Hi all,
i performed a search but didn't find anything that fit my exact needs. My wife and I have a growing family and we're considering picking up a newer Suburban. I came across an 08 with the LT trim package. It appears to be very nice with low miles. My question is are there any common issues with this year, model, or trim package? My only other experience with a GM product was an 06 cadillac CTS-V. That thing had so many elctrical gremlins that I got completely fed up with it and sold it. It's too bad because I loved it but just couldn't get over the demons that it had I couldn't track down

So, besides the obvious fuel consumption, are there any common issues that would absolutely make me regret purchasing this vehicle?

Thanks for any advice you can give me.

 

Welcome to the forum.

Check the inside door handles for razor sharp mold flash. Check all of the functions that it has such as Nav Voice Recognition, Rear Camera, Outside Mirrors incl dimming, folding, & puddle lites, Seat Heaters, Remote Fold middle row seat switches, Rear Seat Entertainment system incl. the wireless headphones (2), etc. Now it may not have all of these options. You can check the VIN here and see what options it came with.

Might consider a GMPP extended warranty if it's still eligible.

 

if it is the LT3 then it will have everything that the LTZ has except the power folding 2nd row seats and autoride. IMO 2 features that will only probably break and cost a lot to fix down the line so I am glad I got the LT3 instead.
redhat you can call your dealer and give them the VIN so they can check to see if all recalls/TSBs have been fixed. chances are since it is 3 years old the common things have been fixed by now. another very common issue on that model is you may find a crack in your dash either on the steering hump or right above the passenger airbag area. it is a cosmetic thing but it is something that people have gotten replaced with a new one for around $200 (like me)
other than that check the normal stuff like fluids, brakes, tires and do the normal test drive to listen for anything odd.
let us know how it goes and if you have any other questions.

 

Thank you for the responses. We are going to go test drive this vehicle this weekend. One thing that drove me crazy with my last GM vehicle was that it had a digital water temperature sensor that was constantly wrong. At times it would say that the engine was running in excess of 300 degrees and it'd start chiming and making all sorts of obnoxious sounds. Are these vehicles prone to any sort of sensor failures or false alarms? I'm planning to get it up to operating temperature and then letting it idle for a while to see what happens.

 

get the LTZ for the autoride. esp if you tow...

also look for a 2009+

the addition of bluetooth, cooled seats, and the 6 speed automatic are worth the bump in price... or wait a few months for the 09s to come down in price.


the 10, and 11 tahoe didn't add much.

infact, they lost some buttons and a few other things.

the 2011 added a USB port i think to the sat nav.

also, get the sat nav. it's not that great, but any new car without it, would be like going without power windows in 2001... just... wrong...

 

Go here:


Used Cars for Sale: Listings Near 90210 - Cars.com

you didn't say if you needed a 4x4, but i'd get it.

this LTZ has Z71 fender flares?!

Vehicle Photo: 2009 Chevrolet Suburban 1500 LTZ

but it also has the sat nav...

 

redhat6161, have you decided on getting the vehicle yet or are you still testing the waters?

Jeff Morris, Chevrolet Customer Service

 

Make sure you have a complete warranty on it. Otherwise you will pay a fortune to repair it as parts go bad (and they will). Many of the electronics tend to be defective and shoddy in quality.