Full-size SUV — what actually breaks
2015–2020 · 6 models · 7 engines · 6,829 federal complaints
Every figure below is computed from federal complaint records decoded to the exact engine, aggregated across the whole segment. Where this segment differs from the all-vehicle average, it says so — where it doesn't, no claim is made.
What complaints in this segment are about
Share of component mentions across all full-size suvs in the database, with the all-vehicle average below it for comparison.
Brakes complaints run 1.9× their all-vehicle share in this segment.
Transmission & drivetrain complaints run 1.4× their all-vehicle share in this segment.
Engine complaints run well below their all-vehicle share (0.7×).
How often those complaints involve a fire, crash or injury
Share of this segment's complaints. The vertical mark is the all-vehicle average — these shares can be compared because sales volume cancels out of a within-group ratio.
all vehicles — Fire 1.2% · Crash 4.1% · Injury 2.6%
The engines with the biggest complaint records
Largest complaint samples in the segment — not a worst-list: complaint totals track sales volume, not failure rate. Each links to the full engine-level breakdown.
Engines that break differently from their class
Across this segment, complaints lead with Transmission & drivetrain. These engines don't follow that pattern — their complaint mix points somewhere else, which is worth knowing before buying one.
The recalls that matter in this segment
Recalls where NHTSA told owners to stop driving or park outside. Model-level, manufacturer-confirmed. Recall repairs are always free, whatever the car's age.
- Cadillac Escalade — Power Train › Transfer Case (4-Wheel Drive) (stop driving, 2015–2015) 26V289000
- Chevrolet Suburban — Power Train › Transfer Case (4-Wheel Drive) (stop driving, 2015–2020) 26V289000
- Chevrolet Tahoe — Power Train › Transfer Case (4-Wheel Drive) (stop driving, 2016–2019) 26V289000
- GMC Yukon — Power Train › Transfer Case (4-Wheel Drive) (stop driving, 2019–2020) 26V289000
- Cadillac Escalade — Suspension › Front › Control Arm (stop driving, 2016–2016) 16V256000
- Chevrolet Suburban — Suspension › Front › Control Arm (stop driving, 2016–2016) 16V256000
- Chevrolet Tahoe — Suspension › Front › Control Arm (stop driving, 2016–2016) 16V256000
- GMC Yukon — Suspension › Front › Control Arm (stop driving, 2016–2016) 16V256000
- Chevrolet Tahoe — Steering › Linkages › Tie Rod Assembly (stop driving, 2015–2015) 14V246000
- Ford Expedition — Engine (park outside, 2020–2020) 25V628000
All the full-size suvs we cover
Method and limits
- Complaints: NHTSA public complaint database, model years 2015–2020, each decoded to its exact engine through the partial VIN it carries.
- Do not compare complaint totals between engines or models — totals track sales. Only within-group shares (component mix, severity rates) are comparable, because volume cancels out.
- Claims on this page only appear when they clear preset thresholds (deviation ≥1.25×, samples ≥500 mentions or ≥80 complaints). Absence of a claim means the data didn't support one, not that we didn't look.