YearToAvoid

2020 Chevrolet Suburban Engine Problems

Engine complaints make up 19 of 44 total complaints (43%) filed for the 2020 Chevrolet Suburban, a higher share than most other model years in this dataset. Median mileage at failure is 60,000 miles, and NHTSA lists no related recall for this issue.

Engine complaints
19
43% of 44
Crashes reported
0
Fires reported
1
Injuries reported
0
Median mileage
60,000 mi
Related recalls
0

Typical engine symptoms owners report

  • Collapsed cylinder lifters and camshaft damage causing knocking, rattling, or banging noises from the engine compartment.
  • Complete engine failure requiring full replacement, in some cases occurring more than once on the same vehicle.
  • Fuel injector or wiring harness problems reported to cause misfires and, in one case, a fire after an engine replacement.
  • Engine cutting out or losing power while driving at highway speed, with erratic RPM behavior before stalling.
  • Cylinder misfire causing the vehicle to shake or shudder, with only some cylinders firing correctly.
  • Adaptive cruise control failing to react in time to slowing traffic, requiring driver braking to avoid a collision.

When 2020 Chevrolet Suburban engine complaints were filed

First complaint Aug 15, 2020, latest Aug 27, 2026.

2020 Chevrolet Suburban engine complaints: complaints filed per month3Aug 2020Mar 2023Sep 2024Mar 2025May 2025Aug 2025Jan 2026Aug 2026
19 complaints filed with NHTSA from Aug 2020 to Aug 2026; peak Aug 2026 (3).

Engine recalls for the 2020 Chevrolet Suburban

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

Engine complaints by Suburban model year

Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.

  1. 200525 (11%)
  2. 20063 (5%)
  3. 200759 (12%)
  4. 200840 (12%)
  5. 200921 (13%)
  6. 201013 (7%)
  7. 201117 (7%)
  8. 201213 (13%)
  9. 201319 (16%)
  10. 20142 (3%)
  11. 201543 (10%)
  12. 201630 (14%)
  13. 201729 (21%)
  14. 201820 (25%)
  15. 201928 (36%)
  16. 202019 (43%)
  17. 202196 (48%)
  18. 202264 (52%)
  19. 202385 (60%)
  20. 202428 (67%)
  21. 202516 (53%)

Frequently asked questions

Are 2020 Suburban engine problems common?
NHTSA lists 19 engine complaints out of 44 total complaints for the 2020 Suburban, meaning engine issues make up 43% of all complaints filed for this model year.
Is there a recall for the 2020 Suburban engine?
No. NHTSA lists no related recall tied to the engine complaints filed for the 2020 Suburban.
At what mileage do 2020 Suburban engines typically fail?
The median mileage at failure reported in NHTSA complaints is 60,000 miles.
What specific engine failures do owners report?
Owners describe collapsed lifters, camshaft damage, fuel injector failures, misfires, and cases of complete engine replacement, with one complaint noting a fire.
How does the 2020 Suburban compare to other model years for engine complaints?
The 43% share of engine complaints in the 2020 Suburban is higher than years like 2015 (10%) and 2016 (14%), though lower than 2023 (60%) and 2022 (52%).

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.