2008 Chevrolet Suburban Latches/Locks
Owner-reported problems and safety issues filed with NHTSA. Review common failures, severity levels, and complaint trends over time.
Complaint Timeline
Chronological view of owner reports
DOOR HANDLE FAILURE THREE TIMES, WAITING FOR FOURTH TO FAIL AT ANYTIME. GM COMPLAINT DEPT REFUSES TO ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY. THREE DOOR LOCKS FAILED BY 39,000 MILES, LAST ONE BEING RIGHT PASSENGER DOOR. WE HAVE A 1978 CHEVY PU AND THE DOOR LOCKS NEVER FAILED! THIS IS ABSURD, A $55,000 TOP OF THE LINE LTZ MODEL SHOULD NOT HAVE THIS PROBLEM, AND GM WON'T ACKNOWLEDGE POOR QUALITY PARTS AND WORKMANSHIP! WHAT CAN A CONSUMER DO TO RECTIFY THIS SITUATION?. *JB
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE AUTOMATIC DOOR LOCKS WOULD UNLOCK INDEPENDENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR DIAGNOSIS. THE TECHNICIAN ADVISED HER THAT THE FAILURE MAY BE DUE TO THE LOCK ACTUATORS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND THEY OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 87,000.
THE DOOR LOCK ACTUATOR DOES NOT WORK ON THE DRIVER'S DOOR. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN. WHILE PARKED, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT ALL THE ELECTRONIC DOOR LOCKS WOULD UNLOCK AND LOCK INVOLUNTARILY. IN ORDER TO PROPERLY USE THE DOOR LOCKS, THEY HAD TO BE OPERATED MANUALLY. THE FAILURE ALSO OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTICS, WHERE THE TECHNICIANS STATED THAT THE LOCK MECHANISM FAILED. THE CONTACT WAS UNAWARE OF THE REPAIRS THAT WOULD NEED TO BE PERFORMED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 45,000.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN. THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED WHEN THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO UNLOCK THE REAR PASSENGER DOOR USING THE KEY FOB AS WELL AS THE UNLOCK BUTTON ON THE FRONT DRIVERS SIDE CONTROL PANEL. ALL OF THE LOCKS EXCEPT FOR THE REAR PASSENGER DOOR UNLOCKED SUCCESSFULLY. IN ORDER TO UNLOCK THE DOOR THE CONTACT HAD TO MANUALLY UNLOCK THE DOOR FROM INSIDE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THE REAR PASSENGER DOOR ACTUATOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 44,500 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 44,550. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. UPDATED 06/07/11*LJ UPDATED 06/24/11
THE AUTOMATIC DOOR LOCKS DO NOT WORK ON MY 08 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN. TO UNLOCK THE DOORS YOU HAVE TO USE THE KEY UNLOCK THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR AND THEN EITHER CLIMB IN THE BACK OR OVER TO UNLOCK THE BACK DOORS AND FRONT PASSENGER DOORS. OR ROLL DOWN THE WINDOWS. TO LOCK THE DOORS YOU HAVE TO MANUALLY LOCK THE DOORS. *TT
HAVE REPLACED 3 ELECTRIC DOOR LOCKS, EACH SEVERAL MONTHS APART. I TRANSPORT SEVERAL OF MY GRAND KIDS AND ASSUME THAT I HAVE LOCKED THE DOORS WITH MY AUTOMATIC LOCK ONLY TO FIND OUT THE PLUGGER IS NOT WORKING. THIS COULD LEAD TO ONE OF MY CHILDREN OPENING THE DOOR AND FOLLOWING OUT. *TR
