Chevrolet Suburban Complaints (2008)
321 consumer complaints on file.
- #10598285June 14, 2014AIR BAGS, SERVICE BRAKES
I PURCHASED THIS CAR IN MAY 2013 WITH 76,000 MILES AS A CERTIFIED USED VEHICLE FROM A GM DEALERSHIP IN NJ. I NOTICED ON TEST DRIVE BRAKE VIBRATION FROM THE FRONT. BEFORE I PICKED UP THE VEHICLE THEY REPLACED NEW ROTORS AND CERAMIC BRAKE PADS. NOW AT 17,000 MILES LATER THERE IS VIBRATION AGAIN, ONCE AGAIN THE ROTORS ARE WARPED BUT THE PADS ARE PERFECTLY FINE. THE SERVICE MANAGER TOLD ME AND I QUOTE "IT MUST HAVE BEEN A HOT DAY AND YOU TOOK THE CAR THROUGH A CAR WASH WARPING THE ROTORS." IF GM IS MAKING THEIR ROTORS WITH NON-VIRGIN STEEL THIS CAN HAPPEN. I HAVE PREVIOUSLY OWNED A 2005 SUBURBAN WITH 100,000 MILES, THE ROTORS NEVER WARPED AND I ONLY NEEDED THEM CHANGED ONCE AT 55,000 MILES, I HAVE A LIGHT FOOT. IN 2010 I CHANGED MY 2005 SUBURBAN FOR A 2009 BUICK ENCLAVE THIS CAR WAS THE FIRST TIME I NOTICED IN THE 3 YEARS OF OWNERSHIP THAT I NEEDED ROTORS TWICE, IN 3 YEARS I HAD ONLY PUT 30,000 MILES ON THE CAR, SO THAT LEAD TO THE PURCHASE OF THE 2008 SUBURBAN. I CAN'T HELP BUT BELIEVE THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG IN THE MAKING OF THEIR ROTORS, THEY CHANGED MANUFACTURER MAYBE?? WITH THIS 2008 SUBURBAN I HAVE ALSO CONTACTED THEM WITH NO ANSWER OR REPLY TO THE FACT WHEN MY 12 YEAR OLD SON WHO WEIGHS 108LBS SITS IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT THE PASSENGER AIR BAG LIGHT IS ON ONE MINUTE AND THEN OFF THE NEXT MINUTE. SOMETIME I CAN PUT MY PURSE AND A GALLON OF MILK ON THE PASSENGER SEAT AND THE AIR BAG LIGHT IS ON WILL DISPLAY. YET MY 108 LB CHILD OR MY 86 LB CHILD THE AIR BAG LIGHT WILL GO FROM ON TO OFF. SO THEY ARE MY TWO SAFETY CONCERNS, THE ROTORS WARPING REPEATEDLY AND THE AIR BAG LIGHT NOT WORKING PROPERLY WHICH GM HAS REFUSED TO COMMENT ON. THANK YOU. UPDATED 1/16/15 *JS
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10596338June 5, 2014AIR BAGS
I WAS DRIVING ON 7TH AVE AND A CAR RAN A STOP SIGN AT AN INTERSECTION. IT WAS DARK EARLY MORNING. I HIT THE CAR COMING ACROSS AND DROVE IT INTO A TREE.THE DRIVER IN THE CAMRY HAD TO BE CUT OUT OF HER CAR . MY CAR HAD THE FRONT END SEVERELY DAMAGED. ALMOST $10,000 DAMAGE TO MY CAR. THE AIRBAGS DID NOT ACTIVATE. I ASKED THE BODY SHOP DOING THE WORK AND THE STATE FARM INSURANCE CLAIMS PERSON ABOUT WHY THEY DID NOT WORK AND WAS TOLD THE ACCIDENT MAY NOT HAVE BEEN SEVERE ENOUGH OR THE ANGLE WE HIT DID NOT REQUIRE THEM TO DEPLOY. THE DRIVER IN THE OTHER CAR WENT TO THE HOSPITAL. AND I HAD KNEE SURGERY. I DO NOT KNOW THE STATUS OF HER INJURIES. I WONDER WHY MY AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AT SUCH A COLLISION AND IF THERE ARE OTHER SUBURBANS OUT THERE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM THE OWNER JUST DOESN'T KNOW OR WON'T KNOW TIL A COLLISION. *TR
- Crash:
- Yes
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 1
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10587971May 13, 2014ENGINE, TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, STRUCTURE:BODY:HATCHBACK/LIFTGATE, POWER TRAIN, VISIBILITY, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL
2008 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO THE DISAPPOINTMENT IN THE MANUFACTURER DUE TO NUMEROUS VEHICLE REPAIRS. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE WOULD RUN ROUGH, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED, THE SERVICE STABILITRAK AND TRACTION CONTROL LIGHTS ILLUMINATED WHEN SOME OF THE CYLINDERS SHUT DOWN, THE LIFTERS WERE NOT PROPERLY LUBRICATED, CAUSING THEM TO FAIL. THE ENGINE CONSUMED LARGE AMOUNTS OF OIL. THERE WERE NOISES COMING FROM THE OIL PAN AND TRANSMISSION AREA, 3 OF THE 4 DOOR LOCKS ACTUATORS WERE REPLACED, THE REAR LIFTGATE BROKE FOR THE 4TH TIME, THE RIGHT RETRACTABLE MIRROR WAS INOPERABLE, THE CRUISE CONTROL WORKED ABOUT 505 OF THE TIME, WHICH WAS PROBABLY TIED THE THROTTLE POSITIONING SENSOR GOING BAD AS WELL. ALSO, THE VEHICLE HAD SIGNIFICANT ELECTRICAL PROBLEM, WHERE CERTAIN LIGHTS WOULD ILLUMINATE ON THE DASHBOARD, THERE WAS AN AUDIBLE CLICKING NOISE, THAT SOUNDED LIKE A RELAY FIRING VERY QUICKLY. *JB
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10576397April 1, 2014AIR BAGS
THERE IS A CRACK ON THE TOP OF THE DASHBOARD ALONG THE SIDE OF THE PASSENGER FRONT AIRBAG. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10576124April 1, 2014STRUCTURE:BODY
I CUT MY FINGER ON THE INTERIOR PASSENGER SIDE DOOR HANDLE WHEN EXITING MY VEHICLE LAST WEEKEND. THE METAL LIFTED, MAKING AN EXTREMELY SHARP EDGE. I EMAILED CHEVROLET ON SATURDAY IN THE EARLY AFTERNOON, BUT HAVE NOT HEARD BACK FROM THEM YET. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS, AND I AM NOT SURE HOW TO PROCEED. THANK YOU FOR YOUR HELP! *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 1
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10575563March 29, 2014STRUCTURE:BODY
DOOR HANDLES ARE ALL COMING OFF ON EXTERIOR OF VEHICLE ON BOTH OF THE FRONT AND REAR PASSENGER DOORS. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10575438March 28, 2014ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
WHEN I TRIED TO OPEN REAR DOOR, IT WOULD NOT OPEN, DUE TO DOOR LATCH ASSEMBLY GOING BAD. ONLY KNOWING THIS IS A PROBLEM AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH. NOW I DO NOT HAVE THE PROBLEM WITH NOT BEING ABLE TO OPEN DOOR AT ALL, THE MANUAL SWITCH STILL WORKS, BUT I SYMPATHY FOR THEM THAT DON`T. I CAN JUST IMAGINE IF I HAD TO GET A CHILD OR A HANDICAPPED ADULT FROM THE BACK SEAT IN A HURRY AND THE DOOR WOULD NOT OPEN FOR ME TO DO SO. I HAVE READ ON SOME OTHER SITES THAT GM IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM, AND KNOW THE PART IS DEFECTIVE. I HAVE ALSO RESEARCHED ENOUGH TO KNOW THERE IS A NEW PART NUMBER FOR THE OEM PART. SO IF THEY KNOW IT IS JUNK, MAKE IT RIGHT. A HUMANS LIFE OVER A HAND FULL OF MONEY. NOT TOUGH FOR SOMEONE WITH FEELINGS TO MAKE. I HOPE THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION FINDS A WAY TO MAKE THEM TO REPAIR,REPLACE, AND IF SOMEONE HAS PAID TO FIX THEIR PROBLEM, BEFORE IT WAS RECALLED, REIMBURSEMENT. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10574853March 26, 2014AIR BAGS, STRUCTURE
