Owner-reported complaints naming the engine system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components. 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. 26 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.
The 25 most recent of 26, in the owner's own words
MY VEHICLE HAS BEEN DIAGNOSED AS NEEDING THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD BOLTS REPLACED. I HAVE READ THAT THIS IS AN ONGOING ISSUE THAT POSES A RISK TO DRIVERS AND PASSENGERS DUE TO THE FUMES, BUT HAS NOT BEEN RECALLED BY THE MANUFACTURER.
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.
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.
I RAN OUT OF GAS ON THE FREEWAY GOING 65 MPH WITH MY 5 YEAR OLD SON IN THE CAR. APPARENTLY WHEN A CHEVY TAHOE RUNS OUT OF GAS IT SHUTS DOWN THE ENTIRE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM INCLUDING POWER STEERING AS WELL. I'M UNSURE OF THIS ------> BUT IT SEEMS LIKE THE BRAKES ARE AFFECTED TOO. I HAD A VERY DIFFICULT TIME MERGING OVER TO THE RIGHT HAND SHOULDER OF THE HIGHWAY (I HAD TO CROSS THREE LANES AND MERGE WITH ON-RAMP TRAFFIC), GIVEN THAT I HAD VERY LITTLE STEERING CONTROL AND HAD TO USE AS MUCH MOMENTUM AS I ALREADY HAD TO GET OFF THE ROAD TO SAFETY, WITHOUT BEING HIT BY SOMEONE TRAVELING OVER 50MPH. PLUS OTHER CARS WERE NOT LETTING ME OVER. I CAN SEE THIS BECOMING A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION. GM JUST RECALLED A BUNCH OF TAHOE YEARS FOR THIS ISSUE BUT NOT MY YEAR (2002). I WOULD LIKE TO SEE THEM ADDRESS THIS ISSUE IN MY VEHICLE, BUT RIGHT NOW THE MECHANIC AT THE DEALERSHIP TOLD ME THERE ARE "CURRENTLY NO RECALLS ON [MY] VEHICLE" AND I WOULD HAVE TO PAY OUT OF POCKET TO DIAGNOSE/FIX THIS PROBLEM. ALSO WHEN I FIRST GOT MY CAR IN 2009 I WAS WAITING IN LINE TO BOARD A FERRY BOAT IN WASHINGTON STATE, AND TURNED THE ENGINE OFF, HAD THE CAR IN NEUTRAL, I THOUGHT I WOULD "COAST" DOWN THE RAMP, THIS IS WHEN I FIRST LEARNED THAT THIS MAKE/MODEL DOES NOT STEER OR BRAKE PROPERLY WHEN THE ENGINE IS OFF/DEAD. THERE WAS NO INCIDENT AT THIS TIME BECAUSE I WAS ONLY GOING 5 MPH BUT I DEFINITELY FELT THAT I DID NOT HAVE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. *TR
TL - THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET TAHOE. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE WOULD OCCUR INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE THE FAILURE WAS UNABLE TO BE REPLICATED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WERE 187,000. RK UPDATED 04/17/14*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE IGNITION CUT OFF WHILE DRIVING. UPDATED 05/20/14
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET TAHOE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE LOW COOLANT WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION WHERE THEY STATED THAT THE CYLINDER HEADS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET TAHOE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE, HE NOTICED AN ABNORMAL TICKING. THE CONTACT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED A BROKEN HEAD ON THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD BOLTS. THE CONTACT STATED THE EXHAUST FUMES WERE NOT ESCAPING FROM THE EXHAUST PIPE BUT REMAINING IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 98,000.
