Used 2008 Chevrolet Suburban Consumer Reviews
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Sinking More Money Into my 2008 Suburban
08suburbanne, 02/18/2015
2008 Chevrolet Suburban LT 1500 4dr SUV 4WD (5.3L 8cyl 4A)
32 of 33 people found this review helpful
So very disappointed with my 2008 Suburban. The car stalled in motion and I lost control. Had it towed to the dealership and told my CPS (Crank Shaft Sensor) failed but my VIN is not covered under the recall (GM06083) which is for the same issue. $500 out of my pocket. Dealership - no help! Called GM - no help. Called NHTSA - filed safety complaint. Thankfully not many cars were out on the road but I could have been hit and having my young son in the car was nerve racking. 15 months ago engine went - again another known problem but no recall on my VIN. Very disappointed Chevy owner here! Been a Chevy owner for 20 years. Stand behind what you build!
Do Not Purchase a 2008 Chevrolet Suburban
patsfanman67, 09/15/2014
2008 Chevrolet Suburban LT 1500 4dr SUV 4WD (5.3L 8cyl 4A)
15 of 15 people found this review helpful
Junk!! My Suburban has required air bag sensor replacement ($300), the 4 wheel drive stopped functioning for unknown reasons, the Stabilitrac stopped functioning for unknown reasons, the Traction Control stopped functioning for unknown reasons, exterior lighting stopped working (puddle lamps, license plate lamps), and window buttons stopped working. All before it hit 80k miles! The frame and undercarriage is rusted beyond recognition too. General Motors is proven unreliable and proven to be unable to build a sound vehicle. I will never buy another GM vehicle and I think the company should have been allowed to go bankrupt.
Do Not Buy With Active Fuel Management
Jon, 08/07/2015
2008 Chevrolet Suburban LS 1500 4dr SUV (5.3L 8cyl 4A)
24 of 25 people found this review helpful
The Active Fuel Management System causes major problems on this vehicle. $2,000 in fixes so far and it isn't fixed. World Class trained Chevy Technicians are having problems figuring out how to deal with the AFM and how to fix the problem. Next step $4,500 to go in a look and maybe fix the problem. Maybe. Suburbans were supposed to have a great engine. The Active Fuel Management ruined it. Don't let them lie to you. There is also a special memo inside of Chevy mechanics only talking about a high oil consumption problem that needs 11 parts added to the vehicle to fix the problem at your own cost. Chevy won't tell anyone outside of their network that they had to have Chevy engineers come up with a band aid. They also won't cover any of the cost. Do not buy a 2008 Suburban from anyone.
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- Value
Will own nothing else
EXBCMC, 10/19/2010
2008 Chevrolet Suburban LS 1500 4dr SUV 4WD (5.3L 8cyl 4A)
14 of 14 people found this review helpful
This is our 4th sub/Tahoe. The best so far, but. The door actuators are a problem with this year sub. All four doors have failed. The steering wheel covering bubbled but was replaced on warranty. The sun visors are bubbling, as well. Bought this vehicle for the snow and so far, so good.
Questionable quality
Bill F, 06/30/2010
2008 Chevrolet Suburban LT 1500 4dr SUV 4WD (5.3L 8cyl 4A)
20 of 21 people found this review helpful
My 2008 LTZ with the 6 / 8 cylinder engine is consuming 1 qt oil per 1,500 miles. Chevy is aware of the problem but is still trying to rectify it. That and my rear main seal leaks at 38,000 miles. The truck is comfortable, stylish, rides well, and fits a lot of stuff. The troubles above and other small items make the quality a big question.
Best bang for your buck
Sal, 09/07/2008
2008 Chevrolet Suburban LT 1500 4dr SUV 4WD (5.3L 8cyl 4A)
6 of 6 people found this review helpful
Strong, quality SUV for the price. Owned a Durango and loved it, but the Suburban is considerably a better SUV. It has more than enough room for the family on long trips and has great towing capability. Looked long and hard before I decided to trade in. It gets better MPG, rides better, and more comfortable. Of course MPG is not the best, but it has features that crossovers to not. I added a K&N filter and it helped increase the MPG. Overall very satisfied with the Suburban.
Capacity, Power, Luxury and style
Bob S, 12/31/2008
2008 Chevrolet Suburban LT 2500 4dr SUV 4WD (6.0L 8cyl 6A)
6 of 6 people found this review helpful
Driving my new Suburban has been a total pleasure. The LTZ trim package makes this a true luxury to drive. The power towing capacity and room for 8 make this the total package for large families. This is first time my wife has ever uses a truck more then me. She likes driving our Suburban as much as I do and I don't mind beaning a passenger for a change. Our standards for this vehicle have been high traded in a Toyota 4 Runner and Chevy has really won me back with a quality product. In this class of vehicle there is no computation just the standard Suburban.
