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Chevrolet · Midsize / large SUV

2016 Chevrolet Suburban

Gas
Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD
4 EPA-rated configurations
Data refreshed 2026-09-11
F
Safety Signal
45 / 100 from the NHTSA recall record
Recalls1 critical6
Complaintsowner reports to NHTSA219
Crash ratingNHTSA overall4★
Fuel economybest combined, EPA19 mpg
20262025202420232022202120202019201820172016
Active NHTSA advisory: do not drive. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and see the recall details below.

The 2016 Chevrolet Suburban is sold in the U.S. as a gas midsize or large SUV with 4 EPA-rated configurations. The most efficient version, the Suburban C1500 2WD, is EPA-rated at 19 mpg combined. NHTSA lists 6 recall campaigns for this model year, 1 rated critical, which gives it a Safety Signal grade of F. Owners have filed 219 complaints, most often about the service brakes. NHTSA crash-tested it at 4 stars overall.

Specs & fuel economy

Source: EPA fueleconomy.gov
ConfigurationPowertrainDriveEngine / motorCityHwyCombAnnual fuel*
Suburban C1500 2WDGasRWD5.3L 8-cyl162319$3,300
Suburban C1500 2WDGasRWD5.3L 8-cyl162318$3,450
Suburban K1500 4WDGas4WD5.3L 8-cyl152218$3,450
Suburban K1500 4WDGas4WD5.3L 8-cyl152218$3,450

*EPA estimate at 15,000 miles/year at EPA reference fuel and electricity prices. fueleconomy.gov record ids: 36614, 36612, 36621, 36623.

Factory warranty running out?

The 2016 Chevrolet Suburban is in the years where transmission, electronics and drivetrain repairs land on the owner. Compare extended-coverage quotes in about two minutes.

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Recalls (6)

Source: NHTSA recall database
▲high

Electronic Stability Control (Esc)

N192261050
652,967 vehicles
ProblemGeneral Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2015-2020 Chevrolet Suburban, Tahoe, and GMC Yukon, and 2014-2018 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 and GMC Sierra 1500 vehicles equipped with a 5.3-liter engine, a 3.08-ratio rear axle and four-wheel drive. If a wheel-speed sensor fails, while the vehicle is traveling between 41 and 60 mph in four-wheel or automatic mode, the Electronic-Brake Control Module (EBCM) software may activate the driveline-protection system.RiskUnintended activation of the driveline-protection system will cause unintended braking on the wheel on the opposite side of the failed sensor, causing the vehicle to pull to one side unexpectedly, increasing the risk of a crash.FixGM will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the EBCM, free of charge. The recall began December 11, 2019. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-630-2438 or GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is N192261050.
NHTSA campaign 19V761000reported Oct 24, 2019General Motors LLC
▲high

Service Brakes, Hydraulic

N192268490
3,456,719 vehicles
ProblemGeneral Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2015-2017 Cadillac Escalade, 2014-2018 Chevrolet Silverado, GMC Sierra, 2015-2018 Chevrolet Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Yukon vehicles. The amount of vacuum created by the vacuum pump may decrease over time.RiskAs the vacuum level drops, the brake assist decreases, increasing braking effort, extending the distance required to stop the vehicle, thereby increasing the risk of a crash.FixGM will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the Electronic Brake Control Module, free of charge. The recall began October 8, 2019. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-630-2438, Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006 or GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is N192268490.
NHTSA campaign 19V645000reported Sep 6, 2019General Motors LLC
▲high

Air Bags

17287
40,683 vehicles
ProblemGeneral Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2014-2016 Buick Lacrosse and Chevrolet Spark EV, Caprice PPV and SS vehicles, 2014-2017 Buick Encore and Chevrolet Corvette, Silverado 1500 and GMC Sierra 1500 vehicles, 2015-2016 Cadillac Escalade and Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Tahoe, Trax, Suburban and Silverado 2500 and 3500 and GMC Yukon and Yukon XL vehicles, and 2015-2017 GMC Sierra HD 2500 and 3500 vehicles. While being previously remedied for recall 16V-651, the affected vehicles may not have received the complete software update necessary to remedy the recall condition. Without the update, certain driving conditions may cause the air bag sensing and diagnostic module (SDM) softwRiskA failure of the front air bags or seat belt pretensioners to deploy in the event of a crash necessitating deployment increases the risk of injury to the driver and front passenger.FixGM will notify owners, and dealers will reflash the SDM software. Vehicles that have had a previous air bag deployment will have the SDM replaced. These repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began on August 4, 2017. 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 17287.
NHTSA campaign 17V437000reported Jul 10, 2017General Motors LLC
▲high

Visibility

17017
214 vehicles
ProblemGeneral Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2016-2017 Chevrolet Suburban HD vehicles. These vehicles were assembled with a convex right-hand outside mirror, instead of with a non-convex (flat) right-hand outside mirror. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 111, "Rearview Mirrors."RiskIf equipped with the incorrect right-side rear-view mirror, the driver may misjudge the distance of other vehicles, increasing the risk of a crash.FixGM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the convex mirror with a non-convex mirror and provide a new page for the owner's manual with the customer notification letter, free of charge. The recall began February 7, 2017. Owners may contact GM customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is 17017.
NHTSA campaign 17V033000reported Jan 12, 2017General Motors LLC
▲high

