Owner-reported complaints naming the electrical system, filed with NHTSA
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Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2009 Chevrolet Tahoe submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 33 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 33, in the owner's own words
The dash and front and rear lights keep going on and off. And I changed all my lights on from and rear and it still happens there is a smell coming from my glove box. I can show you in person so we can see what can be done to fix this problem.
P2138 code causing the car to have reduced engine power causing unsafe driving conditions and danger to other traffic. Vehicle has been to dealer multiple times for issue, ECM replaced costing thousands and still not working.
Recall #09V154000 should have been performed on my vehicle according to the list of VIN #'s affected, but it never was and I was never notified of the recall. I purchased this vehicle the month before this recall was announced in 2009 and did not start having safety issues until after my new SUV warranty had expired (how convenient). Over the years, I have spent thousands of dollars replacing all kinds of sensors, relays, batteries and various other parts trying to alleviate the unsafe electrical and loss of power issues that this faulty part continues to cause. I have taken this vehicle to my local dealership on countless occasions, complaining that the vehicle intermittently: does not start, the engine suddenly dies while driving on the highway or turning a corner (becoming unsteerable and the brakes won't work), suddenly decelerates, door locks cycle rapidly while driving, the check engine light and other warning lights/alarms come on, headlights and dash lights suddenly shut off, windows or AC stops working, and now the fuel gauge only reads 1/4 tank when I just filled it up. I took the SUV to my local dealer again today, explained the intermittent electrical and loss of power issues and history again and asked why this recall had not been performed or was not scheduled to be performed at any previous time that I had brought the vehicle in for diagnostics or service on these related issues. The service manager admitted that the recall had never been performed, but denied the possibility of the FSCM causing any of these issues, regardless of the recall notice stating they were. He then refused to perform the recall and said I needed to pay $380 to have another diagnostic scan performed. Never scheduling/performing the recall when the SUV was serviced countless times for related safety issues as defined in the recall notice that they never mailed to me and refusing to perform the recall today is a violation of the US NTMV Safety Act and should have consequences!
CAR STALLS WHEN MAKING TURNS OR WHEN ITS AT A STOP LIGHT OR JUST IN TRAFFIC THAT ITS MOVING VERY SLOW.
ONE EVENING I DROVE TO THE STORE AND PLACED MY TRUCK ON PARK FOR ABOUT 10 MINUTES WITHOUT SHUTTING THE VEHICLE OFF. ONCE I'M BACK IN AND GOING IN REVERSE I NOTICED THAT THE ASSISTED POWER STEERING WASN'T WORKING. I DISCONNECTED THE BATTERY TERMINALS AND WAITED BUT THE EPS NEVER CAME BACK ON. I HAD THE VEHICLE TOED TO MY NEARBY CHEVROLET DEALER WHOM LATER CONCLUDED THAT THE STEERING GEAR AND SOME COMPUTER MODULE NEEDED REPLACED. THEY BILLED ME FOR APPROXIMATELY $2900. NOW, HERE I AM EXACTLY ONE YEAR LATER WITH THE SAME PROBLEM! EXPIRED WARRANTY AND A HUGE BILL OF REPAIR. I HAVE THE DEALER RECEIPTS ON FILE.
KEEPS LOOSING POWER AND STAKING WHILE DRIVING THE BRAKES CALIPERS ARE MALFUNCTIONING THE FUEL CONTROL MODULE IS BEING EFFECTIVE SEE THERE WAS A SAFETY RECALL ON THIS BUT MY VEHICLE IS LISTED DMFOR MAKE AND MODEL BUT NOT VIN BUT IT'S EFFECTIVE
IN REGARDS OF MY 2009 CHEVY TAHOE LTZ THIS VECHICLE HAS HAD SOME ISSUES IN THE FEW MONTHS OF OWNERSHIP. WHEN EVER THE CAR IS PARKED AN YOU EXIT THE SUV TO LOCK IT IT DOES NOT LOCK YOU HEAR THE CLICKING SOUND LIKE ITS LOCKED BUT WHEN YOU TRY TO OPEN THE DOOR THAT SHOULD BE LOCKED IT OPENS RIGHT UP AN THE ALARM GOES OFF AN TO MENTION THE DOOR HANDLES ARE CHIPPING AWAY AN THE PLASTIC CUTS ALMOST EVERY PERSON THAT OPENS MY DOORS THAT ARE NOT CAREFUL. AN IVE HAD TO PATCH ALMOST 5 PLACES ON MY COOLANT AN A/C LINES THAT ARE ALUMINUM VERY CHEAPLY MADE.
