2015 Chevrolet Tahoe Police Pursuit

On November 20, 2018, the Office of Defects Investigations (ODI) opened PE18-012 to investigate instances of sudden onset of a hard brake pedal that could result in extended stopping distance due to an issue with the brake assist vacuum pump in model year (MY) 2014 through 2016 GMC Sierra 1500 and Chevrolet Silverado 1500 series pickup trucks and MY 2015 through 2016 Cadillac Escalade, Chevrolet Suburban, Chevrolet Tahoe, and GMC Yukon SUVs.If the brake assist vacuum pump fails to operate as intended, the amount of brake power assist supplied to the driver can be significantly reduced, extending the subject vehicle stopping distance. GM stated that the root cause of pump failures was due to foreign debris such as oil sludge in the engine oil. GM stated that this debris can become trapped by the oil inlet filter screen. Under normal operation, this screen allows a small amount of oil into the brake vacuum pump. The foreign debris can, over time, clog the pump which can cause a loss of lubrication and a reduction in the amount of vacuum produced leading to a hard pedal and extended stopping distance.On December 13, 2018, GM issued a Special Coverage (N182202780) for the brake vacuum pump issue in MY 2014-2017 trucks and 2015-2017 SUVs on the K2XX platform for 6 years or 72,000 miles. Special Coverage repair includes the replacement of the vacuum pump and vacuum pump belt. Consumers received notification of the coverage via mail. On September 6, 2019, GM notified NHTSA that it was conducting safety recall 19V-645 which reprograms the electronic brake control module (EBCM) and included approximately 3.5 million trucks and SUVs. In October 2019, GM extended the terms of special coverage N182202780 to 10 years or 150,000 miles as well as now including the entire scope of recall 19V-645. In October 2020, GM expanded the scope of coverage N182202780 to include the MY 2018 Escalade and 2019 Tahoe.The remedy implemented in GM recall 19V-645 appears to be sufficient in addressing the safety-related concerns of this issue. Loss of vacuum assist now occurs at a progressive rate as well as there being a more timely warning of a brake problem to the driver through the driver information center (DIC). In view of the recall action and revision to the special coverage, this Preliminary Evaluation is closed. The agency reserves the right to take additional action if warranted by new circumstances. The ODI reports cited above are available for review online at NHTSA.gov under the identification numbers in the attached document.

THIS VEHICLE HAS AN ENGINE MOUNTED VACUUM PUMP THAT HAS FAILED. WE HAVE HAD FAILURES ON SEVERAL OF OUR 2015 TAHOE POLICE VEHICLES. THIS VEHICLE HAS 58,000 MILES AND AROUND 2500 ENGINE HOURS. AFTER THIS FAILURE YOU LOOSE POWER ASSIST BRAKES WITHOUT WARNING. THERE IS NO RECALL FOR THIS ISSUE. THE NEW PUMPS HAVE BEEN REDESIGNED.

NHTSA ID

11104203

Incident

Jun 25, 2018

Mileage

58,000 mi

PROBLEM STARTED AS BRAKES EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO ACTIVATE WHEN TRAVELING IN REVERSE AT LOW SPEED (I AM APPROX 200 LBS AND HAD TO STAND ON BRAKES WITH EFFORT TO GET VEHICLE TO STOP). PROBLEM ALSO APPEARED IN LOW SPEED STOP AND GO OPERATION AS WELL AS WHEN BACKING AT A MODERATE SPEED OF APPROXIMATELY 10 MILES PER HOUR. WE HAVE HAD AT LEAST ONE OTHER VEHICLE IN OUR FLEET EXPERIENCE THIS ISSUE. IT WAS DETERMINED TO BE A FAILED VACUUM PUMP ON THAT VEHICLE. THIS VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALER AND THEY WERE UNABLE TO REPLICATE ISSUE. I UNDERSTAND THERE IS A GM TECHNICAL BULLETIN INVOLVING THIS ISSUE BUT NO OIL WAS FOUND IN VACUUM LINES. THE VEHICLE IS OUTSIDE OF WARRANTY SO THERE IS CHARGES EACH TIME WE BRING VEHICLE BACK. I WAS TOLD TO BRING VEHICLE BACK IF PROBLEM BECOMES WORSE. I FEEL A FAILURE OF BRAKES IS AN EXTEREME SAFETY CONCERN IN NORMAL OPERATION AND ESPECIALLY IN HIGH SPEED EMERGENCY OPERATION OF THE VEHICLE. A SEARCH OF THE NHTSA SITE AS WELL AS INTERNET HAS REVELED NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS REGARDING THIS EXACT ISSUE. IT APPEARS THE COMMON REPLACEMENT IS THE BRAKE ASSIST AND VACUUM PUMP.

