RoadVitals

2009 Chevrolet Tahoe Hybrid Owner Complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers, shown in full

Data refreshed

Complaints on fileComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
22
Latest May 22, 2019
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
3
Filed in the last 12 monthsReports filed with NHTSA in the trailing 365 days. Recent volume reflects attention and vehicle age as much as anything else.
0
Reports on file since Oct 6, 2009

What this page shows

Our database holds 22 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2009 Chevrolet Tahoe Hybrid. Each one is a report filed by an owner or driver and published by NHTSA without most of them being verified. A complaint is not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. Narratives are shown exactly as filed.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Complaints, most recent first

Showing 1–22 of 22

Body & structure
Filed May 22, 2019

I HAVE A LARGE CRACK IN MY DASH. THERE WAS NO ACCIDENT OF ANY KIND DONE. IT JUST SPLIT.

NHTSA ID
11209284
Incident
Jul 1, 2018
Mileage
102,544 mi
ElectricalEnginePowertrain (other)
Filed Apr 23, 2019

GM HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO FIGURE OUT MY CAR. IT HAS BEEN IN THREE TIMES FOR AN ELTRICAL ISSUE. THE CAR REVS UP AND SPEEDS UP TO 55 MILES PER HOUR ON ITS OWN. HAS NO POWER STEERING. REDUCED ENGINE POWER. THROWING 47 CODES. NO COMMUNICATION BETWEEN TRANSMISSION AND COMPUTER. STABILITY TRACK TURNS OFF. DOORS AND AUTO SHUT OFF TURN OFF AND ON WHEN THIS OCCURS.

NHTSA ID
11203252
Incident
Apr 11, 2019
Mileage
112,000 mi
Driver assistance
Filed Oct 4, 2018

I REPORTED THIS SEVERAL TIMES TO CHEVROLET I WAS NOT HAPPY WITH THEIR RESEARCH. I AM HAVING ISSUES WITH THE BRAKES IN MY CAR. SOMETIMES WHILE BRAKING THE BRAKES WILL AUTOMATICALLY DISENGAGE AND YOU FEEL LIKE YOU ARE BEING THROWN FORWARD. I TOOK THIS TO SEVERAL CHEVY DEALERSHIPS WHILE MY CAR WAS UNDER WARRANTY AND THEY COULD NEVER FIND THE ISSUE. I AM STILL HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM AND SINCE MY WARRANTY EXPIRED THEY TOLD ME, I WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR THE DIAG. I FEEL THAT SINCE I DID REPORT THIS WHILE IT WAS UNDER WARRANTY I SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PAY FOR MORE DIAG. I INITIALLY THOUGHT IT WAS JUST AN ISSUE WITH MY CAR, UNTIL A NEIGHBOR WITH THE SAME CAR ASKED IF I EXPERIENCED THE SAME ISSUES MY CHEVY CARES CASE NUMBERS : [XXX], [XXX] AND [XXX]; [XXX]*DT PARTS OF THIS DOCUMENT HAVE BEEN REDACTED TO PROTECT PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).*JB

NHTSA ID
11133349
Incident
Aug 16, 2016
Mileage
100,000 mi
Driver assistancePowertrain (other)
Filed Jun 29, 2018
Crash reported