WE HAVE A 2008 CHEVY SUBURBAN AND THERE SEEMS TO BE A DEFECT IN THE ELECTRIC DOOR LOCKS. FIRST THE FRONT PASSENGER DOOR LOCK WENT OUT THAT WAS FIXED UNDER WARRANTY. ABOUT A MONTH THE DRIVERS SIDE DOORLOCK STOPPED WORKING. IT APPEARS TO ME THAT IT IS A DEFECT. THE DEALERSHIP TOLD ME THE REPAIR WOULD REQUIRE A NEW WIRING HARNESS NOW SINCE CHEVY HAD CHANGED THE LOCKING WIRING TO AN NEW DESIGN IN 2009 AND THE 2008 WAS NO LONGER AVAILABLE. IT APPEARS CHEVY KNOWS THERE WAS A PROBLEM AND DOES NOT WANT TO FESS UP TO IT. THE LOCK NOT WORKING DOES CAUSE A SAFETY HAZARD SINCE THEY ARE AUTOMATIC AND ARE EXPECTED TO WORK FOR THAT SAFETY CONDITION. *TR
2008 CHEVY SUBURBAN- ALL LOCKS HAVE STOPPED WORKING HAVE BEEN TOLD IT IS THE LOCK ACTUATOR. HUGE SAFETY ISSUE AS I CAN NOT GET CHILDREN OUT OF CAR. THE ACTUATORS HAVE FAILED ON EVERY LOCK IN THE VEHICLE, UNACCEPTABLE! *LN
BACK PASSENGER ACTUATOR IN DOOR LOCKS NOT WORKING. WHEN THESE GO OUT , THE DOOR CANNOT BE OPENED FROM THE OUTSIDE WITH HANDLE OR REMOTE. IF A CHILD OR PERSON WAS IN THE VEHICLE AND THERE WAS A FIRE OR ACCIDENT, THEY COULD NOT GET OUT. I HAVE FOUND ONLINE SO MANY PEOPLE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM AND GM IS NOT WILLING TO FIX. WHY ISN'T THERE A RECALL WITH MILLIONS OF PEOPLE WITH THE SAME ISSUE. IT IS ABOUT $400/DOOR TO FIX AND FROM WHAT I HAVE READ ALL FOUR WILL EVENTUALLY GO OUT. 2008 CHEVY SUBURBAN. *TR
THERE IS NO REAL EVENTS LEADING UP TO THE EVENT, THE POWER LOCKS JUST STOPPED WORKING ON ALL 4 DOORS. ALSO HAVE HAD THE EXTERIOR DOOR HANDLES REPLACED TWICE AT A COST OF 250.00 EACH. THE 4 LOCK ACTUATORS ARE AT A COST OF 1000.00 THE COMPANY HAS A FLEET OF 10-20 SUBURBANS AND TAHOES WHICH ALL THE VEHICLES ARE EXPERIENCING THE SAME DEFECTS. THIS IS A MAJOR LIFE SAFETY ISSUE WITH CHILDREN IN THE CAR NOT BEING ABLE TO UNLOCK OR LOCK THE DOORS IN AN EMERGENCY. *TR
I OWN A 2008 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN. IN LESS THAT TWO (2) YEARS, THREE (3) OF THE DOOR LOCK ACTUATORS HAVE STOPPED WORKING COMPLETELY. GENERAL MOTORS HAS DONE NOTHING TO REMEDY THE PROBLEM AFTER MAKING THEM AWARE OF IT. THE FAILURE OF THE DOOR LOCK ACTUATORS IS CONSTANT. THERE WERE NO EVENTS LEADING TO THE FAILURE OTHER THAN AN INFERIOR PART. THE ONLY WAY TO UNLOCK THE REAR DOORS IS TO CRAWL OVER THE FRONT SEATS INTO THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. IN THE EVENT OF A TRAFFIC ACCIDENT THIS WILL BECOME A SAFETY HAZARD DUE TO THE FOLLOWING REASONS. 1. THE POWER LOCKS INSIDE THE DOOR AND THE REMOTE FAIL TO UNLOCK DOORS 2. THERE ARE NO KEY HOLES ON THE REAR DOORS TO UNLOCK THEM IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH 3. THIS WILL LEAD TO ENTRAPMENT INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE IF THE DOORS ARE LOCKED IN A CRASH 4. THIS WILL LEAD TO PASSENGER EJECTION IF THE LOCKS ARE NOT LOCKED MANUALLY 5. STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY IS LOST IN THE DOOR WHEN IT IS NOT LOCKED. *TR
THE LOCKS ON BOTH OF MY 08 SUBURBANS STARTED TO FAIL STARTING WHEN TRYING TO LOCK OR UNLOCK THE DOORS WITH REMOTE BUTTON AND THE INTERIOR LOCK BUTTON. THE PROBLEM STARTED WITH THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR NOT LOCKING OR UNLOCKING AND HAS PROGRESSED TO THE DRIVERS SIDE REAR DOOR. THIS HAS OCCURRED IN BOTH OF MY LTZ 08 SUBURBANS. YOU CAN NOT GET OUT OF THE CAR IN CASE OF EMERGENCY, NOR CAN YOU LOCK OR UNLOCK THE DOORS IF NEEDED TO QUICKLY LOCK IF BEING THREATENED. DEALER STATES THEY HAVE HAD NUMEROUS CALLS HOWEVER ITS NOT COVERED OR RECALLED. *TR
