillac Escalade, 2014-2018 Chevrolet Silverado, GMC Sierra, 2015-2018 Chevrolet Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Yukon vehicles. The amount of vacuum created by the vacuum pump may decrease over time.
Risk: As the vacuum level drops, the brake assist decreases, increasing braking effort, extending the distance required to stop the vehicle, thereby increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the Electronic Brake Control Module, free of charge. The recall began October 8, 2019. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-630-2438, Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006 or GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is N192268490.
2018 Chevrolet Suburban fuel economy and fuel cost
- City
- 15.5 MPG
- Highway
- 22.5 MPG
- Combined
- 18.5 MPG
- Annual fuel cost (EPA)
- $3,500
- 15,000 mi/yr
- Fuel
- Regular
- 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.
2018 compared with other Suburban years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2018 Chevrolet Suburban reliable?
- NHTSA lists 81 complaints and 4 recalls for the 2018 Suburban, with a complaint index of 30 and a Caution verdict relative to other Suburban years. It ranks 15th out of 21 model years tracked.
- Does the 2018 Chevrolet Suburban have a Do Not Drive recall?
- Yes, one of its 4 recalls is flagged as a Do Not Drive campaign, which is why the verdict is capped at Caution regardless of the complaint index.
- What is the top problem area for the 2018 Suburban?
- Engine complaints lead at 20 complaints, or 25% of all reports, with a median failure mileage of 30,000 miles.
- How does the 2018 Suburban compare to other years?
- With a complaint index of 30, the 2018 model sits well below Avoid years like 2015 (index 100) and 2007 (index 95), but above Best years such as 2014 (index 5).
- What fuel economy does the 2018 Suburban get?
- EPA rates it at 18.5 mpg combined (15.5 city / 22.5 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $3,500.