MY 2009 HYBRID TAHOE ACCELERATES UNCONTROLLABLY ON OCCASION. THE ISSUE ARRISES COMMONLY IN STOP-AND-GO TRAFFIC WHEN THE HYBRID SYSTEM STARTS/STOPS THE GASOLINE ENGINE REGULARLY. I NOTICE IN MANY CIRCUMSTANCES WHEN SWITCHING GAS/ELECTRIC MODES THE VEHICLE LURCHES FORWARD. THE FEELING IS THE SAME AS LETTING OUT THE CLUTCH QUICKLY ON A VEHICLE WITH A MANUAL TRANSMISSION. I HAVE DONE AS MUCH RESEARCH AS I CAN AND IT APPEARS THE PROBLEM POINTS TO ISSUES WITH THE TRANSMISSION FLUID PUMP(S) AND/OR CONTROL MODULES. WHEN THE SYSTEM OPERATES ON THE GAS ENGINE, THE HYBRID TAHOE'S TRANSMISSION RELIES ON AN ENGINE DRIVEN HYDRAULIC FLUID PUMP. WHEN THE SYSTEM SWITCHES TO ELECTRIC MODE, AN AUXILIARY TRANSMISSION FLUID PUMP TURNS ON, DRIVEN BY AN INDEPENDENT ELECTRIC MOTOR. THE LURCH I DESCRIBED RESULTS FROM WHAT I BELIEVE TO BE A FAILING PUMP OR CONTROL MODULE, OR A COMBINATION OF THE BOTH WHICH ENGAGES GEARS WHEN IT SHOULDN'T. THIS LURCH IS RATHER DANGEROUS AS I HAVE HAD TO JUMP ON THE BRAKES MANY TIMES TO AVOID REAR ENDING OTHER DRIVERS. I HAVE SPOKEN WITH SEVERAL INDIVIDUALS WHO OWN, DRIVE OR HAVE DRIVEN THESE GMT900 SERIES HYBRIDS (2008-2013 CHEVY TAHOE/SILVERADO HYBRIDS, GMC YUKON HYBRIDS, CADILLAC ESCALADE HYBRIDS) ALL INDIVIDUALS HAVE DESCRIBED THE DREADED LURCH. SOME SAY REPLACING THE ELECTRIC AUXILIARY TRANSMISSION FLUID PUMP SOLVES THE PROBLEM, OTHERS STILL HAVE LURCHING ISSUES. ONE INDIVIDUAL WHO DRIVES A CADILLAC ESCALADE HYBRID CLAIMED TO HAVE ACTUALLY REAR ENDED SOMEONE DUE TO THE UNCONTROLLABLE LURCH. AS FOR MY PERSONAL CAR, THE LURCH OCCURS IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC AND OCCURS AT LEAST ONCE A WEEK, SOMETIMES MORE. THANKFULLY I HAVE NOT BEEN INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT YET, HOWEVER I FEEL ONE MAY BE IMMINENT. HERE IS A LINK TO A TAHOE/YUKON OWNERS FORM WHERE I HAVE SHARED SOME OF MY FINDINGS: HTTPS://WWW.TAHOEYUKONFORUM.COM/THREADS/HYBRID-TRANSMISSION.104102/

NHTSA ID
11104779
Incident
Dec 29, 2017
Mileage
100,000 mi
Filed May 15, 2018

I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE NOW THE DASH TWICE BECAUSE OF SEVERE CRACKING. NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS HAVE BEEN REPORTED.

NHTSA ID
11093981
Incident
Apr 25, 2017
Mileage
87,000 mi
Driver assistanceElectricalFuel system
Filed Apr 27, 2018

WHEN I PRESS DOWN ON THE GAS, MY VEHICLE STALLS ABOUT FIVE SECONDS BEFORE IT ACTUALLY TAKES OFF. WHEN I TRY TO STOP, IT DOES NOT STOP RIGHT AWAY AS I PRESS DOWN ON THE BREAK. I'VE ALMOST REAR ANOTHER VEHICLE ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS WHILE SITTING AT A RED LIGHT. I HAVE TO STAY AT LEAST 15 FEET AWAY FROM THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME. MY VEHICLE HAS SHUT DOWN WHILE I WAS DRIVING. MY ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON AND GOES OFF PERIODICALLY. IF I TURN MY WHEEL TO SHARPLY (REVERSE OR FORWARD), IT JERKS, MAKES A LOUD NOISE, AND THEN IT FEELS LIKE ITS ABOUT TO CUT OFF. I FEEL REALLY UNSAFE DRIVING, HOWEVER, I HAVE NO CHOICE BECAUSE I HAVE TO WORK.

