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Owner complaints · Engine

2021 Chevrolet Suburban engine problems

96 of the 199 complaints owners filed with NHTSA about the 2021 Chevrolet Suburban name the engine (NHTSA’s “Engine” heading — the engine and its cooling system). Filed under the same heading: 630 manufacturer bulletins, 1 recall, 4 NHTSA investigations. Every figure below is a document in a federal file, linked; none is a failure rate, and none is a verdict on any one car.

96 complaints 48% of this model year’s 2 reports a crash typically at 99k miles

What owners filed about the engine

Source: NHTSA complaint database

96complaints name the engine

2 of the 96 reports a crash · 0 a fire · 0 injuries. Self-reported, unverified.

Filed per year: 2021: 5 · 2022: 4 · 2023: 3 · 2024: 5 · 2025: 47 · 2026: 32

99kmiles, typically

Half of the 18 owners who gave an odometer reading reported the engine problem between 36,000 and 107,000 miles. A median of reports, not the life of a part.

48%of this model year’s complaints

199 complaints in all about the 2021 Chevrolet Suburban, 32 filed in 2026. The whole picture, every system →

Counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects, and scale with how many of these were sold; nothing here is a rate. NHTSA groups complaints coarsely, so “Engine” means the same area of the vehicle, not one fault.

Across model years: Chevrolet Suburban engine problems, every year on file →

In owners’ own words

Source: NHTSA complaint database

Filed with NHTSA by the people who own these cars, about the engine. Quoted as written, with anything identifying removed; unverified reports — what was said, not a finding that it was true.

The contact owns a 2021 Chevrolet Suburban. The contact stated while driving approximately 35 MPH, the engine started to misfire, and the vehicle lost motive power. The contact stated that the check engine and other unknown warning lights were illuminated.

Engine at 36,126 miles Oct 3, 2023 NHTSA owner report

Engine stalled while driving on middle of the highway, lucky i was able to pull over to the breakdown lane by putting vehicle in neutral. I had reported the issue to the Chevrolet Onstar roadside assistance but while trying to get tow truck I had tried to start the engine multiple times and finally it started and left the engine light on…

Engine Jul 4, 2023 NHTSA owner report

2nd time in less than a year it has had lifter failure. we travel almost every weekend and this puts my family in danger being broken down on a highway, especially at night. yes it has been confirmed and have been told that it is a wide spread problem no notice before it happened

Engine May 28, 2022 NHTSA owner report

The contact owns a 2021 Chevrolet Suburban. The contact stated while driving 80 MPH, the vehicle started shuddering and the engine was misfiring. The traction control, adaptive cruise control, and check engine warning lights illuminated. The vehicle then downshifted to 40 MPH independently.

Engine at 12,800 miles Apr 12, 2022 NHTSA owner report

This vehicle has a problem with their lifters in the motor. It breaks down and you cause your engine to start shaking and makes a click sound like if its rubbing to something in the motor to cause a future problem in the motor and Engine light comes on. Many people have experienced this same problem with this make and model.

Engine Apr 5, 2022 NHTSA owner report

What is on file about the engine

Source: NHTSA recalls, investigations and manufacturer communications

Recall filed under this heading

25V274000 High
Apr 24, 2025 · 597,571 vehicles
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.

NHTSA investigations

EA26005 Loss of motive power due to engine failure post recall remedy
opened Aug 20, 2026 · open
On January 16, 2026, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened Recall Query RQ26001. This investigation was opened to assess the remedy effectiveness of Recall 25V-274. ODI has received complaints alleging engine failure in vehicles after the recall remedy had been completed, whether that remedy involved an oil viscosity change or a complete engine replacement. General Motors (GM) issued R…
RQ26001 Loss of motive power due to engine failure post recall remedy
opened Jan 16, 2026 · closed Aug 20, 2026
On January 16, 2026, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened Recall Query RQ26001. This investigation was opened to assess the remedy effectiveness of Recall 25V-274. ODI has received complaints alleging engine failure in vehicles after the recall remedy had been completed, whether that remedy involved an oil viscosity change or a complete engine replacement. General Motors (GM) issued R…
EA25007 Loss of motive power due to engine failure
opened Oct 23, 2025 · open
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) has received 1,157 reports of engine bearing failure failures in the L87 6.2L engine produced by General Motors (GM). Of the 1,157 reports received, 173 are outside of the scope of recall 25V-274. These engines are installed in Model Years (MY) 2019–2024 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 and GMC Sierra 1500, and 2021-2024MY Chevrolet Suburban and Tahoe, GMC Yukon/Y…
PE25001 Loss of motive power due to engine failure
opened Jan 16, 2025 · closed Oct 23, 2025
On January 16, 2025, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened Preliminary Evaluation PE25001 after receiving complaints and field reports concerning engine failures in MY2019-2024 GM’s full-size truck and SUV T1XX platform equipped with the L87 6.2L V8 engine. These complainants alleged engine bearing failures resulting in knocking and growling noises from the engine’s bottom end and in so…

630 manufacturer bulletins filed under this heading

The 0 newest are listed; every one is on the model year’s page. Quote the document number at a service desk — it is a diagnosis the maker has already written down.

Trouble codes named on this system

P0300 P0106 P12A6 P0201 P0202 P0203 P0204 P0205

Codes a bulletin or an owner’s complaint about the 2021 Chevrolet Suburban names on this model year; a code with a record of its own links it.

From here

Every 2027 model on file, by price Compare two vehicles, trim vs trim See what a VIN was priced at See what owners reported

Common questions

Source: NHTSA complaint database, recalls and manufacturer communications

Are engine problems common on the 2021 Chevrolet Suburban?

They are documented: NHTSA holds 96 owner complaints naming the engine on this model year (48% of everything owners filed about it), and 630 manufacturer bulletins, 1 recall, 4 NHTSA investigations are filed under the same heading. Whether it is a problem on one particular car is a diagnosis, not a count, and a count says nothing about how many were sold.

Is there a recall for the engine on the 2021 Chevrolet Suburban?

Yes — one campaign is filed under this heading: 25V274000. A recall is matched by VIN; check yours at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

When do engine problems show up on the 2021 Chevrolet Suburban?

Owners who gave an odometer reading reported it at a median of 99,000 miles; half of them between 36,000 and 107,000. That is when reports cluster, not the life of a part.

What does NHTSA's "Engine" heading cover?

The engine and its cooling system. Owners choose the heading when they file, so it says which area of the vehicle the complaint is about, not which part failed.