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Chevrolet · NHTSA safety record

2011 Chevrolet Suburban 1500

Every safety complaint, recall and defect investigation the US government holds on this vehicle.

Owners have filed 80 safety complaints about the 2011 Chevrolet Suburban 1500 with the US government. Of those, 1 describes a crash, 1 mentions a fire, 1 person was injured and no death is recorded. 2 recall campaigns are open against it, covering the steering and the suspension.

The most complained-about system is the air bags, named in 32 complaints, 40% of the total. The typical failure was reported at 80,000 miles, the median across the 51 complaints that gave an odometer reading.

Compiled from NHTSA's complaint, recall and investigation files · Covers May 2011 to April 2021 · How this is counted

What is on file

80 complaints on file

80

Complaints

1

Describe a crash

1

Mention fire

1

People injured

0

Deaths

A complaint is an unverified account by the person who filed it, not a finding of fault. One complaint is one ODI number, which is how NHTSA counts them.

A recall is the manufacturer conceding a defect, and the repair is free. Whether one covers your particular car is a question only its VIN can answer, because a campaign covers a production range rather than a model year.

Which system owners named

Complaints naming each system
AIR BAGS 32 · 40%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER 32 · 40%
STRUCTURE 18 · 23%
POWER TRAIN 5 · 6%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 4 · 5%
SEATS 4 · 5%
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 3 · 4%
ENGINE 2 · 3%
VISIBILITY 2 · 3%
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC) 1 · 1%
EQUIPMENT 1 · 1%
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM 1 · 1%
0 15 31

Red marks a system with a recall campaign against it. One complaint can name several systems, so these add up to more than 80.

When the complaints arrived

By the year NHTSA received them

By the year NHTSA received them, which is not the year the failures happened. They peaked in 2016 at 24.

28 21 14 7
11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 21

This is the year the complaint was filed, not the year the failure happened. The range runs from 2011 to 2021.

Crash test ratings

NHTSA New Car Assessment Program

NHTSA crashes a car into a barrier and a pole and measures what happens to the dummies inside. This is what it awarded the 2011 Chevrolet SUBURBAN 1500, and it is a separate question from what owners report going wrong later.

Test SUV 4WD SUV RWD
Overall Not rated Not rated
Frontal crash Not rated Not rated
Frontal, driver Not rated Not rated
Frontal, passenger Not rated Not rated
Side crash Not rated Not rated
Side barrier Not rated Not rated
Side pole Not rated Not rated
Rollover
Chance of rollover 23.7% 23.7%
Stability control standard Forward collision warning standard Lane departure warning standard

A rating belongs to a tested body style and drivetrain, not to the model as a whole, which is why more than one is listed. A dash means NHTSA did not rate that test for this vehicle.

Recall campaigns

2 on file

STEERING:LINKAGES

11V339000 · June 28, 2011

The defect
GM IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2011CADILLAC ESCALADE, ESCALADE ESV; CHEVROLET SILVERADO HD, SILVERADO LD, SUBURBAN, TAHOE; AND GMC SIERRA HD, SIERRA LD, YUKON, AND YUKON XL VEHICLES. THE INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT ATTACHING BOLTS MAY NOT HAVE BEEN TIGHTENED TO THE PROPER SPECIFICATION.
The risk
THIS COULD ALLOW THE JOINTS TO SEPARATE, AND THE DRIVER COULD EXPERIENCE LOSS OF STEERING INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
The remedy
GM DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND ENSURE THAT THE INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT BOLTS ARE TIGHTENED TO THE PROPER SPECIFICATION. THE SAFETY RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN ON OR ABOUT JULY 13, 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CADILLAC AT 1-800-458-8006, CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438 AND GMC AT 1-866-996-9463.

GENERAL MOTORS LLC · up to 739 vehicles across all model years covered

SUSPENSION:REAR:AXLE:SPINDLE

11V007000 · January 6, 2011

The defect
GENERAL MOTORS IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2011 CADILLAC ESCALADE, ESCALADE ESV, ESCALADE EXT; CHEVROLET AVALANCHE, COLORADO, EXPRESS, SILVERADO, SUBURBAN, TAHOE; AND GMC CANYON, SIERRA, SAVANA, YUKON AND YUKON XL VEHICLES. THE REAR AXLE CROSS PINS WERE NOT PROPERLY HEAT TREATED AND COULD FRACTURE AND BECOME DISPLACED WITHIN THE REAR AXLE. SHOULD THE PIN SHIFT OUT OF POSITION, IT COULD CREATE AN INTERFERENCE CONDITION AND CAUSE THE REAR AXLE TO LOCK.
The risk
THE DRIVER MAY NOT BE ABLE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND A CRASH COULD OCCUR WITHOUT WARNING.
The remedy
DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW REAR AXLE CROSS PIN FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JANUARY 11, 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CADILLAC AT 1-866-982-2339, CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438, GMC AT 1-866-996-9463 AND AT THE OWNER CENTER AT WWW.GMOWNERCENTER.COM.

