Overview and Common Failures
The body and interior. The paintwork here is weak, but the body itself is made of good metal and does not rust quickly. Rust can be found along the bottoms of the doors, especially the trunk lid, which corrodes quickly. The power running boards will give you some trouble as they constantly get stuck. The interior of this SUV is spacious and comfortable, and the trunk is simply huge. However, the quality of the finishing materials and their resistance to wear is quite mediocre. There are few problems with the electrical system, only the parking sensors and impact sensors bother.
Engine. The 5.3-liter LY5 engine is quite reliable and owners only complain about fuel consumption. But if you save on the quality of the oil, the camshaft bearings wear out quickly. The weak points of the engine also include the fuel pump, water pump, and ignition coils.
Transmission. Until 2011, a 4-speed automatic transmission 4L60E was installed, which is a very durable gearbox. After 2011, a more responsive 6-speed automatic transmission 6L80E was installed. The main thing is to monitor the oil pipes of the transmissions as they tend to leak. The four-wheel drive system is quite reliable and has only a couple of weak spots. The universal joints of the driveshaft or the damper of the pump in the transfer case wear out quickly.
Suspension. The suspension of the SUV is quite durable, all its components serve up to 100,000 km. After 100,000 km, the ball joints and front hub bearings are often replaced. Models with air suspension are more troublesome, the air springs do not last very long. The steering rack is reliable, sometimes there is play in the universal joint, but it does not progress. The brakes here are spongy, inefficient, and the lifespan of the discs and pads is very short.