NHTSA ID
11090504
Incident
Mar 1, 2018
Mileage
133,000 mi
Filed Aug 8, 2017

ALL 4 DOOR LOCK ACTUATORS WENT BAD AFTER A SIMPLE SEARCH ONLINE THIS SEEMS TO BE AN ISSUE ACROSS THE BOARD WITH 2008-2010 CHEVY TAHOE AND SUBURBAN. AND A VERY EXPENSIVE REPAIR. THIS IS VERY UNUSUAL FOR ALL 4 LOCKS TO GO AT THE SAME TIME.

NHTSA ID
11013798
Incident
Jul 31, 2017
Other / unspecified
Filed Apr 25, 2017

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET TAHOE HYBRID. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND THE CHECK HYBRID SYSTEM ERROR MESSAGE DISPLAYED. THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED AFTER TWO HOURS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO MULTIPLE INDEPENDENT MECHANICS WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE HYBRID COOLANT SYSTEM FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 139,444.

NHTSA ID
10980402
Incident
Apr 21, 2017
Mileage
139,444 mi
Filed Mar 25, 2017

MY DASHBOARD DEVELOPED A CRACK ABOVE THE GLOVE COMPARTMENT APPROXIMATELY 9 MONTHS AGO. AN EVEN BIGGER SECOND CRACK DEVELOPED ABOVE THE STEERING WHEEL. MY VEHICLE IS GARAGE KEPT AND WELL TAKEN CARE OF. I FEAR THESE CRACKS MAY IMPACT THE ELECTRONICS FOR THE AIRBAG.

NHTSA ID
10968484
Incident
Aug 1, 2016
Airbags
Filed Jan 31, 2017

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET TAHOE HYBRID. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V381000 (AIR BAGS). THE PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME FRAME TO SCHEDULE THE RECALL REPAIR. THE DEALER DID NOT GIVE A SPECIFIC DATE FOR WHEN THE PART WOULD BECOME AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER COULD NOT PROVIDE AN ESTIMATED DATE FOR WHEN THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WOULD RECEIVE THE RECALL REPAIR. THE CONTACT WAS NOT EXPERIENCING A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID
10948630
Incident
Jul 11, 2016
BrakesElectricalExterior lighting
Filed Oct 1, 2016
Fire reported

WHEN DRIVING OR SITTING IN A PARKED POSITION THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM GOES CRAZY. RADIO, DASH CONTROLS, BELLS, LIGHTS, UNLOCK/LOCK ALL START GOING ON AND OFF RANDOMLY. WHILE DRIVING THE CAR WILL ACTUALLY DIE OUT AND STALL WHILE THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM IS GOING CRAZY. THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM THEN LOCKED EITHER MY ABS OR 4WD ON THE BACK WHEELS CAUSING THE CAR TO DRIVE SLOWLY THEN WHEN I FINALLY COULD PULL OVER MY CAR WAS SMOKING FROM UNDER THE ENTIRE CAR LIKE IT WAS GOING TO CATCH ON FIRE. THIS IS COMPLETELY UNSAFE. I WAS DRIVING UP A MAIN HIGHWAY WHEN MY TRUCK STARTED FAILING IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC CAUSING ME TO PUT THE CAR IN NEUTRAL AND COAST TO THE SIDE. I THEN TRIED TO START THE TRUCK AGAIN AND IT WOULD NOT START AT ALL. AFTER TURNING EVERYTHING ON AND OFF, MOVING THE STEERING WHEEL IT FINALLY STARTED AGAIN. WHATEVER ELECTRICAL PART OR PARTS THAT RUN THE ENTIRE CAR CLEARLY HAVE A MAJOR FAULT IN THEM. THIS ISSUE IS CLEARLY DOCUMENTED ON VIDEOS AND BLOGS FROM PEOPLE WHO ARE HAVING THIS PROBLEM FOR YEARS. SEARCH HOW TO FIX CHEVY ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS AND YOU WILL SEE. THIS IS NOT ACCEPTABLE FOR SO MANY YEARS WITHOUT GM HAVING TO FIX THIS PROBLEM AT SOME POINT. IF YOU ARE NOT A MECHANIC AND TAKE YOUR CAR IN THEY ARE CHARGING THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS TO TRY TO SEARCH FOR THE PROBLEM. IT SEEMS TO BE THE GROUND WIRES RUNNING FROM THE BATTERY ON MOST VEHICLES OR THE FUSE. THIS IS A SIMPLE FIX IF YOU ARE A MECHANIC BUT TAKING IT IN TO THE SHOP THEY CHARGE OUTRAGEOUS PRICES. THIS IS ALSO THE SECOND TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED. THE FIRST TIME THIS HAPPENED MY DOOR LOCKS WERE BEING REPLACED AND WHEN THEY GAVE THE CAR BACK TO ME I IMMEDIATELY HAD TO TURN AROUND AND GO BACK. THEY REPLACED THE BATTERY AND ALTERNATOR AT THAT TIME AND IT HAS WORKED FINE UNTIL NOW.