VEHICLE AUTOMATIC DOOR LOCKS WILL NOT WORK A DESCRIBED OFTEN REQUIRING SOMEONE TO CRAWL IN THE BACKSEATS TO UNLOCK THE DOORS IN ORDER TO GET THE KIDS OUT. THERE ARE NO KEY LOCKS ON NEW VEHICLES FOR THE BACK DOORS AND WHEN THE LOCKS MESS UP IT REQUIRES SOMEONE TO CRAWL ACROSS AND UNLOCK IT MANUALLY.. RECENTLY MY BACK LEFT DOOR LOCK MESSED UP AND I TOOK IT IN AND PAID OUT OF MY POCKET TO HAVE IT FIXED DUE TO THE FACT THAT I CANNOT FIND ANY GM DEALERSHIP IN BELGIUM THAT WILL HONOR A GM WARRANTY DUE TO A FALLOUT WITH CHEVROLET. ONE MONTH AFTER I HAD THE BACK LEFT DOOR LOCK REPLACED OUT OF MY POCKET, THE FRONT LEFT WENT OUT AND WILL NOT LOCK OR UNLOCK. THIS VEHICLE HAS 20,000 MILES ON IT AND IS STILL UNDER FACTORY WARRANTY. THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY CONCERN FOR ME AND MY FAMILY AND ALSO DOES NOT ALLOW MY ON-STAR TO WORK PROPERLY IF I NEEDED IT AS FOR THEY WILL NOT BE ABLE TO REMOTELY UNLOCK A DOOR WITH THE LOCK ACTUATOR BROKEN. *TR
DRIVERSIDE DRIVER AND PASSENGER AUTOMATIC DOOR LOCKS INOPERABLE. *TR
MY PASSENGER REAR DOOR LOCK QUIT WORKING AND I AM VERY CONCERNED THAT MY CHILDREN MIGHT OPEN THE DOOR WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD...OR THAT I WILL NOT BE ABLE TO GET THEM OUT OF THE VEHICLE IN AN EMERGENCY IE..FIRE, CRASH, WATER..ETC.. DUE TO THE LOCKS ONLY BEING ABLE TO UNLOCK FROM THE INSIDE!! AFTER LOOKING INTO THIS, I FEEL THAT THIS IS A HUGE ISSUE WITH ALL 2008 CHEVROLET MODELS AND SHOULD BE LOOKED INTO BY THE AUTHORITIES!!! DO WE HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL SOMEONE DIES TO HAVE THIS ISSUE RESOLVED?? MY WARRANTY HAPPENED TO EXPIRE 6000 MILES AGO, AND NOW I WILL HAVE TO PAY $300 TO GET IT REPLACED... FROM WHAT I HAVE READ, I CAN EXPECT TO REPLACE ALL OF THEM EVENTUALLY....THAT IS $1200.. I CANNOT AFFORD TO PAY FOR EVEN ONE RIGHT NOW, BUT I ALSO CAN NOT AFFORD TO LOSE A CHILD....SO I AM KIND OF UP AGAINST A WALL! PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS!! THANK YOU! *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ELECTRONIC LOCKS ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOORS ARE NOT WORKING PROPERLY. THE DOORS ARE SUPPOSED TO LOCK WHEN THE VEHICLE SHIFTS OUT OF PARK. INSTEAD, THE CONTACT HAS TO MANUALLY LOCK THE DOORS. WHEN THE CHILD SAFETY SEAT IS IN THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE OF THE VEHICLE, SHE MUST CLIMB INTO THE BACK SEAT TO UNLOCK THE DOORS AND GET HER CHILD. IF THE VEHICLE IS MOVING AND THE DOORS ARE UNLOCKED, THEY COULD POSSIBLY OPEN AND CAUSE THE CHILD TO FALL OUT OF THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE DOOR, BUT CURRENTLY THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOORS ARE NOT LOCKING AND UNLOCKING PROPERLY. THE CONTACT WANTS ALL THE DOORS ON THE VEHICLE REPAIRED, BUT SHE HAS NOT YET HEARD A RESPONSE FROM THE MANUFACTURER. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 5,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 3,875.
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Quick Summary
The 2008 Chevrolet Suburban has 17 Latches/Locks complaints on file. Review the timeline above for detailed owner experiences.