Computer is junk, hub assemblies fail
a_edwill, 05/17/2013
updated 11/21/2016
2008 Chevrolet Suburban LT 1500 4dr SUV 4WD (5.3L 8cyl 4A)
8 of 9 people found this review helpful
It's a nice, roomy vehicle. After owning it about a year though the automatic window motors went out one by one. Then we lost cruise control. Then the air conditioner, but it eventually came back. One day I got in and started it, none of the panel items (speedometer, gas gauge, etc) worked. Had to replace both of the hub assemblies a couple years ago, they said it's a known issue with Suburbans. Transmission lost the 1/2 and 3/4 shift while on vacation in California. I've had it 4 1/2 years now and the electrical system is hosed. Dealer wants $1000 to replace the computer. It's junk. Will trade it in on something that isn't junk. Last summer while on vacation in California the transmission blew up. Traded it in on a Ram 2500. What a pos that Suburban was. WAY overpriced for the quality. If I ever look to purchase another full size SUV, I'll look to another brand.
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- Value
Multiple Problems
dlm, 05/12/2010
2008 Chevrolet Suburban LT 1500 4dr SUV 4WD (5.3L 8cyl 4A)
4 of 4 people found this review helpful
Bought the dealer's model with 10,000 miles on it, it has been in the shop 8x and counting with only 36,500 miles. After 1 month, veh. died while driving, dealer had it 2 weeks wks I was told "talking to Detroit" they replaced fuel pump. 1 week later started truck and was letting it warm up and it shut off and would not restart. Engine light has come on multiple times and dealer has been unable to find problem. The front pass door has broken twice. Had to have the CV boot replaced 2 months ago, now have rust and bubbling on driver door that dealer will not cover. Still not resolved are whistling through radio that increases with acceleration and turn on rear defrost causes radio to go out.
Great Large SUV. Comfort, Smooth, ROOM ROOM ROOM!
the_q, 09/22/2011
2008 Chevrolet Suburban LT 1500 4dr SUV 4WD (5.3L 8cyl 4A)
6 of 7 people found this review helpful
Have had an interesting last 4 years or so with SUVs. Had a Mercedes ML, hated it, not functional. Trade-in for a Jeep GC, but then with the baby, dogs and hauling guests and cargo to the boat, it became way too small. Was hesitant about Chevy but needed a big SUV that could seat 6 adults + cargo. Navigator was garbage. Sequoia too small, ford looked terrible in the rear. Was looking at Yukon's but found a great deal on this Suburban. Love it. Wife Loves it. It drives really smooth. Thought the 5.3L would be too small (had the HEMI in the GC) but it is enough, plus the HP can be improved with simple mods.
Better Safe Than Sorry
Scott, 08/02/2008
2008 Chevrolet Suburban LT 1500 4dr SUV (5.3L 8cyl 4A)
3 of 3 people found this review helpful
Figured it time to upgrade from our 1994 Burb w/ 208k miles. Has been a true workhorse and reliable at that. Waited for second year of new model and we're completely satisfied with our LTZ, professional reviews spot on. The only option we didn't get was retractable steps. The engineering is solid, materials first rate and quality no longer an issue. As for the mpg, I work in a trauma center (ER) and suffice to say those in larger, late model vehilces with all the latest safety features predictably do much better. When one considers the cargo (family), the mpg becomes, at least of us, a distant secondary concern! Better safe, than sorry.
Awesome Truck, with room for improvement
TXlnghrn, 07/23/2008
2008 Chevrolet Suburban LT 1500 4dr SUV (5.3L 8cyl 4A)
2 of 2 people found this review helpful
Had a 99 Burb but stuff kept going wrong so ended up with a new 08 LTZ. Overall great truck and I love to drive it. Average about 14mpg city (0.7-1 mpg less than onboard pc states) and around 10mpg towing my boat. In 3.5 months I have put over 5K miles on it. Personally, I think it looks awesome inside and out, and the materials seem top notch; except for one thing (and this is why I wanted to leave a review). In less than 4 months, my passenger side headlamp is already starting to cloud up. I live in TX and where I park it gets full sun from noon to dusk, but for a $50K vehicle, this is absolutely unacceptable!