NHTSA ID
10910986
Incident
Sep 28, 2016
Mileage
99,000 mi
Electrical
Filed May 11, 2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET TAHOE HYBRID. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SERVICE ENGINE WARNING LIGHT AND VARIOUS WARNING INDICATORS RANDOMLY FLASHED AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED. THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER RANDOMLY SHORTED OUT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 75 MPH. ALSO, THERE WAS A DRASTIC REDUCTION IN SPEED AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT HAD TO APPLY EXTREME FORCE TO THE STEERING WHEEL AND THE POWER STEERING ASSIST FAILED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO COAST THE VEHICLE OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE DUE TO THE SUDDEN FAILURE. AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND WAS ABLE TO REVIEW THE DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODES, BUT WAS UNABLE TO PROVIDE A DIAGNOSIS TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TO BE INSPECTED AND DIAGNOSED BY A DEALER TO DETERMINE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,000. UPDATED 07/12/16*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE ENTIRE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FAILED SUDDENLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. HOWEVER, THEY WERE UNABLE TO FIND A PROBLEM. UPDATED 07/19/2016. *JB

NHTSA ID
10864379
Incident
May 6, 2016
Mileage
114,847 mi
Electrical
Filed Mar 24, 2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET TAHOE HYBRID. AFTER DRIVING THE VEHICLE AND APROACHING A STOP, THE VEHICLE WAS SUPPOSED TO SHIFT FROM GAS TO ELECTRIC. HOWEVER, IT INVOLUNTARILY ACCELERATED EVEN WITH THE BRAKE PEDAL DEPRESSED. IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE, IT HAD TO BE SHIFTED TO NEUTRAL. THE CONTACT DROVE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, BUT THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE OCCURRED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 135,000.

NHTSA ID
10851387
Incident
Mar 23, 2016
Mileage
135,000 mi
Filed Jul 10, 2015

MY DASHBOARD BEGAN TO CRACK AROUND 40,000 MILES ON MY PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG. WITHIN A YEAR ANOTHER CRACK DEVELOPED ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG. THEN AT APPROX 85,000 MILES I HAD A HUGE CRACK DEVELOP AND SPREAD ON MY DASH RIGHT BEHIND MY STEERING WHEEL. THIS CRACK HAS BEGUN TO GET BIGGER. I HAVE CONTACTED MY DEALERSHIP AND GM.

NHTSA ID
10733334
Incident
Jul 30, 2012
Mileage
40,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Jan 5, 2015

AT APPROX. 60K MILEAGE IT WAS NOTICED THAT THE DASHBOARD TOP LEFT CORNER OF THE PASSENGER AIRBAG WAS CRACKED. VEHICLE WAS BROUGHT TO A GM DEALERSHIP AND IT WAS REPLACED. AT 113K MILEAGE, THE CRACK IS NOW IN THE SAME EXACT PLACE ON THE PASSENGER AIRBAG AS WELL AS ON THE DRIVERS SIDE. BECAUSE WE ARE OUT OF THE 100K WARRANTY GM REFUSES TO PAY. WE ARE OUT OF POCKET $950 TO REPLACE WITH NO ASSURANCE IF LEFT CRACKED IT WILL NOT CAUSE A SAFETY HAZARD IF AIRBAG IS DEPLOYED. THIS IS THE 4TH GM VEHICLE WITH THE EXACT CRACK. *TR

