A top contender in the full-size SUV market, Chevy’s Suburban easily accommodates a family of eight. But like most vehicles, it has its fair share of problems, including amassing recalls and consumer complaints for 2007’s faulty airbag issues and 2015’s brake assist failure.
Key Points
- 2007-2014 Chevrolet Suburbans are part of the Takata airbag recall. Other problems include cracked dashboards, excessive oil consumption, and valve lifter failures are on record.
- 2007 and 2008 Suburbans receive complaints about electrical shorts, leading to multiple accounts of cars catching fire.
- 10 National Highway Traffic Safety Administration recalls have been issued against the 2015 Chevy Suburban following several complaints about brake assist and power steering problems.
- Build quality issues, and airbag failures are common in the 2021 model year, which received eight recalls.
- The Suburban can be an excellent utilitarian if you can find a decent example. There’s plenty of interior and cargo space on offer, along with impressive tow ratings.
Fire Risk Due to Electrical Short in Heated Windshield Washer System, and Faulty Takata Airbags Plague Early Years of Suburban’s 10th Generation
The 2007 Chevrolet Suburban introduced the 10th-generation of the popular full-size SUV. However, the first few years were quite problematic, with 2007 and 2008 models having three NHTSA investigations and four recalls each.
Additionally, the NHTSA has 460 plus complaints against the 2007 Suburban, while 2008 has a touch over 300. Subsequent years saw complaints come down, but many problems continued until the 2014 model year.
The majority of the NHTSA complaints are about airbags. An investigation found the Takata-supplied inflators to rupture under prolonged exposure to high heat and humidity.
Two recalls have been issued over the airbag problem. However, owners have complained about dealers postponing the recall appointment, citing lack of parts.
The Suburban has received complaints about electrical shorts as well. Several accounts of cars catching fire are on record. The culprit? GM’s heated windshield washer system. More specifically, a short in its control module.
Two recalls are available. While the first one saw GM installing a fuse as a protection, the second recall completely disabled the heated windshield washer feature as the repaired system now started melting the surrounding plastics.
Valve Lifter Issues and Excessive Oil Consumption Mar 2007-2014 Chevrolet Suburbans
Heavy oil consumption is not uncommon in 10th-generation Chevy Suburbans. Owners have reported the 5.3L Vortec V8 consuming one to two quarts of oil per 1,000 miles. By the time owners realized the problem, it had already caused serious engine damage.
Unfortunately, there have been no recalls over oil issue. Dealerships recommend a complete rebuild, which costs around $9,000. An expensive fix for what is an engineering flaw.
Problems with the active fuel management system is another issue with 2010 to 2014 models. The problem is common with the flex-fuel version of GM’s 5.3L Vortec V8. Faulty valve lifters cause the engine to misfire, leading to severe internal damage.
Cases of unexpected engine shutdowns have also been reported. No official recalls are on record, and according to dealerships, a fix usually costs around $3,500.
Dashboards that crack easily are a problem affecting Suburbans from 2007 to 2014. Owners report that multiple areas simply crack and rattle, indicating a lack of quality material. The cracked plastic poses a serious safety risk and can inflict injuries in an accident. GM is yet to acknowledge the problem.
Power Steering Failure and Unintended Braking Affect 2015 and 2016 Chevrolet Suburbans, which Also Carry Over Valve-related Problems
Chevrolet introduced the 11th-generation Suburban in 2015. Just like its predecessors, the first two years started getting a lot of recalls and complaints. Model year 2015 has 10 recalls, while 2016 has six on record.
A lot of complaints are about the brakes. Per the NHTSA, while the vehicle is traveling between 41 and 60 mph, a software glitch may activate the car’s automatic brake-assist system, increasing the risk of a crash.
Another brake-related issue is the loss of vacuum pressure. A faulty vacuum pump causes the vacuum levels to drop, thereby decreasing the brake assist. So, the driver now has to increase the braking effort to stop the vehicle. A recall is available, and GM estimates nearly 3.5 million units are affected.
Loss of power steering is another common complaint. A fault in the electronic power steering module causes the power steering to go out and suddenly turn back on.
Even the later model years continued exhibiting airbag issues, valve lifter failures, and excessive oil consumption.
Build Quality Issues and Airbag Failures Mar 2021 Chevrolet Suburban
The all-new 12th generation Suburban took off with a rough start. Per the NHTSA, the 2021 model already has eight recalls. Most of the recalls regard poor build quality. For instance, there is a recall addressing improperly installed front seats.
Also, the rear driveshaft assemblies have internal components that were not heat-treated properly, resulting in driveshaft failure.
Moreover, an estimated 15,000 units are expected to have a faulty fuel pump, which could interrupt the fuel flow and stall the engine.
Per the NHTSA, model year 2021 also has airbag issues. An investigation led to GM recalling roughly 300,000 vehicles after it found the airbags would not deploy in an accident.
Valve lifter problems are not uncommon either. A lot of new Suburbans are getting it repaired under warranty. This time, both the 5.3L and 6.2L V8s seem to have the issue.
2007-2014 Suburbans can Become Money Pits, but Find a Decent Example, and You’re Looking at a Spacious and Capable Utilitarian
Out of the several thousand units sold, relatively few Chevy Suburban owners find the SUV problematic. But that’s not to say it’s super-reliable, either. After all, some of the sport utility vehicle’s model years do have some worrying airbag recalls, and problems with a failing engine.
Despite some issues, the Suburban is overall a capable vehicle with plenty of cargo space and seating for up to nine people. Plus, it offers 5,100 pounds of towing capacity (up to 8,300 on newer models). These are a few of the reasons why the SUV made Car and Driver‘s Editors’ Choice List in 2021.
Photos: Chevrolet
