FaultScore

2001 Chevrolet Tahoe engine problems

19 of the 607 complaints about the 2001 Chevrolet Tahoe are about the engine — 3% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 91,140 miles.

A

19

Complaints

0

Crashes

0

Fires

0

Injuries

Exactly what failed

Engine 6 31.6%
Engine AND Engine Cooling 4 21.1%
Gasoline 3 15.8%
Engine 3 15.8%
Exhaust System 1 5.3%
Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe 1 5.3%
Catalytic Convertor 1 5.3%

Engine & Cooling across every Chevrolet Tahoe year

1996 27 2.7%
1997 14 1.4%
1998 23 2.3%
1999 29 2.9%
2000 12 1.2%
2001 19 1.9%
2002 26 2.6%
2003 29 2.9%
2004 48 4.8%
2005 20 2.0%
2007 79 7.9%
2008 29 2.9%
2009 16 1.6%
2010 11 1.1%
2011 12 1.2%
2013 13 1.3%
2015 48 4.8%
2016 19 1.9%
2017 27 2.7%
2018 22 2.2%
2019 29 2.9%
2020 12 1.2%
2021 172 17.1%
2022 76 7.6%
2023 127 12.6%
2024 29 2.9%
2025 23 2.3%
2026 15 1.5%

What owners said

Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.

at 139,984 miles EL Prado, NM

ENGINE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHEVROLET TAHOE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE A PROBLEM. THE MANUFACTURE WAS NOT CONTACTED ABOUT THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 143,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 139,984. UPDATED 5/27/14*CN THE CONSUMER STATED AFTER THE IGNITION SWITCH AND CYLINDER WERE INSTALLED, THERE WERE NO MORE PROBLEMS.

NHTSA complaint #10578942 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 210,000 miles Houston, TX

ENGINE

MISFIRING, EXHAUST LEAKING BECAUSE OF COMMON PROBLEM (EXHAUST MANIFOLD BOLTS BROKEN) MANY HAVE COMPLAINED OF THE SAME PROBLEM ON THE V8 ENGINES. THERE NEEDS TO BE A RECALL. HELP!

NHTSA complaint #10513618 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 150,000 miles Cedarburg, WI

ENGINE

TWO EXHAUST MANIFOLD BOLTS ARE BROKEN. THE SERVICE ENGINE SOON WARNING ON. THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL BY GM TO FIX THIS UNDER WARRANTY. DUE TO THE RESEARCH I'VE DONE, THIS PREMATURE BOLT BREAKAGE PROBLEM IS COSTING CONSUMERS MILLIONS IN REPAIR COSTS THAT SHOULD NOT BE OUR RESPONSIBILITY.

NHTSA complaint #10477074 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 70,000 miles Goodyear, AZ

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

EVERY MORNING WHEN THE VEHICLE IS STARTED THERE IS A "CLICKING" NOISE. IT INCREASES IN SPEED WITH RPM. ONCE HITS 2000 (OR SO) RPM, NOISE WILL STOP. NOISE WILL ALSO QUIT AFTER 5 MINS OF IDLE. CANNOT DETERMINE CAUSE. HAPPENS REGARDLESS OF OUTSIDE TEMP, HOWEVER IS BETTER IN AZ SUMMER MONTHS. MECHANIC CANNOT FIND SOURCE OF THE PROBLEM. ALL IDEAS/SOLUTIONS WELCOME.

NHTSA complaint #10224596 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 136,000 miles BIG Spring, TX

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

I HAVE A 2001 TAHOE WITH A 350 MOTOR IN IT WITH 136,000. IT BEGAN TO MAKE A NOISE SO I TOOK IT TO A MECHANIC. FIRST WE THOUGHT IT WAS A PULLEY, BUT AFTER TAKING THE VALVE COVERS OFF IT WAS NOTED THAT THE NOISE WAS LOUDER AND THE OIL SUPPLY TO THE HEADS WAS NOT WHAT IT SHOULD BE. NOW I AM TOLD THAT IT WOULD BE MORE COST EFFECTIVE TO PUT A USED MOTOR IN IT FOR $3,000 (71,000 MILES). THEY CAN NOT TELL ME WHY THIS HAPPENED AND I DID MY PART BY MAINTAINING MY VEHICLE ON TIME EVERY TIME IT NEEDED SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE. I AM SICK ABOUT THIS.

NHTSA complaint #10214113 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 6,000 miles Tracy, CA

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

PURCHASED BRAND NEW 2001 CHEVY TAHOE AND WITHIN FIRST 3 MONTHS NOTICED OIL LEVEL WAS LOWER THAN EXPECTED. BEGAN 'OIL CONSUMPTION' TEST WITH TRACY DEALERSHIP THAT EXTENDED INTO 2004 UNTIL THEY FINALLY AGREED 2 TEAR DOWN THE ENGINE...ALL 3 YEARS WAS ONGOING OIL LOSS WITHIN THE ENGINE! THEY ONLY WENT 2 THE CYLINDER HEADS DESPITE SEVERAL REQUESTS BY EXPERT MECHANIC'S ADVICE 2 GO FURTHER INTO THE PISTON LEVEL. TRACY CHEVROLET REPORTED THEIR FINDINGS AS 'PARTS MISSING FROM CYLINDER HEADS FROM ORIGINAL ENGINE ASSEMBLY'. GM'S CEO PROMISED 2 REPLACE MY ENGINE IF THE OIL CONSUMPTION WASN'T FIXED. WITHIN 1 MONTH OF THAT REPAIR, OIL LOSS CONTINUED. ANOTHER 'OIL CONSUMPTION' TEST SCENARIO WAS ESTABLISHED AND ANOTHER 3 YEARS PASSED WITH ME REPORTING 2 THEM EVERY 500 MILES FOR OIL LEVEL CHECKS. AGAIN, 3 YEARS PASSED BEFORE THEY FINALLY DECIDED 2 TEAR THE ENGINE DOWN AGAIN. (3/7/07). THE CYLINDER HEADS WERE FINE SO GM RECOMMENDED THAT THEY GO DOWN 2 THE PISTON LEVEL (SOUND FAMILIAR??) WHERE THEY FOUND ANOTHER MISSING PART FROM ORIGINAL FACTORY ASSEMBLY! (OIL CONTROL RINGS) THEY TRIED 2 HAVE ME ACCEPT THEY WERE DOING ME A FAVOR AS I WAS NOW OUT OF WARRANTY. I HAD 2 REMIND THEM THAT I REPORTED THIS 2 THEM WELL WITHIN MY 1ST YEAR, THEY WERE RESPONSIBLE FOR DELAYING APPROPRIATE REPAIRS, AND NOW, THIS ENGINE WAS PROBABLY MISSING OTHER PARTS. I WAS HOLDING THEM 2 THEIR ORIGINAL PROMISE OF REPLACING MY ENGINE. THE CEO'S OFFICE HAS IT WELL DOCUMENTED YET THEY ARE GOING BACK ON THEIR PROMISE AND WANT ME 2 JUST KEEP AN UNSAFE, UNRELIABLE ENGINE. THEY CAN'T GUARANTEE THAT OTHER VITAL PARTS AREN'T MISSING AND I DOUBT ANY OF THEM WOULD FEEL SAFE WITH THIS ENGINE. CAN YOU TELL ME WHAT DAMAGE HAS OCCURRED 2 OTHER ENGINE PARTS DUE 2 THIS EXTENSIVE PROLONGED OIL LOSS? THEY REFUSE 2 PROVIDE ANY FURTHER ASSISTANCE, INFORMATION, OR MY REPLACEMENT ENGINE. THEY ARE OFFERING ME INSTEAD 3 FREE OIL CHANGES FOR 6 YEARS OF WORRY, INCONVENIENCE, AND ENDURING THEIR COMPLACENCY WITH THIS SAFETY ISSUE.

NHTSA complaint #10205211 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 15,000 miles Tracy, CA

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHEVROLET TAHOE. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS EXPERIENCING OIL CONSUMPTION FAILURE. TRACY CHEVROLET PERFORMED AN OIL CONSUMPTION DIAGNOSTIC THAT SPANNED THREE YEARS. THE RESULT OF THE DIAGNOSTIC WAS THAT THERE WAS POTENTIAL ENGINE FAILURE. IN 2004, THE DEALER STATED THAT THE CYLINDER HEAD LEVEL WAS MISSING A PART FROM THE FACTORY ASSEMBLY. TWO MONTHS LATER, THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO EXPERIENCE OIL CONSUMPTION FAILURE. A GENERAL MOTORS CUSTOMER SERVICE AGENT PROMISED TO PROVIDE A NEW ENGINE IF THE REPAIR TO THE CYLINDER DID NOT REMEDY THE FAILURE. THREE YEARS LATER, THE DEALER PERFORMED ANOTHER OIL CONSUMPTION TEST AND FOUND YET ANOTHER PART MISSING FROM THE ORIGINAL ASSEMBLY. THE CONTACT ASKED GENERAL MOTORS TO REPLACE THE ENGINE AS PROMISED BUT THEY REFUSED TO COMPLY. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 83,600 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 15,000.

NHTSA complaint #10188386 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 91,140 miles Lake Orion, MI

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

VEHICLE STALLING IN TRAFFIC AND IN REVERESE

NHTSA complaint #10129077 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 10,008 miles Tucson, AZ

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED CONSUMER HEARD A LOUD NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE LOUD NOISE WAS NORMAL. *AK

NHTSA complaint #10081875 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 100,000 miles Lowell, IN

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE

WHY DOES THE MANUAL STATE THAT ONE CAN PULL UP TO 8700LBS. IF THE TAHOE CAN BARELY HANDLE 3500LBS? THE SPRINGS HAVE BEEN REPLACED TWICE THE MANIFOLD IS CRACKED THE FUEL PUMP WENT OUT, THE UNIVERSAL JOINT IS GOING OUT, THE TRANSFER CASE IS LEAKING AND HAS ONLY BEEN USED TWICE IN 3 YEARS, AND HAS ALREADY BEEN REPAIRED ONCE LAST YEAR, THE STEERING PUMP IS GOING OUT, THESE ARE ONLY THE PROBLEMS I CAN THINK OF.

NHTSA complaint #10078384 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Arden, NC

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

VEHICLE FAILED TO START AND THE SECURITY LIGHT CAME ON THE DASHBOARD.

NHTSA complaint #10064626 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 23,000 miles Bethlehem, PA

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

A LOUD EMBARRASSING AND ANNOYING INTERNAL ENGINE KNOCK. DEFECTIVE DUE TO DESIGN AND MANUFACTURING QUALITY CONSISTENCY PROBLEMS. HIGHER THAN NORMAL LEVELS OF WEAR RELATED MATERIALS IN OIL ANALYSIS. VERTICAL PISTON AND CYLINDER WALL SCUFFING/SCRATCHING OR SCORING ON THE HAMMERING (NOISY) CYLINDERS UPON VISUAL INSPECTION. REDUCED COMBUSTION CHAMBER COMPRESSION ON THE HAMMERING (NOISY) CYLINDERS. INCREASED OIL CONSUMPTION. INCREASED EXHAUST EMISSIONS.

NHTSA complaint #10060491 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Waldorf, MD

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

OIL LIGHT FLASHED ON THE DASHBOARD. THIS CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO SHUT DOWN. CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR ANALYSIS, AND MECHANIC NOTICED SLUDGE INSIDE OF THE ENGINE.

NHTSA complaint #10050422 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

LAS Vegas, NV

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM

NHTSA#00-V-343-000: CONSUMER HAS THE SAME PROBLEM AND DEALER COULD NOT DUPLICATE OR CORRECT THE PROBLEM. PH

NHTSA complaint #10006583 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Montebello, CA

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING THE VEHICLE WILL SHUT DOWN. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION, DEALER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. PH

NHTSA complaint #8024026 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Bronx, NY

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

THERE IS A LOUD SQUEAKING NOISE WHEN DRIVING. CONSUMER STATES' TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALAER. TS

NHTSA complaint #8023583 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Ambler, PA

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

THE ROOF STRUT THAT THE HEADLINER ATTACHES TO IS PUNCHED TOO BIG FOR THE PLUGS THEY INSTALLED. GM HAS REPLACED THE HEADLINER, PLUGS, AND NOW WANT TO INSTALL FELT AROUND THE PLUD AND "RAM IT BACK IN" WHICH IS NOT A FIX FOR THE PROBLEM. I HAVE BEEN VERY PATIENT WAITING FOR THEM TO EITHER REPLACE THE STRUT OR THE CAR. I AM AT THE END OF MY ROPE WITH THIS, CAN YOU PLEASE ADVISE ME WHAT TO DO? DT

NHTSA complaint #770188 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Thousand Oaks, CA

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE

THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE ENGINE CLICKS WHEN IT IS COLD.

NHTSA complaint #566127 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Upper Marlboro, MD

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:EMISSION CONTROL:CATALYTIC CONVERTOR

I FEEL THAT I STOPPED THE VEHICLE JUST SECONDS BEFORE IT WOULD HAVE BURST INTO FLAMES, BECAUSE WHEN I OPENED THE HOOD TO SEE WHERE THE SMOKE AND SMELL OF BURNING METAL AND PLASTIC WAS COMING FROM THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER WAS COMPLETLY RED AND GLOWING FROM THE ENGINE MALFUNCTION.

NHTSA complaint #744899 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other 2001 Chevrolet Tahoe problems

← Full 2001 Chevrolet Tahoe report