DASH CRACKED AT AIRBAG ON DASH AND ALSO ABOVE DASH CLUSTER. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10574324March 24, 2014VISIBILITY:GLASS, SIDE/REAR
REAR WINDOW SPONTANEOUSLY SHATTERED WHILE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION. REAR DEFROSTERS WERE NOT ON AT THIS TIME BUT HAD BEEN ON EARLIER THAT MORNING, OUTSIDE TEMP WAS 32 DEGREES. THIS IS A SAFETY CONCERN DUE TO SHATTERED GLASS WAS SENT INTO THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE WHERE CHILDREN SIT. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10573933March 21, 2014STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR
MY MAIN CONCERN IS THE INTERIOR SILVER COATED DOOR HANDLES IN MY 2008 SUBURBAN. THE COATING HAS SPLINTERED AND IS CUTTING OUR HANDS. THIS SEEMS TO BE AN ISSUE IN THE 2007 AND 2008 MODEL, WHEN I LOOK IT UP ONLINE. I'M WONDERING WHY A RECALL HAS NOT BEEN ISSUED FOR SOMETHING THAT IS DANGEROUS TO ME AND MY CHILDREN? IT IS A PRODUCT THAT WAS MADE POORLY AND THEY ARE HAPPY TO CHARGE ME $200 PER DOOR TO FIX IT! IF USE BROKE A MECHANISM IN THE DOOR HANDLE THEN FINE, BUT I'VE NEVER HAD A METAL DOOR HANDLE PEEL BEFORE! I ALSO HAVE A CRACK IN MY DASHBOARD THAT IS NEAR TO THE PASSENGER AIR BAG, IT IS SLOWLY GROWING. I HAVE A FEELING IF IT WASN'T GARAGE KEPT THAT IT WOULD BE A LOT LARGER THAN IT HAS BECOME. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 1
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10564785February 18, 2014ENGINE
MY 2008 SUBURBAN STARTED BURNING A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF OIL. SEEMS LIKE I WAS CONTINUOUSLY ADDING OIL. RAISED THE ISSUE WITH THE DEALER, WHO INDICATED IT WAS A COMMON PROBLEM BUT PROBABLY NOT WORTH THE EXPENSE OF FIXING IF I COULD KEEP CHECKING THE OIL. THIS ADVICE WAS ALSO BASED ON THE FACT THAT ALL MY MAINTENANCE HAS BEEN PERFORMED AT THIS DEALER, SO THEY KNOW THE VEHICLE WELL. THE LAST WEEK IN JANUARY WAS VERY BUSY AND SAW ME DRIVING ABOUT 100 MILES A DAY. ON THURSDAY, ABOUT 30 MILES FROM HOME, THE CHECK ENGINE AND TRACTION CONTROL LIGHTS STARTING BLINKING, THE CAR LOST POWER, AND THE ENGINE BEGAN RUNNING ROUGH. THIS WAS ON A VERY BUSY HIGHWAY (U.S. ROUTE 50 NEAR ANNAPOLIS) DURING RUSH HOUR. THIS CREATED A DANGEROUS SITUATION. I WAS EVENTUALLY ABLE TO GET THE CAR HOME. WHEN I BROUGHT IT TO THE DEALER, THEY SAID THE OIL WAS DRY (I HAD CHECKED IT THE PREVIOUS WEEKEND), A LIFTER HAD BROKEN, AND A PISTON HEAD WAS SCORED. THE COST OF WORK TO FIX WOULD EXCEED THE COST OF A NEW ENGINE. I NOW HAVE A NEW ENGINE, THE COST OF WHICH WAS NOT IN MY BUDGET. THIS EXPERIENCE REFLECTS WHAT HAS BEEN HAVE REPORTED FREQUENTLY ON AUTOMOBILE RELATED WEB SITES.. GIVEN THAT THIS IS A DESIGN FLAW, CHEVROLET SHOULD BE COVERING AT LEAST PART OF THIS FIX. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10564499February 15, 2014CHILD SEAT:LATCH CONNECTOR/CLIP
BRITAX FASTBACK CAR SEAT PUSH BUTTON LATCH STUCK. COULDN'T RELEASE EVEN WITH TWO PEOPLE TRYING TO PUSH THE RED BUTTON. FINALLY HAD TO GET SCISSORS TO CUT THE STRAP TO REMOVE THE CHILD (RELATED VEHICLE INFORMATION: MODEL YEAR=2008, MAKE=SUBURBAN, MODEL=CHEVY). *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10561616January 27, 2014STRUCTURE, AIR BAGS
