2009 Chevrolet SUBURBAN problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
106 owner complaints analyzed
5 distinct recall campaigns
85,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2009 model year. Data snapshot: . 67 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Air Bags is the most frequently named component, appearing in 38 of 106 complaints (35.8%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Steering behavior | 6 | 5.7% |
| Braking behavior | 4 | 3.8% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 4 | 3.8% |
| Engine operation | 3 | 2.8% |
| Transmission and shifting | 2 | 1.9% |
| Fuel system concerns | 2 | 1.9% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Air Bags | 38 |
| Unknown Or Other | 23 |
| Electrical System | 16 |
| Engine | 10 |
| Structure:Body | 9 |
| Latches/Locks/Linkages | 7 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 5 |
| Electronic Stability Control (Esc) | 3 |
Air Bags: 38; Unknown Or Other: 23; Electrical System: 16; Engine: 10; Structure:Body: 9; Latches/Locks/Linkages: 7; Fuel/Propulsion System: 5; Electronic Stability Control (Esc): 3
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 3 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 15 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 9 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 14 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 10 |
| 150,000 and above | 16 |
Under 25,000: 3; 25,000 to 49,999: 15; 50,000 to 74,999: 9; 75,000 to 99,999: 14; 100,000 to 149,999: 10; 150,000 and above: 16
150,000 and above miles has the most reports with usable mileage (16). 39 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2009 | 1 |
| 2010 | 1 |
| 2011 | 2 |
| 2012 | 4 |
| 2013 | 9 |
| 2014 | 4 |
| 2015 | 7 |
| 2016 | 14 |
| 2017 | 17 |
| 2018 | 6 |
| 2019 | 14 |
| 2020 | 13 |
| 2021 | 6 |
| 2022 | 3 |
| 2023 | 3 |
| 2024 | 1 |
| 2025 | 1 |
2009: 1; 2010: 1; 2011: 2; 2012: 4; 2013: 9; 2014: 4; 2015: 7; 2016: 14; 2017: 17; 2018: 6; 2019: 14; 2020: 13; 2021: 6; 2022: 3; 2023: 3; 2024: 1; 2025: 1
Pattern summary
Air Bags leads the component reports. Steering behavior appears in 6 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 4 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 4 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10295546 · 2009-12-14 (December 14, 2009)
CASE NO. 1-4061367 REPORTED TO GM CUSTOMER COMMUNICATION CENTER ON 18/11/2009 "STEERING VIBRATION" WHILE DRIVING ABOVE 100 KM/H'. ACCORDING TO GM DEALER SERVICES DEPARTMENT CONFIRMED VERBALLY 'ACCEPTABLE VIBRATION'. CHEVROLET HAS NOT RESPONDED TO A COMPLAINT CASE NO. 1-4061367 REPORTED TO GM CUSTOMER COMMUNICATION CENTER ON 11/18/2009 AND NONE OF MY PRESENTED QUESTIONS AND INVESTIGATION/DOCUMENTATION REQUESTS WERE ADDRESSED. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 743 miles reported. Look up ODI 10295546 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10446056 · 2012-01-31 (January 31, 2012)
WHILE TAKING 4 CHILDREN TO SCHOOL IN THE MORNING, THE DASH TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT STARTED FLASHING AND THE ENGINE DIED. POWER STEERING AND BREAKS WERE GONE AND I WAS LEFT STRANDED IN THE MIDDLE OF A BUSY INTERSECTION. AFTER SEVERAL FRANTIC MINUTES, I WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE ENGINE A DRIVE HOME. *TT
Owner-reported narrative. 44,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10446056 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10434770 · 2011-11-07 (November 7, 2011)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN. WHILE PARKED, THE CONTACT EXITED THE VEHICLE AND WAS UNABLE TO UNLOCK THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR. THE CONTACT TURNED THE KEY TO SHUT THE VEHICLE OFF BUT THE GEAR SHIFT SELECTOR SHIFTED INTO DRIVE AND BEGAN TO REVERSE INDEPENDENTLY. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO DEPRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL AND SHUT THE VEHICLE OFF. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTICS OR REPAIRS. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 49,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 49,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10434770 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10616143 · 2014-07-24 (July 24, 2014)
ACCELERATING IN TRAFFIC ON A THREE LANE ROAD. AT APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE POWER STEERING, BRAKES, AND ACCELERATION LOCKED UP. I COULD BARELY TURN THE WHEEL AND THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS UNRESPONSIVE. I COULD NOT ACCELERATE AT ALL. I WAS ABLE TO MUSCLE THE CAR INTO A PARKING LOT AND JAM ON THE BREAKS TO COAST TO A STOP. THE POWER WAS STILL ON THE CAR, BUT THE AC WAS NOT BLOWING AS HARD. AFTER A RESTART, IT WORKED NORMALLY. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 40,053 miles reported. Look up ODI 10616143 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10327505 · 2010-04-26 (April 26, 2010)