Air Bags

16007
3,640,162 vehicles
ProblemGeneral Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2015-2017 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 HD, 3500 HD, Tahoe, Suburban, GMC Sierra 2500 HD and 3500 HD, GMC Yukon, GMC Yukon XL, Cadillac Escalade and Cadillac Escalade ESV vehicles and 2014-2017 Chevrolet Corvette, Silverado 1500, Trax, Caprice Police Pursuit Vehicle, GMC Sierra 1500, Buick Encore, and 2014-2016 Buick Lacrosse, Chevrolet Spark EV and SS vehicles. In the affected vehicles, certain driving conditions may cause the air bag sensing and diagnostic module (SDM) software to activate a diagnostic test. During this test, deployment of the frontal air bags and the seat belt pretensioners would not occur in the event of a crash.RiskA failure of the front air bags or seat belt pretensioners to deploy in the event of a crash necessitating deployment increases the risk of injury to the driver and front passenger.FixGM will notify owners, and dealers will reflash the SDM software. Vehicles that have had a previous air bag deployment will have the SDM replaced. These repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began on October 13, 2016. 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 16007.
NHTSA campaign 16V651000reported Sep 8, 2016General Motors LLC
!critical

Suspension

42190
Do not drive3,738 vehicles
ProblemGeneral Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2016-2017 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 and 2016 Cadillac Escalade, Cadillac Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Suburban, Chevrolet Tahoe, GMC Sierra, GMC Yukon and GMC Yukon XL vehicles. The front upper control arms may have inadequate welds near the control arm bushing.RiskInadequate welds may allow the control arm to separate from the bushing, compromising steering and increasing the risk of a crash.FixGM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the left and right front upper control arms and realign the vehicle, free of charge. The recall began on May 18, 2016. Until the repairs have been made, owners are advised not to drive their vehicles. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006, or GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is 42190.
NHTSA campaign 16V256000reported Apr 28, 2016General Motors LLC

NHTSA defect investigations

Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Power Assist:Vacuum — Brake Vacuum Pump Failure closed

On November 20, 2018, the Office of Defects Investigations (ODI) opened PE18-012 to investigate instances of sudden onset of a hard brake pedal that could result in extended stopping distance due to an issue with the brake assist vacuum pump in model year (MY) 2014 through 2016 GMC Sierra 1500 and Chevrolet Silverado 1500 series pickup trucks and MY 2015 through 2016 Cadillac Escalade, Chevrolet Suburban, Chevrolet Tahoe, and GMC Yukon SUVs.If the brake assist vacuum pump fails to operate as intended, the amount of brake power assist supplied to the driver can be significantly reduced, extending the subject vehicle stopping distance. GM stated that the root cause of pump failures was due to

Opened Nov 20, 2018 · closed Apr 10, 2022 · action PE18012

Owner complaints

Source: NHTSA complaint database
219complaints filed

9 involved a crash · 1 a fire · 8 injuries · 0 deaths reported

Filed per year: 2016: 11 · 2017: 17 · 2018: 17 · 2019: 50 · 2020: 24 · 2021: 19 · 2022: 20 · 2023: 15 · 2024: 12 · 2025: 20 · 2026: 14

Most-cited components

Service Brakes78
Power Train45
Engine27
Unspecified26
Electrical System26
Steering23

What owners describe

“While driving the alert “Service Trailer Break Systemâ€� chimes and shows up on my dash so much that my car is un drivable. I don't even nor have I ever towed anything with my Chevy suburban before. So I have never even used the trailer break system before either.”Apr 14, 2022 · Electrical System · NHTSA owner report
“I noticed when driving in parking lots or at low speeds the brakes seem like you have to put more force to get the vehicle to stop.”Mar 24, 2022 · Service Brakes · NHTSA owner report
“After replacing my transmission on my 2016 suburban at 83k miles at the cost of $6,097 in January 2022, I was endangered again on 3/2/22 when I attempted to drive on the interstate. My SUV failed to accelerate and the check engine light started flashing. Thankfully, I was able to maneuver and exit the interstate as soo…”Mar 16, 2022 · Power Train · NHTSA owner report

Complaint counts are raw owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects, and scale with how many were sold. Use them to spot patterns, not to rank.

Crash ratings

Source: NHTSA NCAP
ConfigurationOverallFrontalSideRolloverRollover risk
SUV 4WD★★★★☆★★★★☆★★★★★★★★☆☆20%
SUV RWD★★★★☆★★★★☆★★★★★★★★☆☆21%

NHTSA New Car Assessment Program.

Other Suburban model years

D

2026 Chevrolet Suburban

3 recalls · 13 complaints

A

2025 Chevrolet Suburban

1 recalls · 30 complaints

B

2024 Chevrolet Suburban

2 recalls · 40 complaints

C

2023 Chevrolet Suburban

4 recalls · 138 complaints

C

2022 Chevrolet Suburban

4 recalls · 119 complaints

F

2021 Chevrolet Suburban

12 recalls · 190 complaints

F

2020 Chevrolet Suburban

4 recalls · 44 complaints

D

2019 Chevrolet Suburban

3 recalls · 77 complaints

D

2018 Chevrolet Suburban

4 recalls · 81 complaints

F

2017 Chevrolet Suburban

5 recalls · 141 complaints

Sources & method

Safety Signal starts every model-year at 100 and subtracts points per open NHTSA recall campaign by severity: critical 15 (fire risk, park-outside or do-not-drive advisories), high 8 (brakes, steering, airbags, loss of drive power, structure, battery), moderate 6, minor 3 (software, labels, lighting fixed by an update). Floor 35. A ≥ 90, B ≥ 80, C ≥ 70, D ≥ 60, otherwise F. Complaint counts and NHTSA crash ratings are shown separately and are not blended into the grade.

EPA figures come from fueleconomy.gov vehicle records. Recalls, complaints, investigations and crash ratings come from NHTSA's public flat files, refreshed weekly.

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