2009 Chevrolet Suburban Problems

What owners report

Owners of the 2009 Chevrolet Suburban most often describe two long-running problems: a dashboard that cracks, frequently around the passenger airbag cover and above the instrument cluster, and door lock actuators that stop working on one door after another. Higher-mileage complaints also describe oil consumption and stalling or electrical faults, and many owners note they were still waiting on an airbag inflator recall repair. Complaints are spread across a wide mileage range, with dash and door lock reports showing up well under 100,000 miles.

1. 1
   Body and structure

   Cracked dashboard, often by the passenger airbag

   • 39 complaints (37%)
   • median 90,000 mi at 7.7 yrs old (29 state mileage)
   • filed 2012–2022

   Owners describe the dashboard splitting, most often above the instrument cluster and at the corner of the passenger airbag cover, sometimes finding large cracks one morning with no impact or stress beforehand. Several say the cracks keep spreading, that trim and the center dash speaker come loose or rattle, and that dash speakers flap once the panel is broken. Owners who raised it with dealers report being told there was no recall or coverage for the repair, and some paid for a replacement out of pocket. Reported from roughly 30,000 to 240,000 miles, with many appearing between 40,000 and 100,000 miles; owners often link it to sun exposure while parked.

   What to check: Inspect the whole dash top in daylight, especially the seam above the instrument cluster and around the passenger airbag cover, and press gently for flex or loose trim. Ask whether the dash has been replaced and keep the panel out of direct sun when parked.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Dashboard on the driver sided cracked into 2 pieces. I am not the only one who have had this issues. I found quite numbers of owner have the same problem. This is not the quality you expect from $50k vehicle, I believe it is due to poorly finished job. Gm simply refuses to take full responsibility and forces me to pay so called, deductible . I believe the NHTSA should look into this matter. Thank you.”

   NHTSA complaint #10479769, filed 2012-10, 48,000 miles

   “My dashboard cracked in two places after a few years.. One over the drivers side steering wheel and at the corner of the passengers air bag.. See pictures. From what I am hearing this is happening a lot. We have always been chev sub and tahoe buyers.. This is not good.”

   NHTSA complaint #10994383, filed 2017-06, 45,000 miles
2. 2
   Electrical system

   Stalling and intermittent electrical faults

   • 20 complaints (19%)
   • median 122,000 mi at 6.5 yrs old (18 state mileage)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2010–2024

   Complaints describe the engine cutting out while driving, sometimes with the Stabilitrak or traction control light flashing, and gauges or warning lights behaving erratically; several owners say the vehicle restarts after sitting for a few minutes. Owners also report locks cycling, interior lights dimming, hard starting or a no-start, and smoke or a burning smell from the dash or under the hood in a few cases. Complaints mention multiple shop visits, grounds, battery and alternator work without a lasting fix. Reported from very low mileage up to about 200,000 miles, with several reports in the 40,000 to 130,000 mile range.

   Recall 10V2400002 related service bulletins

   What to check: Ask for any history of stalling, no-start or warning-light repairs, and have the battery, grounds and charging system checked. A service bulletin describes diagnosing an intermittent no-crank or stall condition with a security light.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “As I'm slowing down my car shoots out almost into traffic. It wore down both my front and rear break pads. Also burns oil. I have to add a full bottle o oil every couple o weeks. Has smoked from exhaust real bad one time before I knew to add oil. Now since yesterday july 13, 2015 it says to service stabilitrak and traction control is off.”

   NHTSA complaint #10733855, filed 2015-07, 82,000 miles

   “While taking 4 children to school in the morning, the dash traction control light started flashing and the engine died. Power steering and breaks were gone and I was left stranded in the middle of a busy intersection. After several frantic minutes, I was able to restart the engine a drive home.”

   NHTSA complaint #10446056, filed 2012-01, 44,000 miles
3. 3
   Latches, locks and linkages

   Door lock actuators fail, doors won't lock or unlock

   • 8 complaints (8%)
   • median 53,000 mi at 3.8 yrs old (8 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2011–2019

   Complaints describe power door locks that stop responding to the remote or the door switch, usually starting with one door and then spreading to others; owners report having to unlock manually with the key or by reaching across the cabin. Some say the locks cycle on their own while driving. According to complaints, dealers typically replaced the affected actuators, with owners quoting several hundred dollars per door and often no recall coverage. Mostly reported between about 30,000 and 80,000 miles, though some appear later.

