2007 Chevrolet Suburban Engine Problems

As the current investigation is going for the General Motors engines 2014-2025 5.3L and 6.2L for AFM/DFM. The same is happening with 2007 - 2014 5.3L engines with DOD. I had a 2014 Chevy Suburban with the 5.3L I had to rebuild the passenger side due to a DOD lifter failing. My current, 2007 Suburban is starting to make a DOD lifter tap, again on the passenger side. I will be getting a full rebuilt engine with the DOD system deleted to prevent this in the future. Hundreds have had this happen in the car forums and I can not imagine how many have encountered the same issue but do not say anything due to chalking it up to mileage, age of the vehicle, or just accepting the failure by design. Most are simply taking it on the chin; paying out of pocket or doing the work themselves to repair, delete, or modify the engines. I understand there is time and the age of the vehicles against these claims, but acknowledgement and shedding light on this known issue from General Motors will help just as much.

The engine has a collapsed lifter that has failed. This problem is placing us at risk of breaking down while driving. I live in a busy city that has a lot of traffic. When I have money, I plan to take the vehicle to the dealership to confirm. I first noticed the problem by hearing the engine make a clicking sound when the engine is running. The sound is coming from the area of lifter location.

The engine began smoking really bad when driving down highway and car locked down. It became undriveable. I was out of town when happened and had to have towed. Mechanic confirmed motor is bad and has to be replaced. Just had transmission replaced 2 weeks prior to this happening. Transmission has had to be replaced 2 x's since I have owned vehicle.

The contact owns a 2007 Chevrolet Suburban. The contact stated while driving 50-60 MPH, the check engine warning light illuminated, and the vehicle started jerking. Additionally, the contact noticed that there was white smoke coming out of the exhaust pipe. The vehicle was taken to Triple A service station, where the cause of the failure could not be determined; however, unknown plugs and wire were replaced. The contact stated that the failure recurred several times while driving. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where flour coil packs were replaced; however, the failure persisted. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed that intake lifter of cylinder #1 was not moving due to a collapsed lifter roller, which lead to oil built up on the oil pan and the rear main seal. The dealer determined that engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 185,000.

ACTIVE FUEL MANAGEMENT (AFM) LIFTERS JAM/SEIZE CAUSING PUSH RODS TO REMAIN COLLAPSED AND CAUSING ENGINE MISFIRES THROUGHOUT THE ENGINE AND EXCESSIVE OIL BURNING, POSSIBLE DAMAGE TO CATALYTIC CONVERTERS, AND PREMATURE ENGINE WEAR. LIFTERS MUST BE REPLACED OR ENGINE REPLACED. I WAS DRIVING THE CAR AND WHEN THE ENGINE BEGAN MISFIRING, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT BEGAN BLINKING, TRACTION CONTROL BECAME DISABLED, AND ERROR ON DASH SAYING SERVICE STABILITRAK AND TRACTION CONTROL DISABLED APPEARED. THE CAR BEGAN TO SHIFT ERRATICALLY SHAKING AND LUNGING.

I WAS DRIVING ON A CITY STREET AND MADE A RIGHT TURN ONTO ANOTHER CITY STREET AND THE ENGINE STARTED RUNNING ROUGH AND IDLE ROUGH, SERVICE STABILITRAK LIGHT STAYED ON, SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL, TRANSMISSION JERKS FROM 1ST GEAR TO 2ND GEAR, ENGINE TICKING/KNOCKING, SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT FLASHING, SCAN CODE CAME UP AS MISFIRE ON CYLINDER #4, TOOK VEHICLE TO REPAIR SHOP AND LIFTERS WERE REPLACED AMONG OTHER THINGS; SEE ATTACHED FILES.

ENGINE IS MALFUNCTIONING AND USING EXCESSIVE AMOUNTS OF OIL (1 QUART EVERY 1-2 WEEKS). THE MANUFACTURER BUILT BAD MOTORS IN 2007 AND KNOWINGLY COVERED IT UP. THE VEHICLES WERE STILL SOLD TO CONSUMERS AND RATHER THAN FIXING THE ISSUE (ENGINE WOULD HAVE TO BE REBUILT OR REPLACED) THE MANUFACTURER IS PLACING ALL RESPONSIBILITY AND COST ($9,000 FIX) ON THE CONSUMER, EVEN WHEN REPORTED BEFORE 100,000 MILES. THE MANUFACTURER KNOWINGLY SOLD LEMON VEHICLES AND REFUSES TO FIX. A MECHANIC TOLD ME THAT MY ENGINE COULD EXPLODE (SEVERE SAFETY ISSUE).

