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U.S. public vehicle records

2008 Chevrolet SUBURBAN: complaints, problems and recalls

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

213 owner complaints analyzed

4 distinct recall campaigns

85,000 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 2008 model year. Data snapshot: . 113 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Air Bags is the most frequently named component, appearing in 96 of 213 complaints (45.1%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Braking behavior94.2%
Electrical and battery issues73.3%
Engine operation41.9%
Steering behavior41.9%
Transmission and shifting31.4%
Fuel system concerns10.5%

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.

Air Bags
96
Unknown Or Other
38
Engine
25
Electrical System
22
Latches/Locks/Linkages
19
Structure:Body
14
Structure
8
Structure:Body:Door
7
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Air Bags96
Unknown Or Other38
Engine25
Electrical System22
Latches/Locks/Linkages19
Structure:Body14
Structure8
Structure:Body:Door7

Air Bags: 96; Unknown Or Other: 38; Engine: 25; Electrical System: 22; Latches/Locks/Linkages: 19; Structure:Body: 14; Structure: 8; Structure:Body:Door: 7

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000
2
25,000 to 49,999
18
50,000 to 74,999
24
75,000 to 99,999
23
100,000 to 149,999
34
150,000 and above
12
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,0002
25,000 to 49,99918
50,000 to 74,99924
75,000 to 99,99923
100,000 to 149,99934
150,000 and above12

Under 25,000: 2; 25,000 to 49,999: 18; 50,000 to 74,999: 24; 75,000 to 99,999: 23; 100,000 to 149,999: 34; 150,000 and above: 12

100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (34). 100 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.

2010
6
2011
16
2012
8
2013
9
2014
14
2015
11
2016
29
2017
40
2018
22
2019
24
2020
16
2021
9
2022
3
2023
4
2024
1
2025
1
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
20106
201116
20128
20139
201414
201511
201629
201740
201822
201924
202016
20219
20223
20234
20241
20251

2010: 6; 2011: 16; 2012: 8; 2013: 9; 2014: 14; 2015: 11; 2016: 29; 2017: 40; 2018: 22; 2019: 24; 2020: 16; 2021: 9; 2022: 3; 2023: 4; 2024: 1; 2025: 1

Pattern summary

Air Bags leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 9 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 7 complaint narratives. Engine operation 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.

Examples from the source records

Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.

Owner report 10319809 · 2010-03-22 (March 22, 2010)

2008 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN. CONSUMER STATES UNINTENDED SUDDEN ACCELERATION. *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED RAPIDLY FROM A STANDING START TO ENTER THE TRAFFIC LANE AHEAD OF ONCOMING TRAFFIC FROM THE LEFT. HE DEPRESSED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL QUICKLY, THEN LET UP, BUT THE ENGINE RPM CONTINUED TO CLIMB, AS IF THE ACCELERATOR WERE FULLY DEPRESSED. UPON HEARING THE ENGINE CONTINUE TO ACCELERATE ON ITS OWN, AND FEELING THE VEHICLE SURGE FORWARD, THE CONSUMER APPLIED THE BRAKE WITH FULL FORCE, USING BOTH FEET AND WAS SUCCESSFUL IN BRIN…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10319809 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10325668 · 2010-04-14 (April 14, 2010)

ACTUATOR IN DOOR LOCKS NOT WORKING. WHEN THESE GO OUT , THE DOOR CANNOT BE OPENED FROM THE OUTSIDE WITH HANDLE OR REMOTE. IF A CHILD OR PERSON WAS IN THE VEHICLE AND THERE WAS A FIRE , THEY COULD NOT GET OUT. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10325668 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10329354 · 2010-05-07 (May 7, 2010)

THE LOCKS ON BOTH OF MY 08 SUBURBANS STARTED TO FAIL STARTING WHEN TRYING TO LOCK OR UNLOCK THE DOORS WITH REMOTE BUTTON AND THE INTERIOR LOCK BUTTON. THE PROBLEM STARTED WITH THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR NOT LOCKING OR UNLOCKING AND HAS PROGRESSED TO THE DRIVERS SIDE REAR DOOR. THIS HAS OCCURRED IN BOTH OF MY LTZ 08 SUBURBANS. YOU CAN NOT GET OUT OF THE CAR IN CASE OF EMERGENCY, NOR CAN YOU LOCK OR UNLOCK THE DOORS IF NEEDED TO QUICKLY LOCK IF BEING THREATENED. DEALER STATES THEY HAVE HAD NUMEROUS CALLS HOWEVER ITS NOT COVERED OR RECALLED. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10329354 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10345760 · 2010-07-27 (July 27, 2010)