THERE IS A CRACK ON TOP OF THE DASHBOARD THAT HAS BECOME PROGRESSIVELY LARGER. RECENTLY A SECOND CRACK APPEARED RIGHT OVER THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG. THIS MAY INTERFERE WITH THE DEPLOYMENT OF AIRBAGS. THIS SEEMS TO BE A RECURRING PROBLEM WITH 2007 AND 2008 CHEVY WITH SAME DASHBOARD (TAHOE, SUBURBAN, ET AL.) MODELS. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10554422December 2, 2013ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, STRUCTURE:BODY
ALL 4 AUTOMATIC DOOR LOCKING ACTUATORS DO NOT WORK. THE ACTUATORS DO NOT WORK WHEN THE LOCK/UNLOCK BUTTON IS PRESSED ON THE REMOTE. LOCKS DO NOT ACTUATE WHEN THE CAR IS PUT INTO PARK OR WHEN THE SPEED IS ATTAINED THAT IS SET IN THE SYSTEM SETTINGS. THE ONLY WAY TO LOCK/UNLOCK THE DOORS IS TO MANUALLY PUSH OR PULL THE DOOR LOCK. YOU CAN ALSO UNLOCK THE DRIVERS SIDE LOCK BY USING THE KEY. THIS IS UNSAFE. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10552888November 19, 2013ENGINE, STRUCTURE
LAST YEAR 2012, THE SUBURBAN WAS BLOWING SMOKE OUT TAILPIPE, LESS THAN 100K MILES, SO DEALERSHIP INSTALLED NEW VALVE COVER WITH PROPER GROMMIT FOR PCV UNDER WARRANTY. SEPT. 2013 115K MILES, ENGINE BUCKING, DASH LIGHTS ALL ON, RUNNING ON 7 CYLINDERS, CHEVY DEALERSHIP STATES #1 SPARK PLUG "CAME OUT". AND THAT OIL PRESSURE SENSOR WAS BAD, BUT STILL PRESSURE, SO NOT URGENT....NOV 19, 2013 - TRUCK NOW MAKING 'BACK FIRE' NOISES AND PRESSURE SENSOR MOVING BACK AND FORTH ACROSS 40....AFRAID WILL BREAK DOWN AGAIN. ALSO, HAVE PEELING CHROME ON INSIDE DOOR HANDLES LIKE PRIOR COMPLAINT, THAT IS CUTTING HANDS/FINGERS! *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10552006November 12, 2013AIR BAGS, ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC), ENGINE
AIR BAG LIGHT, DOOR LOCKS, TRACTION CONTROL, RADIO, AND MANY OTHER ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS FLICKER ON AND OFF. ENGINE VIBRATES AND THEN DIES. WILL NOT START BACK UP UNTIL SOME PERIOD OF TIME GOES BY. ALWAYS DIFF AND HAPPENS IN ALL TEMPS AND DRIVING CONDITIONS. WHEN IN GARAGE ALL NIGHT WILL NOT START IN THE AM. VERY INTERMITTENT. WE HAVE BEEN STRANDED WITH KIDS 5 TIMES AND HAVE ONLY OWNED THIS VEHICLE FOR 4 MONTHS. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10546591October 3, 2013STRUCTURE
OUR 2008 SUBURBAN DASH HAS STARTING CRACKING UPON FURTHER REVIEW EXACTLY WHERE MANY OTHERS ARE HAVING THE ISSUES. MY CONCERN IS THAT ONE AREA IS AROUND THE AIR BAGS AND AS IT CONTINUES TO DETERIORATE THERE MAY BE ISSUES WITH SAFETY DEVICE. BASED ON WHAT I HAVE SEEN ACROSS WEB IS THAT IT IS A MALFUNCTION OF THE PRODUCT. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10542044September 5, 2013LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH
DOOR HANDLE FAILURE THREE TIMES, WAITING FOR FOURTH TO FAIL AT ANYTIME. GM COMPLAINT DEPT REFUSES TO ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY. THREE DOOR LOCKS FAILED BY 39,000 MILES, LAST ONE BEING RIGHT PASSENGER DOOR. WE HAVE A 1978 CHEVY PU AND THE DOOR LOCKS NEVER FAILED! THIS IS ABSURD, A $55,000 TOP OF THE LINE LTZ MODEL SHOULD NOT HAVE THIS PROBLEM, AND GM WON'T ACKNOWLEDGE POOR QUALITY PARTS AND WORKMANSHIP! WHAT CAN A CONSUMER DO TO RECTIFY THIS SITUATION?. *JB
