10.0
really awful- Crashes / Fires:
- 8 / 0
- Injuries / Deaths:
- 3 / 0
- Average Mileage:
- 126,832 miles
About These NHTSA Complaints:
The NHTSA is the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints can be spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem. See the Back button — blue bar at the very top of the page — to explore more.
ABS and brake lights remain on after Tahoe is cranked and driven.
- Hoover, AL, USA
Brake lines have rusted through and caused an extremely unsafe situation. While on a family vacation to the outer banks the brakes failed without warning. We were able to find a repair shop to look over the brake system after refilling the master cylinder with brake fluid. The repair shop found no issues with the brakes and said someone probably forgot to bleed the brakes after servicing them. Since it was a recently purchased vehicle and we didn't know the history of work performed we thought this was possibly the issue. After driving another 50 miles or so the brakes failed again for the second time. This time my family and I were on the way to the state fair. I crawled under the vehicle and found one line to be completely ruptured and all others to be severely rusted. I now plan to replace all brake lines before the vehicle is used again. I own much older vehicles with brake lines in perfect shape. After doing a little research I found that Chevrolet brake lines used in this model and year have had abnormally high brake line corrosion and failure compared to other vehicles manufactured during the same time period. I am wondering why this issue hasn't been brought to the publics attention and why no recall? the brake lines were obviously manufactured with inferior materials or workmanship or both. Thanks
- Hayes, VA, USA
This vehicle was leaking oil from the engine, front and back brakes were faulty, the starter was going bad, the electrical system for the back windows were not in working condition. The vehicle would display sensor lights to have the vehicle engine checked but then after about 2 days it would not show a displaying message it would also effect the audio fuse that allows the audio system to function. The tires were bald on the front driver side and left back passenger side. The seat belts were difficult to enter into latch in order to secure seatbelt.
- Hawthorne, CA, USA
Wife came home and said the brake pedal went to floor when attempting to stop. With engine running, brake fluid is seen pumping out of right front brake line. Mechanic reports line burst and all other lines are severely rusted and must be replaced. $1500 repair estimate.
- Fredericksburg, VA, USA
Steel brake lines - corrosion - lost braking power due to corrosion of brake lines.
- Floral Park, NY, USA
The brakes on my truck are engaging the ABS at low speed stops. This is causing a loss of breaking at the critical last few feet of stopping. This problem is occurring on smooth dry pavement. Your 2008 action number PE05020 was a recall specific to my problem. Checking for a recall on my truck showed no specific recall for my VIN. Both my local dealership and the GM representative at 800-222-1020 tell me that I have to pay for any repairs out of my own pocket because there is no "recall" on my vehicle. I am concerned for my safety and the safety of my family every time we drive the vehicle. Is there anything you can do to have this problem fixed?
- Fairfax, VA, USA
My ABS activates under 5mph on dry roads. There was a recall for this problem but my truck doesn't qualify. This is a known issue and they can "walk away" saying my VIN is not affected. Bunch of garbage - I've been a Chevy guy for ever and worked at a Chevy dealership - this causes me to loose some faith. Dealerships have the ability to help but there hands are tied by GM. Sad!!
- Moose Lake, MN, USA
My truck is having the exact same problem as noted in recall #05068, NHTSA campaign id number 05V379000, but they state my VIN number is excluded from the recall. This car was operated in Michigan. At low speed, coming up to an intersection under 5 mph, for example, the ABS kicks on and lurches the car forward. I read this has to do with the wheel speed sensors. This has been happening and getting worse for the past year.
- Sandy, UT, USA
Complete brake failure. Avoided any collision. Cost to repair $1,025.56. Occured on a busy roundabout. Needed to be towed to dealer for repair.
- Prior Lake, MN, USA
The ABS keeps engaging during low speed stopping and parking maneuvers, dry conditions. This is increasing braking distance when approaching slowing traffic and is very alarming. We nearly had an accident when this happened. I called a local dealer, and they said that "recall work" had been performed for this issue in 2005, and I was on my own for the repair. I think this is a major design flaw and GM should cover the repair indefinitely unless a design improvement was created. A car should stop when you need it too, not continue on its course and speed ignoring my input. It seems to me that they replaced parts of a bad design with parts of the same design then there was no design improvement to prevent a recurrence when the "recall work" was performed. I think this is a major flaw in the recall process. What recourse to I have now" I know several owners of mid-2000's Chevy trucks with this issue, and it keeps coming back if you own the truck long enough. What is being done" I should not have to keep paying for repairs.
- Prior Lake, MN, USA
Brakes failed without warning while at speed on a highway coming to a stop light. No brakes. No dash light until complete failure of the entire system. Split system failed. No brakes. Collision with telephone pole. Injury to occupants. Fluid leaking from rusted brake lines near ABS pump under driver side door. This is the second 2002 Tahoe that we have owned with this exact same failure. Both failed completely without warning. Neither system indicated any anomaly before total failure. Split system did not work. Both failed in the same place. The complaints on this are everywhere! - where is the NHTSA "????? wtf is wrong with you people ?? this has caused injury to many and no recall"
- Elgin, IL, USA
The contact owns a 2002 Chevrolet Tahoe. While driving at approximately 5 mph, the brake pedal was depressed but the brake pedal pumped back and made it difficult to slow down without warning. The failure recurred numerous times. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and stated that the VIN was not included in NHTSA campaign number: 15V379000 (service brakes, hydraulic). The failure mileage was approximately 136,000. MA 9/22 updated 11/16/2017
- Shepherdsville, KY, USA
The contact owns a 2002 Chevrolet Tahoe. While driving at 45 mph, the ABS warning light illuminated. The contact applied the brake pedal and heard an abnormal noise. The vehicle was turned off and would not restart. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, but was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 180,000.
- Wagner, SC, USA
The contact owns a 2002 Chevrolet Tahoe. While driving at a slow speed, the brake pedal was depressed and there was an increase in stopping distance. In addition, there was an abnormal noise coming from the brake pedal. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The failure recurred on numerous occasions. The vehicle was previously repaired under NHTSA campaign number: 05V379000 (service brakes, hydraulic). The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 140,000. The VIN was unavailable.
- Powell , OH, USA
The contact owns a 2002 Chevrolet Tahoe. The contact stated that while coming to a stop, the ABS activated independently. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who diagnosed that the sensor and the wheel bearing needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The vehicle was previously repaired under NHTSA campaign number: 05V379000 (service brakes). The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 145,000.
- Matawan, NJ, USA
Tried to stop when I went to use the brakes I wasn't able to press them all of the way down. The brakes locked and there was an extreme vibration.
- Bellwood, IL, USA
Brake lines corroded leading to complete braking failure.
- Ashland, MA, USA
The contact owns a 2002 Chevrolet Tahoe. While driving 15 mph, the brake pedal was depressed but the vehicle did not stop. The ABS and the service brake warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 208,000.
- Indianapolis, IN, USA
When I brake my brakes pump and it's like the ABS is trying to kick in sometimes I have to push pedal all the way to the floor in order to stop with out an incident. Had new brakes installed and still the problem is there.
- Indianapolis, IN, USA
- Groveton, TX, USA