I OWN A 2008 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN. IN LESS THAT TWO (2) YEARS, THREE (3) OF THE DOOR LOCK ACTUATORS HAVE STOPPED WORKING COMPLETELY. GENERAL MOTORS HAS DONE NOTHING TO REMEDY THE PROBLEM AFTER MAKING THEM AWARE OF IT. THE FAILURE OF THE DOOR LOCK ACTUATORS IS CONSTANT. THERE WERE NO EVENTS LEADING TO THE FAILURE OTHER THAN AN INFERIOR PART. THE ONLY WAY TO UNLOCK THE REAR DOORS IS TO CRAWL OVER THE FRONT SEATS INTO THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. IN THE EVENT OF A TRAFFIC ACCIDENT THIS WILL BECOME A SAFETY HAZARD DUE TO THE FOLLOWING REASONS. 1. TH…

Owner-reported narrative. 55,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10345760 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10352425 · 2010-08-27 (August 27, 2010)

PASSENGER'S SIDE HANDLE OF OUR 08 SUBURBAN KEPT CUTTING PEOPLE'S HANDS ON EXIT. FINALLY HAD DEALER REPLACE FOR $120+. NOW, ABOUT A MONTH LATER, MY SIDE (DRIVER) IS DOING THE SAME THING. THIS IS OBVIOUSLY A QUALITY/DESIGN DEFECT AND I DON'T FEEL I SHOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR THESE REPAIRS WHEN I'VE FOUND SO MANY ONLINE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. CURRENTLY I'M TYPING THIS WITH A SLICED INDEX FINGER THAT HURTS LIKE SIN. THANKS FOR ANY HELP. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 71,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10352425 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10369173 · 2010-12-04 (December 4, 2010)

DRIVERSIDE DRIVER AND PASSENGER AUTOMATIC DOOR LOCKS INOPERABLE. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 65,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10369173 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10379548 · 2011-01-29 (January 29, 2011)

2008 CHEVY SUBURBAN- ALL LOCKS HAVE STOPPED WORKING HAVE BEEN TOLD IT IS THE LOCK ACTUATOR. HUGE SAFETY ISSUE AS I CAN NOT GET CHILDREN OUT OF CAR. THE ACTUATORS HAVE FAILED ON EVERY LOCK IN THE VEHICLE, UNACCEPTABLE! *LN

Owner-reported narrative. 38,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10379548 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10380173 · 2011-02-03 (February 3, 2011)

2008 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN AFTER TURNING ON THE AC IT BEGAN TO BLOW HOT AIR ON THE DRIVERS SIDE BUT COLD ON THE PASSENGER. IWAS READING A FORUM ONLINE AND IT SEEMS THE THIS IS A WIDE SPREAD PROBLEM WITH GM VEHICLE LINK ENCLOSED. HTTP://AUTOFORUM.CLASSIFIEDS1000.COM/CHEVROLET-SILVERADO_1500_PICKUP/DUAL_AC_BLOWS_COLD_AIR_ON_PASSENGER_BUT_HOT_ON_DRIVER. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10380173 at NHTSA ↗

Recall history

4 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.

08V441000 · Electrical System

Reported: 2008-08-28 (August 28, 2008)

GM IS RECALLING 857,735 MY 2006-2008 BUICK LUCERNE; CADILLAC DTS; HUMMER H2; MY 2007-2008 CADILLAC ESCALADE, ESCALADE ESV, ESCALADE EXT; CHEVROLET AVALANCHE, SILVERADO, SUBURBAN, TAHOE; GMC ACADIA, SIERRA, YUKON, YUKON XL, SATURN OUTLOOK; AND MY 2008 BUICK ENCLAVE VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A HEATED WIPER WASHER FLUID SYSTEM. A SHORT CIRCUIT ON THE PRINTED CIRCUIT BOARD FOR THE WASHER FLUID HEATER MAY OVERHEAT THE CONTROL-CIRCUIT GROUND WIRE.

Consequence: THIS MAY CAUSE OTHER ELECTRICAL FEATURES TO MALFUNCTION, CREATE AN ODOR, OR CAUSE SMOKE INCREASING THE RISK OF A FIRE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A WIRE HARNESS WITH AN IN-LINE FUSE FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON SEPTEMBER 12, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT BUICK AT 1-866-608-8080; CADILLAC AT 1-800-982-2339 OR HTTP://WWW.CADILLAC.COM; CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438; SATURN AT 1-800-972-8876 OR HTTP://WWW.SATURN.COM, GMC AT 1-866-996-9436; OR HUMMER AT 1-800-732-5493; OR THROUGH THEIR WEBSITE AT <A HREF=HTTP://WWW.GMOWNERCENTER.COM>HTTP://WWW.GMOWNERCENTER.COM</A> .

