Chevrolet Suburban Structure Problems
Owners have filed 363 complaints with NHTSA about structure problems on the Chevrolet Suburban across 28 model years. The 2007 model year has the most (42). The words owners use most often: “dashboard cracked” (6% of reports).
- 363structure complaints
- —median miles at failure
- 12mention a crash
- 29mention an injury
- 3related recalls
- $520typical repair cost reported by owners
- 52%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.
- Dashboard cracked: mentioned in 23 of 363 complaints (6%)
How much does it cost to fix?
Owners who wrote down what they paid or were quoted put the typical structure repair on the Chevrolet Suburban at $520, and half of them between $330 and $1,100.
Based on 14 NHTSA complaints about this problem alone that state a repair bill or quote (2006–2026), 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 structure problems happen?
Based on 235 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 363 complaints, 12 mention a crash, 1 a fire, 29 an injury.
Chevrolet Suburban structure complaints by model year
| Model year | Structure complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 Suburban | 1 | 2% | — |
| 2023 Suburban | 5 | 4% | — |
| 2021 Suburban | 2 | 1% | — |
| 2019 Suburban | 1 | 1% | — |
| 2018 Suburban | 1 | 1% | 26,600 |
| 2017 Suburban | 1 | 1% | — |
| 2016 Suburban | 12 | 5% | 36,000 |
| 2015 Suburban | 34 | 8% | 49,500 |
| 2014 Suburban | 8 | 14% | 61,000 |
| 2013 Suburban | 23 | 19% | 39,713 |
| 2012 Suburban | 23 | 23% | 66,077 |
| 2011 Suburban | 26 | 18% | 58,000 |
| 2010 Suburban | 28 | 24% | 78,000 |
| 2009 Suburban | 11 | 10% | 80,000 |
| 2008 Suburban | 30 | 14% | 80,000 |
| 2007 Suburban | 42 | 14% | 70,000 |
| 2006 Suburban | 5 | 22% | 93,000 |
| 2005 Suburban | 11 | 9% | 95,000 |
| 2004 Suburban | 3 | 1% | 162,120 |
| 2003 Suburban | 11 | 4% | 67,998 |
| 2002 Suburban | 4 | 1% | 188,733 |
| 2001 Suburban | 14 | 3% | 71,000 |
| 2000 Suburban | 16 | 6% | 74,500 |
| 1999 Suburban | 20 | 3% | 66,025 |
| 1998 Suburban | 4 | 2% | — |
| 1997 Suburban | 4 | 1% | 154,600 |
| 1996 Suburban | 7 | 2% | — |
| 1995 Suburban | 16 | 4% | 53,000 |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (3)
Structure
Model years: 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003
Problem: Certain pickup truck, van, and mini van conversions equipped with southern comfort built running boards that contain certain courtesy lights manufactured by american technology components, inc. These units contain a courtesy light or lights that might overheat when the wire harness is exposed to excessive moisture and road salt.
Risk: This overheating condition can cause the running board to melt or cause a fire.
Fix: Dealers will replace the wiring harness on these running boards. Owner notification began march 7, 2003. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact southern comfort at 1-800-745-6096.
Structure:body:door:hinge and attachments
Model years: 2003
Problem: Certain sport utility vehicles fail to comply with requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 214, "side impact protection." these vehicles are built with four welds on the rear door upper hinge. On some of these vehicles, one or two of the welds may not be to specification.
Risk: As a result, the door strength may be degraded during a side impact vehicle crash.
Fix: Dealers will inspect the welds on the left rear door upper hinge. If a weld is found out-of-specification, a bolt will be installed to secure the hinge. Owner notification began february 17, 2003. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact cadillac at 1-800-458-8006, chevrolet at 1-800-222-1020, or gmc at 1-800-462-8782.
Structure:body
Model years: 2000, 2001
Problem: Vehicle description: light duty pickup trucks and sport utility vehicles. Some of these vehicles have loose or missing rear wheelhouse plugs. Under certain vehicle operating conditions, exhaust gases can flow forward and accumulate in the rear wheelhouse.
Risk: These gases could flow into the passenger compartment if the plug is missing or loose and could cause possible illness, unconsciousness, or death.
Fix: Dealers will inspect the vehicle for loose or missing wheelhouse plugs and install new plugs if necessary.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
There is a defective paint on my 2016 ltz suburban
Hood and roof of Suburban has discolored and lost its shine coat. The door and panels are fine
The sunroof drains continue to fail. Iâve had multiple occasions where the car has had drains back up or be disconnected.. This is a safety issue because it creates mold as water falls in the headliner and then the cabin. It also creates rust, particularly behind the dashboard. Thatâs not rust…
Sun roof exploded while driving. Temps were not extreme, there were no significant pressure changes. Sun roof had no prior damage. Looking online multiple people reported the sun roof exploding on 2023 tahoes and suburbans.
OEM Running boards, non powered. It is available for inspection. The running boards are slippery evetime they are wet. Does not matter what shoes you have. I have slipped 4 times since owned the vehicle and even broke the interior panel of my driver side door in 2023 which lead to a$500 repair…
Frequently asked questions
Do all Chevrolet Suburbans have structure problems?
No. NHTSA has 363 owner complaints about structure 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 structure?
Yes: 3 safety recalls list structure. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.
How much does it cost to fix structure problems on the Chevrolet Suburban?
Owners report a typical cost of $520 (half paid between $330 and $1,100), from 14 complaints that state a repair bill or quote, in 2026 dollars.
What do owners say about structure problems on the Chevrolet Suburban?
The most frequent phrase is “dashboard cracked”, in 23 of 363 complaints.
Other Chevrolet Suburban problems
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic problems (940)
- Electrical System problems (747)
- Air Bags problems (651)
- Power Train problems (629)
- Service Brakes problems (566)
- Engine problems (529)
- Steering problems (452)
- Tires problems (325)
See all Chevrolet Suburban problems.