NHTSA ID

11046974

Incident

Nov 16, 2017

Mileage

50,400 mi

WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES MY CAR DOESN'T STOP 100% OF THE TIME. 1 TIME DURING HIGHWAY SLOW MOVING TRAFFIC, 3 TIMES BACKING OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY (FLAT SURFACE), 4 TIMES WHEN ON INCLINE/DECLINE OF ROAD. WHEN APPLYING BRAKES, HORRIBLE CHATTERING VIBRATION COMES FROM LEFT FRONT TIRE AREA, CHATTER VIBRATION IS FELT IN BRAKE PEDAL. NO MATTER HOW HARD I APPLY THE BRAKE THE CAR KEEPS GOING - IT WILL FINALLY STOP, BUT I ALMOST HIT THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME AT THE ONE HIGHWAY OCCURRENCE, 2 TIMES CAR FINALLY STOPPED JUST BEFORE GOING OVER EDGE OF PROPERTY WHEN PULLING FORWARD & BACKWARD TO TURN AROUND IN TIGHT AREA. IN EACH INSTANCE I AM MOVING AT A VERY SLOW SPEED. I CONTACTED DEALERSHIP, THEY TOLD ME I WASN'T THE ONLY ONE CALLING ABOUT THIS HAPPENING BUT SINCE I'M OVER 36,000 WARRANTY THEY WILL CHARGE ME TO CK IT OUT,

NHTSA ID

11022709

Incident

Sep 10, 2017

Mileage

68,000 mi

A NUMBER OF LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES IN SOUTHERN ARIZONA ARE EXPERIENCING ONGOING PROBLEMS WITH 2011-2015 CHEVROLET TAHOE POLICE PURSUIT PACKAGES ON HIGH TEMPERATURE DAYS. THIS ISSUE MANIFESTS ITSELF IN TEMPERATURES ABOVE 100 DEGREES AND FREQUENTLY WHEN THE TAHOE IS ENGAGED IN A LEFT TURN MOVEMENT. THE TAHOE STUTTERS AND/OR STALLS, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ACTIVATES, AND IF THE TAHOE WILL RESTART IT CONTINUOUSLY BACKFIRES, MISSES, AND WILL NOT RUN ABOVE 15MPH FOR A PERIOD. CHEVROLET HAS ACKNOWLEDGED THE ISSUE AND STATES THE SOLUTION IS A HIGH PRESSURE FUEL PUMP AND FUEL LINE WHICH IT DOES NOT HAVE IN STOCK. AT PRESENT, THE PIMA COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT HAS AT LEAST 10 VEHICLES OUT OF SERVICE FOR THIS ISSUE. ANOTHER LOCAL AGENCY, THE ORO VALLEY POLICE DEPARTMENT, HAS HALF OF ITS FLEET AFFECTED. OTHER AGENCIES EXPERIENCING THESE ISSUES INCLUDE THE PHOENIX POLICE DEPARTMENT, THE SCOTTSDALE POLICE DEPARTMENT, THE MESA POLICE DEPARTMENT, THE MARANA POLICE DEPARTMENT, AND THE MARICOPA COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE. CHEVROLET HAS BEEN SLOW TO RESPOND TO THIS ISSUE WHICH DATES TO 2011. CHEVROLET'S STRATEGY APPEARS TO BE ONE OF PACIFYING LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES UNTIL THE HOT SEASON IS OVER AND THEN THE PROBLEM IS IGNORED FOR ANOTHER YEAR. THIS ISSUE IS A SAFETY CONCERN FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS FACING THE RISK OF A STALLING VEHICLE WHILE TURNING LEFT IN THE FACE OF ONCOMING TRAFFIC. I HAVE PERSONALLY EXPERIENCED THIS ISSUE ON TWO OCCASIONS.

NHTSA ID

11002862

Incident

Jun 19, 2017

Mileage

33,000 mi

PI to help diagnose A/C concern

This preliminary information communicates information about how to determine if a wheel and tires size change is available.

This preliminary information advises a dealer on how to email GDS2 session logs into Technical Assistance.

This Preliminary information communicates the steps on how to save a GDS2 Session Log and upload to a Technical Assistance Case in CX Connect.

This preliminary information advises a dealer on how to email GDS2 session logs into Technical Assistance.

This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that have had multiple repair attempts that are being performed on customer’s vehicles that exhibit vibration conditions without utilizing the support of General Motors Technical Assistance Center. If valid vibration frequency or Road Force Variation data has been collected and a repair attempt does not correct the customer complaint, contact General Motors Technical Assistance Center for further support. For any vehicles that remains unrepaired after being at the dealer for three days or more and a related bulletin or PI is not found, contact General Motors Technical Assistance Center for further support.