NHTSA ID
10670113
Incident
Jan 5, 2015
Mileage
60,000 mi
EnginePowertrain (other)
Filed Aug 30, 2013

WHEN DECELERATING USING BRAKING AND IN HYBRID MODE THE VEHICEL SURGES AHEAD WHEN THE HYBRID SYSTEM DISENGAGES. THIS CAUSES THE VEHICLE TO ACCELERATE AND PREVENTS STOPPING. HIGH POTENTIAL TO HIT THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OR PERSON IF AT A CROSSWALK. CHEVROLET DEALER IIN AVON CT, WAS UNABLE TO FIND CAUSE WITH TWO VISITS.

NHTSA ID
10538174
Incident
Dec 14, 2012
Mileage
76,000 mi
Body & structureElectrical
Filed Jul 16, 2012

THE ELECTRIC DOOR LOCKS THAT ENGAGE WHEN THE VEHICLE IS PLACED IN GEAR HAVE STOPPED WORKING. IF A PARENT RELIES ON THIS SYSTEM THE DOORS MAY NOT LOCK RESULTING IN A DANGEROUS SITUATION. THIS IS A SYSTEM FAILURE... *TR

NHTSA ID
10465784
Incident
Jun 28, 2012
Mileage
62,152 mi
BrakesDriver assistanceEngine+1 more
Filed Aug 17, 2011
Crash reported1 injury reported

I HAVE NEVER HAD ANY ISSUES OTHER THAN THE RECALLS WITH MY TAHOE. I PULLED INTO A PARKING SPACE AT MY BANK. AS I GOT INTO THE SPACE. THE BRAKES WENT TO THE FLOOR AND I PUT BOTH FEET ON THE BRAKE PEDAL AT THIS POINT. THE RPMS WENT UP. IT WAS LIKE THE ENGINE CAME TO LIFE BY ITSELF. IT SELF ACCELERATED OVER THE CONCRETE SPACER AND SIDEWALK INTO THE BANK'S BRICK WALL. THE AIRBAG DEPLOYED UPON IMPACT. THERE WAS NEVER A TIME IT DECELERATED. THERE WAS NO ONE IN THE CAR BUT ME THANKFULLY. THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS. THERE WERE NO BELLS WARNING OF THE FAILURE. I WOULD ESTIMATE IT TOOK 2-3 SECONDS TO GO FROM ALMOST STOPPED IN A PARKING SPACE TO HITTING THE BRICK. I AM SO SHAKEN BY THIS INCIDENT AND I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT TO DO. GMC HAS BEEN INFORMED. *KB

NHTSA ID
10419905
Incident
Aug 12, 2011
Mileage
31,000 mi
Interior & seats
Filed Jul 12, 2011

