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Chevrolet Suburban Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults

Free Chevrolet Suburban car check

Is the Chevrolet Suburban reliable? We analysed 1,715 real MOT tests across 182 vehicles to find out.

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Data last updated: · Based on 1,715 real MOT tests
MOT Pass Rate
77.8%
Typical Mileage
106,685mi
Annual Mileage
3,371mi/yr
Est. Lifespan
32yrs

The Chevrolet Suburban is above average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include fog lamp not working, parking brake: efficiency below requirements and parking brake lever has no reserve travel. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Chevrolet Suburban.

Chevrolet Suburban Number Plates

Number plates registered to a Chevrolet Suburban. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.

Chevrolet Suburban MOT Pass Rate by Year

How likely is a Chevrolet Suburban to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.

79.1%
2010
81.3%
2008
79.4%
2007
78%
2006
85.7%
2005
65.5%
2004
76.4%
2002
76%
2001
65%
2000
80%
1999
77.8%
1998
76.6%
1997
84.6%
1996
85.4%
1994

Chevrolet Suburban Problems — What Goes Wrong?

The most common reasons a Chevrolet Suburban fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.

fog lamp not working 40
Parking brake: efficiency below requirements 28
Parking brake lever has no reserve travel 24
Brake pipe excessively corroded 23
Windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively 22
position lamp(s) not working 19
Headlamp aim too low 18
parking brake recording little or no effort 17
Windscreen washer provides insufficient washer liquid 17
Parking brake: efficiency below requirements 16

Chevrolet Suburban Mileage — What's Normal?

How many miles does a typical Chevrolet Suburban owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.

Low usage
1,209 mi/yr
Typical
3,371 mi/yr
Average
4,876 mi/yr
Heavy usage
6,738 mi/yr

Chevrolet Suburban MOT Data by Registration Year

Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Chevrolet Suburban year you're looking at.

Year Tests Pass Rate Low Mi. Typical Mi. High Mi.
2010 67 79.1% 32,913 58,251 186,951
2008 91 81.3% 37,543 56,702 112,040
2007 102 79.4% 27,714 69,056 93,776
2006 59 78.0% 41,733 74,608 100,560
2005 56 85.7% 51,295 61,478 82,572
2004 55 65.5% 81,981 90,479 131,992
2002 55 76.4% 128,060 190,567 264,628
2001 100 76.0% 84,284 129,189 212,022
2000 80 65.0% 78,720 170,787 223,272
1999 180 80.0% 111,042 137,485 183,658
1998 135 77.8% 120,204 147,883 168,311
1997 184 76.6% 69,508 125,598 172,266
1996 104 84.6% 90,617 119,707 136,149
1994 89 85.4% 111,795 187,505 272,976

How Long Does a Chevrolet Suburban Last?

Based on 182 Chevrolet Suburban vehicles on UK roads.

Average
16.1 years
Median
15.5 years
Estimated max lifespan
32 years

Chevrolet Suburban Mileage Distribution

Total mileage recorded across all Chevrolet Suburban MOT tests. If the car you're looking at is above the 75th percentile, it's done more miles than most.

Median
106,685 mi
75th Percentile
161,029 mi
95th Percentile
244,479 mi
Max Recorded
394,430 mi

Best Year to Buy a Used Chevrolet Suburban

Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.

Best year
2005

85.7% MOT pass rate from 56 tests

Year to avoid
2000

65.0% MOT pass rate from 80 tests

The best year to buy a used Chevrolet Suburban is 2005, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 85.7% across 56 tests. The 2000 model year has the lowest pass rate at 65.0% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.

How Does the Chevrolet Suburban Compare?

MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.

Model Pass Rate Tests Typical Mileage Lifespan
Chevrolet Suburban THIS CAR 77.8% 1,715 106,685 mi 32 yrs
Chevrolet Matiz 70.8% 487,981 39,253 mi 21 yrs
Chevrolet Spark 71.9% 273,626 47,852 mi 16 yrs
Chevrolet Aveo 69.7% 241,765 48,643 mi 18 yrs
Volvo XC60 R-design B4 AWD Auto 90.6% 2,196 42,856 mi — yrs

Compared to the Chevrolet Matiz (70.8% pass rate) and the Chevrolet Spark (71.9% pass rate), the Chevrolet Suburban outperforms both on MOT reliability.

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Should you buy a used Chevrolet Suburban?

The Chevrolet Suburban has an overall MOT pass rate of 77.8% across 1,715 real MOT tests — comfortably above the UK average, which puts it among the more reliable models on UK roads.

The most common problems on the Chevrolet Suburban are fog lamp not working (40 recorded failures), parking brake: efficiency below requirements (28), and parking brake lever has no reserve travel (24). These are the faults most likely to cause an MOT failure on this model, so check for them carefully on any test drive or pre-purchase inspection. Many are wear-and-tear items that can be budgeted for, but a car that's already failing on multiple fronts may signal neglected maintenance.

A typical Chevrolet Suburban owner drives around 3,371 miles per year. If the car you're looking at is significantly above this, expect more wear on suspension, brakes and tyres. If it's well below, the vehicle may have been sitting unused — check for perished rubber, corroded discs and stale fluids.

In terms of longevity, most Chevrolet Suburban models stay on UK roads for around 32 years — a strong showing that suggests solid build quality and readily available parts. If you're buying one that's already approaching that window, the data suggests it has plenty of life left provided it's been maintained.

Before committing to a purchase, we recommend running a full vehicle history check on the specific car. This will reveal any outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies that the seller may not disclose — and that the MOT data alone can't tell you.

Chevrolet Suburban — Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Chevrolet Suburban reliable?
Based on 1,715 MOT tests, the Chevrolet Suburban has a 77.8% pass rate — above the UK average, suggesting good reliability.
What are the common problems on a Chevrolet Suburban?
The most common MOT failures are fog lamp not working, parking brake: efficiency below requirements, and parking brake lever has no reserve travel. Check these on any test drive.
How many miles does a Chevrolet Suburban do per year?
The typical Chevrolet Suburban does around 3,371 miles per year. Anything significantly above or below this is worth investigating.
How long does a Chevrolet Suburban last?
Most Chevrolet Suburban models stay on UK roads for around 32 years based on our analysis of 182 vehicles.
Should I get a vehicle check before buying a Chevrolet Suburban?
Yes. An MOT pass rate tells you about the model in general, but a vehicle history check reveals the specific car's finance, stolen, write-off and mileage history — things the seller may not disclose.
What is the best year to buy a Chevrolet Suburban?
Based on MOT pass rates, the best year to buy a used Chevrolet Suburban is 2005 with a 85.7% pass rate across 56 tests.