2009 Chevrolet Suburban
The Verdict
The 2009 Chevrolet Suburban has 161 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. The most reported issues are electrical (74 complaints) and body (59 complaints). With a Klunk Score of 62/100, it earns a "Solid Pick" rating. If you're shopping for a Chevrolet Suburban, consider the 2024 model year which has 77% fewer complaints.
Safe Bet
The 2024 has 77% fewer complaints
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Klunk Score: Solid Pick
Fewer complaints than most vehicles. Generally dependable, but check the top problems below.
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
Unknown
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.
Cooper Discoverer 275-55r20 had a stranger point out a very large bulge on the inner sidewall of my passenger side rear tire. This is the 3rd tire from a set of 4 that has developed the same issue within 3 months. Cooper Tires is not wanting to help resolve this issue. They want the tire dissected and returned before doing anything.
On 05/19/2023 driver's side front wheel removed for brake replacement. Noticed large bulge on inner sidewall of Cooper Discoverer 275-55r20 tire. This was the 2nd tire of a set of 4 that has developed the same issue. Now a third has a bulge. I will submit a 3rd report for it.
Cooper Discoverer 275-55r20 developed bulge in inner sidewall. I was unaware of issue until a stranger pointed it out. That was on 03/08/2023. Since then, 2 more tires have developed the same issue!! The last 2 have been looked at by tire installation professionals and determined to be manufacturer defects.
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 investigation, the contact linked the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 09V154000 (Fuel System, Gasoline). The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed him that his vehicle was not included in the recall. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 200,000.
The contact owns a 2009 Chevrolet Suburban. The contact stated that while her son was seated in the driver's side front seat with the door opened, the key was not in the ignition, the doors inadvertently locked and unlocked. The contact's son noticed that there was smoke coming from the dash and exited the vehicle. Upon inspection, the contact and her son detected a burning odor and noticed that there was smoke coming from underneath the hood; however, there were no flames. The contact's son opened the hood and disconnected the battery. The fire department arrived and inspected the vehicle. The fireman informed the contact that the alternator and battery connectors were extremely hot. The fire department assisted in moving the vehicle away from the residence. A fire department report was filed. The vehicle was towed to the dealer; however, the vehicle was diagnosed but still hasn't been repaired. The contact related the failure to a faulty electrical system. The vehicle was not yet deemed totaled by the insurance company. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 133,000.
Dashboard cracked around the corner of the passenger side air bag and manufacturer did not recall. It appears there are many vehicles with this problem and could be a potential safety issue if the airbag malfunctioned and caused parts of dash to break and rupture air bag or fly into passengers of vehicle in the event of a crash.
I am STILL waiting for this recall to be fixed. Why is this taking so long? Every time I drive this vehicle, it is a danger for my passenger due to the defective airbag. It almost seems to me that maybe this is a stall tactic so there will be less of a cost for the repairs due to the less vehicles still on the road. Just my opinion. I would like to know what is taking so long to fix. It is already late 2021 and this vehicle is a 2009. Wow. I guess the safety of the customers is second to the cost of repairs.
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 HOWEVER, THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 167,000.*DT
THE DASHBOARD IS CRACKED IN MULTIPLE PLACES
DASHBOARD CRACKED IN MULTIPLE PLACES. CRACKING UP TO THE EDGE OF THE AIRBAG. IF AIRBAG IS DEPLOYED THE SHRAPNEL FROM THE DASHBOARD COULD CAUSE AIRBAG TO DEFLATE RENDERING IT USELESS AND CAUSE INJURY.
DASH HAS CONTINUED TO CRACK - OVER 4 CRACKS THAT HAS AFFECTED THE DEFROST VENT, DASH AND NOW I RECEIVE PERIODIC AIRBAG WARNINGS UPON STARTING IGNITION AND/OR PARKING. I AM CONCERNED AS A DRIVER, MOTHER OF 3 AND CAREGIVER OF ELDERLY MOM THAT THE AIR BAGS WILL DEPLOY AT ANYTIME AND/OR NOT FUNCTION CORRECTLY UPON A CRASH OR COLLISION.
PASSENGER AIRBAG SENSOR HAS BEEN ON FOR YEARS, AND I HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR MANY YEARS FOR THIS PARTICULAR RECALL TO BE FIXED! IT IS RIDICULOUS THAT NOTHING IS BEING DONE AND PEOPLE LIKE ME ARE FORCED TO BE DRIVING THEIR FAMILIES AROUND IN SUCH UNSAFE VEHICLES!!!!! I HAVE FILED MULTIPLE COMPLAINTS, AND HAVE CALLED THE MANUFACTURER MULTIPLE TIMES, TO GET NOWHERE FAST! WHY EVEN HAVE THIS SYSTEM SET UP FOR RECALLS IF YOU DONT DO ANYTHING ABOUT THEM???? IT'S SICKENING TO THINK OF SOMEONE HAVING TO FILL THIS COMPLAINT OUT AFTER THE FACT OF INJURY OR DEATH TO A LOVE ONE- WHAT'S THE POINT?
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.
DRIVING DOWN A ROAD AND SHUT OFF WILL NOT START AGA
THE AIRBAG LIGHT WILL NOT TURN OFF AND THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE.
DRIVING FOR A FEW WEEKS ON MORE GOT UP ONE MORNING AND IT WOULD NOT S STARTED KEEP CRANKING TURN IT OVER THERE WOULDN'T STARTED
OWNERS ARE CONVINCED THAT A CRACKED DASHBOARD COULD COMPOUND THE SEVERITY OF A THE VEHICLE DASH IS DAMAGED I AM STATING THAT IT COULD SHATTER INTO PIECES UPON AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT AND SEND SHARDS OF DASHBOARD FLYING AT BOTH THE DRIVER AND THEIR PASSENGERS. THE SHARDS COULD ALSO LACERATE THE AIRBAGS AND RENDER THEM USELESS. MY DASH HAS CRACKED AND SEPARATED WITH NO ADDITIONAL STRESS FROM VEHICLE OCCUPANTS. THIS DAMAGE HAPPENS AS THE VEHICLE IS PARKED THE SUN WEAKENS THE MATERIAL,THEN AS THE VEHICLE IS DRIVEN IT CREATES STRESS CRACKS. MOREOVER ANY DASH RELATED REPAIR WILL FURTHER DAMAGE THE DASH. FOR EXAMPLE THIS IS ONE OF THE REASONS GM HAS BEEN SO RESISTANT TO A TAKATA AIR BAG RECALL KNOWING THAT IT WILL LIKELY REQUIRE THE ENTIRE DASHBOARD TO BE REPLACED.
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V381000 (AIR BAGS) HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE RECALL REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO FREMONT CHEVROLET (5850 CUSHING PKWY, FREMONT, CA 94538; (510) 445-8700) WHERE IT WAS CONFIRMED THAT THE PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER 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.
161 total