Chevrolet Suburban Electrical System Problems
Owners have filed 747 complaints with NHTSA about electrical system problems on the Chevrolet Suburban across 30 model years. The 2003 model year has the most (81).
- 747electrical system complaints
- —median miles at failure
- 12mention a crash
- 7mention an injury
- 6related recalls
- $820typical repair cost reported by owners
- 43%of reports with a speed happened at 50+ mph
How much does it cost to fix?
Owners who wrote down what they paid or were quoted put the typical electrical system repair on the Chevrolet Suburban at $820, and half of them between $770 and $950.
Based on 29 NHTSA complaints about this problem alone that state a repair bill or quote (2001–2026), 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 electrical system problems happen?
Based on 385 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 747 complaints, 12 mention a crash, 48 a fire, 7 an injury.
Chevrolet Suburban electrical system complaints by model year
| Model year | Electrical System complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 Suburban | 4 | 9% | 5,000 |
| 2023 Suburban | 14 | 11% | 2,500 |
| 2022 Suburban | 22 | 18% | 37,224 |
| 2021 Suburban | 19 | 10% | 78,224 |
| 2020 Suburban | 8 | 18% | 87,500 |
| 2019 Suburban | 7 | 9% | 9,800 |
| 2018 Suburban | 17 | 20% | 68,000 |
| 2017 Suburban | 21 | 15% | 29,700 |
| 2016 Suburban | 26 | 12% | 51,000 |
| 2015 Suburban | 58 | 13% | 68,000 |
| 2014 Suburban | 7 | 12% | 69,719 |
| 2013 Suburban | 14 | 12% | 57,850 |
| 2012 Suburban | 10 | 10% | 63,000 |
| 2011 Suburban | 10 | 7% | 90,000 |
| 2010 Suburban | 9 | 8% | 130,000 |
| 2009 Suburban | 16 | 15% | 122,000 |
| 2008 Suburban | 22 | 10% | 60,000 |
| 2007 Suburban | 25 | 9% | 71,755 |
| 2006 Suburban | 3 | 13% | 95,500 |
| 2005 Suburban | 36 | 28% | 69,720 |
| 2004 Suburban | 72 | 35% | 58,000 |
| 2003 Suburban | 81 | 27% | 76,731 |
| 2002 Suburban | 10 | 3% | 115,000 |
| 2001 Suburban | 30 | 7% | 57,945 |
| 2000 Suburban | 13 | 5% | 66,330 |
| 1999 Suburban | 58 | 9% | 78,500 |
| 1998 Suburban | 14 | 7% | 95,445 |
| 1997 Suburban | 42 | 10% | 138,000 |
| 1996 Suburban | 47 | 13% | 125,567 |
| 1995 Suburban | 32 | 7% | 200,000 |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (6)
Air bags:srs malfunction warning lamp/light; electrical system:software
Model years: 2021
Problem: General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2021 Buick Envision, Cadillac CT4, CT5, Escalade, Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Tahoe, Corvette, Suburban, GMC Yukon, Yukon XL vehicles. The communications gateway module incorrectly processes a loss of communication with the sensing diagnostic module (SDM), causing the air bag malfunction indicator light to inconsistently illuminate.
Risk: The air bag malfunction indicator light may fail to warn the driver of a problem with the air bag, increasing the risk of injury.
Fix: The communications gateway module software will be updated by a dealer, or through an over-the-air (OTA) update, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on July 1, 2021. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300, Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, or GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is N212338110.
Electrical system:ignition
Model years: 2015
Problem: General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2014-2015 Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra trucks manufactured January 24, 2014, to February 26, 2014, 2015 Chevrolet Suburban vehicles manufactured February 12, 2014 and Chevrolet Tahoe vehicles manufactured February 6, 2014, to February 13, 2014. In the affected vehicles, the ignition lock actuator may bind, making turning the key difficult or causing the ignition to get stuck in the "Start" position.
Risk: If stuck in the "Start" position, the ignition may suddenly snap back into the "Accessory" position, causing a loss of engine, steering, and braking power, increasing the risk of a vehicle crash. If the vehicle is in a crash, the air bags may not deploy, increasing the risk of occupant injury.
Fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the ignition lock housing, free of charge. The recall began on November 20, 2015. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020 or GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is 15573.
Electrical system:ignition
Model years: 2011, 2012
Problem: General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2011-2012 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, Escalade EXT, Chevrolet Avalanche, Silverado HD, Silverado LD, Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Sierra LD, Sierra HD, Yukon, and Yukon XL vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the ignition lock actuator may bind, making turning the key difficult or causing the ignition to get stuck in the "Start" position.
Risk: If stuck in the "Start" position, the ignition may suddenly snap back into the "Accessory" position, causing a loss of engine, steering, and braking power, increasing the risk of a vehicle crash. If the vehicle is in a crash, the air bags may not deploy, increasing the risk of occupant injury.
Fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and replace the ignition lock housing, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on February 12, 2015. Owners may contact GM customer service at 1-800-458-8006 (Cadillac), 1-800-222-1020 (Chevrolet), or 1-800-462-8782 (GMC). GM's number for this recall is 14696 for the original equipment, and 14912 for the service replacement parts.
