The Chevy Suburban’s common problems reflect how one of the better sports utility vehicles out there leaves enough room to continually improve through the upcoming years. Although it already possessed a noticeably superior engine with a sizable body form, the unit still needs to amend a number of aspects of its platform.
Even with a popular automobile in tow, both owners and prospective buyers remain wary about issues associated with the large car. Over the years, units like the 2009 and the 2014 editions provided a glimpse as to how problematic a Suburban machine could be. Listed here are the Chevy Suburban’s notable and persistent glitches:
Complex engine troubles
A 5.3L V8 base engine sounds like an exciting and steadfast machine to handle wherever the road leads but in reality, the mechanism also becomes susceptible to unforeseen snags. It is so with the Suburban when some of its units between 2008 to 2015 received complaints from a number of owners.
Extensive oil usage
During this period, drivers voiced out the worrying depletion of engine oil in their respective vehicles. Upon a closer look, extensive quarts of lubrication got consumed even if the mileage was still below one thousand.
The utilization of low-tension piston rings turned out to be an anomaly in some units as the reduced friction drag created defects leading to the oil breaking into the combustion chamber from the crankcase. What further aggravated the issue emphasized the need for a warning device that should alert drivers that the machine underneath is drying up.
Ticking noise
From 2007 to 2018, the Chevy uncovered a disturbing noise that ticked under the hood especially when the utility vehicle idled. Many observers believed that excessive oil consumption led to this mechanical concern.
Mechanics and other experts traced the ticking sound into the engine itself where the lifter component was situated. Considering that the disturbance happened in the machine platform, the likelihood of the pistons banging the valves leading to further damage beyond the lifter is high.
Disturbing clatter
Some units belonging to the 10th and 11th generation of the Suburban stoked irritating shrieks from the engine. Although car owners connected the ticking noise to this situation, the development unraveled a delinquent hitch probably conceived by a bad manufacturing outfit.
Addressing the issue turned out quite tricky since the annoying sounds could be anywhere. A thorough scrutiny led to the exhaust manifold as the possible source of trouble. However, such noises probably resulted from movable components due to bolts missing or defaced by rust.
Transmission strife
The Chevy Suburban’s common problems manifested serious gearbox glitches since the first batch of utility vehicles rolled out of production back in 1935. Although decades of research and development provided a lot of progress regarding engine assessments, the issue continued to show up to this day.
Gear difficulties
Editions from the 90s to the early 2000s, and even with the recent ones, remain concerned about transmission troubles. Old gearboxes like the 4L60E and the 4L80E joined the newer platforms like the 6L90 and the 8L90 in displaying defects.
Many owners experienced hard gear shifting but what alarmed them the most was the fact that the process led to a bogged-down engine. On a closer look, the problems likely pointed to the faults of the torque converter clutch during the shift.
Fragmental damages
When it comes to the torque converter, the distressing concerns become far more perilous since setbacks like shifting difficulties, engine shuddering, poor acceleration, and overheating usually arise sooner or later.
Another complication resulting from a bad transmission often steers towards the grinding or crushing of components. Anything that sounded like a dispersal of spare parts means that the transmission is grating its own or nearby pieces.
Safety crashes
The federal agency, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, attested over the years that the Chevy also had run-ins with their precautionary components. Cases involved troubles associated with the protective features of the automobile.
Brake and airbag failures
Among the prominent cases involved the 2018 Suburban wherein owners found pressing the brakes difficult. Considering that a big and powerful 5.3L V8 machinery propels the car, this certainly puts drivers in a very dangerous bind.
In addition, GM Corporation tackled a series of lawsuits involving the explosion of cushion devices inside several Chevrolet vehicles. Investigations showed that these airbags exploded during a number of accidents.
Faulty ABS
Earlier editions like the 1999 Chevy brand also faced driving welfare concerns regarding its Anti-lock Brake System (ABS). Car owners confronted frightful encounters wherein their units got the feature engaged even if the speed was noticeably low.
The braking platform pointed to the wheel velocity sensor which did not function correctly as the main culprit. Impairments in the corresponding wiring circuitry ultimately led to the system failure of the Suburban safety component.
Electrical pitfalls
Even though GM Corporation managed to address various sorts of hurdles, electrically related obstacles turned out to be one of those serious infractions which actually resulted in a number of complaints and eventual lawsuits.
AC flaws
Between 2007 and 2017, the Chevy utility unit encountered a series of issues related to electric platforms. One of the usual setbacks exposed a flawed air conditioning unit. The common hitch revealed a failed condenser wherein the water inside it froze, thus, breaking the component in the process. Bad pressure on many occasions also surfaced due to broken hoses.
Trailer jam
The Suburban brand bannered from 2015 to 2020 dealt with towing difficulties. An error in the service trailer brake system led to it popping up on the dashboard which annoyed car owners when driving.
Power snag
Meanwhile, electrical fires also erupted along the way. A few Chevy units from the 2007 to 2009 stretch experienced short-circuit incidents where the wiper system was involved. It re-occurred with the 2020 edition.
This faulty circuitry problem also got the sports utility automobile in a disastrous condition where many of its components lost power. Aside from the car lights and accessories getting impacted, the steering capability also locked when the vehicle rolled at more than 50 mph. An inquiry into a 2014 brand exposed a corrupted chassis electronic module.
Trifling dangers
Minor troubles also hampered the Chevy automobiles over the years. Although these occurrences could be branded as insignificant, the fact that the components impacted the driver’s welfare on the road still needs a thorough probe.
Wiper woes
Wiper defects surfaced in many instances. The delayed or intermittent responses when activated during rainy or wet conditions infuriated many drivers. An additional irritation occurred when the windshield motor sounded like it functioned, but the wipers remained stagnant. Usually, this situation hit the 1999 edition.
Defective wheels
Moreover, the Suburban also found upsetting circumstances with the wheels wherein the car itself got separated from it. At high speeds, the tires disintegrated into bits due to explosions. Owners, initially, found no defects since no visible hitches were manifested.
Door lock snaps
Another upsetting drawback that persisted from 2007 until 2020 pointed to door lock complications. Chevy drivers around those times grumbled about it. Apparently, the doors kept locking and unlocking while the vehicle remained in motion. Besides the failure of the lock actuator which pretty much led to a non-functioning central system, the brittle wirings also caused the trouble.
Ignition issues
Finally, a glitch that continued to haunt the sports utility units indicated an issue with the ignition line. Although the older models dealt with a defective starter motor as the source of the car not starting, the 2014 and onward brands complained about engines stalling wherein the ignition shifted from start to the accessory spot. It looked like the lock housing turned breakable.
Resilience through perpetual progression
The Chevy Suburban’s common problems bothered owners and potential buyers to no end, but such circumstances triggered a steadfast approach from GM Corporation itself to stay committed to launching products that will be dependable for a long time. The devotion to improving automobile platforms signifies loyalty to the patronizing market.
