2010 Chevrolet Suburban Problems

What owners report

Owners of this model year most often describe the dashboard cracking around the passenger airbag area and above the instrument cluster, sometimes with rattling or pieces breaking loose. A smaller but repeated theme involves intermittent airbag warning lights and sudden reduced-power events. Most dashboard complaints arrive between roughly 40,000 and 150,000 miles.

1. 1
   Body and structure

   Cracked dashboard, often around the passenger airbag

   • 70 complaints (60%)
   • median 80,080 mi at 6.5 yrs old (52 state mileage)
   • filed 2014–2024

   Owners describe hairline cracks that appear in the top surface of the dashboard, frequently at the upper corner of the passenger airbag and above the instrument cluster, then spread and sometimes branch out. Many say the cracks appeared with no impact, often while the vehicle was parked, and that the dash rattles over bumps once cracked. Some report a loud pop before finding the crack, and several say the dealer replaced a dash under warranty only for it to crack again. Owners frequently raise concern about what the cracked panel could do if the airbag deploys. Reported across a wide range from about 4,000 to 155,000 miles, most often between 40,000 and 110,000 miles, with several owners noting heat and temperature swings.

   What to check: Inspect the top of the dash carefully in daylight for hairline cracks near the passenger airbag and above the cluster, and press gently to check for looseness or rattling. Ask whether the dash has ever been replaced and whether any repair was done under warranty.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Heard the dash start to make a noise, looked at it and there was a small hairline crack. Came back to the car about 4 hours later and there were two cracks about the odometer. This car is garaged every evening and is well kept on the inside. I have been a loyal customer to GM but after this I doubt I will ever buy GM again.”

   NHTSA complaint #10853732, filed 2016-04, 80,160 miles

   “I have multiple cracks in my dashboard. One on the top right corner of the airbag and another over the instrument panel. This is a widespread problem that GM has refused to acknowledge. There are thousands of people affected by this. This dashboard should be recalled. It seriously impacts our resale value.”

   NHTSA complaint #11001594, filed 2017-06, 65,000 miles
2. 2
   Air bags

   Airbag warning light comes on intermittently

   • 12 complaints (10%)
   • median 110,000 mi at 7.8 yrs old (7 state mileage, few)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2015–2024

   Owners report the service airbag or airbag readiness light illuminating at random while driving, sometimes staying on for a day or two and then going off for weeks. Several describe it appearing with seasonal temperature changes, and a few link it to a cracked dash near the airbag. Some say the vehicle was checked at a dealer or that a recall repair was pending because parts were unavailable at the time. Mostly reported between about 60,000 and 150,000 miles, often described as intermittent and tied to temperature swings.

   Recall 21V050000Recall 21V053000Recall 21V054000

   What to check: With the ignition on, confirm the airbag light comes on and then goes out as it should, and ask the seller for the recall repair history. A scan tool can show stored airbag fault codes.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The check airbag light will come on randomly at any given time. It usually stays on for about two days or so and goes off for several weeks before popping back on. We usually see this happen when there are temperature changes from season to season. Even though there is a recall concerning the airbag system on certain makes and models, we were surprised when our truck was not on the list.”

   NHTSA complaint #11056558, filed 2017-12, 110,000 miles

   “Takata recall . I want a resolution and a solution to fix my air bags before a disaster strikes ! I am very frightened for my family and myself. My Suburban has been in the chevy dealership multiple times for airbag issues! The service airbag lights come on intermitedley and I never know when they are working or not . I also notice when light comes on the seatbelt doesn't catch to save me from flying through the window. Lights up at random times .”

   NHTSA complaint #11055690, filed 2017-12, 86,000 miles
3. 3
   Engine

   Reduced engine power and StabiliTrak warnings

   • 5 complaints (4%)
   • median 102,742 mi at 5.2 yrs old (5 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2014–2018

   Complaints describe the instrument panel lighting up with StabiliTrak, traction control, or check engine messages followed by a sharp loss of power, with some owners unable to exceed roughly 20 to 35 mph. Dealers in these reports replaced the throttle body or throttle position sensor and reprogrammed the control module, and one owner mentions a battery replacement as the fix that corrected it at the time. Reported from roughly 33,000 to 140,000 miles, often during highway or steady-speed driving.

   What to check: Ask whether the throttle body or throttle position sensor has been replaced and whether the engine control module has been reprogrammed. During a test drive, watch for hesitation, warning messages, or any drop in power.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I was driving on a rural road when all the dash info lights went on informing me I had reduced engine power and needed to service selectrac and that and all messages that it could sent were sent I have in turn had the car towed to a chevy dealership and now awaiting the results of what is wrong and how much this is going to cost I have just turned 50,000 miles.”

   NHTSA complaint #10566587, filed 2014-03, 50,124 miles

   “I was driving on the interstate when suddenly the traction stability control system lit up and the vehicle wouldn't go past 35mph. I took it to a gmc dealership who identified that the throttle position sensor cover needed to be replaced as well as reprogramming the ECM. This could be highly dangerous especially while on an interstate traveling 60-65 MPH and then suddenly lose power and not being able to go faster than 35.”

   NHTSA complaint #10701787, filed 2015-03, 102,742 miles
4. 4
   Electrical system

   Power loss and stalling while driving

   Mentioned in 4 of 60 sampled complaints

   Some owners report the engine and electrical power cutting out while driving, taking steering assist and braking assist with it, and sometimes requiring the battery to be disconnected before the vehicle will restart. Others describe a sudden stall at speed with no warning, and one report links it to internal engine damage found afterward. Dealers in these complaints could not always reproduce or identify the cause. Reported from about 74,000 miles upward, typically at higher mileage and during normal driving.

   1 related service bulletin

   What to check: Ask about any history of stalling, no-start, or electrical shutdowns, and whether battery and charging system diagnostics were done. Check that the battery and terminals are in good condition.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Truck loses power to engine while driving. I have no oil pressure no fuel no speedometer and no rooms but my battery runs on about 14. Truck will drive at speed it shutsdown at but if u stop it takes a little longer to gain speed. This has did this about 5 times in 2 weeks I had it in the shop 3 times and we are unable to figure it out. If u turn the truck up it will not start u have to unhook the battery to get power back.”

   NHTSA complaint #11396686, filed 2021-02, 163,000 miles

   “Two years ago my stabilitrak failure warning came up. The engine wouldn't go over 20 MPH. The battery was replaced and the issue corrected. This week it happened again. While driving, the stabilitrak warning came up and car power/ acceleration went down to almost nothing. Chevy is saying they *think* my cam shaft lifter failed and it's almost $7,000 to fix. This seems to be an ongoing problem in the chevy/gmc cara of this manufacturing time. It's dangerous and someone will get killed.”

   NHTSA complaint #10808128, filed 2015-12, 140,000 miles

Buying note. Look closely at the dashboard for cracks near the airbag and plan for that repair if found, since it is the most commonly reported issue. Also confirm the airbag recall work has been completed, check oil level habits on the 5.3L, and ask about any past stalling or reduced-power events.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.