2021 Chevrolet Suburban Engine Problems
Owners have filed 87 complaints with NHTSA about engine problems on the 2021 Chevrolet Suburban, 44% of all complaints for this model year. Half of the reports with a mileage happened before 48,063 miles. The words owners use most often: “traction control” (9% of reports).
- 87engine complaints
- 48,063median miles at failure
- 2mention a crash
- 0mention an injury
- 1related recalls
- $12,400typical repair cost reported by owners
- 51%of reports with a speed happened at 50+ mph
What owners describe
Phrases that appear unusually often in these complaints compared with complaints about other cars.
- Traction control: mentioned in 8 of 87 complaints (9%)
- Engine lifters: mentioned in 6 of 87 complaints (7%)
- Sudden loss: mentioned in 6 of 87 complaints (7%)
- Safety concern: mentioned in 6 of 87 complaints (7%)
How much does it cost to fix?
Owners who wrote down what they paid or were quoted put the typical engine repair on the 2021 Chevrolet Suburban at $12,400, and half of them between $12,000 and $14,000.
Based on 5 NHTSA complaints about this problem alone that state a repair bill or quote (2025–2026), converted to 2026 dollars with the U.S. consumer price index. These are owners' own figures, not a quote: they include dealer quotes, and owners who file complaints often faced larger repairs, so they can run higher than typical shop prices. Prices vary by shop, region and warranty coverage. How we calculate this.
At what mileage do engine problems happen?
Based on 10 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 87 complaints, 2 mention a crash.
Chevrolet Suburban engine complaints by model year
| Model year | Engine complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 Suburban | 24 | 55% | 16,600 |
| 2023 Suburban | 69 | 53% | 43,300 |
| 2022 Suburban | 62 | 50% | 59,583 |
| 2021 Suburban | 87 | 44% | 48,063 |
| 2020 Suburban | 17 | 39% | 92,500 |
| 2019 Suburban | 26 | 33% | 81,000 |
| 2018 Suburban | 19 | 23% | 88,000 |
| 2017 Suburban | 25 | 18% | 94,400 |
| 2016 Suburban | 27 | 12% | 60,000 |
| 2015 Suburban | 39 | 9% | 65,679 |
| 2014 Suburban | 1 | 2% | 124,000 |
| 2013 Suburban | 16 | 14% | 110,000 |
| 2012 Suburban | 12 | 12% | 64,500 |
| 2011 Suburban | 10 | 7% | 83,000 |
| 2010 Suburban | 6 | 5% | 125,000 |
| 2009 Suburban | 10 | 9% | 120,000 |
| 2008 Suburban | 25 | 12% | 125,000 |
| 2007 Suburban | 27 | 9% | 156,000 |
| 2005 Suburban | 6 | 5% | 120,000 |
| 2004 Suburban | 6 | 3% | 99,500 |
| 2003 Suburban | 4 | 1% | 127,500 |
| 2002 Suburban | 2 | 1% | 193,337 |
| 2001 Suburban | 7 | 2% | 162,000 |
| 2000 Suburban | 1 | 0% | 232,000 |
| 1999 Suburban | 2 | 0% | 116,000 |
| 1997 Suburban | 1 | 0% | 76,900 |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (1)
Engine and engine cooling:engine:hard parts internal/mechanical
Problem: General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2021-2024 Cadillac Escalade and Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Silverado 1500, Suburban, and Tahoe, GMC Sierra 1500, Yukon, and Yukon XL vehicles equipped with a 6.2L V8 gas engine. The connecting rod and/or crankshaft engine components may have manufacturing defects that can lead to engine damage and engine failure.
Risk: Engine failure increases the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will inspect the engine, and as necessary, repair or replace the engine. For vehicles that pass inspection, dealers will add higher viscosity oil, install 6 oil fill cap, replace the oil filter, and update the owner's manual. Repairs will be performed free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 18, 2025. Owners may contact Cadillac customer service at 1-800-333-4223, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, or GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is N252494000.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
Cylinders were misfiring and lifters had to be completely replaced along with pushrod and camshaft. This cost me $7018.64 to fix out of my own pocket. Received the vehicle back, and there was a slight ticking sound that was new to me. Scheduled to bring the vehicle back in and 2 days before I was…
The contact owns a 2021 Chevrolet Suburban. The contact stated that while driving 55 MPH, there was an abnormal knocking sound coming from the vehicle. The vehicle went into LIMP Mode with the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was driven to the nearest dealer in LIMP Mode. A…
Our Chevy Suburban High Country suffered sudden engine failure resulting in the vehicle to shake and smoke while driving on a busy intersection. The dealership diagnosed internal engine mechanical failure at only 46,000 miles. I believe this is directly tied to the known GM 6.2 L87 engine issues.
Frequently asked questions
Do all 2021 Chevrolet Suburbans have engine problems?
No. NHTSA has 87 owner complaints about engine for the 2021 Chevrolet Suburban (44% of the 200 complaints for this model year). Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the 2021 Chevrolet Suburban engine?
Yes: 1 safety recall list engine. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.
At what mileage do engine problems start?
The median reported mileage is 48,063 miles: half of the reports with a mileage came before that.
How much does it cost to fix engine problems on the 2021 Chevrolet Suburban?
Owners report a typical cost of $12,400 (half paid between $12,000 and $14,000), from 5 complaints that state a repair bill or quote, in 2026 dollars.
What do owners say about engine problems on the 2021 Chevrolet Suburban?
The most frequent phrase is “traction control”, in 8 of 87 complaints, followed by “engine lifters” (6).
See all 2021 Chevrolet Suburban problems or engine problems across all Suburban years.