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CarComplaints.com Notes: Engines shouldn't need a new quart of oil every 500-1000 miles, but for thousands of Suburban owners that's exactly what's happening. Engine oil consumption on aluminum block engines with Active Fuel Management (AFM) is out of control and owners are left looking for answers.

The most likely culprit is an uncovered AFM valve which, in many cases, can be covered under warranty. The problem is the issues don't stop there and many owners have been told by GM just to buy a new engine. Take one guess who they want to pick up the tab.

8.2

pretty bad
Typical Repair Cost:
$5,800
Average Mileage:
115,750 miles
Total Complaints:
8 complaints

Most Common Solutions:

  1. replace engine (6 reports)
  2. not sure (2 reports)
2007 Chevrolet Suburban engine problems

engine problem

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2007 Chevrolet Suburban Owner Comments

problem #8

Nov 282017

Suburban LTZ 5.3L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 142,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

This truck is a lemon!!! We purchased it 2 years ago. Nothing but problems. Goes through oil like crazy. The mechanic couldn't figure out why until the engine went and found out it was leaking into the cylinders. Replaced transmission at 110,000 miles. Replaced all door handles several times. Replacing headlights 4 times a year. Had to cut off the AC to the rear of the truck. Hatch door works when it feels like it. Check engine light was on forever. Fuel issues. Tire monitor system light on. Service 4 wheel drive light on. Service stabilitrak light on. Traction control kept turning off. Only have this vehicle because our options are limited. We need the space for our kids and our disabled son's equipment. Now we are stuck without a family car and a substantial loan. Don't purchase this vehicle!!!!

- Paulette H., Highland, US

problem #7

Jul 172016

Suburban

  • Automatic transmission
  • 135,000 miles

I have been a life long Chevy owner.......NEVER AGAIN! Do not buy a Chevy ever again. They do not care about their customers!

I bought my 2007 Chevy Suburban, seven years ago. I bought it used...It only have 35K miles on it and it was two years old. I bought it in FULL/CASH and paid for top warranty.

After 135K miles....engine....DONE! I just paid 6K for a new engine. I would have tried to trade the stinking car in to a dealer or buy another car but this was the cheapest option.

When I contacted my dealer....they were rude and told me to pound sand. When I called the Chevy Customer service number....They were rude....I was even routed to Canada....then the Philippines.....Great customer care huh?

Anyway.....I have friends with Toyotas and other foreign cars and they all have 200-300K miles....many have never had many problems. My Chevy has had a ton of problems.....with the oil....with the door handles coming off...to you name it. Such a POS!

I have noticed that the 2007 Chevy Suburban has a serious design flaw for it's engine. I have been informed that the average engine for a 2007 is between 85,000 to 100,000 miles. Which is horrible! I want to be part of a class-action lawsuit against Chevy....if anyone knows anything about how to start one or how to join one...please let me know. Thank you!!!!!

- Andy H., San Diego, CA, US

problem #6

Mar 212016

Suburban LT 5.3L V8

  • Automatic transmission
  • 133,000 miles

Vehicle has been using oil, but not leaking or burning it and we have complained about this for a few years. We were always told by the dealership that it must be leaking. About a month ago we had the oil changed and within two weeks the "Add Oil" service light came on and the dealership had to add 1 1/2 quarts. Usually when the light comes on it is two quarts low.

Today we found out where the oil has been going. Our Suburban's engine seized up last night, because this model's engine has a problem with its piston rings melting to the pistons and allowing oil to flow past and out to the exhaust, especially when it is running on four cylinders (to save gas). The dealership said they see this problem with Suburbans and there is another one in the shop right now with only 60k miles with the same issue. They also said GM came out with teflon coated rings to fix this problem, but there is no recall.

Our vehicle has 133k miles and the engine needs to be replaced for $6300.

- Scott C., Noblesville, IN, US

problem #5

Aug 012015

Suburban LT 5.3L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 70,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Chevrolet has a serious problem with the fuel management system on the 5.3 L engine. incorporated in 2007. In order to meet government CAFE fuel efficiency ratings GM has decided to shut 4 of the 8 cylinders off while under light load.The intent is to increase mpg by 7%. In order to accomplish this a complex series of mechanics needs to take place to deactivate the cylinders. The lifters of these affected cylinders act as an solenoid to make the valves stay closed. It must be timed so that air is caught in the cylinder and as the piston raises to TDC, it has compression but the air doesn't exhaust. The result is it acts as a "air spring". This shifting from 8 to 4 cylinders occurs almost constantly not just driving down a level stretch of freeway. I watched it shift constantly just driving in my neighborhood.

Here lies the problem, 1-The design is too complicated and fails often (just look up"Active Fuel Management Problems/chev/5.3L" on the web). 2-Without combustion pressure behind the piston rings the rings won't seal causing increased oil consumption.

My 2007 Suburban with 60k miles had a cylinder stop firing. Dealer said it was a "damaged spark plug" never heard that before but paid the bill just the same. I suspect the dealer has seen this many times before and knew I'd be back. Sure enough, almost exactly 1 year later with 70k miles a lifter became "delatched"

The dealer immediately said a NEW engine was required, cost $7200 (or reattach the lifter for $5000) WHAT! Sure enough after reading a mountain load of info on the web describing AFM problems with 2007 and later Chevys I was convinced this flaw wasn't going away. So as you can imagine I proceeded to contact GM for help with repair cost. To make a 2 month story short, GM makes you feel like their on your side by giving you a "claim number" and letting you talk to their "senior" claim mgr etc etc.In the end it's all just HOT AIR. They hear it every day!

I had to do something, the Suburban doesn't run and it's nearly worthless as it sits...So new engine it is, dealer actually helped some by charging me $6500 instead of $7200. Next I bought a programmer and simply turned the AFM system OFF. Now the engine runs on 8 cylinders and no longer switches to 4 cylinders. Mpg may decrease by 1 to 11/2 mpg but its better than engine failures.

The right thing to do is a recall by GM, but there's little chance of that by GM despite taking government bailout money. I have stayed with GM throughout my adulthood but no more. I'm done with new Chevys.

Good Luck to the rest of you.

- Mike A., Mill Creek, WA, US

problem #4

Oct 262015

Suburban 5.3L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 120,500 miles

Originally the engine had been burning excessive amount of oil. Complained to the dealer and they put vehicle on a oil monitoring program. Luckily when I first complained of the problem the engine was still covered under warranty. After a year or two of monitoring the dealer agreed to rebuild the engine and honored the warranty. The oil consumption problem seemed to be resolved however after 30,000 miles on the rebuilt engine the "the left cylinder valve spring broke and the piston ate the valve". Quite a costly repair that Chevrolet nor the dealer were willing to cover. They say the policy is only to cover for 12 months after the warranty work. Hard to understand that their parts would not last longer than 30,000 miles in an engine. This vehicle had all its regular service and oil changes.

- T M., Cincinnati, US

problem #3

Jan 062015

Suburban LTZ 5.3L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 129,000 miles

Engine failed while wife driving 75 mph on Interstate. Very expensive problem.

- flotcha, Green River, WY, US

problem #2

May 302012

Suburban LT 5.3L V8

  • Automatic transmission
  • 76,356 miles

click to see larger images

Engine Failure

I bought this use Suburban, only had 21,000 miles on it, now it has over 76,000 miles. One of the lifter spring broke and the valve fell in the engine so now I need to get a new engine. I'm the second owner, warranty out of date by a year. Which is a three-year warranty or 100,000 miles. The Chevy dealership will not honor the warranty under hundred thousand miles to replace the engine so now I got to buy a whole new engine because one lifter spring broke and damage the engine.

/

I just sent in my last payment for the truck and this happens, now my truck just sits in the driveway collecting dust, nice truck, just can use it until I get a fix. I heard a few others have the same problem so be aware of the lifter spring breaking.

- mrmann, Carson, CA, US

problem #1

Jan 262012

Suburban LST 3.8L

  • Automatic transmission
  • 120,000 miles

All 2007 gm cars had a 10 year 100,000 mile warranty but GM in Detroit swears that they never offered that warranty. I have 15 news articles stating differently.

- Earl K., Humble, TX, US

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