Electrical system
Model years: 2013, 2014
Problem: General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2013-2014 Cadillac CTS, Escalade, Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Yukon, and Yukon XL, and 2014 Buick Enclave, Chevrolet Express, Impala, Silverado HD, Traverse, GMC Acadia, Savana, and Sierra HD vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the chassis electronic module may be internally contaminated, resulting in an electrical short.
Risk: If the module experiences an electrical short, the vehicle could stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the chassis electronic module, free of charge. The recall began on December 26, 2014. Owners may contact GM customer service at 1-800-521-7300 (Buick), 1-800-458-006 (Cadillac), 1-800-222-1020 (Chevrolet), and 1-800-462-8782 (GMC). GMÂs number for this recall is 14515.
Electrical system
Model years: 2007, 2008, 2009
Problem: Gm is recalling certain model year 2006-2009 buick, lucerne; cadillac dts; hummer h2; model year 2008-2009 buick enclave; cadillac cts; model year 2007-2009 cadillac escalade, escalade esv, escalade ext; chevrolet avalanche, silverado, suburban, tahoe; gmc acadia, sierra, yukon, yukon xl; saturn outlook; and model year 2009 chevrolet traverse vehicles equipped with a heated washer fluid system (hwfs). A recall was implemented in 2008 to add a fuse to the control circuit harness to address the potential consequences of a printed circuit board (pcb) electrical short. However, there have been new reports of thermal incidents on hwfs modules after this improvement was installed. These incidents resulted from a new failure mode attributed to the device's thermal protection feature. The significance varies from minor distortion to considerable melting of the plastic around the hwfs fluid chamber.
Risk: It is possible for the heated washer module to ignite and a fire may occur.
Fix: Dealers will permanently disable and remove the heated washer fluid module. An updated page for the owner manual will be provided and inserted in the owner manual to document that the feature has been permanently disabled and removed from the vehicle. The safety recall began on june 11, 2010. Owners may contact buick at 1-866-608-8080, cadillac at 1-866-982-2339, chevrolet at 1-800-630-2438, saturn at 1-800-972-8876, gmc at 1-866-996-9463 and hummer at 1-800-732-5493 or at the owner center at www.gmownercenter.com.
Electrical system
Model years: 2007, 2008
Problem: Gm is recalling 857,735 my 2006-2008 buick lucerne; cadillac dts; hummer h2; my 2007-2008 cadillac escalade, escalade esv, escalade ext; chevrolet avalanche, silverado, suburban, tahoe; gmc acadia, sierra, yukon, yukon xl, saturn outlook; and my 2008 buick enclave vehicles equipped with a heated wiper washer fluid system. A short circuit on the printed circuit board for the washer fluid heater may overheat the control-circuit ground wire.
Risk: This may cause other electrical features to malfunction, create an odor, or cause smoke increasing the risk of a fire.
Fix: Dealers will install a wire harness with an in-line fuse free of charge. The recall began on september 12, 2008. Owners may contact buick at 1-866-608-8080; cadillac at 1-800-982-2339 or http://www.cadillac.com; chevrolet at 1-800-630-2438; saturn at 1-800-972-8876 or http://www.saturn.com, gmc at 1-866-996-9436; or hummer at 1-800-732-5493; or through their website at <a href=http://www.gmownercenter.com>http://www.gmownercenter.com</a> .
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
My suburban shut off 5 times while turning. Very unsafe given I have 4 children and it could have been while we were driving on the freeway, which could have been fatal.
The contact owns a 2021 Chevrolet Suburban. The contact stated that while driving 20 MPH, the radio display screen was blank. Additionally, the vehicle turned on and off independently, the doors locked and unlocked independently, and the liftgate closed independently. The contact stated that the…
While driving, the digital driver/instrument display behind the steering wheel went completely black, but the engine continued running and the radio remained on. The vehicle was stopped, turned off and restarted and the display screen came back on. This didn't effect the drivability of the vehicle…
The radio control unit that controls all the interior features of the car failed due to an over the air update. We can no longer use the radio, gps, hot and cold on the screen or what the rear climate is at, there is no sounds from any of the blinkers or emergency lights.
This problem isnât just the 6.2L engine. My 22 Suburban has the 5.3L and had engine failure on the freeway going 70 mph in April 2026. Loud noises and loss of power. Towed to dealership and was confirmed that it was the same issues as the 6.2L. The dealership only replaced certain components…
Frequently asked questions
Do all Chevrolet Suburbans have electrical system problems?
No. NHTSA has 747 owner complaints about electrical system for the Chevrolet Suburban. Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the Chevrolet Suburban electrical system?
Yes: 6 safety recalls list electrical system. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.
How much does it cost to fix electrical system problems on the Chevrolet Suburban?
Owners report a typical cost of $820 (half paid between $770 and $950), from 29 complaints that state a repair bill or quote, in 2026 dollars.
Other Chevrolet Suburban problems
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic problems (940)
- Air Bags problems (651)
- Power Train problems (629)
- Service Brakes problems (566)
- Engine problems (529)
- Steering problems (452)
- Structure problems (363)
- Tires problems (325)
See all Chevrolet Suburban problems.