20 ,pg my foot
Vince, 08/02/2008
2008 Chevrolet Suburban LT 1500 4dr SUV (5.3L 8cyl 4A)
2 of 2 people found this review helpful
Great vehicle for family and for pulling. Great ride, quiet cabin, good sound system. Looks great on road
Bad Economy Great Deal
FordGuy, 09/29/2008
2008 Chevrolet Suburban LT 1500 4dr SUV (5.3L 8cyl 4A)
2 of 2 people found this review helpful
My 2000 Excursion diesel got totaled. I loved it even with 200K miles. I looked at the expedition XL but the MPG was 25% less then the Burb. I got an LT1 for $30,085 including added GM leather! Plus I got a $500 Lowes card. The sticker was over $40K great rebates! Although the ford rode much smoother and was more comfortable, the burb got better MPG and was about $7000 cheaper so I decided to try the Chevy. So far I really like it
The Suburban Rocks!
F-Rod, 07/05/2008
2008 Chevrolet Suburban LT 1500 4dr SUV 4WD (5.3L 8cyl 4A)
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
I had a 2002, so I can vouch for all the additions. When they said completely redesigned they meant it. I find the fuel economy extremely good for a beast of this nature. I drive for a living and in less than a year have put 30000 miles on my truck (mostly city miles) and it still drives like new, its a work horse. I shopped the Escalade (overpriced), Denali (not as good looking), Expedition (not a better ride), Navigator (overpriced) and the Suburban seemed to me, the better buy . Great power, fun to drive, nice look and reliable. I would buy it again.
Sweet
Sam, 12/01/2008
2008 Chevrolet Suburban LT 1500 4dr SUV 4WD (5.3L 8cyl 4A)
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
Traded 05 Z71 Tahoe that was fully loaded for my LTZ. Great truck, getting 19ish on highway. Dark Interior color rocks, love the power everything, rides great, fun to drive, nav is great. Already had onstar & XM but they are still nice. Excellent quality & ride is great. Considered changing brands until I drove the new style. Great job GM
Transmission issue
chevygolfguy, 12/07/2008
2008 Chevrolet Suburban LT 1500 4dr SUV 4WD (5.3L 8cyl 4A)
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
This is our 5th Suburban and the only keep getting better. We bought an LTZ that was a company PIP vehicle. Bought it loaded with 10k miles on it. Have already put 7k more. Rides like a dream. Found out I have a transmission leak at the bell housing. I am not happy about that especially since it was driven by a GM exec and cared for by GM. Dealer is working on it as I write this. Hopefully it will be like new when done. It is by far the best truck on the road. Just hope GM is around to honor the remainder of the warranty if I need it.
Another great Chevy truck
NoOneSpecial, 01/30/2009
2008 Chevrolet Suburban LS 1500 4dr SUV 4WD (5.3L 8cyl 4A)
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
This is my fourth Chevy truck (2 Silverados, 1 Tahoe previously). They just keep getting better. I have never had any problems with any of them. The Suburban is by far the best. I have the Z71 package and love it. It is great for our large family either around town or on longer trips. Now if I can just get my wife to get one. (She is still not confident driving such a large vehicle.) If you need a large SUV, this is a great one.
suburban interior conveniences
waller, 06/04/2009
2008 Chevrolet Suburban LT 1500 4dr SUV (5.3L 8cyl 4A)
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
A Nice ride, good mileage for a big truck, 18+ around town, 22+ highway @75 mph. Have been on two long trips with no problems. But they left out a lot of little things that made my'96 more fun to drive with 165,000on it.
4th one and still love it!
DT, 07/10/2009
2008 Chevrolet Suburban LT 1500 4dr SUV 4WD (5.3L 8cyl 4A)
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
They just keep getting better. I had a Tahoe and 2 other Suburbans previously. The '98 Suburban I had really felt like it stuck to the road, the '01 lost that truck feel and felt loose. The ride of the '08 is great, the appearance is great, the highway/city mixed mileage is about 16 on gas and 13 on E85. I like the on- board computer w/mileage performance, XM Radio, On-Star and monthly status e- mails. The kids like the heated rear seats and DVD player plus they can load all of their junk easily.
Outstanding Big Time SUV
VeteranDriver, 08/12/2009
2008 Chevrolet Suburban LT 1500 4dr SUV 4WD (5.3L 8cyl 4A)
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
Outstanding comfort with all of the luxury items at the fingertips of the driver. My wife loves the power lift gate, heated seats, and overall space in the vehicle. Since it is the LTZ, the bose system and dvd make long range travel a pleasure.
Expensive Lemon!
