Disk drive performing multi-level prioritization of entries in a suspect sector list to identify and relocate defective data sectors

A method of detecting and relocating suspect data sectors out of a plurality of data sectors recorded on a disk of a disk drive, the disk drive comprising a head actuated over the disk and a suspect sector list for storing a plurality of SSL entries, wherein each SSL entry identifies at least one suspect data sector, the method comprising the steps of:

• (a) executing an access command received from a host computer to access at least one of the data sectors;
• (b) if an error is detected while executing the access command, generating an SSL entry having a priority level selected from at least three priority levels, wherein the suspect data sector of the SSL entry is related to the data sectors in the access command;
• (c) adding the SSL entry to the SSL;
• and
• (d) executing a verification operation for each suspect data sector identified by each SSL entry in the SSL, wherein the SSL entries are processed relative to the priority level assigned to each SSL entry.