RoadVitals

2002 Chevrolet Tahoe Brakes Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the brake system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Brakes reportsComplaints 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.
182
Latest Mar 25, 2021
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
41%
of 449 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
14
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
5

What this page shows

Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2002 Chevrolet Tahoe submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 182 reports on file name it.

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

Owner reports naming brake

The 25 most recent of 182, in the owner's own words

Brakes
Filed Mar 25, 2021

I HAVE AN 02 TAHOE Z71 THAT RECENTLY I'VE BEEN HAVING BRAKE PROBLEMS AT SLOW SPEEDS WHEN TRYING TO STOP LIKE THE ABS IS TRYING TO KICK IN RANDOMLY BETWEEN ABOUT 5 TO 15 MPH WHEN SLOWING FOR RED-LIGHTS OR STOP SIGNS THERE'S TIMES I HAVE TO LET OFF AND REAPPLY BRAKE 2 TO 3 TIMES AT LEAST BEFORE IT WILL ACTUALLY STOP WITHOUT THE ABS KICKING IN. I READ ABOUT SOME RECALLS ON THIS ON 02 TAHOES BUT MY VIN SAID I HAD 0 UNFIXED RECALLS

NHTSA ID
11404840
Incident
Feb 11, 2021
Mileage
220,536 mi
Brakes
Filed Dec 11, 2020

ABS AND BRAKE LIGHTS REMAIN ON AFTER TAHOE IS CRANKED AND DRIVEN.

NHTSA ID
11383103
Incident
Mar 6, 2020
Mileage
141,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Oct 7, 2019

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

NHTSA ID
11266920
Incident
Sep 19, 2019
Mileage
200,000 mi
BrakesElectricalEngine
Filed Aug 5, 2019

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.

NHTSA ID
11241900
Incident
Apr 26, 2019
Mileage
185,777 mi
Brakes
Filed Jul 20, 2018

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.

NHTSA ID
11112535
Incident
Jul 19, 2018
Mileage
132,000 mi
Brakes
Filed May 25, 2018

STEEL BRAKE LINES - CORROSION - LOST BRAKING POWER DUE TO CORROSION OF BRAKE LINES.

NHTSA ID
11097884
Incident
May 17, 2018
Mileage
69,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Feb 15, 2018

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?

NHTSA ID
11073112
Incident
Feb 10, 2018
Mileage
135,200 mi
Brakes
Filed Dec 28, 2017
Crash reported

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!!

NHTSA ID
11057124
Incident
Dec 28, 2017
Mileage
187,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Jan 30, 2017

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. *TR

NHTSA ID
10948453
Incident
Jan 30, 2017
Mileage
164,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Nov 17, 2016

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.

NHTSA ID
10926683
Incident
Oct 23, 2016
Mileage
142,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Sep 20, 2016

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.

NHTSA ID
10908148
Incident
Sep 10, 2016
Mileage
166,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Feb 8, 2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET TAHOE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY AND DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE BRAKE PEDAL PULSATED AND THE VEHICLE FAILED TO RESPOND WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT CONTINUED TO DEPRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THE VEHICLE HESITATED TO RESPOND. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS WHILE DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS OF 5 MPH OR LESS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 05V379000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC). THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 185,000. UPDATED 04/13/16*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE BRAKES FUNCTIONED PROPERLY WHEN THE ABS WAS DISCONNECTED. UPDATED 04/20/16

NHTSA ID
10824759
Incident
Feb 1, 2015
Mileage
185,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Oct 24, 2015
Crash reported2 injuries reported

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?

NHTSA ID
10785819
Incident
Oct 11, 2015
Mileage
120,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Jul 14, 2015

TL* 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*CN

NHTSA ID
10733862
Incident
Jun 30, 2015
Mileage
136,000 mi
BrakesElectricalEngine
Filed Jul 8, 2015

TL* 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.

NHTSA ID
10732686
Incident
Jul 1, 2015
Mileage
180,000 mi
Brakes
Filed May 19, 2015

TL* 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.

NHTSA ID
10717389
Incident
May 17, 2015
Mileage
140,000 mi
Brakes
Filed May 1, 2015

TL* 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.

NHTSA ID
10714000
Incident
Dec 1, 2014
Mileage
145,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Apr 9, 2015

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. *TR

NHTSA ID
10704849
Incident
Jan 12, 2015
Mileage
120,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Mar 14, 2015

BRAKE LINES CORRODED LEADING TO COMPLETE BRAKING FAILURE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10694271
Incident
Mar 12, 2015
Mileage
180,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Mar 4, 2015

TL* 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.

