The Chevy Suburban is a mainstay of the full-size SUV. They’re large, have plenty of seating and storage space, and they tend to be pretty safe. Yet just how reliable is the Chevrolet Suburban? Let’s take a look at some of the more common Suburban problems, and the one Chevy Suburban problem that makes Suburban owners more frustrated than any other. 

Engine problems plague the Chevy Suburban

Used Chevy Suburban problems include engine troubles. As you might imagine, this is the most frustrating thing that Suburban owners report. The most common of these Suburban problems are excessive oil consumption. Car Complaints ranks this problem as being the number one Suburban problem, and it occurs most frequently in the 2009 Chevy Suburban. However, it does plague other models as well. 

The severity rating of this Chevrolet Suburban problem is pretty bad, at an 8.4. The typical repair cost averages around $5,000, and it tends to occur at about 55,000 miles, which means you’re not going to be driving your Suburban for that long before it surfaces. Additionally, excessive oil consumption in the Suburban may lead to you needing to have your engine repaired or even replaced. As you might imagine, replacing an engine is not a cheap fix. 

Sometimes the air conditioning stops working

While engine problems take the first two spots on Car Complaints’ list of Chevy Suburban problems, air conditioning issues are number three. It happens most commonly in the 2015 Suburban, and costs an average of $1,150 to fix. The average mileage that the air conditioning cuts out at is roughly 65,550 miles. 

The brakes can be problematic in the Chevrolet Suburban

Common complaints for the 2018 Suburban are the brakes, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Several Suburban owners reported that it was incredibly difficult to press down on the brakes, and they were afraid they were going to crash. This is clearly a frightening problem to have, especially in an SUV as heavy as the Chevy Suburban. 

In the 2014 Chevy Suburban, air bags cause problems 

The biggest problem in the 2014 Chevrolet Suburban is the air bags. There are 51 complaints on the NHTSA’s website about air bags in the 2014 Suburban. This is related to the Takata air bag recall. Although the 2014 Chevy Suburban is included in the Takata air bag recall, there are no replacement parts available for the 2014 Chevy Suburban to be repaired. As one might imagine, this is a frustrating experience for many Chevy Suburban owners. 

If you own a Chevy Suburban, you may want to be aware of these problems. Just because a problem affects one model year, doesn’t mean that other models are safe. Additionally, it doesn’t mean that they’re definitely impacted, either. If you’re considering purchasing a Chevy Suburban, you can check the NHTSA website to find out if there are any recalls on the Suburban you’re thinking about buying. You can also read common customer complaints, which can give you some insight into problems that are frequently reported, even if they aren’t officially recalled. If you do your due diligence when buying a used car, you hopefully won’t end up with any unwelcome surprises.