Problems · NHTSA complaints
2011 Chevrolet Suburban 1500 problems
Owners filed 228 complaints about the 2011 Chevrolet Suburban 1500 with NHTSA between May 2011 and May 2026. The most-cited component is air bags (98).
Complaints
228
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
4
Reported by owners
Fires
1
Reported by owners
Injuries
11
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
Complaints by component
One complaint can cite several components
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.
Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Nov 7, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
When complaints were filed
Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
3
4
6
11
22
55
53
31
17
10
5
4
2
2
1
2
View as table
| Model year | Complaints filed per calendar year |
|---|---|
| 2011 | 3 |
| 2012 | 4 |
| 2013 | 6 |
| 2014 | 11 |
| 2015 | 22 |
| 2016 | 55 |
| 2017 | 53 |
| 2018 | 31 |
| 2019 | 17 |
| 2020 | 10 |
| 2021 | 5 |
| 2022 | 4 |
| 2023 | 2 |
| 2024 | 2 |
| 2025 | 1 |
| 2026 | 2 |
Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.
Top problems in owners’ words
Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
Air bags
98 reports2 crashes
“This is not connected with a specific crash in this vehicle. It is a defect with all vehicles with this seat. There is known common defect with the stitching on the side of the front seats covering the airbag. The stitching is designed to come apart if an airbag is deployed. The defective stitching deteriorates and falls apart. This exposes the airbag system in the seat. This occurs on all GM vehicles with the same leather seats. Models include Suburbans, Yukons, and pickup trucks. In this Suburban the stiching started to come apart about 6 years ago with a few loose threads. The entire side of the seat has now come apart. The rest of the seat is in relatively good repair without any holes, rips or torn stitching. GM claims this is cosmetic and not covered. The safety issues caused by this includes the potential deterioration of the airbag system interfering with deployment in a crash. Another safety issue is the potential for foreign objects to get lodged in this space and injuring someone if the airbag goes off. The third safety issue is the potential of a person, or child, to access the airbag and cause it to go off without warning.”
Structure
44 reports1 crash
“MY NAME IS [XXX] I'M THE OWNER OF A 2011 CHEVY SUBURBAN AND ONE DAY I TOOK MY WIFE TO THE HOSPITAL FOR SURGERY AND WHEN I CAME OUT AFTER 4 HOURS MY SUBURBAN HAD 2 CRACKS ON THE DASHBOARD ONE NEXT TO THE PASSENGER AIRBAG AND ONE NEXT TO THE LEFT ON TOP OF THE GAUGES PANEL. *TR”
Electrical system
14 reports1 fire
“Odometer Fraud. The contact purchased a 2011 Chevrolet Suburban. It was discovered that there was a mileage discrepancy. The vehicle was a private sale. At the time of purchase, the mileage was 133,000. The contact stated that at the time of registration, it was discovered that the mileage was 233,793.”
Engine
12 reports
“EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION. I SEE THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM ON GM VEHICLES AND IT AFFECTS BOTH MY 2011 SUBURBAN AND 2012 SILVERADO WITH 5.3 FLEX FUEL ENGINES. THE SUBURBAN IS MORE NOTICEABLE SINCE WE USE IT FOR LONG ROAD TRIPS. THE TRUCK IS MOSTLY CITY DRIVING. I BELIEVE THIS TO BE CAUSED BY THE AFM AND PCV. I WILL BE INSTALLING THE UPGRADED VALVE COVER IN HOPES OF PREVENTING A MAJOR ENGINE FAILURE IN THE FUTURE. IT WOULD BE NICE IF GM RECALLED THESE ENGINES WITH AN ADEQUATE FIX. I ONLY NOTICE BURNING OIL ON STARTUP COMING FROM THE EXHAUST. CURRENT MILEAGE ON THE SUBURBAN IS 104,000. I HAVE NOT TOUCHED ANYTHING IN THE ENGINE BAY OR CABLE COVERS YET. PLEASE RESPOND QUICKLY IF I SHOULD NOT. THANK YOU, [XXX] REDACTED TO PROTECT PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *CC”
Power train
8 reports
“VEHICLE RECENTLY REACHED 160,000 MILES. MAINTENANCE IS UP TO DATE. TRANSMISSION APPEARS TO HAVE AN INTERMITTENT FAULT WITH ITS OPERATION AS IT WILL THROW ITSELF OUT OF DRIVE WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION. WE ARE UNABLE TO SAFELY DRIVE THIS VEHICLE NOW DUE TO ITS UNPREDICTABILITY.”
Vehicle speed control
8 reports
“WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY I WAS USING THE CRUISE CONTROL AND THE CAR BEGAN TO INCREASE IN SPEED WITHOUT MY CONTROL. IT WENT FROM 65 TO 90 IN A FEW SECONDS AND I HAD TO SLAM ON THE BREAKS TO GET IT TO STOP. THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES. ALSO WE CAN NEVER LET THE GAS GET LOWER THEN A QUARTER OF A TANK OR THE CAR JUST SHUTS DOWN LIKE ITS EMPTY. SOMETIMES THE ENGINE WILL JUST REV UP FOR NO REASON AND OTHER TIMES IT DOESN'T ACCELERATE PROPERLY. YOU CAN PUSH THE GAS AND IT FEELS LIKE THE SPEED IS DELAYED BUT THEN WILL CATCH UP. *JS”
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 7, 2026
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.