I OWN A 2009 CHEVY TAHOE HYBRID WITH 55K MILES. THE FRONT AND REAR DOOR LOCK ACTUATORS FAILED ONE AT A TIME FROM THE REAR PASSENGER TO PASSENGER TO DRIVERS SIDE OF THE TRUCK FROM 36K UNTIL NOW AT 55K. THE FAULTY DOOR LOCK ACTUATORS PREVENT LOCKING OR UNLOCKING OF THE DOORS FROM THE DRIVERS SEAT AS WELL AS WITH THE REMOTE. WHEN THE CAR IS PUT INTO DRIVE, ALL THE DOORS ARE SUPPOSED TO LOCK. THIS NO LONGER HAPPENS DUE TO FAULTY ACTUATORS. AS I HAVE SMALL CHILDREN, I FEEL IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE TO DRIVE WITH UNLOCKED DOORS. AFTER RESEARCHING THIS ISSUE I HAVE DISCOVERED THE PROBLEM TO BE WIDESPREAD ON A NUMBER OF CHEVROLET VEHICLES. PLEASE REFERENCE THE FOLLOWING INTERNET FORUM DISCUSSIONS : HTTP://WWW.GM-TRUCKS.COM/FORUMS/INDEX.PHP?SHOWTOPIC=98284&ST=165 AND HTTP://TOWNHALL-TALK.EDMUNDS.COM/DIRECT/VIEW/.F206D4B/75#MSG75 I SUGGEST THE NHTSA LOOK INTO THIS ISSUE AND MANDATE THE INSTALLATION OF A MORE RELIABLE DOOR LOCK ACTUATOR AND REPLACE THE EXISTING FAULTY ONES. I CONTACTED MY LOCAL CHEVY DEALERSHIP AND ASKED IF THEY COULD REPLACE THEM (AT NO COST TO ME OF COURSE). THE SERVICE MANAGER STATED THAT HE REPLACED A NUMBER OF THEM ALREADY. HE ALSO STATED THAT CHEVY MAY PICK UP THE COST "DEPENDING ON IF I SERVICE MY CAR THERE AND IF I HAVE A HISTORY OF BUYING CHEVY PRODUCTS". I REALLY DON'T THINK THEY CARE ABOUT THE SAFETY ISSUES THIS CAUSES. IF I CAN BE OF FURTHER ASSISTANCE IN THIS MATTER PLEASE LET ME KNOW. THANK YOU! *TT

NHTSA ID
10411927
Incident
Jul 11, 2011
Mileage
36,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Jan 13, 2011

SUMMARY: BRAKE FAILURE IN A TAHOE HYBRID WHILE DRIVING, MY CHEVY TAHOE HYBRID EXPERIENCED ALMOST TOTAL BRAKE FAILURE. OVER SEVERAL DAYS, THE BRAKES HAD BECAME MORE AND MORE "GRABBY." ON THE DAY OF THE TOTAL BRAKE FAILURE, WITH NORMAL PRESSURE APPLIED TO THE BRAKE PEDAL THERE WOULD BE ALMOST NO BRAKING POWER. BUT WITH JUST A LITTLE BIT MORE PRESSURE APPLIED THE BRAKES WOULD SUDDENLY ENGAGE WITH FULL BRAKING POWER. SUDDENLY, THIS UNHAPPY PERFORMANCE DEGRADED INTO ALMOST TOTAL BRAKE FAILURE. IT FELT LIKE I HAD LESS THAN 1/30TH OF THE NORMAL BRAKING POWER. I WAS NOT GOING FAST, AND NOTHING WAS IN FRONT OF ME TO HIT, AND I WAS A BLOCK FROM MY DESTINATION, SO I CONTINUED SLOWLY. BEFORE CALLING FOR A TOW I LET THE CAR SIT, AND I TRIED THE CAR AGAIN. SURPRISINGLY, I HAD MY GRABBY BRAKES BACK! I NURSED THE TRUCK TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE THEY RELOADED THE COMPUTER PROGRAM THAT CONTROLS THE BRAKES. I EXPERIENCED A SECOND TOTAL FAILURE JUST AS I ARRIVED AT THE DEALERSHIP. THE TECHS RELOADED THE COMPUTER PROGRAM THAT CONTROLS THE BRAKING SYSTEM AND THIS ADDRESSED THE PROBLEM, MOSTLY. THE BRAKES DON'T EXACTLY FEEL LIKE THEY USED TO, AND THERE IS A LITTLE BIT OF "SUDDEN GRAB" TO THEM, BUT THE MECHANIC INDICATED THAT THE PERFORMANCE IS NORMAL FOR A HYBRID SYSTEM. *TR

NHTSA ID
10376599
Incident
Dec 18, 2010
Mileage
13,500 mi
Brakes
Filed Mar 24, 2010

WE HAD A 2009 TAHOE HYBRID FOR ONLY 4 MONTHS. ON SEVERAL OCCASSIONS BEGINNING IN MARCH WHEN DRIVING AT A LOW SPEED OR COASTING DOWN HILL, 'CHECK BRAKE' LIGHTS CAME ON. I TRIED TO SLOW BY PRESSING ON THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THE BRAKES WENT TO THE FLOOR AND THE CAR WOULD NOT STOP. I HAD TO COAST TO A PARKING LOT, PUT THE CAR IN NEUTRAL/PARK AND RE-START THE CAR. THE CAR STALLED WHILE COMING DOWN HILL - VERY DANGEROUS. WE TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP. THEY CHARGED THE BATTERY. THE VERY NEXT MORNING BACKING OUT OF THE GARAGE,AGAIN BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR AND HAD TO RE-START.