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10533536August 4, 2013ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
REAR HATCH DOOR ACTUATOR WENT OUT. THE DOOR IS IN THE LOCKED POSITION AND CANNOT BE OPENED WITH CONSOLE BUTTON, KEY FOB OR EXTERIOR HANDLE. THERE IS NO WAY TO OPEN THE REAR HATCH FROM THE INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE CREATING A SAFETY HAZARD FOR PASSENGERS RIDING IN THE 3RD SEAT. THE REAR HATCH IS NOT ACCESSIBLE FOR USE SINCE I IS IN A LOCKED POSITION AND CANNOT BE OPENED. I HAVE FILED A COMPLAINT WITH GM. THEIR CS REPRESENTATIVE CONTACTED ME TO LET ME KNOW THAT MY LOCAL DEALERSHIP CAN FIX THE PROBLEM AT MY EXPENSE. TENS OF THOUSANDS OF THESE COMPLAINTS HAVE BEEN FILED WITH GM OVER THE LAST 2 YRS. AND THERE HAS BEEN NO RECALL FOR THIS POTENTIALLY FATAL SAFETY HAZARD. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0
- #10524919July 15, 2013ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES
I PURCHASED A 2008 SUBURBAN LTZ IN JULY 2011. SHORTLY AFTER WE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE 3 OF THE DOORS LOCKS HAVE STOPPED FUNCTIONING COMPLETELY, THE 4TH DOOR WORKS SPORADICALLY (DRIVER SIDE, PASSENGER). THE LOCKS DO NOT WORK AT ALL WITH THE KEYLESS ENTRY NOR THE MAIN LOCK BUTTON FROM THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR. I HAVE BEEN TOLD THAT IT IS A PROBLEM WITH THE LOCK ACTUATORS MALFUNCTIONING AND THAT IT IS ALSO A WELL KNOWN ISSUE FROM VARIOUS DEALERS AND PER MY RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET. IN ORDER TO UNLOCK THE DOORS, I MUST MANUALLY USE THE KEY TO UNLOCK THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR THEN UNLOCK ALL THE OTHER DOORS BY HAND ONE BY ONE. THEN WE MUST LOCK ALL DOORS MANUALLY AFTER ENTERING BECAUSE THE LOCKS ALSO DO NOT LOCK AUTOMATICALLY WHEN YOU TAKE THE CAR OUT OF THE PARK POSITION. ALTHOUGH THE POWER LOCKS ARE A LUXURY, THIS ALSO BECOMES A SAFETY ISSUE. A VEHICLE WITH AN ORIGINAL ASKING PRICE OF OVER $55,000 SHOULD NEVER HAVE THIS ISSUE AND I'M NOT SURE WHY CHEVROLET FAILS TO TAKE ACTION FOR A CLEAR SAFETY DANGER. AS A MOTHER OF 3 CHILDREN I FIND THIS TO BE A VERY SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. A CHILD COULD EASILY OPEN THE DOOR AND FALL OUT OF THE MOVING VEHICLE OR IF WE WERE INVOLVED IN A CAR ACCIDENT ANY ONE OF MY FAMILY MEMBERS (ADULT OR CHILD) COULD POTENTIALLY BE EJECTED FROM THE VEHICLE, CAUSING EITHER SERIOUS INJURY OR WORSE!! I REALIZE THE CHILD SAFETY LOCKS CAN BE ACTIVATED TO KEEP A CHILD FROM OPENING THE DOOR ACCIDENTALLY, BUT THAT WILL NOT PREVENT A CARJACKER OR ANYONE ELSE FOR THAT MATTER FROM JUMPING IN AND STEALING THE CAR OR KIDNAPPING A CHILD. IN MY OPINION, THEIR DEFINITELY NEEDS TO BE A RECALL ISSUED FOR THIS MAJOR LOCKING MALFUNCTION BASED ON MY EXPERIENCE AND HUNDREDS OF OTHERS I HAVE RESEARCHED. *TR
- Crash:
- No
- Fire:
- No
- Injuries:
- 0
- Deaths:
- 0