Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2008 Chevrolet Suburban owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
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. …
My 2008 Chevy Suburban with 94,000 miles stalled while in traffic traveling at about 20 MPH without warning. I luckily was able to coast it to the side of the road and after letting it sit for a short time it did restart again but only to stall again after the car ran for another 5 minutes again traveling at about 20 MPH. I had it towed to my dealership and have been told that my crankshaft position sensor has failed. While my VIN and year is not covered, there is an active recall on this condition (GM recall no. 06083.). This is a very dangerous issue to have especially when traveling with small children in the car. The recall should be extended to other years who experience this issue for the safety of families.
Tl* the contact owns a 2008 Chevrolet Suburban. While the vehicle was in park or drive, all four doors failed to unlock and the key fob failed to unlock the door. In addition, while driving 50 MPH, the check engine, stability track disengage, and traction control lights illuminated. The vehicle decelerated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the oil spilled and caused the spark plugs to fail. The spark plugs were replaced numerous times. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 70,000.
Driving when you reach about 30-35 MPH all the locks start cycling up and down, all the gauges go haywire, there is a throttle in the engine. When you turn it off sometimes it starts back up and runs fine and sometimes it won't do anything like the battery is dead and then a few minutes later it comes back on and starts back up. The last incident was 01/09/20 but this started in 12/2019. The vehicle has a brand new engine which only has about 1,000 miles on it. Also there is a crack in the dash at the corner of the passenger side air bag.
My gauges are doing all types of crazy things blinking on and off I replace my PCM and body control module and still having problems this GMC is not drive able and it should be a recall I have spent over $2000 in the shop
In 2008 it was hard finding a Suburban as a lot of dealerships closed already. So I found a dealership in glendale california. It was far from where I lived. When I was opening the sunroof it started going back and forth. I couldn't believe it. Ii had a long trip home and I was hoping that it would just resolve itself but it never did. I have told Chevrolet many times about this problem and you will find my records of how many times I had called them to resolve my problem but they never ever did a thing about it and it is still happening to this day. Also I had just noticed a few short months ago that I have fine little hair cracks showing up all over my Suburban. On the hood and on both sides of the car. I went to martin Cadillac in west los angeles that services Chevrolet suburbans and they had told me your car was probably repainted un-benoist to me. …
After driving for approximately 3 hours the problem began: the door locks cycle repeatedly, the instrument console flashes, the drive position flashes from park to drive repeatedly, the radio stops working, the vehicle surges, and the stabilitrac says it needs to be serviced. This is the second report we have filed in a month. We have already taken it to the dealership once for this problem in early August when it was just the radio malfunctioning. They said to replace the radio. This is a safety issue that has already been identified by NHTSA item number 10036550 and service bulletin number pit-4730a. GM says that because our vehicle is out of factory warranty that they will not pay to have it repaired.
Rear hatch door actuator went out. The door is in the locked position and cannot be opened with console button, key fob or exterior handle. There is no way to open the rear hatch from the inside of the vehicle creating a safety hazard for passengers riding in the 3rd seat. The rear hatch is not accessible for use since I is in a locked position and cannot be opened. I have filed a complaint with GM. Their cs representative contacted me to let me know that my local dealership can fix the problem at my expense. Tens of thousands of these complaints have been filed with GM over the last 2 yrs. And there has been no recall for this potentially fatal safety hazard.
Driving the car on city street, let off gas to slow down, engine shudders, the instrument console flashes, indicates engine power decreasing, the radio stops working, the vehicle loses power, the stabilitrac indicates it needs to be serviced, gives rear camera/towing warning, the engine dies, brakes are lost. Immediately after engines dies starter will not crank. The car will start again after several minutes. Check engine light is on. After a drive of about 4 miles parked car and started next morning--check engine light is off. Engine quitting and no brakes could be dangerous. Intermittent problem.
2008 Chevy Suburban will be in the shop next week for the 3rd time for same problems dealing with front air conditioner ceasing to blow air and problems with door latches & locks no longer able to be activated by remote or front master door activator. Have replaced ac blower motor, resistor, and driver front door lock actuator. It is now the driver back door lock not working. Also, vehicle began running rough; took it to mechanic; sent me on to dealer. Had to replace all fuel injectors and camshaft.
Related recalls
Electrical system
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…
Remedy: Dealers will permanently disable and remove the heated washer fluid module. An updated page for the owner manual will be provided and inserted in the owner manual to document that the feature has been permanently…
Electrical system
GM is recalling 857,735 my 2006-2008 Buick lucerne; Cadillac dts; Hummer h2; my 2007-2008 Cadillac escalade, escalade esv, escalade ext; Chevrolet avalanche, silverado, suburban, tahoe; GMC acadia, sierra, yukon, yukon xl, Saturn outlook; and my 2008 Buick enclave vehicles equipped with a heated wiper washer fluid system.
Remedy: Dealers will install a wire harness with an in-line fuse free of charge. The recall began on September 12, 2008. Owners May contact Buick at 1-866-608-8080; Cadillac at 1-800-982-2339 or http://www.Cadillac.com;…
Electrical complaints in other Suburban years
Frequently asked questions
How common are electrical problems on the 2008 Chevrolet Suburban?
NHTSA has 22 complaints about the electrical system of the 2008 Chevrolet Suburban, 10% of the model year's 213 complaints.
Is there a recall for 2008 Chevrolet Suburban electrical problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 10V-240 (electrical system, Jun 4, 2010); NHTSA recall 08V-441 (electrical system, Aug 28, 2008). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 2008 Chevrolet Suburban electrical problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 60,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.