NHTSA ID
10321763
Incident
Mar 15, 2010
Mileage
8,631 mi
Electrical
Filed Oct 6, 2009

I HAVE A 2009 CHEVROLET TAHOE HYBRID THAT CURRENTLY HAS 1085 MILES OF SERVICE. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN SERVICE AT TWO DIFFERENT GM DEALERSHIPS FOR 7 OF 8 WEEKS OF OWNERSHIP FOR AN ARRAY OF ISSUES CULMINATING IN TWO SERIOUS SAFETY CONCERNS PERTAINING TO THE HYBRID SYSTEM. IT WAS PLACED IN SERVICE FOR A SURGING/LUNGING PROBLEM AND SELF-ACCELERATION. THE DEALERSHIP CLAIMED TO HAVE REPAIRED THE PROBLEM, BUT IT STILL EXISTS ON A CONSTANT BASIS. WHEN RETURNING IT TO SERVICE, THEY THEN SAID THAT THE HYBRID SYSTEM WAS "SEARCHING FOR HIGHER RPM'S SO THAT IT COULD CONVERT MODES BETWEEN BATTERY AND ENGINE POWER". IT WILL REV FROM A 600 RPM RANGE TO 2000 RPM'S WITHOUT NOTICE IN TRAFFIC, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO SURGE FORWARD. SECOND ISSUE...WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE BETWEEN SERVICE STAYS, I NOTICED THAT I WOULD GET A TIGHTNESS IN MY CHEST AND SERIOUS HEADACHES, WITH NO HEALTH HISTORY OF THESE PROBLEMS. MY WIFE HAS A PACEMAKER AND WAS SERIOUSLY AFFECTED THE SAME WAY, WITH JABBING PAINS IN HER HEAD, CHEST PAINS AND A TIGHTNESS IN HER NECK DURING AND SHORTLY AFTER RIDING IN THE VEHICLE. SHE DOES NOT HAVE THESE SYMPTOMS AWAY FROM THE VEHICLE. IT TOOK US SEVERAL OUTINGS IN THE TRUCK TO ASSOCIATE THE SYMPTOMS TO THE RIDE. I DECIDED TO CHECK THE VEHICLE WITH A VOLT METER AND FOUND THAT WHILE RUNNING, THE METER DETECTED 5-15 MILLIVOLTS OF ELECTRICITY IN THE SEAT RAILS OF THE PASSENGER SEAT. WHEN I RETURNED THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP AGAIN, THE SERVICE TECHNICIAN ACCOMPANIED ME FOR A TEST DRIVE AND WAS VISIBLY CONFUSED AND SPEAKING DIFFERENTLY AFTER 20 MINUTES IN THE TRUCK. THE NEXT DAY, I RETURNED TO THE DEALERSHIP, STILL CONCERNED ABOUT THE ELECTRICAL PROBLEM. THE SERVICE WRITER WAS SHOCKED WHEN HE OPENED THE PASSENGER DOOR. THEY KEPT THE VEHICLE 8 DAYS, DECLARED IT SAFE AS COMPARED TO ANOTHER HYBRID ON THEIR LOT, AND SENT ME AWAY WITHOUT RESOLVE. THE NEXT DAY, WE TALKED TO A GM REPRESENTATIVE THAT SAID THEY WOULD NOT WORK ON THE VEHICLE AGAIN FOR ANY REASON AND WARRANTY IS VOID. *TR

NHTSA ID
10286559
Incident
Sep 24, 2009
Mileage
892 mi

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .