YearToAvoid

2018 Chevrolet Suburban Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Best

Complaint Index

20/100

#13 most-complained of 16 Suburban years

The 2018 Chevrolet Suburban ranks 13th worst out of 16 model years, with a complaint index of 20 and a "Best" verdict among Suburban years. It has 81 complaints, 4 recalls (one do-not-drive), and the top problem area is Engine.

Complaints
81
Recalls
4
incl. Do Not Drive
Crashes / fires
3 / 0
Injuries / deaths
4 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
18.5
15.5 city / 22.5 hwy

Top 2018 Chevrolet Suburban problems

NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Engine20 (25%)
  2. Transmission & Powertrain17 (21%)
  3. Electrical System16 (20%)
  4. Brakes14 (17%)
  5. Other12 (15%)
  6. Steering8 (10%)
  7. Seat Belts5 (6%)
  8. Suspension, Wheels & Tires5 (6%)
  9. Airbags4 (5%)
  10. Fuel System3 (4%)

What owners report

  • Airbags failed to deploy during front-end and guardrail collisions, resulting in shoulder and neck injuries.
  • The shifter allegedly allowed the vehicle to be moved out of park without full engagement, letting it roll while parked.
  • The fuel filler neck and cap-less flap developed defects, including a missing O-ring and a broken automatic flap, triggering fuel system faults.
  • The vehicle stalled at various speeds along with a warning about a door and window failing to operate correctly, requiring a restart.
  • Owners reported frame wax peeling and corrosion that could affect structural integrity over time.
  • Brakes engaged on their own above 40 mph, pulling the vehicle to one side, and some owners faced delays getting recall repairs completed.
2018 Chevrolet Suburban complaints: complaints filed per quarter132018 Q22019 Q22020 Q22021 Q32022 Q32023 Q32024 Q42025 Q4
107 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2018 Q2 to 2026 Q2; peak 2023 Q1 (13).

2018 Chevrolet Suburban recalls

4 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.

  1. 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.

  2. 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.

  3. 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.

See all 4 recalls for the 2018 Chevrolet Suburban →

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

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)0255075100’10’11’12’13’14’15’16’17’18’19’20’21’22’23’24’25
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2016Caution672206 !18
2017Caution601415 !18.5
2018Best20814 !18.5
2019Good27783 !16.5
2020Best7444 !16.5

All Chevrolet Suburban years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2018 Chevrolet Suburban reliable?
Based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, the 2018 Suburban has a complaint index of 20, ranking 13th worst of 16 model years, and carries a "Best" verdict relative to other Suburban years.
What problems does the 2018 Chevrolet Suburban have?
NHTSA lists 81 complaints for the 2018 Suburban, with Engine as the top problem area (20 complaints, 25% share), followed by Transmission & Powertrain (17 complaints) and Electrical System (16 complaints).
Does the 2018 Chevrolet Suburban have any recalls?
NHTSA lists 4 recalls for the 2018 Suburban, including one do-not-drive recall involving the four-wheel/all-wheel drive system, plus recalls covering brakes and seat belts.
How does the 2018 Suburban compare to other years?
The 2018 Suburban has a much lower complaint index (20) than years like 2015 (100), 2021 (87), and 2023 (93), which carry "Avoid" verdicts.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.