Chevrolet Suburban GMT900 (2007–2013)
Generation-specific owner insights from 87+ substantive owner discussions, with US complaint and recall records.
Should I buy one?
2,070
US owner complaints (NHTSA), 2007–2013
30
recall campaigns
air bags
most-complained area
What owners say about this generation
Our take, from owner reports
Owners generally regard the 2007-2013 GMT900 Suburban as a well-engineered, long-lasting full-size SUV that can run 300k+ miles with proper care, and several describe it as a "work horse" or "forever truck." The dominant criticisms center on the Active Fuel Management (AFM)/Displacement on Demand system and its lifter failures, transmission longevity, and a cracked-dashboard defect.
15 problems reported (1 very frequent, 6 recurrent, 8 isolated) · high confidence
Problems owners report
- Very frequentAFM/DOD lifter failure
- RecurrentOil consumption / burning oil requiring regular checking
- RecurrentTransmission problems or need for rebuild/replacement around 100-200k miles
+ 12 more issuesShow fewer
- RecurrentCracked dashboard
- RecurrentOil pressure sensor failure and related gauge/wiring issues
- RecurrentRear A/C line leaks and rear A/C not working
- RecurrentSuspension and front-end wear (ball joints
Control arm bushings, sway bar bushings, steering stabilizer)
- IsolatedTorque converter breakdown
- IsolatedFuel level sending unit failure causing false tank readings on 2500 models
- IsolatedSmoking on startup from valve seals or worn guides
- IsolatedHeated seat heater failure
- IsolatedUneven tire wear from lack of rotation
- IsolatedRandom limp mode with no stored codes
- IsolatedPing or bell-like sound in V4 mode
- IsolatedBroken door handle, ripped seats, and inoperative power seat recline on a high-mileage example
The version owners recommend
Insufficient owner data available to declare a consensus. Partial signal favors the 2500 models with the 6.0L engine and 4L80E transmission, which one fleet owner described as exceptionally reliable, and the 2013 model year, which some owners preferred over the prior generation for efficiency and features. Owners also repeatedly steer buyers away from the earliest 2007 build as a first-year model.
Competitors to consider
Owners compare it most often with the Ford Expedition / Expedition Max (EL), Chevrolet Tahoe, Cadillac Escalade and Chevrolet Silverado.
Is a 2007–2013 Suburban right for you?
Get an answer for your year, mileage and budget.
Full owner reportHide full owner report
Overall sentiment
Owners generally regard the 2007-2013 GMT900 Suburban as a well-engineered, long-lasting full-size SUV that can run 300k+ miles with proper care, and several describe it as a "work horse" or "forever truck." The dominant criticisms center on the Active Fuel Management (AFM)/Displacement on Demand system and its lifter failures, transmission longevity, and a cracked-dashboard defect. Early 2007 models draw caution as a first year of the generation with "first year quirks," while later years are viewed as better sorted. Buyers are repeatedly warned to check oil consumption, transmission condition, and AFM status before purchase.
Positioning vs competitors
Owners cross-shop the GMT900 Suburban mainly against the Ford Expedition, framing the choice as a trade-off between GM's AFM engine failure concerns and Ford's cam phaser and spark plug issues. Against the Yukon Denali XL, owners note the Suburban has a lower initial cost and lower cost of ownership, while the Denali has a stronger engine and more expensive components. Some owners note the Expedition is more spacious for three rows of adults. Against the Silverado, owners point out the Suburban has different body lines, so bumpers do not interchange. One fleet owner strongly favored the Suburban with the 6.0L and 4L80E over Ford 5.4-equipped vehicles for reliability.
Recommended configurations
Owners recommend the 6.0L with the 4L80E transmission as the most reliable combination, and one owner noted the 6.0 in the 2007/2008 Yukon Denali was safe from AFM because that engine did not get it until the 2009 model year. For 5.3L trucks, owners advise budgeting for an AFM disabler device to prevent lifter failure, or planning a full DOD/AFM delete. Several owners suggest preferring a later model year within the generation over the 2007 introduction year. One owner preferred two-wheel drive to avoid 4x4 differential problems from previous owners.
General recommendations
This generation suits buyers who need a large, three-row, high-capacity SUV and are willing to stay on top of maintenance and oil checks. Owners advise a pre-purchase inspection by a mechanic, checking for AFM lifter tick, confirming smooth transmission shifts, checking oil pressure at idle after a long drive, inspecting transmission fluid for a burnt smell, and verifying that all electronics, HVAC settings, power seats, and the power lift gate work. Buyers are warned that 100k miles means a tune-up and preventive maintenance are due, and that very high-mileage examples (300k+) carry significant risk. Owners suggest avoiding the earliest 2007 build if possible and favoring well-documented, well-maintained examples.