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN 1500. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE CHECK ENGINE, STABILITRAK, AND STOP ENGINE NOW WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO COURTESY CHEVROLET (LOCATED AT 1220 E STONE DR, KINGSPORT, TN 37660, (888) 320-1411) TO BE DIAGNOSED, BUT THE MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO PROPERLY DIAGNOSE THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SPARK PLUGS, IGNITION WIRE, AND OIL SENDING UNIT WERE REPLACED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 156,000.

ENGINE IS MALFUNCTIONING AND USING EXCESSIVE AMOUNTS OF OIL (1 QUART EVERY 1-2 WEEKS). THE MANUFACTURER BUILT BAD MOTORS IN 2007 AND KNOWINGLY COVERED IT UP. THE VEHICLES WERE STILL SOLD TO CONSUMERS AND RATHER THAN FIXING THE ISSUE (ENGINE WOULD HAVE TO BE REBUILT OR REPLACED) THE MANUFACTURER IS PLACING ALL RESPONSIBILITY AND COST ($9,000 FIX) ON THE CONSUMER, EVEN WHEN REPORTED BEFORE 100,000 MILES. THE MANUFACTURER KNOWINGLY SOLD LEMON VEHICLES AND REFUSES TO FIX.

WE HAVE A 2007 SUBURBAN WITH THE 5.3L ENGINE. AFTER, MUCH RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET, MY WIFE AND I HAVE FOUND THAT THERE EVIDENTLY IS A DESIGN FLAW WITH THE AFM LIFTERS. OUR VEHICLE DOES HAVE MILES, BUT SINCE THIS EVIDENTLY IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM, WE DID THINK CHEVROLET WOULD AT LEAST OFFER SOME ASSISTANCE WITH THE REPAIR. A LIFTER COLLAPSED AND THE COST TO REPLACE THE LIFTERS IS $3,500.00, PLUS TAX AT TOM GILL CHEVROLET IN FLORENCE, KY. I DON'T BLAME THE DEALER FOR THIS, BUT CHEVROLET HAS REALLY DROPPED THE BALL ON THIS ISSUE FOR MANY, MANY VEHICLES WITH THE SAME ISSUE. SOMETHING SHOULD BE DONE TO BETTER PROTECT THE CONSUMER.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN. WHILE DRIVING 15 MPH, THE ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 190,000.

MY VEHICLE WAS HAVING TROUBLE STARTING AND IDLING ROUGH. I BROUGHT IT IN FOR REPAIRS AND WAS TOLD IT NEEDED A NEW FUEL PUMP AND AIR FILTER. I HAD THOSE CHANGED IN TOTAL SPENDING $1700. THREE DAYS LATER, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT STARTED FLASHING IN MY CAR. I COULD FEEL THE ENGINE MISFIRING AND WAS LOSING POWER. THE OIL PRESSURE WAS FLUCTUATING RAPIDLY. I DROVE IT BACK TO MY HOME AND HAD IT TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. I WAS TOLD THAT THE CYLINDER 4 WAS MISFIRING CAUSED BY THE CYLINDER DEACTIVATION FAILURE WHICH IS CAUSED BY THE AUTOMATIC FUEL MANAGEMENT SYSTEM. THIS IS CAUSING THE LIFTER TO FAIL.

EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION. 1 MONTH OF DRIVING IS EQUAL TO 2-3 QUARTS OF OIL REPLACEMENT.

CHEVROLET SUBURBAN HAVE A PROBLEM WITH EXCESSIVE OIL BURNING. AND NOT DOING ANYTHING ABOUT IT.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE ENGINE LIGHT AND THE REDUCE ENGINE POWER MESSAGE ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE STALLED AND AS A RESULT, THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE MERGED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN UNKNOWN LOCATION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

UPON START-UP, PLUME OF SMOKE FROM EXHAUST FOR 5 - 15 SECONDS. ALSO, EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION, UP TO 1.5 QUARTS PER 500 MILES. *TR

WHILE THIS WAS/IS A USED VEHICLE, AND WHILE THE MILEAGE IS HIGH, THE SHEER FREQUENCY OF THE EXACT SAME COMPLAINT DICTATES THAT THIS IS A PROBLEM THAT FREQUENTLY OCCURS. FURTHER EXACERBATING THE PROBLEM IS THAT GM AND ITS DEALERS HAVE NO INCENTIVE TO FIX THE ISSUE AS A FULL ENGINE REPLACEMENT IS WHAT IS BEING OFFERED AS A SOLUTION. I WAS QUOTED BY MY DEALER THAT THE COSTS FOR THIS IS (~)$8,000.00! AS IS THE CASE WITH THE OTHERS THAT HAVE COMPLAINED ABOUT THIS: I WAS DRIVING ALONG AND THE OIL PRESSURE WENT TO ZERO. AFTER TAKING IT TO THE DEALERSHIP, THEY REPLACED A FEW COMPONENTS AND SENT ME ON MY WAY (AFTER GETTING A LARGE BILL OF COURSE). WE USE THE CAR VERY INFREQUENTLY AND AS SUCH, WITHIN A 100 MILES OF USE, I WAS BACK AT THE DEALER WITH, AGAIN, VERY LOW OIL PRESSURE. THERE RECOMMENDATION WAS TO REPLACE THE ENGINE AT $8000 OR PERFORM AN OVERHAUL AT 2000+ WITH NO GUARANTEE OR WARRANTY. THIS IS RIDICULOUS. FROM A COST STANDPOINT: THE SUBURBAN IS A $60,000+ VEHICLE, AND THE PROBLEM IS NOT FIXABLE/RESOLVABLE, OTHER THAN BY GM ASKING FOR AN ADDITIONAL $8000. FROM A SAFETY ISSUE, THESE CARS ARE HEAVY, BIG, AND CAN CAUSE MUCH DAMAGE IF THE DRIVER IS DISTRACTED BY SUCH A LARGE ENGINE PROBLEM AND/OR THE ENGINE SHUTTING DOWN DUE TO THE ENGINE BLOCK FREEZING UP AND/OR SEIZING DUE TO THE LACK OF OIL PRESSURE. NOW, AND ESPECIALLY IN LIGHT OF GMS REFUSAL TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE SAFETY RECALL ASSOCIATED WITH ITS IGNITIONS, I THINK THERE IS SUFFICIENT CAUSE FOR THE NHTSA TO TAKE A HARD LOOK INTO THIS, OPEN A FULL INVESTIGATION, AND HOPEFULLY RECTIFY THIS FOR THE HUNDRED (AND POSSIBLY THOUSANDS) OF CONSUMERS AFFECTED AND FORCE GM TO ADDRESS THESE ISSUES, BOTH WITH RESPECT TO ITS EXISTING/PAST SALES, AS WELL AS ADDRESS ITS FUTURE DESIGNS. *TR

THE TRUCK USES A QUART OF OIL EVERY 1000-1500 MILES. THIS IS NOT GOOD FOR THE ENVIORNMENT OR MY WALLET.

CONSUMPTION OF OIL DUE TO THE STUCK RING AND BEEN COMPLAINING SINCE I HIT 100K MILES THE DEALER JUST GAVE ME THE RUN AROUND.

OIL CONSUMPTION - AFTER ADVISING TERRY LABONTE CHEVROLET (GREENSBORO, NC) OF OIL CONSUMPTION ISSUES FROM 60K THRU 99K AND FORMER DIAGNOSTICS COMPLETED BY COLLINS CHEVROLET (MT. AIRY, NC) @ 55K 59K & 60K GM IS UNWILLING TO MAKE REPAIR UNDER WARRANTY AT 121K STATING THAT NO NOTES WERE RECORDED OF INCIDENTS UPON PRIOR NOTIFICATION. DEALERSHIP STATED REPAIR REQUIRE PISTON REBUILD FOR $5100 GM REP APPROVED REPAIR FOR $1365. GM CUST CARE UNWILLING TO COVER REPAIR AND HAS DISREGARDED PRIOR DOCUMENTATION OF COMPLAINT AT 55K, 59K, & 60K. DEALERSHIP ARE AWARE OF PROBLEMATIC 5.3 STATING UPON DESCRIPTION OF ISSUE WITHOUT REVIEW OF RECORDS THAT VEHICLE IS 07. *TR