NHTSA campaign record ↗
10V240000 · Electrical System

Reported: 2010-06-04 (June 4, 2010)

GM IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2006-2009 BUICK, LUCERNE; CADILLAC DTS; HUMMER H2; MODEL YEAR 2008-2009 BUICK ENCLAVE; CADILLAC CTS; MODEL YEAR 2007-2009 CADILLAC ESCALADE, ESCALADE ESV, ESCALADE EXT; CHEVROLET AVALANCHE, SILVERADO, SUBURBAN, TAHOE; GMC ACADIA, SIERRA, YUKON, YUKON XL; SATURN OUTLOOK; AND MODEL YEAR 2009 CHEVROLET TRAVERSE VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A HEATED WASHER FLUID SYSTEM (HWFS). A RECALL WAS IMPLEMENTED IN 2008 TO ADD A FUSE TO THE CONTROL CIRCUIT HARNESS TO ADDRESS THE POTENTIAL CONSEQUENCES OF A PRINTED CIRCUIT BOARD (PCB) ELECTRICAL SHORT. HOWEVER, THERE HAVE BEEN NEW REPORTS OF THERMAL INCIDENTS ON HWFS MODULES AFTER THIS IMPROVEMENT WAS INSTALLED. THESE INCIDENTS RESULTED FROM A NEW FAILURE MODE ATTRIBUTED TO THE DEVICE'S THERMAL PROTECTION FEATURE. THE SIGNIFICANCE VARIES FROM MINOR DISTORTION TO CONSIDERABLE MELTING OF THE PLASTIC AROUND THE HWFS FLUID CHAMBER.

Consequence: IT IS POSSIBLE FOR THE HEATED WASHER MODULE TO IGNITE AND A FIRE MAY OCCUR.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL PERMANENTLY DISABLE AND REMOVE THE HEATED WASHER FLUID MODULE. AN UPDATED PAGE FOR THE OWNER MANUAL WILL BE PROVIDED AND INSERTED IN THE OWNER MANUAL TO DOCUMENT THAT THE FEATURE HAS BEEN PERMANENTLY DISABLED AND REMOVED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JUNE 11, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT BUICK AT 1-866-608-8080, CADILLAC AT 1-866-982-2339, CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438, SATURN AT 1-800-972-8876, GMC AT 1-866-996-9463 AND HUMMER AT 1-800-732-5493 OR AT THE OWNER CENTER AT WWW.GMOWNERCENTER.COM.

NHTSA campaign record ↗
21V050000 · Air Bags:Frontal:Passenger Side:Inflator Module

Reported: 2021-02-05 (February 5, 2021)

General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2007-2011 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, Escalade EXT, Chevrolet Avalanche, Silverado 1500, Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Sierra 1500, Yukon, Yukon XL, and 2009-2011 Chevrolet Silverado 2500, Silverado 3500, GMC Sierra 2500 and Sierra 3500 vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U.S. Virgin Islands or "Zone A." Additionally, GM is recalling certain 2007-2008 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, Escalade EXT, Chevrolet Avalanche, Silverado 1500, Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Sierra 1500, Yukon, Yukon XL vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia or "Zone B." These vehicles are equipped with non-desiccated passenger frontal inflators containing phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate (PSAN) propellant. These inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, high temperatures, and high temperature cycling.

Consequence: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, resulting in serious injury or death.

Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator with an alternate one, free of charge. Interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk were mailed on February 22, 2021. Second notification letters will be mailed once the remedy is available. Owner notification letters were mailed on March 1, 2021. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020; Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006; and GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is N212328760.

NHTSA campaign record ↗
21V052000 · Air Bags:Frontal:Passenger Side:Inflator Module

Reported: 2021-02-05 (February 5, 2021)

General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2009 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, Escalade EXT, Chevrolet Avalanche, Silverado 1500, Silverado 2500, Silverado 3500, Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Sierra 1500, Sierra 2500, Sierra 3500, Yukon, and Yukon XL vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia or "Zone B." Additionally, GM is recalling certain 2007-2008 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, and Escalade EXT, Chevrolet Avalanche, Silverado 1500, Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Sierra 1500, Yukon, and Yukon XL vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming or "Zone C." These vehicles are equipped with non-desiccated passenger frontal inflators containing phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate (PSAN) propellant. These inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, high temperatures, and high temperature cycling.

Consequence: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, resulting in serious injury or death.

Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator with an alternate one, free of charge. Interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk were mailed on February 23, 2021. Second notification letters will be mailed once the remedy is available. Owner notification letters were mailed on September 20, 2021. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006, and GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is N212328780.

NHTSA campaign record ↗