Remarks
Owners repeatedly stress that oil life monitors are algorithms with no oil level sensor, so the dipstick must be checked manually. A known GM issue with the 2011 Suburban 2500 fuel tank expanding was resolved by replacing the fuel level sending unit. Owners note the heated steering wheel was a commonly overlooked feature, and one owner mentioned a warranty issue with heated steering wheels on a related model year. The 2013 2500 4x4 is described by some as a "forever truck" if rust is prevented with undercoating in salty areas. Analysis based on approximately 87 substantive owner discussions about this generation.
Complaints and recalls by model year
| Year | Complaints | Recalls | Most-reported area |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | 236 | 4 | unknown or other |
| 2012 | 202 | 4 | unknown or other |
| 2011 | 383 | 5 | air bags |
| 2010 | 292 | 4 | air bags |
| 2009 | 161 | 5 | air bags |
| 2008 | 314 | 4 | air bags |
| 2007 | 482 | 4 | air bags |
Source: US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Higher-selling years naturally accumulate more complaints.
Recall notices for this generation
2013 · air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator modulecampaign 21V053000
General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2013 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, and Escalade EXT, Chevrolet Avalanche, Silverado 1500, Silverado 2500/3500, Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Sierra 1500, Sierra 2500/3500, Yukon, and Yukon XL 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 2010 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, and Escalade EXT, Chevrolet Avalanche, Silverado 1500, Silverado 2500/3500, Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Sierra 1500, Sierra 2500/3500, 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 2009 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, and Escalade EXT, Chevrolet Avalanche, Silverado 1500, Silverado 2500/3500, Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Sierra 1500, Sierra 2500/3500, 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."
2013 · air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator modulecampaign 21V054000
General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2014 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Silverado 2500, Silverado 3500, Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Sierra 2500, Sierra 3500, Yukon, and Yukon XL vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of AL, CA, FL, GA, HI, LA, MS, SC, TX, PR, AS, GU, the MP, and VI or "Zone A." Additionally GM is recalling certain 2011-2014 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Silverado 2500, Silverado 3500, Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Sierra 2500, Sierra 3500, Yukon, Yukon XL and 2011-2013 Cadillac Escalade EXT, Chevrolet Avalanche, Silverado 1500, and GMC Sierra 1500 vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of AZ, AR, DE, DC, IL, IN, KS, KY, MD, MO, NE, NV, NJ, NM, NC, OH, OK, PA, TN, VA, and WV or "Zone B." Additionally, GM is recalling certain 2010-2014 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Silverado 2500, Silverado 3500, Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Sierra 2500, Sierra 3500, Yukon, and Yukon XL and 2010-2013 Cadillac Escalade EXT, Chevrolet Avalanche, Silverado 1500, and GMC Sierra 1500 vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of AK, CO, CT, ID, IA, ME, MA, MI, MN, MT, NH, NY, ND, OR, RI, SD, UT, VT, WA, WI, and WY 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.
2013 · steering:column locking:anti-theft devicecampaign 13V001000
General Motors (GM) is recalling certain model year 2013 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, and Escalade EXT; Chevrolet Avalanche, Express, Silverado HD, Silverado LD, Suburban, and Tahoe; and GMC Savana, Sierra HD, Sierra LD, Yukon, and Yukon XL vehicles, manufactured between November 7, 2012, through December 18, 2012, for failing to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 102, "Transmission Shift Lever Sequence, Starter Interlock, and Transmission Braking Effect", and FMVSS No. 114, "Theft Protection and Rollaway Prevention." The vehicles may have been built with a fractured park lock cable or a malformed steering column lock actuator gear in the lock module assembly.
2013 · electrical systemcampaign 14V614000
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2013-2014 Cadillac CTS, Escalade, Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Yukon, and Yukon XL, and 2014 Buick Enclave, Chevrolet Express, Impala, Silverado HD, Traverse, GMC Acadia, Savana, and Sierra HD vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the chassis electronic module may be internally contaminated, resulting in an electrical short.
2012 · air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator modulecampaign 21V051000
General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2012 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, Escalade EXT, Chevrolet Avalanche, Silverado 1500, Silverado 2500/3500, Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Sierra 1500, Sierra 2500/3500, Yukon, and Yukon XL 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." 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.
2012 · air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator modulecampaign 21V054000
General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2014 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Silverado 2500, Silverado 3500, Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Sierra 2500, Sierra 3500, Yukon, and Yukon XL vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of AL, CA, FL, GA, HI, LA, MS, SC, TX, PR, AS, GU, the MP, and VI or "Zone A." Additionally GM is recalling certain 2011-2014 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Silverado 2500, Silverado 3500, Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Sierra 2500, Sierra 3500, Yukon, Yukon XL and 2011-2013 Cadillac Escalade EXT, Chevrolet Avalanche, Silverado 1500, and GMC Sierra 1500 vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of AZ, AR, DE, DC, IL, IN, KS, KY, MD, MO, NE, NV, NJ, NM, NC, OH, OK, PA, TN, VA, and WV or "Zone B." Additionally, GM is recalling certain 2010-2014 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Silverado 2500, Silverado 3500, Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Sierra 2500, Sierra 3500, Yukon, and Yukon XL and 2010-2013 Cadillac Escalade EXT, Chevrolet Avalanche, Silverado 1500, and GMC Sierra 1500 vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of AK, CO, CT, ID, IA, ME, MA, MI, MN, MT, NH, NY, ND, OR, RI, SD, UT, VT, WA, WI, and WY 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.
2012 · electrical system:ignitioncampaign 14V827000
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2011-2012 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, Escalade EXT, Chevrolet Avalanche, Silverado HD, Silverado LD, Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Sierra LD, Sierra HD, Yukon, and Yukon XL vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the ignition lock actuator may bind, making turning the key difficult or causing the ignition to get stuck in the "Start" position.
2012 · steering:gear box:shaft pitmancampaign 12V112000
GENERAL MOTORS (GM) IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2012 CHEVROLET EXPRESS AND SUBURBAN VEHICLES, AND GMC SAVANA AND YUKON XL HEAVY DUTY VEHICLES. THE STEERING GEAR PITMAN SHAFT MAY NOT HAVE BEEN ADEQUATELY HARDENED AND COULD FRACTURE.
2011 · air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator modulecampaign 21V050000
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.
2011 · air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator modulecampaign 21V054000
General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2014 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Silverado 2500, Silverado 3500, Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Sierra 2500, Sierra 3500, Yukon, and Yukon XL vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of AL, CA, FL, GA, HI, LA, MS, SC, TX, PR, AS, GU, the MP, and VI or "Zone A." Additionally GM is recalling certain 2011-2014 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Silverado 2500, Silverado 3500, Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Sierra 2500, Sierra 3500, Yukon, Yukon XL and 2011-2013 Cadillac Escalade EXT, Chevrolet Avalanche, Silverado 1500, and GMC Sierra 1500 vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of AZ, AR, DE, DC, IL, IN, KS, KY, MD, MO, NE, NV, NJ, NM, NC, OH, OK, PA, TN, VA, and WV or "Zone B." Additionally, GM is recalling certain 2010-2014 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Silverado 2500, Silverado 3500, Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Sierra 2500, Sierra 3500, Yukon, and Yukon XL and 2010-2013 Cadillac Escalade EXT, Chevrolet Avalanche, Silverado 1500, and GMC Sierra 1500 vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of AK, CO, CT, ID, IA, ME, MA, MI, MN, MT, NH, NY, ND, OR, RI, SD, UT, VT, WA, WI, and WY 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.
2011 · electrical system:ignitioncampaign 14V827000
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2011-2012 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, Escalade EXT, Chevrolet Avalanche, Silverado HD, Silverado LD, Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Sierra LD, Sierra HD, Yukon, and Yukon XL vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the ignition lock actuator may bind, making turning the key difficult or causing the ignition to get stuck in the "Start" position.
2011 · steering:linkagescampaign 11V339000
GM IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2011CADILLAC ESCALADE, ESCALADE ESV; CHEVROLET SILVERADO HD, SILVERADO LD, SUBURBAN, TAHOE; AND GMC SIERRA HD, SIERRA LD, YUKON, AND YUKON XL VEHICLES. THE INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT ATTACHING BOLTS MAY NOT HAVE BEEN TIGHTENED TO THE PROPER SPECIFICATION.
6 more recalls not shown. Check nhtsa.gov with your VIN for the full history.
Owner insights summarize real ownership discussions for this generation only. Complaint and recall data is public NHTSA (US) information. Always verify recalls against your VIN at nhtsa.gov.