2008 Chevrolet Suburban Problems

Typical for Model

Real NHTSA owner complaints for the 2008 Chevrolet Suburban.

20072009
Complaints
276
per 10K Sold
51.1
US Sales
54,058
Crashes
4
Fires
0
Injuries
13
Fatalities
Recalls
3

Worst 2008 Chevrolet Suburban Problems

Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.

#196 complaints

Airbags

Avg mileage:89,122 mi
Crash-related:2
#225 complaints

Engine Problems

Avg mileage:115,556 mi
#322 complaints

Electrical Faults

Avg mileage:78,450 mi
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All Problems by Category

Every NHTSA complaint category for the 2008 Chevrolet Suburban.

Airbags
96
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
Avg Miles
89,122
Engine Problems
25
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
115,556
Electrical Faults
22
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
78,450
Latches / Locks
19
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
59,416
Body Structure
14
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
66,300
Structural Problems
8
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
89,600
Structure:Body:Door
7
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
83,600
Transmission / Drivetrain
6
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
119,800
Electronic Stability Control
5
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
99,020
Fuel System
5
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
129,400
Brakes
3
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Suspension Failures
3
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Engine & Cooling
2
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Equipment:Appliance:Air Conditioner
2
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Unintended Acceleration
2
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Visibility
2
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Child Seat:Harness/Crotch Buckle
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Child Seat:Harness:Front Adjuster
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Child Seat:Harness:Strap/Webbing
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Child Seat:Latch Connector/Clip
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Gasoline Fuel System
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Latches/Locks/Linkages:Doors:Latch
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Automatic Transmission
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Seat Belt Issues
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Steering Defects
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Structure:Body:Hatchback/Liftgate
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Tires:Pressure Monitoring And Regulating Systems
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Traction Control System
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Vehicle Speed Control:Cruise Control
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles

Search Owner Complaints

Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 2008 Chevrolet Suburban. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.

Recalls for 2008 Chevrolet Suburban

3 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting ~4,563,365 vehicles.

21V052000Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module
~557,023 affected

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.

21V050000Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module
~2,641,272 affected

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.

10V240000Electrical System
~1,365,070 affected

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.

Other Chevrolet Suburban Years

2008 Chevrolet Suburban — FAQ

Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.

Is the 2008 Chevrolet Suburban reliable?
Verdict: Typical for Model. The 2008 Chevrolet Suburban has 276 NHTSA complaints, 4 crash-related, and 3 recall campaigns. The most common issue is Airbags with 96 complaints. Source: NHTSA via VinItel.
What are common problems with the 2008 Chevrolet Suburban?
Top reported problems: Airbags (96 complaints, avg 89,122 mi); Engine Problems (25 complaints, avg 115,556 mi); Electrical Faults (22 complaints, avg 78,450 mi). Every complaint is filed by an owner with NHTSA — this is raw reported data, not editorial opinion.
At what mileage do problems start on the 2008 Chevrolet Suburban?
The weighted average mileage at time of complaint is about 88,843 miles. Some components fail earlier, some later — check the "All Problems by Category" table above for per-issue averages.
How safe is the 2008 Chevrolet Suburban?
NHTSA complaints for the 2008 Chevrolet Suburban include 4 crash-related reports, 0 fire reports, 13 injuries, and 0 fatalities. These are owner-reported incidents, not official crash-test ratings — a complaint being filed doesn't confirm a defect, but clusters around specific components are worth investigating.
Does the 2008 Chevrolet Suburban have any recalls?
Yes — 3 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 4,563,365 vehicles. Recalls are free to fix at the dealer. Always verify by VIN whether the specific car you're looking at has had its recalls addressed.
Should I buy a 2008 Chevrolet Suburban?
Complaint levels are in line with what's expected. Normal used-car due diligence applies — check the specific VIN for accident history, open recalls, and title brands.

Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) complaint and recall databases, aggregated by VinItel.

Wider context: See the full Chevrolet Suburban reliability report with year-by-year comparison and generation analysis.

Check Your Specific 2008 Chevrolet Suburban

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