2011 Chevrolet Suburban 1500 problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Air Bags (18) · Structure (8) · Structure:body (6)
🧭 Reliability snapshot
Compared against other Chevrolet Suburban 1500 model years — complaint volume vs the model's median year, recalls and severity. How we score →
🛣️ Complaints by mileage
51 NHTSA complaints that reported an odometer reading.
Safety recalls (2)
Steering:linkages 2011-06-28 · campaign 11V339000 · 739 vehicles
Defect: GM IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2011CADILLAC ESCALADE, ESCALADE ESV; CHEVROLET SILVERADO HD, SILVERADO LD, SUBURBAN, TAHOE; AND GMC SIERRA HD, SIERRA LD, YUKON, AND YUKON XL VEHICLES. THE INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT ATTACHING BOLTS MAY NOT HAVE BEEN TIGHTENED TO THE PROPER SPECIFICATION.
Risk: THIS COULD ALLOW THE JOINTS TO SEPARATE, AND THE DRIVER COULD EXPERIENCE LOSS OF STEERING INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Fix: GM DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND ENSURE THAT THE INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT BOLTS ARE TIGHTENED TO THE PROPER SPECIFICATION. THE SAFETY RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN ON OR ABOUT JULY 13, 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CADILLAC AT 1-800-458-8006, CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438 AND GMC AT 1-866-996-9463.
Suspension:rear:axle:spindle 2011-01-06 · campaign 11V007000 · 30,566 vehicles
Defect: GENERAL MOTORS IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2011 CADILLAC ESCALADE, ESCALADE ESV, ESCALADE EXT; CHEVROLET AVALANCHE, COLORADO, EXPRESS, SILVERADO, SUBURBAN, TAHOE; AND GMC CANYON, SIERRA, SAVANA, YUKON AND YUKON XL VEHICLES. THE REAR AXLE CROSS PINS WERE NOT PROPERLY HEAT TREATED AND COULD FRACTURE AND BECOME DISPLACED WITHIN THE REAR AXLE. SHOULD THE PIN SHIFT OUT OF POSITION, IT COULD CREATE AN INTERFERENCE CONDITION AND CAUSE THE REAR AXLE TO LOCK.
Risk: THE DRIVER MAY NOT BE ABLE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND A CRASH COULD OCCUR WITHOUT WARNING.
Fix: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW REAR AXLE CROSS PIN FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JANUARY 11, 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CADILLAC AT 1-866-982-2339, CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438, GMC AT 1-866-996-9463 AND AT THE OWNER CENTER AT WWW.GMOWNERCENTER.COM.
Service bulletins (347)
Technical service bulletins are repair instructions manufacturers send dealers for known issues. Unlike recalls, the fix is not automatically free — but naming the bulletin at the service desk can save diagnosis time and support goodwill repairs.
Unknown Or Other 2026-09-04 · PIP4902W · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this preliminary information advises a dealer on how to email gds2 session logs into technical assistance.
Unknown Or Other 2026-04-01 · PIT3271Q · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this preliminary information communicates information about how to determine if a wheel and tires size change is available.
Unknown Or Other 2026-03-09 · PIP6104 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this preliminary information communicates the steps on how to save a gds2 session log and upload to a technical assistance case in cx connect.
Unknown Or Other 2026-03-09 · PIP4902V · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this preliminary information advises a dealer on how to email gds2 session logs into technical assistance.
Unknown Or Other 2026-01-08 · PIP4902U · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this preliminary information advises a dealer on how to email gds2 session logs into technical assistance.
Unknown Or Other 2025-11-20 · PIT5214G · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this preliminary information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that have had multiple repair attempts that are being performed on customer’s vehicles that exhibit vibration conditions without utilizing the support of general motors technical assistance center. if va
Showing the 6 most recent of 347 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
2021-04-02 · Air Bags“tl* takata recall. the contact owns a 2011 chevrolet suburban 1500. the contact received notification of nhtsa campaign number: 21v050000 (air bags) however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. the contact called ralph sellers chevrolet (15015 florida blvd, baton rouge, la 70819, (225) 529-9130) and it was confirmed that the part was …”
2019-07-04 · Structure · 118,000 mi“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. information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia),…”
2019-06-24 · Air Bags“tl* takata recall. the contact owns a 2011 chevrolet suburban 1500. the contact received a recall notification for nhtsa campaign number: 16v381000 (air bags) and stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time to repair the vehicle. autonation chevrolet north richmond hills (7769 boulevard 26, north richmond hills, tx 76180) was …”
2019-03-17 · Air Bags“recall was issued may of 2016 and i've still not been notified to bring vehicle in for a fix.…”
2019-02-28 · Air Bags“takata recall has still not been resolved after 3 years. i drive my family in this car and until it's fixed we have to take 2 separate cars. it's okay, i've made my payments to gm in a timely manner on a car i don't feel safe driving my family in. recall # : 49151…”
2019-01-10 · Air Bags“tl* takata recall. the contact owns a 2011 chevrolet suburban 1500. the contact received a recall notification for nhtsa campaign number: 16v381000 (air bags) and stated that the manufacturer did not repair the vehicle within a reasonable amount of time. the dealer and manufacturer were not made aware of the issue. the contact had not experienced a…”
2018-10-31 · Unknown Or Other · 83,000 mi“dash cracked above instrument panel dash cracked at corner of passenger air bag…”
2018-10-05 · Unknown Or Other · 100,200 mi“while in park in our driveway, engine turned off, and keys in my hand the suburban rolled backwards down our driveway, knocking me down and rolling over my leg where it then stopped in the middle of the street. 911 was called and i was transported from the scene to the hospital where i was admitted. we are highly concerned about this incident…”
2018-09-21 · Unknown Or Other · 110,000 mi“dashboard is all cracked around side airbag and may affect deployment. dash is also cracked at on driver side. cracks just appeared no accident, regular around town driving.…”
2018-07-12 · Unknown Or Other · 106,712 mi“dashboard has cracked around the air bag area. i am concerned that if in an accident, this could affect air bag performance or dashboard could come apart easier on impact and cause bodily harm.…”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.