   What to check: Test every door with both the remote and the interior lock button, and check that each door locks and unlocks when shifted in and out of gear. Ask whether any actuators have already been replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Failure of power lock actuator on rear door. Door fails to lock and unlock as designed when vehicle is put in or taken out of gear. This appears to be a common failure on these vehicles from what I have been lead to believe and to date I'm told GM is not doing any widespread recalls to address this quality and safety problem.”

   NHTSA complaint #10432921, filed 2011-10, 46,000 miles

   “Our actuators failed on 3 of my doors of my 2009 chevy Suburban. If you use the remote only the drivers side rear door locks and/or unlocks. If you use the unlock/lock power button only the drivers side rear works. You must use the key to unlock the drivers door and you must either open the window to manually unlock the other doors or reach across the car to unlock the passenger side locks. We contacted GM and they sent us to have a diagnosis done which cost us $99. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10537673, filed 2013-08, 50,000 miles
4. 4
   Air bags

   Airbag inflator recall repairs not completed

   • 32 complaints (30%)
   • median 92,500 mi at 8.0 yrs old (10 state mileage)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2013–2021

   Owners describe receiving recall notices for the passenger-side airbag inflator and then being unable to get the repair done because the part was not available at the dealer, in some cases for a long period. A few complaints also describe airbags that did not deploy in a collision. Others tie their concern about the dash cracks to the airbag area, saying a broken panel could affect deployment. Reported across a wide mileage range, including vehicles with no failure yet where owners were still waiting on parts.

   Recall 21V050000Recall 21V053000Recall 21V052000

   What to check: Check the vehicle identification number with a dealer or the manufacturer's recall lookup to confirm whether the passenger inflator recall has been completed, and get written confirmation of any open recall before purchase.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Dash has continued to crack - over 4 cracks that has affected the defrost vent, dash and now I receive periodic airbag warnings upon starting ignition and/or parking. I am concerned as a driver, mother of 3 and caregiver of elderly mom that the air bags will deploy at anytime and/or not function correctly upon a crash or collision.”

   NHTSA complaint #11395942, filed 2021-02, 180,000 miles

   “My 2009 Suburban has a crack in the dash right near the airbags. It is about 1 1/2 in length. I am worried that it will crack worse and cause my airbags to deploy when not necessary or fail to deploy when needed.”

   NHTSA complaint #10680316, filed 2015-02, 47,000 miles
5. 5
   Engine

   Engine oil consumption and low oil pressure warnings

   • 6 complaints (6%)
   • median 76,000 mi at 6.3 yrs old (6 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2013–2021

   Owners report having to add oil between changes, in some cases about a quart every 1,000 miles, with no visible leak and sometimes black soot at the tailpipe. Complaints describe low oil pressure warnings, ticking or knocking noises, and in some cases a dealer recommendation for major engine work. Several owners say they check and top off the oil routinely as a precaution. Described from about 33,000 to 167,000 miles, with many reports between 45,000 and 110,000 miles.

   3 related service bulletins

   What to check: Check the oil level and condition on a cold engine and look for soot at the tailpipe; ask for oil change records and whether any oil consumption test has been done. A service bulletin describes procedures for measuring oil consumption.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “No oil pressure light display. Shut off engine I had to add oil. I believe I have the same oil consumption problem many others have been concerned about. I've had to add oil to my Suburban ever since I bought it in 2009. I have to add oil every 1000 miles. Even if I've had an oil change. I carry extra oil with for fear of the no oil pressure light coming on. My most current problem was with oil still at 40%.”

   NHTSA complaint #10577766, filed 2014-04, 65,500 miles

   “I was notified by the vehicle that oil pressure is low, turn off immediately. I took it to the dealer and they advised me I needed a new engine. My vehicle had 110,000 miles, it was well maintained, and was driven carefully.”

   NHTSA complaint #10946789, filed 2017-01, 110,000 miles

Buying note. Look closely at the dashboard and every power door lock, and confirm with a dealer that any open airbag inflator recall has actually been repaired. On a higher-mileage example, check the oil level and ask about oil use and any history of stalling or electrical repairs.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.