NHTSA ID
10692044
Incident
Mar 4, 2015
Mileage
208,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Feb 28, 2015

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. *TR

NHTSA ID
10691296
Incident
Feb 26, 2015
Mileage
210,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Feb 18, 2015

THE BRAKE LINE ON MY 2002 CHEVY TAHOE BUSTED WHILE STOPPED AT A BUSY INTERSECTION JUNE 2014. THE BRAKE PEDDLE WAS DEPRESSED AFTER A NORMAL STOP WHEN ALL PRESSURE WENT AWAY AND I BEGAN ROLLING FORWARD INTO THE INTERSECTION BEFORE PUSHING THE BRAKE FIRMLY TO THE FLOOR TO HALT THE VEHICLE. UPON PULLING OVER I DISCOVERED A LEAK IN THE LINE MID-BODY OF THE VEHICLE AND A EMPTY BRAKE FLUID RESERVOIR. AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH I DISCOVERED THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM GM REFUSES TO FIX. THE SECOND INCIDENT HAPPENED ON FEBRUARY 14TH 2015 WHEN STOPPING AT ANOTHER INTERSECTION WHICH I ALMOST WENT THROUGH. I AGAIN DISCOVERED A BREAK IN THE LINE AT ROUGHLY IN THE SAME SPOT. THE SHOP TOLD ME THE ABS HAD RUSTED THROUGH. *TR

NHTSA ID
10684131
Incident
Jun 1, 2014
Mileage
165,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Feb 13, 2015

PREPARED TO LEAVE THE HOUSE, STEPPED ON THE BRAKES TO PUT IN GEAR AND PEDAL WENT TO FLOOR. HAD TOWED TO DEALER WHERE WAS INFORMED ALL BRAKE LINES HAD TO BE REPLACED DUE TO CORROSION FAILURE. THERE WAS NO WARNING, NO FLUID ON THE GROUND, JUST SUDDEN CATASTROPHIC FAILURE. COST $2300.00 DUE TO BODY HAVING TO BE LIFTED FROM FRAME. NOW, A FEW MONTHS LATER FUEL LINES HAVE SUDDENLY FAILED FOR THE SAME REASON, I.E.: LOW GRADE CHEAPLY MADE STEEL USED IN HIGH CORROSION AREA. AGAIN THE BODY LIFT REQUIRED, ESTIMATED COST $2300.00. *TR

NHTSA ID
10683193
Incident
Sep 27, 2013
Mileage
118,300 mi
Brakes
Filed Jan 8, 2015

MY WIFE WAS DRIVING VEHICLE AND TRIED TO APPLY BRAKES AND THEY WENT COMPLETELY TO THE FLOOR. SHE HAD NO BRAKES AND SHE COASTED INTO A PARKING LOT AND PUT THE TRANSMISSION IN PARK. VERY LUCKY NO ACCIDENT BECAUSE THE BRAKE LINES RUSTED OUT UNDER THE VEHICLE AN HAD NO WARNING OR LIGHTS TO SHOW PROBLEMS. *TR

NHTSA ID
10671171
Incident
Jan 6, 2015
Mileage
156,236 mi
BrakesElectricalOther / unspecified
Filed Dec 6, 2014

I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF A 2002 CHEVROLET TAHOE THAT EXPERIENCED ABS CUT-IN AT LOW SPEEDS IN DRY WEATHER IN 2005 AND WAS RECALLED UNDER CAMPAIGN 05V379000 / NHTSA ACTION NUMBER : PE05020. THE CUT-IN PROBLEM HAS RECENTLY RETURNED, WITH EXACT SAME SYMPTOMS AS BEFORE. I CALLED GM AS THE ORIGINAL RECALL NO LONGER APPEARS TO BE IN EFFECT, BUT THEY DO NOT APPEAR TO BE WILLING/ABLE TO COVER ANY REPAIRS AGAINST THAT RECALL DESPITE THE CORROSION TREATMENT AND LUBRICATION OBVIOUSLY NOT BEING A PERMANENT FIX. OTHER GM VEHICLES IMPACTED BY THE ABS ISSUE AND WHICH ARE STILL IN SERVICE WILL BEGIN TO EXPERIENCE SIMILAR FAILURES AND NHTSA AND GM NEED TO RECOGNIZE THE ORIGINAL ISSUE HAS NOT BEEN RESOLVED AND TAKE ACTION. *TR

NHTSA ID
10662533
Incident
Oct 1, 2005
Mileage
40,000 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.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .