2019 Chevrolet Suburban Reliability Data: Problems & Recalls
Caution The 2019 Chevrolet Suburban has a Complaint Index of 40 and ranks 13th out of 21 model years, earning a Caution verdict. That verdict is capped because of a Do Not Drive recall, even though its underlying complaint count is moderate compared with worse years like 2015 and 2007.
Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology
YearToAvoid Scorecard
- Complaint Index
- 40/100
- #13 of 21 Suburban years
- Verdict
- Caution
- vs. other years of this model
- Complaints
- 78
- unique NHTSA reports
- Recalls
- 3
- 1 Do Not Drive
- Crashes
- 2
- reported in complaints
- Fires
- 1
- Injuries
- 2
- Top issue
- Transmission & Powertrain
- NHTSA overall rating
- Not rated
- EPA combined MPG
- 16.5
- 14 city / 21.5 hwy
- Injuries / deaths
- 2 / 0
Top 2019 Chevy Suburban problems
Share of this year’s NHTSA complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Transmission & Powertrain38 (49%)
- Engine28 (36%)
- Electrical System7 (9%)
- Steering6 (8%)
- Brakes5 (6%)
- Seat Belts5 (6%)
- Other4 (5%)
- Airbags2 (3%)
- Collision Avoidance & Cameras2 (3%)
- Visibility & Wipers2 (3%)
A complaint can list more than one component, so shares add up to more than 100%. Shares are % of complaints.
What owners report
- Owners report the vehicle drifting or veering left and right at highway speed, requiring constant steering correction.
- Some describe the steering going stiff or heavy, making the vehicle hard to keep straight and control.
- One owner reported an under-hood fire with heavy smoke shortly after purchase, while driving at highway speed.
- A driver said the brake pedal failed to stop the vehicle while parking, causing a crash into a building.
- Owners describe the transmission lurching forward into park position or unexpectedly moving while the parking brake was set.
- A seat belt retractor reportedly failed to release, trapping the driver until the belt was cut.
2019 Chevrolet Suburban recalls
3 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 18V673000Sep 26, 2018Seat Belts15,800 vehicles
Seat belts:rear/other
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Cadillac CT6, Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Suburban, Volt, and GMC Yukon XL vehicles. Certain second-row or third-row rear seatbelts retractor assemblies may not automatically lock when the seatbelt is fully pulled out of the retractor, possibly preventing a child seat from being properly secured. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."
Risk: If the child seat is not properly secured in the event of a crash, it can increase the risk of injury.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the rear seatbelt retractors and replace them if necessary, free of charge. The recall began November 7, 2018. Owners may contact Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020 or GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is 18315.
2019 Chevrolet Suburban fuel economy and fuel cost
- City
- 14 MPG
- Highway
- 21.5 MPG
- Combined
- 16.5 MPG
- Annual fuel cost (EPA)
- $4,050
- 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.
2019 compared with other Suburban years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2019 Chevrolet Suburban reliable?
- NHTSA lists 78 complaints for the 2019 Suburban, giving it a Complaint Index of 40 and a rank of 13th out of 21 model years. Its verdict is Caution, partly because it has a Do Not Drive recall.
- Does the 2019 Chevrolet Suburban have a Do Not Drive recall?
- Yes. Campaign 26V289000 covers four-wheel or all-wheel drive versions and carries a Do Not Drive advisory, which is why NHTSA data caps this year's verdict at Caution.
- What is the top problem area for the 2019 Suburban?
- Transmission & Powertrain complaints are the largest category, accounting for 38 of 78 complaints (49%), with a median mileage at failure of 67,000 miles for the model year overall and 77,000 miles for that system specifically.
- How many recalls does the 2019 Suburban have?
- NHTSA lists 3 recalls for the 2019 Suburban, covering transmission/four-wheel-drive components, brakes, and rear seat belt retractors.
- How does the 2019 Suburban compare to other years?
- With a Complaint Index of 40, the 2019 model ranks better than Avoid years like 2015 (100), 2007 (95), and 2021 (90), but worse than Best years such as 2014 (5) and 2013 (15).