ELECTRICAL MALFUNCTION ON MY 2009 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN LTZ. THE CAR WAS PURCHASED NEW FROM THE DEALER IN NOV 2009. UPON DELIVERY, IT WAS NOTED THAT THE DASH LIGHTS FOR FUNCTION BUTTONS DID NOT ILLUMINATE AND VISOR LAMPS WERE INOPERABLE. DEALER ASSURED US THAT THEY WOULD FIX THE PROBLEM. THE HAZARD OCCURS WHEN THE LIGHT COMPLETELY GO OUT ON THIS VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT FOR NO APPARENT REASON. AFTER FOUR ATTEMPTS TO FIX THE PROBLEM AND GM TECHNICAL SUPPORT HAS YIELDED NO CLEAR ANSWERS OR ASSISTANCE. I AM CONCERNED THAT MY FAMILY WILL BE INJU…
Owner-reported narrative. 100 miles reported. Look up ODI 10327505 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10533422 · 2013-08-03 (August 3, 2013)
THE DISCOVERY OF THE DEFECT WAS ON SEPTEMBER 2012. THERE IS A CRACK ON THE DASH ABOVE THE VEHICLES INSTRUMENTATION I.E. SPEEDOMETER, OIL PRESSURE, GAS LEVEL, ETC. I REPORTED TO LOCAL GM DEALERSHIP (HENRY BROWN CHEVROLET) ABOUT THE DEFECT AND MY CONCERN FOR SAFETY. THEY SAID THERE IS NO AVAILABLE SAFETY RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM. THINKING THAT THIS WAS AN ISOLATED CASE I DID NOT PURSUE THE MATTER. THEN RECENTLY WHEN I SURFED THE INTERNET I CAME UPON A GROUP OF GM VEHICLE OWNER WITH THE SAME TYPE OF VEHICLE AND THE SAME TYPE OF ISSUE. SO I I…
Owner-reported narrative. 33,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10533422 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10721854 · 2015-05-28 (May 28, 2015)
MY 2009 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN BEGAN STALLING IN THE MIDDLE OF INTERSECTIONS AFTER IT HAD RAINED HEAVILY THE DAY PRIOR. THE SHOP DISCOVERED THAT THE ISSUE WAS THE FUEL SYSTEM CONTROL MODULE. THERE WAS A RECALL ON THIS, BUT GM INFORMED ME THAT IT EXCLUDED MY VIN #. THE PROBLEM WITH THE MODULE WAS EXACTLY WHAT IS LISTED IN THE RECALL AND WAS NOT RELATED TO "WEAR AND TEAR" AS SUGGESTED BY RANDY WITH GM (SENIOR ADVISOR), BUT A FAULTY SEAL INTENDED TO PREVENT WATER INFILTRATION. I AM REQUESTING A RECALL THAT INCLUDES MY VIN...I AM NOT SURE HOW THIS CAN …
Owner-reported narrative. 114,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10721854 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11384047 · 2020-12-18 (December 18, 2020)
VEHICLE CONTINUES TO HAVE RANDOM ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS AFTER ADDING NEW GROUNDS, NEW ALTERNATOR, NEW BATTERY, CHECKING CONTACTS. IT'S BEEN AT 4 REPAIR SHOPS INCLUDING A CHEVY DEALER AND CONTINUES TO HAVE PROBLEMS. DOORS CYCLE ON LOCK/UNLOCK, LIGHTS CYCLE DIMMING, ABS AND OTHER INDICATOR LIGHTS COME ON, LOSE ACCELERATION AND VEHICLE STALLS AND DIES. SEEMS TO HAPPEN MORE FREQUENTLY IN COLD WEATHER AND AFTER A 'REST' MAY OR MAY NOT START NO RHYME OR REASON. HAS BAFFLED MECHANICS FOR OVER 2 YEARS. PLS HELP.
Owner-reported narrative. 130,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11384047 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11406454 · 2021-04-05 (April 5, 2021)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE STARTED TO SPUTTER AND SHAKE WITH A LOUD KNOCKING SOUND COMING FROM THE ENGINE. THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE SHIFTED INTO LIMP MODE AND DECELERATED. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN BACK TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE ENGINE WAS LOW ON OIL. ADDITIONALLY, THE NUMBER 6 LIFTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED HOWEV…
Owner-reported narrative. 167,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11406454 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11496068 · 2022-12-05 (December 5, 2022)
The contact owns a 2009 Chevrolet Suburban. The contact stated that the vehicle intermittently failed to start after multiple attempts without warning. The contact replaced the ignition switch and the fuel pump; however, the failure persisted. The contact then used a code reader that determined that the Engine Control Module (ECM) was not giving a signal to the fuel pump. The contact made additional repairs to the vehicle, but the failure persisted. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, and he was given an estimate for the repair. Upon investiga…
Owner-reported narrative. 200,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11496068 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11604465 · 2024-07-25 (July 25, 2024)
Fuel pump modulator, which has a recall for other vehicles for same part, malfunctioned which caused the vehicle to cut off while my son was driving on the highway without notice, where he had to avoid being hit while trying to make it to the shoulder for safety. The fuel pump module was tested by a service mechanic and was found to have corroded due to moisture. Prior to vehicle cutting off, there were no warning signals/signs, it just cut the vehicle off while driving on the highway.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11604465 at NHTSA ↗