2008 Chevrolet Suburban
The Verdict
The 2008 Chevrolet Suburban has 312 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. The most reported issues are electrical (155 complaints) and body (105 complaints). With a Klunk Score of 42/100, it earns a "Proceed with Caution" rating. If you're shopping for a Chevrolet Suburban, consider the 2024 model year which has 88% fewer complaints.
Safe Bet
The 2024 has 88% fewer complaints
View the 2024 Chevrolet Suburban dashboard →
Klunk Score: Proceed with Caution
About average for complaint volume. Research the specific issues before buying.
How is this calculated?
The Klunk Score ranks this vehicle year against all others in our database based on total owner complaints filed with NHTSA. 100 = fewest complaints (top tier), 0 = most complained-about. Scores above 60 are better than average; below 40 means more problems than most.
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Under the Hood
Each number is a complaint. Darker = bigger problem.
By Category
By Severity
Worst Problems
Complaints
The contact owns a 2008 Chevrolet Suburban. The contact stated that while her daughter was driving at 30 MPH, she started to choke and was unable to breathe, which resulted in the driver fully colliding into a cement wall. The driver sustained injuries, and medical attention was provided, and the contact child was taken to the local trauma facility. The contact stated that all of the air bags located in the vehicle were deployed during the incident. A police officer was driving behind during the incident and assisted immediately after the crash. The contact was concerned that the air bags deployed violently, causing a fracture to the driver's neck, which resulted in an emergency trigonometry on the scene, who cut the trachea. The driver suffered injuries and underwent multiple operations due to the incident. The driver sustained lung and trachea injuries from the incident. A police report was filed, but the report number was not provided to the contact. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic. The dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. After the incident occurred, the contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V050000 (Air Bags). The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 154,000. Parts distribution disconnect.
The contact owned a 2008 Chevrolet Suburban. The contact received recall notifications of NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V050000 (Air Bags) and would like to be removed from the recall distribution list because she no longer owns the vehicle. The dealer was contacted. The manufacturer was not contacted.
Took my SUV for an airbag recall and when it was completed my truck AirBag light was left on. My truck did not have that light on when I arrived at the location. Dealer mentioned not knowing what to do about it. I made a complaint and nothing was done by the dealer.
The dash board in the vehicle is cracked and none is able to fix problems. The engine misfire and to figure out the problem cost lost of money. The lifters goes bad on vehicle. Suspension works always need.
I have a 2008 Suburban. Beginning in August, there was an accident on the highway and traffic was backed up. I was idling, waiting for the traffic to move, like every other car on the hightway and the suburban just shut off and said "Stablitrak off." It happened numerous times after this, just when idling. I took to the dealership I bought it at. They charged a ton to fix something but it didn't' take care of the problem. It's gotten so much worse. I took back a few months ago and they fixed it again, but didn't charge us this time. Now it's so much worse. Anytime I'm iding, just picking my daughter up at school or just stopped at a red light, a warning comes across, "service stabilitrak" or "stablitrak off." and the car immediately shuts off. It usually restarts in 5 minutes or so and I can usually make it to my destination as long as I don't idle again. Monday I was picking up my daughter and it stalled in the parking lot at her high school with tons of cars behind me- I waited, restarted it as I have done in the past. But then, going down this steep high school hill, the car shut off, lost steering and brakes wouldn't even work. I had teen drivers ahead of me that I nearly crashed into, teens in my car. This is not ok. We took it back to the dealership and now they say it's an electrical problem. I've read a ton online forums that this is something that happens with a lot of other people. I'm afraid to drive my car. I'm also not sure what to get fixed because these other people have spent tons of money, just like me with no results.
Severe crackin of dashboard in multiple places. Poses a risk to passengers in the event of a collision.
Dashboard cracked By itself
TPS throttle position system. I’ve had issues since 2013 to present time. The car accelerates and decelerates on its own. I have replaced more than once car is not safe to drive. Need help asap
I was told the air bag was defective
The contact owns a 2008 Chevrolet Suburban. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle would shut off without warning. The contact had taken the vehicle to an independent mechanic who was unable to diagnose the failure. The contact has had multiple repairs performed on the engine; however, the failure persisted. The dealer nor the manufacturer were notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 169,000.
Multiple cracks in dashboard
2008 Chevy Suburban 1500 LT - the dashboard has cracked for no reason. This vehiclas has NOT been in any accident that could have caused this to happen. The cracks have speard now throughout the top of dashboard.
Takata Recall. The contact owns a 2008 Chevrolet Suburban. The contact received a recall notice for NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V052000(AIRBAGS); however, upon contacting the dealer, she was informed that the remedy may cause her dashboard to crack and she would be responsible for the repair. The manufacturer was then notified of the matter and confirmed that the dealer would not be held responsible for any cracks or damages to the dashboard. The contact stated that the manufacturer should cover the cost of the dashboard due to the recall. The vehicle had yet to be repaired for the recall. The contact had not experienced a failure.
Dash is cracked in multiple places. I am concerned that this would cause a safety issue of plastic projectiles in case of crash and airbag deployment
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2008 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT 55 MPH, THE REAR AXLE FRACTURED. AS A RESULT, THE BRAKES WOULD NOT ENGAGE WHEN THE BRAKES WERE SUPPRESSED CAUSING THE CONTACT TO CRASH INTO A CONCRETE BARRIER. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED.THE CONTACT SUSTAINED A BROKEN WRIST AND NECK SORENESS. THE CONTACT DID NOT SEEK ANY MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DRIVABLE AND WAS TOWED TO HER HOME ADDRESS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. A DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN INFORMED OF FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000.
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN: 21V052000 (AIR BAGS) HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE RECALL REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO MIDDLEBURY CHEVROLET (510 US-7, MIDDLEBURY, VT 05753, (802)382-2200) WHERE IT WAS CONFIRMED THAT THE PART WAS NOT YET AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER HAD EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE LOSS MOTIVE POWER WITH THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS UNABLE TO BE RESTARTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE RESIDENCE. THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE ENGINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 130,000.
WHILE I WAS DRIVING THE SUBURBAN IN TOWN AND ON THE INTERSTATE, THE OIL LIGHT CAME ON AND SAID SOMETHING ABOUT OIL PRESSURE AND TURN ENGINE OFF.
IT'S BEEN OVER 4 YEARS SINCE RECEIVING THIS RECALL FOR AIRBAGS THAT CAN KILL ME INSTEAD OF PROTECT ME IN AN ACCIDENT. THIS IS MORE THAN ENOUGH TIME TO CORRECT THIS ISSUE BUT IT'S BEING IGNORED UNTIL EVERYONE EITHER FORGETS OR MORE PEOPLE DIE. I CAN'T GET THE DEALERS TO DISABLE OR REMOVE THE AIRBAG SO WHY EVEN GIVE ME RECALL NOTICE? I NEED THIS FIXED SO I CAN DRIVE SAFELY OR SELL MY VEHICLE WITHOUT CONCERN OF OTHERS.
I HAVE THREE GM VEHICLES WITH THIS SAME RECALL NOTICE (#49151) FROM JULY OF 2016. TO THIS DAY I KEEP BEING TOLD THE REMEDY IS NOT YET AVAILABLE. WHAT SHOULD BE MY EXPECTATION FOR RESOLUTION? FORTUNATELY THERE HAS NOT BEEN A PROBLEM.
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