THE EXHAUST BOLTS ARE BREAKING CAUSING THE EXHAUST TO LEAK. THE RELATED PROBLEMS WILL LIKELY BE POOR FUEL ECONOMY, INCREASED EMISSIONS AND POTENTIALLY FAILED EMISSIONS TEST. THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER WAS ALREADY REPLACED ON THE SAME SIDE AS THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD WITH THE BROKEN BOLTS. PROBLEM WAS NOT NOTICED UNTIL THE SECOND BOLT BROKE THUS NOT SURE WHEN THE ORIGINAL PROBLEM OCCURRED. THE PROBLEM APPEARS TO EFFECTING NUMEROUS OTHER VEHICLES THUS A POTENTIAL LARGE GLOBAL IMPACT. *TR
I HAD A BRAKE FAILURE ON MY 2002 TAHOE AFTER DRIVING AT HWY SPEEDS THEN COMING OFF THE EXIT TO STOP; THE, SERVICE BRAKES LIGHT CAME ON. I THEN ATTEMPTED TO BRAKE AND THE PEDAL WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR MAKING IT VERY DIFFICULT TO BRAKE.. , COULD HAVE BEEN CATASTROPHIC, AND OR DEADLY; I DROVE HOME 2 MILES AWAY, VERY SLOWLY; I HAD VERY LITTLE BRAKE CONTROL.(TWO INFANTS IN THE CAR AT THE TIME) TWO OUT OF FOUR BRAKE LINES COMPLETELY RUSTED WITH A HOLE; BRAKE FLUID LEAKED OUT QUICKLY AT TIME OF INCIDENT ..LIKE HUNDREDS, AND THOUSANDS OF OTHER COMPLAINTS OF SAME EXACT PROBLEM. THE BRAKES THEMSELVES ARE FINE., . TO REPLACE ALL FOUR OF MY BRAKE LINES , IT COST ME $858($813 W/COUPON). RECALL ID # 05V379000 - SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK MAY ADDRESS THE PROBLEM IF YOU GET TO IT DONE BEFORE THE LINES COMPLETELY FAIL. APPLYING RUST INHIBITOR TO YOUR BRAKE LINES MAY ALSO HELP. THIS COULD HAVE BEEN COMPLETELY AVOIDED SINCE MANY HAVE COMPLAINED. THE MECHANIC DID NOT MENTION A RECALL WHEN FIXING THE BRAKE LINES. *TR
2002 CHEVY TAHOE WITH 105, 000 MILES. CHANGED SPARK PLUGS AND FOUND A SEVERED EXHAUST MANIFOLD BOLT ON THE ENGINE. THE BOLT IS FROM THE DRIVER'S SIDE END OF MANIFOLD. THE BOLT IS WORN AND RUSTY ON 90% OF IT AND THE OTHER 10% IS SHINY (LIKE A NEW BREAK). CALLED DUBLIN, CA CHEVY AND WENT IN AFTER THEY SAID THEY HAVE HAD MANY COMPLAINTS. THE OFFERED TO FIX IT FOR 10% OFF THE $1000 BILL. I TOLD THEM THAT IT WAS THEIR DEFECT AND THEY SHOULD PAY. I CALLED GMAC AND THEY TOLD ME TO GOTO ANOTHER CHEVY DEALER IN SAN LEANDRO, CA FOR A DIAGNOSIS SINCE THE 1ST DEALERSHIP NEVER LOOKED UNDER THE HOOD. THAT DEALER LOOKED AT THE TRUCK AND TOLD ME THAT THEY WOULD HAVE TO REMOVE THE MANIFOLD AND IT WOULD COST APPROXIMATELY, $500, BUT IT COULD RUN MORE IF THERE WERE MORE BOLTS THAT BREAK OFF DURING THE REPAIR. I HAVE THREE YOUNG CHILDREN AND I HAVE TAKEN IMMACULATE CARE OF THIS TRUCK. I DON'T THINK I SHOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR A REPAIR WHEN IT IS OBVIOUS BY LOOKING AT THE BOLT THAT THE BOLT WAS OVER TORQUED WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS BUILT. AFTER MUCH RESEARCH, I HAVE FOUND THOUSANDS OF COMPLAINTS OF THIS EXACT PROBLEM. THEY NEED TO RECALL THESE VEHICLES AND FIX THEM. IF I LET THIS CONTINUE WITHOUT FIXING THE PROBLEM, I WILL HAVE A HUGE PROBLEM ON MY HANDS AND IT WILL BE A SAFETY ISSUE. *TR