I HAVE BOUGHT 4 DOOR LOCK ACTUATORS AND ALL KEEP FAILING THERE NEEDS TO BE A RECALL. IF THERE IS A FIRE OR AN EMERGENCY I HAVE KIDS AND SOMETHING MAY HAPPEN.
ELECTRICAL ISSUES DASH AND ALL ELECTRIC WOULD GO HEY WIRE ENGINE PERFORMANCE WOULD BE ERRATIC A VERY SAFETY PROBLEM WHILE DRIVING
THE BATTERY LIGHT TURNS ON. UT READS CHECK BATTERY SYSTEM.
THE ACTUATOR IN THE PASSENGER DRIVER DOOR BECAME INOPERABLE. ONCE THAT WAS FIXED, BOTH THE PASSENGER AND DRIVER DOOR STARTED HAVING THE SAME ISSUE. THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL ITEM SINCE IT'S AFFECTING MULTIPLE DOORS.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET TAHOE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DASHBOARD WAS CRACKED IN FOUR PLACES AND THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT WAS EXPOSED. IN ADDITION, THE DOOR LOCK ACTUATORS FAILED ON ALL FOUR DOORS AND THE RUNNING BOARDS FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, BUT WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET TAHOE. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED, THE OIL PRESSURE GAUGE ELEVATED, THE TIRE PRESSURE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED CONTINUOUSLY, AND THE AIR CONDITIONER ACTIVATED AS THE VEHICLE REMOTE LOCKED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000.
TAHOE LOOSES ALL ELECTRICAL POWER WONT CRANK, RADIO GOES OFF WHILE DRIVING, DOOR LOCKS GO UP AND ENGINE GOES INTO LOSE OF POWER VOLT GAUGE DROPS BELOW 14V ,STOP. TRUCK GO TO CRANK NO ELECTRICAL POWER, GO TO TOUCH BATTERY CABLES THEN IT WILL START HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO CORRECT PROBLEM, INTRARNATE IS FULL OF SAME PROBLEM
THE 2009 CHEVROLET TAHOE AUTOMATIC LIFT GATE BECAME A SIGNIFICANT DANGER TO THOSE ACCESSING THE REAR COMPARTMENT OF THE VEHICLE. TYPICAL OPERATION OF THE AUTOMATIC LIFT GATE IS THAT THE REAR HATCH OPENS COMPLETELY AND REMAINS OPEN WITH A SINGLE BUTTON CLICK. THE SAME AUTOMATIC LIFT GATE TYPICALLY CLOSES AND REMAINS SHUT WITH A SINGLE BUTTON CLICK. ON OR AROUND MAY 28TH, 2015, MY SON WAS PLACING SEVERAL ITEMS IN THE BACK OF THE VEHICLE WHEN THE LIFTGATE BEGAN SHUTTING ON HIM. IN AN ATTEMPT TO HOLD THE LIFTGATE OPEN, IT CONTINUED TO CLOSE FORCEFULLY WITHOUT RAISING BACK UP. THINKING QUICKLY I WAS ABLE TO PULL HIM AWAY FROM THE LIFTGATE AS IT CONTINUED TO CLAMP ANYTHING IN ITS PATH. MY SON RECEIVED A BUMPED HEAD AND SCRATCHES AS THE DOOR SHUT ON HIM. THE ISSUE APPEARED TO BE AN ELECTRICAL ISSUE THAT CAUSED THE LIFTGATE TO CLOSE FORCEFULLY AND CLAMP SHUT WITHOUT CONSIDERATION OF ANYTHING IN ITS PATH. I ALSO WAS NOT ABLE TO PREVENT THE LIFTGATE FROM CLOSING AS IT JUST CLAMPED SHUT, CRUSHING ANYTHING IN ITS PATH. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY CONCERN AND WE FEAR THAT OTHER PEOPLE MAY BE INJURED OR KILLED AS A RESULT OF THIS MALFUNCTION. THERE IS NO RAPID FUNCTIONALITY TO OVERRIDE THE THE MOTOR (SWITCHING TO MANUAL) THAT CONTROLS LIFTGATE OPERATIONS. THIS COULD VERY WELL HAVE CRUSHED MY CHILD IF I HADN'T BEEN STANDING NEXT TO HIM. OTHER ISSUES THAT OCCURRED AT THE SAME TIME WITHIN THE VEHICLE INCLUDED: 1) A SINGLE EVENT WHERE THE RADIO STAYED ON ONE CHANNEL AND WOULD NOT CHANGE WITHOUT RESTARTING THE CAR WAS WHEN THE ISSUE BEGAN; 2) XM SATELLITE RADIO BEGAN WORKING WITHOUT A SUBSCRIPTION; 3) THE AUTOMATIC MEMORY POSITION OF THE DRIVER SEAT DID NOT REMAIN IN POSITION AS TYPICAL; AND 4) THE LIFTGATE WOULD AUTOMATICALLY OPEN ABOUT 18 INCHES AND IMMEDIATELY CLOSE, CRUSHING ANYTHING IN ITS PATH.
I OWN A 2009 CHEVY TAHOE AND I HAVE BEEN DEALING WITH DOOR LOCK PROBLEMS FOR THE PAST YEAR. THE DRIVER DOOR WILL NOT OPEN AT THIS POINT AND REAR PASSENGER DOOR WILL NOT OPEN FROM TIME TO TIME. AT THIS MOMENT WE HAVE 2 WORKING DOORS, BUT I AM CONCERNED THAT IN CASE OF AN EMERGENCY THESE REMAINING 2 CURRENTLY WORKING DOORS WILL NOT OPEN EITHER AND MY FAMILY MAY BE TRAPPED. SOMEONE SUGGESTED WE CONTACT THE NATIONAL TRANSPORTATION SAFETY BOARD AND FILE A COMPLAINT TO SEE IF MAYBE WE CAN FORCE GM INTO A RECALL SINCE THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE. IS THIS SOMETHING YOU WOULD BE ABLE TO HELP US WITH? PLEASE ADVICE ON HOW I SHOULD PROCEED WITH THIS ISSUE. THANK YOU SO MUCH IN ADVANCE FOR YOUR HELP AND COOPERATION WITH THIS ISSUE. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 CHEVROLET TAHOE. THE CONTACT STATED THE REAR LEFT DOOR FAILED TO UNLOCK WHEN USING THE DRIVER'S CONTROL PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN REPLACED THE DOOR ACTUATOR. HOWEVER, AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON THE RIGHT SIDE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 52,000.
DRIVER DOOR AND REAR DOOR ON DRIVER SIDE DO NOT LOCK/UNLOCK CONSISTENTLY WITH KEY FOB NOR DO THEY LOCK/UNLOCK WITH POWER LOCK BUTTON. I HAVE TO MANUALLY LOCK AND UNLOCK BOTH DOORS MOST OF THE TIME. THE PREVIOUS OWNER SAID THEY REPLACED THESE A FEW YEARS BACK UNDER WARRANTY SHORTLY AFTER PURCHASING VEHICLE. OBVIOUSLY THERE IS A DESIGN FLAW OR MECHANICAL ISSUE CAUSING THIS TO HAPPEN. NUMEROUS PEOPLE HAVE REPORTED THE SAME ISSUE. I HAVE TO MANUALLY LOCK AND UNLOCK MY DOORS WHEN I LEAVE THE VEHICLE. PASSENGER SIDE DOORS APPEAR TO WORK FINE ALL THE TIME. THE COST IS CLOSE TO $300 PER DOOR TO CORRECT AND I BELIEVE ONLY A 30 DAY WARRANTY. SO IT DOESN'T APPEAR TO BE A PERMANENT RESOLUTION. *TR
VEHICLE'S REAR PASSENGER SIDE DOOR LOCK STOPPED FUNCTIONING. DOOR LOCK WILL NOT RESPOND TO WIRELESS TRANSMITTER, NOR UNLOCK BUTTON IN THE VEHICLE. LOCK CAN BE MANUALLY OPENED OR CLOSED FROM WITHIN THE VEHICLE, BUT THAT DOES NOT DO ME ANY GOOD WHEN I HAVE A 4 YEAR OLD CHILD IN THE BACK SEAT. *TR