GENERAL MOTORS CORP. · up to 30,566 vehicles across all model years covered

In owners’ own words

Quoted from the complaint file

Quoted from NHTSA's complaint file. These are unverified accounts by the people who filed them, not findings of fault.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

1 injured · 100,200 miles

WHILE IN PARK IN OUR DRIVEWAY, ENGINE TURNED OFF, AND KEYS IN MY HAND THE SUBURBAN ROLLED BACKWARDS DOWN OUR DRIVEWAY, KNOCKING ME DOWN AND ROLLING OVER MY LEG WHERE IT THEN STOPPED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STREET. 911 WAS CALLED AND I WAS TRANSPORTED FROM THE SCENE TO THE HOSPITAL WHERE I WAS ADMITTED. WE ARE HIGHLY CONCERNED ABOUT THIS INCIDENT

NHTSA complaint 11133555. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

fire · 110,000 miles

WHILE COMMUTING TO WORK ON INTERSTATE 15, NORTHBOUND ON FEBRUARY 1, 2017, WITH MY TWO SONS IN THE VEHICLE, I SMELLED SMOKE. I PULLED OVER TO INVESTIGATE AND REALIZED THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT WAS ON FIRE (PICTURES ATTACHED). I NOTICED THE SWITCH FOR THE HEATED SEAT WAS ON, SO I TURNED IT OFF. I THEN PROCEEDED TO THE CHEVROLET DEALERSHIP IN BUTTE, MT (APPROX. 15 MILES) AND HAD THEM DISCONNECT THE ELECTRICAL TO THE SEAT AND ENSURE IT WAS NOT STILL BURNING. THIS DISABLED THE POWER SEAT, SEAT HEATER AND PASSENGER FRONT AIRBAGS. I CONTACTED GM PRODUCT SERVICES TO INFORM THEM AND THEY STARTED A SERVICE REQUEST, NUMBER 8-2712194856. THEY INSTRUCTED ME TO TAKE IT TO THE CHEVROLET DEALERSHIP IN

NHTSA complaint 10956661, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

crash · 129,000 miles

FOR THE PAST FEW MONTHS MY 2011 SUBURBAN WILL RANDOMLY NOT WANT TO SHIFT FROM PARK INTO DRIVE. THE GEAR SHIFTER ACTS LIKE IT IS STUCK. I HAVE TO PUMP THE BRAKE SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE IT WILL ENGAGE. OVER THE WEEKEND MY HUSBAND HAD MY CAR KEYS IN HIS POCKET, OUR 4 YEAR OLD SON CLIMBED INTO THE DRIVERS SEAT AND STARTED TO HOP OVER THE CENTER CONSOLE TO GET TO PASSENGER SIDE. MY HUSBAND WAS GETTING IN IMMEDIATELY AFTER HIM TO SIT IN DRIVERS SEAT. WHEN MY SON HOPPED OVER, HE ACCIDENTLY GRABBED THE GEAR SHIFTER AND MY CAR ROLLED DOWN THE DRIVEWAY INTO OUR CAMPER. SINCE THE CAR WAS NOT ON, NO KEYS IN THE IGNITION, MY HUSBAND'S ATTEMPTS TO STOP IT FAILED. THERE WAS NOT ENOUGH DAMAGE TO TURN INTO OUR

NHTSA complaint 11021385, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

AIR BAGS
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN 1500. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 21V050000 (AIR BAGS) HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE RECALL REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT CALLED RALPH SELLERS CHEVROLET (15015 FLORIDA BLVD, BATON ROUGE, LA 70819, (225) 529-9130) AND IT WAS CONFIRMED THAT THE PART WAS NOT YET AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER HAD EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

NHTSA complaint 11406112. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

AIR BAGS
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN 1500. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTIFICATION FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V381000 (AIR BAGS) AND STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. AUTONATION CHEVROLET NORTH RICHMOND HILLS (7769 BOULEVARD 26, NORTH RICHMOND HILLS, TX 76180) WAS CONTACTED AND CONFIRMED THAT PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE TO PERFORM THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA complaint 11222272. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

AIR BAGS
RECALL WAS ISSUED MAY OF 2016 AND I'VE STILL NOT BEEN NOTIFIED TO BRING VEHICLE IN FOR A FIX.

NHTSA complaint 11187385. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

AIR BAGS
TAKATA RECALL HAS STILL NOT BEEN RESOLVED AFTER 3 YEARS. I DRIVE MY FAMILY IN THIS CAR AND UNTIL IT'S FIXED WE HAVE TO TAKE 2 SEPARATE CARS. IT'S OKAY, I'VE MADE MY PAYMENTS TO GM IN A TIMELY MANNER ON A CAR I DON'T FEEL SAFE DRIVING MY FAMILY IN. RECALL # : 49151

NHTSA complaint 11183056. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

AIR BAGS
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN 1500. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTIFICATION FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V381000 (AIR BAGS) AND STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER DID NOT REPAIR THE VEHICLE WITHIN A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE..*BF *TR

NHTSA complaint 11166200. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

83,000 miles

DASH CRACKED ABOVE INSTRUMENT PANEL DASH CRACKED AT CORNER OF PASSENGER AIR BAG

NHTSA complaint 11144393. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

Compare

Other years of the Chevrolet Suburban 1500

Model year Complaints Recalls Deaths
2026 15 3 —
2025 30 1 —
2023 17 1 —
2010 53 0 —

Other 2011 Chevrolet models

Malibu 978 Equinox 782 Cruze 732 Traverse 608 Silverado 1500 563 Impala 505 Tahoe 446 HHR 203

Complaints on file, same model year.

Every Chevrolet on this site — 304 vehicles.

If this is your car and a dealer keeps failing to fix it, your state's lemon law may require the manufacturer to replace it or buy it back. How many repair attempts it takes, and how long you have to file, is set by the state you bought in and by nothing on this page.

Where these numbers come from

A complaint is one owner's account and has not been verified by NHTSA or by us. A vehicle with more complaints is not necessarily worse: models that sold in larger numbers collect more of them. How this is counted.

Compiled and maintained by
Independent developer and analyst