2002 CHEVROLET TAHOE. ONE OWNER VEHICLE, BOUGHT NEW. FLUTTER/RATTLING SOUND WHEN ACCELERATING WITH AIR CONDITIONER ON. DOES NOT RATTLE WHEN COMPRESSOR IS OFF. REAR AIR STOPPED BLOWING COLD. MECHANIC STATES SEVERAL PEOPLE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. REPLACED TENSIONER PULLEY. BELTS. STILL RATTLING/ LOUD. NOW STATES COMPRESSOR/CONDENSER NEED REPLACING BEFORE SEIZES UP. MECHANIC STATES THIS IS A KNOW DEFECT OF THIS MODEL, BUT NOT AWARE OF RECALLS. THIS NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED SINCE IT SEEMS TO BE A MECHANICAL DEFECT. *TR
ABOUT 2 YEARS AGO I NOTICED ENGINE COOLANT ON MY GARAGE FLOOR. AFTER INVESTIGATING I FOUND THAT THE LEAK WAS COMING FROM THE STORAGE RESERVOIR RATHER THAN THE RADIATOR. I ALSO NOTICED THAT MY WINDSHIELD WASHER FLUID WAS ALSO LEAKING ONTO THE GARAGE FLOOR. I TOOK MY TAHOE INTO A DEALER. I EXPLAINED THE PROBLEMS, THEY CONDUCTED THEIR EVALUATIONS AND I WAS THEN TOLD THAT IT WOULD COST APPROXIMATELY $450.00 TO REPAIR BOTH PROBLEMS. I COULD ONLY AFFORD TO FIX ONE PROBLEM SO I CHOSE THE COOLANT LEAK. THEY "FIXED" THE LEAK...FOR ABOUT $250.00. THE COOLANT RESERVOIR LEAK REAPPEARED SEVERAL MONTHS LATER. THE TAHOE WAS THEN OUT OF WARRANTY AND APPARENTLY TO FIX THESE ISSUES IT TAKES LOTS OF TIME AND EXPERTISE. THESE PROBLEMS ARE BECOMING EXPENSIVE AND CONTINUE TO BE ANNOYING. I AM BEING TOLD NOW THAT THE PROBLEMS ARISE FROM THE FLUID CONTAINERS RUBBING AGAINST THEIR MOUNTING BOXES WHICH IS CREATING HOLES IN THE CONTAINERS. ANY SUGGESTIONS? STEVE MULLIS *TR
RECALL FOR 2002 CHEVROLET TAHOE ON THE TENSION PULLEY. CONSUMER WANTS INFORMATION ABOUT RECALLS. *NJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE TENSION PULLEY BEARINGS CAUSES THE BELTS TO BECOME EXTREMELY HOT.*JB
I JUST BOUGHT A TRUCK FROM A USED CAR DEALER, WHO SAID NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE. THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE HEATING AND COOLING. WHEN I TURN OFF THE A/C IT STILL BLOWS AIR OUT OF THE VENTS, AND THE TRUCK NEEDS U JOINTS. *TR
2002 TAHOE SHUTS DOWN AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. SIT FOR FIFTEEN MINUTES STARTS BACK UP. ONLY HAPPENS IN 90+ DEGREE DAYS. SOMEONE IS GOING TO GET HURT. I'VE SEEN NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS IN THE COMPLAINT DBASE. *TR
THE FLUTTERING/GRINDING NOISE ACTUALLY BEGAN AROUND AUGUST '06. I HAD TO DRIVE WITHOUT AC WITH WINDOWS DOWN TO SURVIVE THE HEAT. I ASKED A LOCAL AUTO REPAIR STATION ABOUT THE NOISE, SINCE IT WAS OUT OF WARRANTY, AND HE SAID HE HAD WORKED ON SEVERAL TAHOES WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. HE SAID THAT THE CHEVROLET DEALERSHIP KNEW ABOUT THE PROBLEM BECAUSE THEY INSTANTLY TOLD HIM WHAT HAD TO BE REPLACED. THEY TOLD HIM THE AVERAGE REPAIR BILL FOR THIS ISSUE WOULD BE APPROX $1500 AT THE DEALERSHIP. SINCE THEN I HAVE HEARD OTHER TAHOES WITH THE SAME NOISE , ESPECIALLY AT STOPLIGHTS WHEN THEY ACCELERATE. NOT EVERYONE CAN AFFORD THAT KIND OF REPAIR, AND IF CHEVORLET KNOWS ABOUT THIS ISSUE, WHY HASN'T THERE BEEN A RECALL. THIS IS NOT THE TYPICAL AND ROUTINE WEAR LIKE OIL CHANGES AND TIRES. *TR
DT: THE CONTACT STATED TRUCK STALLED AT 60 MPH. NO LIGHTS CAME ON, IT JUST CUT OUT. IT USUALLY RESTARTED AFTER THE SECOND TIME. WHEN PARKING THE TRUCK AND LETTING IT SIT OVERNIGHT WITH OF TANK OF GAS IT WILL NOT START THE NEXT DAY UNTIL THE CONTACT PUT MORE GAS INTO THE TANK. AS LONG AS VEHICLE DID NOT SIT OVERNIGHT IT WILL USUALLY RESTART. THE CONTACT NOTICED THIS HAPPENING AT 90,000 MILES. HE KNEW SOMEONE ELSE WHO HAD THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM.*AK
PROBLEMS WITH SUSPENSION, BRAKES, AND GAS GAUGE GIVING OUT AN IMPROPER READING. *MR FEW DAYS AFTER VEHICLE WAS BEING SERVICED, CONSUMER NOTICED A FUEL SMELL COMING FROM VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHICH THEY FOUND OUT THAT THE GAS CAP WASN'T TIGHT. ALSO, WHICLE PUTTING FUEL, GAS TANK BURST SPILLING FUEL TO THE CONSUMER. IN ADDITION, CONSUMER EXPERIENCED STALLING, SUSPENSION SQUEAKS, AND FUEL RELATED PROBLEMS. *LA
FLUTTER/RATTLING COMPRESSOR LIKE SOUND WHEN ACCELERATING. APPEARS TO BE FROM A/C COMPRESSOR. FROM MY RESEARCH, OTHER OWNERS HAVE REPORTED SIMILAR COMPLAINTS. DEALER SAY THIS IS NOT A EQUIPMENT FAILURE ISSUE.*AK
ENGINE KNOCKS, CHEVY WILL NOT REPAIR OR REPLACE. *AK
CONSUMER EXPERIENCED TROUBLE WITH REDUCED ENGINE POWER AND DEALERSHIP UNABLE TO CORRECT IT. (NAR) *PH *CB
VEHICLE WOULDN'T START AND WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER REPLACED THE CRANK POSITION SENSOR. *AK
WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED AND WITHOUT WARNING THE VEHICLE WOULD SUDDENLY STALL OUT. THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE FUEL PUMP TWICE BUT THE PROBLEM STILL EXIST. *NLM
I HAVE A 2002 CHEVROLET TAHOE. ONCE THE VEHICLE SETS OVERNIGHT OR A PERIOD OF SIX HOURS OR LONGER THE FOLLOWING PROBLEM OCCURS: I GO TO BACK OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY IN REVERSE THE VEHICLE ENGINE WILL DIE. NOTE THAT MY DRIVE WAY IS ON AN INCLINE. THIS CANNOT BE RECREATED IF THE DEALERSHIP ATTACHES A TECH TOOL TO THE VEHICLE. THIS PROBLEM CAN BE RECREATED WITHOUT FAIL WITH NOTHING ATTACHED. I HAVE ALSO HAD ONE OCCURRENCE THAT AFTER I STARTED THE VEHICLE BACK, WHICH IT WILL ALWAYS START BACK, I WAS ATTEMPTING TO PULL OUT ON A MAJOR ROAD WHEN THE VEHICLE APPEARED TO TRY AND STALL OUT. LUCKILY THE VEHICLE PICKED BACK UP AND RESPONDED NORMALLY JUST A SECOND BEFORE I WAS NEARLY STRUCK BROADSIDE BY A SEMI-TRUCK. THE DATE BELOW IS APPROXIMATELY WHEN THE PROBLEM STARTED. *JB
THE FAN BELT MADE A NOISE. *JB
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.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
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