BOTH BACK DOORS ON MY TAHOE BEGAN TO STOP UNLOCKING AND LOCKING WHEN USING THE CLICKER. A MONTH LATER THEY STOPPED LOCKING AND UNLOCKING USING THE UNLOCK/LOCK BUTTON INSIDE THE VEHICLE. AT THE TIME I HAD A TWO MONTH OLD WHO I WAS HAVING TO CARRY THROUGH THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR AND CRAWL THROUGH TO THE BACK TO PUT HIM IN HIS CAR SEAT. I ASKED THE CHEVROLET DEALERSHIP ABOUT THIS & I WAS TOLD IT WOULD COST ME AROUND $600 PER DOOR. BY THAT TIME, MY FRONT PASSENGER DOOR HAD ALSO STOPPED WORKING. I DO NOT UNDERSTAND HOW THIS IS NOT A RECALL. WHAT IF THERE WERE A FIRE AND I COULD NOT GET TO MY CHILDREN? OR HEAVEN FORBID I GET INTO AN ACCIDENT AND I CAN'T UNLOCK THE VEHICLE TO GET TO MY KIDS. I HAVE DONE PLENTY OF RESEARCH ON THIS MATTER AND IT SEEMS AS IF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE ARE HAVING THIS ISSUE. CHEVROLET HAS ALWAYS BEEN OUR VEHICLE OF CHOICE. I WILL NEVER BUY ANOTHER CHEVROLET VEHICLE AFTER THIS. MY HUSBAND WAS JUST LOOKING AT BUYING ONE OF THE 2014 TRUCKS AND I FORBID HIM TO DO SO. *TR
DOOR LOCK ACTUATOR FAILURE. REAR DOORS CAN NOT BE UNLOCKED OR LOCKED WITH THE KEY FOB OR THE MANUAL UNLOCK BUTTON ON THE DRIVER CONTROL PANEL.
STABILITRAK WILL DISENGAGE, AIR BAG LIGHT COMES ON THEN OFF, ABS LIGHT COMES ON THEN OFF, CRUISE STOPS WORKING WHEN USING TURN SIGNAL, DOOR LOCKS START UNLOCKING THEN LOCKING, BRAKES START APPLYING THEMSELVES, ENGINE SLOWS TO A CRAWL, LIGHTS START GOING ON AND OFF ON THE DASH WITH DINGING SOUND. *TR
DOORS WILL NOT LOCK OR UNLOCK. LOCKS MAKE SOUND THAT THEY ARE TRYING TO ENGAGE BUT HAVE TO BE MANUALLY LOCKED OR UNLOCKED. I HAVE SMALL CHILDREN THAT I AM AFRAID THAT WILL BE LOCKED INSIDE MY VEHICLE AND I WILL BE UNABLE TO OPEN DOORS WITHOUT BREAKING THE WINDOW. *TR
WE HAVE HAD NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS OUT OF THIS TAHOE. WHEN DRIVING THE DASH LIGHTS FLASH, DOOR LOCKS MOVE UP AND DOWN, SPEEDOMETER WILL GO TO ZERO THEN BACK UP TO SPEED AN SO FORTH, THE TAHOE WILL START GEARING DOWN ON ITS OWN, THE AIR WILL GO OFF, AND THE RADIO WILL FLASH ON AND OFF. THE VEHICLE HAS EVEN SHUT COMPLETELY OFF BEFORE WHEN GOING DOWN THE INTERSTATE. WE HAVE REPLACED THE NEGATIVE GROUND WIRES AND THE 175 AMP MEGA FUSE. SECOND VACATION WITH THIS TAHOE AND STILL HAVING PROBLEMS!!! *TR
DOORS DO NOT LOCK WHEN CAR MOVES OR WHEN THEY ARE LOCKED OR UNLOCKED WITH REMOTE. KIDS SITTING IN BACK SEAT COULD OPEN DOOR AND FALL OUT , FAULTY DOOR LOCK ACTUATOR. *TR
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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