Joe, 11/18/2009
2008 Chevrolet Suburban LT 1500 4dr SUV 4WD (5.3L 8cyl 4A)
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
Bought this 2008 Suburban about 15 months ago and it has been in and out of the shop ever since. Tire sensors keep failing. Power locks keep failing. Last and worst - had to replace BOTH front hub rings at different times. Left front wheel almost flew off on highway at 65 MPH! Definite NOT as reliable and indestructible as my two 2001 Suburbans. Have they started making them out of plastic? I get an idea why GM went bankrupt now.
2008 suburban
Carrie, 02/20/2018
2008 Chevrolet Suburban LT 1500 4dr SUV 4WD (5.3L 8cyl 4A)
1 of 1 people found this review helpful
I purshaced my 2008 suburban a year ago, it had been wrecked by a previous owner and we decided to get it fixed. It has only 85k miles on it and it seems to drive well. Only complaints is low gas milage 12-15mpg and one my oil gets down to 20% before needing changed my oil gauge goes crazy. It has tons of features automatic lift gate, heated front and second row seats, dvd and navigation package, xm radio and loads more. I have read many reviews that the motors go back to change the oil often and use synthetic oil and I have been doing that. My air conditioner did stop working and the lift gate doesn’t work either. My dash also has a crack down it like I’ve read other viewers saying they have issues with.
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- Value
Love it! Will drive the wheels off!
Jennifer, 08/28/2008
2008 Chevrolet Suburban LT 1500 4dr SUV (5.3L 8cyl 4A)
1 of 2 people found this review helpful
Traded my 07 Expedition EL for a LTZ White Diamond pkg Suburban for a cheaper monthly payment and better gas mileage. I'm getting worse gas mileage than before, 13.5 mpg mixed city & highway vs. 15.1 mpg with the Expedition. But with all SUVs I don't expect great gas mileage. I love this car more than any other SUV I've ever owned. It drives great, is great looking, comfortable & roomy, it is an all aound great buy-got a steal on it too. Fits my family of 5 wonderfully and is very safe! I have active fuel management and you never can tell when it switches from 4cyl to 8. I will not be buying another vehicle until this one is shot.
Great 08 Suburban
Dave Patterson, 04/08/2016
2008 Chevrolet Suburban LS 1500 4dr SUV (5.3L 8cyl 4A)
1 of 2 people found this review helpful
This truck has it all. 3LT package. Perfect vehicle for a traveling hockey family. Tows our 19 ft boat like it is not even there.
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Second Suburban and running
Keith R, 04/28/2008
2008 Chevrolet Suburban LT 1500 4dr SUV 4WD (5.3L 8cyl 4A)
1 of 2 people found this review helpful
I love this vehicle. I traded my 2003 burb in on this 08 and I love it. The ride is much better and the gas mileage isn't bad for a truck this size especially with the deactivation mode. It changes smooth w/o notice. I love the seating refinements, I drove all the way to Ga (about 8 hrs) and I was not tired, it was great. Keep up the good work Chevy, I love ya.
08 Suburban LT 4x4
William, 01/07/2008
2008 Chevrolet Suburban LT 1500 4dr SUV 4WD (5.3L 8cyl 4A)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
I took posession of my factory ordered Suburban the weekend before the GM labor strike. The quality of my unit should be an example - no problems noted so far. I test drove the Suburban, Yukon/XL and Hummer H2 over a several month period before deciding to order. The new exterior is pleasing, the interior is well designed and comfortable. Leather in Titanium soiled easy - later added Factory seat covers. Radio sounds great - GPS unit has worked flawlessly, though needs upgrade for new road construction in last year. Engine accelerates smooth...in-city driving 11MPG...highway cruise control driving 23 MPH at 55MPH, 19MPH at 65MPH, 16-17MPH at 75MPH. 4WD/Auto provides good traction in snow.
Love the Suburban
Thorsen, 02/19/2008
2008 Chevrolet Suburban LT 1500 4dr SUV 4WD (5.3L 8cyl 4A)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
Just traded our 2005 Nissan Armada for an LTZ Suburban. The Suburban is so much better built than the Armada. I love the rock solid feel and ride of this car. The new interior is great. I highly recommend this car!
Excellent vehicle for the price
yarom, 02/26/2008
2008 Chevrolet Suburban LT 1500 4dr SUV 4WD (5.3L 8cyl 4A)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
Without a doubt, the best bang for the buck in todays market. I purchased a 4WD LTZ with all the options. This car looks good, is wel built and perform extremely well for the size. Build quality is fine and there are no issues I can find so far. For ski trip of hauling kids and stuff, there is very little competition.
2008 Suburban is Great!
Jim Nowlan, 09/26/2007
2008 Chevrolet Suburban LS 1500 4dr SUV (5.3L 8cyl 4A)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
Bought our 2008 Suburban on 9/18. We were evaluating the Expedition EL and the Sub. I found the Suburban to have better interior quality. The standard suspension is very smooth. The 08 has redesigned gauge faces. They look better than the 07's. Sound system (standard) sounds great. Ebony Leather seats very comfortable. V8 Power is great. Wife took a trip from LA to Phoenix. Averaged 17 MPG with mixed City/Hwy driving. An excellent value. You cannot go wrong on this one. We got the Blue Granite Metallic paint. It is very sharp. We were staying away from normal white/silver/black.
I love my Tahoe!
SLDLMD, 07/31/2007
2008 Chevrolet Suburban LT 1500 4dr SUV 4WD (5.3L 8cyl 4A)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
Our 2008 Tahoe was delivered just a few days ago. I absolutely love it. The interior is beautiful and designed well for families. We have the rear entertainment package with the DVD player and I love just flipping the screen down and popping in the movie. No cords or wires to mess with! The split bench seats are genius-- increases cargo space without losing an entire row of seating. It performs well and it is interesting to watch it switch from V8 to V4 on the highway. My average fuel economy thus far is around 18, and that includes a 200 mile highway trip and around town driving.
Rides like a luxury vehicle
geo, 03/10/2008
2008 Chevrolet Suburban LT 1500 4dr SUV 4WD (5.3L 8cyl 4A)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
Purchased in January 08. Vehicle rides very good. My wife is impressed with the purchase, she even likes to drive it. The GPS, backup camera is a excellent feature. We utilize the GPS most of the time. The vehicle's performance is exceptional with the active fuel management, getting 19.5 mph at 70 mph.
$50,000 later & I will keep it forever.
08LT-z71, 04/03/2008
2008 Chevrolet Suburban LT 1500 4dr SUV 4WD (5.3L 8cyl 4A)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
Purchased in Feb 08. Currently have about 1700 miles on it and love it. We opted for the Z71 model, because of the ability to go on moderate off road trails. I will probably look into putting a small lift on it eventually as ground clearence isn't what it should be for 4x4...my 99 Silverado z71 has more ground clearence than this, but for a family vehicle, we will love it and keep it for well over 200,000 miles. Also like the fact we can put e85 in it, though I will confess, in Denver traffic, we only get about 11 miles to the gallon. But at $2.19 a gallon, it only costs $65 to fill instead of $95 w/91 octane. The e85 gets us about 300mpg vs 450mpg with 91. No 6spd tranny for 1500.
Family loves it!
tlkimble, 04/29/2008
2008 Chevrolet Suburban LT 1500 4dr SUV 4WD (5.3L 8cyl 4A)
0 of 0 people found this review helpful
My family loves this Suburban. The space is comfortable and they love the DVD player and the radio. The fact that we can listen to different things at the same time.
Outstanding quality
Bill F, 06/16/2008
2008 Chevrolet Suburban LT 1500 4dr SUV 4WD (5.3L 8cyl 4A)
0 of 1 people found this review helpful
I bought this car because I love my 2003 Tahoe Z71 so much. Phenominal truck. You can't break it with a baseball bat. I gave my wife the Tahoe and traded her Ford Windstar in for the Suburban, which I now drive. Excellent ride, nice power, good braking. I bought the LTZ, so it has all of the creature comforts. Very comfortable. You could drive this car for days without tiring. Personally, I think it is the nicest looking truck on the street, with my Tahoe a close runner up. For city or combo driving I average 16 mpg. I tend to go 75 - 80 mph on the highway, which gives me slightly less than 16 mpg. The Windstar would give me 20 plus on the highway, so that is a disappointment.
Superior Suburban
Mytwobuckaroos, 09/16/2007
2008 Chevrolet Suburban LT 1500 4dr SUV (5.3L 8cyl 4A)
0 of 1 people found this review helpful
I just traded in my Yukon Xl for the Suburban. Overall, this is a great SUV. It looks stylish yet rugged and is very functional. The car is easy to drive and has a great turn radius. I feel very safe driving my kids around in this car. The new seat design is great. The driver's seat and passagner's seats are extremely comfortable. The lumbar support is superior. The front controls are easy to use and positioned very well.
2008 Chevy suburban Ltd 1500 junk
Koffi, 10/21/2021
2008 Chevrolet Suburban LS 1500 4dr SUV 4WD (5.3L 8cyl 4A)
0 of 1 people found this review helpful
Simply this engine is junk. I was very very disappointed. I don't recommend this vehicle to anyone. Chevy should recall thus engine and pull them out of market. The technology failed her.
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- Technology
- Performance
- Interior
- Comfort
- Reliability
- Value