Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.
AVOIR's read: running costs are the problem rather than the car itself.
Owners have filed 118 complaints with NHTSA about the 2013 Chevrolet Suburban 1500, and it carries no recalls. These are owner allegations rather than confirmed defects, but the pattern of what people complain about is the most useful signal a used buyer has.
| Area | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Unknown or other | 35 | 30% |
| Air bags | 16 | 14% |
| Structure | 13 | 11% |
| Air bags | 8 | 7% |
| Engine | 6 | 5% |
| Electrical system | 5 | 4% |
| Service brakes | 3 | 3% |
| Air bags | 2 | 2% |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 2 | 2% |
| Power train | 1 | 1% |
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.
The dashboard in 2007-2014 gm trucks and subs break apart. These can shatter when in an accident. There is insufficient bracing and supports to keep the dashboards from cracking and coming apart in pieces. Only remedy is
NHTSA complaint: Unknown or other
The contact owns a 2013 Chevrolet Suburban. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V053000 (Air Bags); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacte
NHTSA complaint: Air bags
On the driver side adjacent to the fuel tank, improper drainage for the body frame caused severe rust. Over time the frame of the vehicle becomes a safety hazard and may cause the frame to crack or split resulting in los
NHTSA complaint: Structure
Bought 2013 suburban brand new and in 2018, on a trip to the mountains for fall break, the car quit with no warning signs, in the middle of the night. The car would not accelerate when gas pedal was pressed and RPM gauge
NHTSA complaint: Power train
My Suburban's dashboard has a crack that extends now to the edge of the airbag compartment door, with a piece now missing and what appears to be something like an airbag visible. I am concerned the airbag will not deploy
NHTSA complaint: Unknown or other
The vehicle has exterior side mirrors that fold in. Once folded in the driverside mirror can be powered back out, but the passager side does not. this makes it unsafe to change lanes and identify a vehicle in your blind
NHTSA complaint: Unknown or other
The contact owns a 2013 Chevrolet Suburban. The contact stated that the dashboard had many fractures nearby the air bag enclosure. The vehicle had not been taken to the dealer to be diagnosed or repaired. The manufacture
NHTSA complaint: Structure
Starting approximately 24 months ago the dash on my Suburban started cracking. Now it has cracked in several locations on both the driver's and passenger side of the dash. The cracks on the passenger side go up to the
NHTSA complaint: Structure
| Reliability raw | 67 | good |
|---|---|---|
| Longevity est. | 71 | good |
| Maintenance | 57 | average |
| Depreciation | 58 | average |
| Performance | 72 | good |
| Efficiency | 33 | below average |
| Safety | 73 | good |
Percentile ranks against other SUVs in the catalog.
What stands behind each score for this car:
Owners have filed 118 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and unknown or other is the most reported area with 35 of them (30%). No recalls are on record for it.
AVOIR scores its reliability 67/100 (good) from NHTSA recall campaigns and complaint density. That figure is a raw complaint count, not yet adjusted for sales volume, so a high-volume model scores worse than it deserves.
AVOIR scores its longevity 71/100, but that figure is an estimate built from the powertrain and the brand's record, not a measurement. A 2013 car has no 200,000-mile population to observe yet, so treat it as a prior rather than evidence.
AVOIR's read: skip unless cheap, because running costs are the problem rather than the car itself. Its overall ownership score is 63/100. Condition, mileage and service history still matter more than any score, so get a pre-purchase inspection on the specific car.
Sources: NHTSA recalls and complaints, EPA fuel economy, IIHS awards, and live market listings. A score describes a model-year, not the individual car in front of you. Get a pre-purchase inspection.