1,512 of the
12,903 complaints filed about the Chevrolet Tahoe
are about the electrical system —
12% of everything owners reported.
The worst model year for it is 2004.
Vehicle was driven the day before the incident occurred. The morning of the incident, the vehicle was parked, off and not running. A notification sent to my phone indicating a critical battery low 11.1V reading. Vehicle would not start. Vehicles battery and alternator charging system was tested and passed. All systems are good. Vehicle continues to give critical low voltage over night while the vehicle is off and not running.
NHTSA complaint #11757607 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
When GM announced the recall involving the potential for catastrophic engine failure, I immediately contacted Bridgewater Chevrolet in NJ to schedule the required recall inspection. I was told the dealership could not perform the inspection because it had not yet received the required 'diagnostic tool' from GM. Once they received the equipment, they contacted me and on Oct 1, 2025, they completed the required recall inspection and informed me that my Tahoe had passed the recall inspection and that the vehicle was safe to continue driving. On XXX while driving over the Driscoll Bridge on the [XXX] with my daughter and our dog, the engine catastrophically failed without warning as I began to exit on exit [XXX] to [XXX] into heavy traffic. With no warning, the vehicle flashed that it was in neutral and then suddenly lost all power and stopped completely in a traffic lane, creating an extremely dangerous situation. After a few mins, I was able to get it started briefly, enough to coast along to a spot a few hundred feet away where there was a shoulder. From there the wheels locked and it would not move at all and windows would not open. It had to be dragged completely inoperable with locked wheels onto a flatbed three separate times. It was first dragged and flat bedded off the Parkway to a place we felt unsafe so we stayed locked in the car in July heat with no windows down, then to my mechanic and then to the dealership. I am unsure of the damage that may have caused. The dealership received the vehicle on XXX and within a day told me that it was indeed what my mechanic and they suspected - the catastrophic failure recall they had inspected and passed the vehicle for. As of today, XXX, I was told they just received an engine and can start a full replacement this week. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
NHTSA complaint #11755999 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
While at a drive thru, my 2021 Chevy Tahoe High Country experienced a total failure with no advance warning where the engine shut down and would not restart despite what appeared to be good electrical power. We tried to jump start the vehicle with both another vehicle as well as a AAA power pack with no luck. The vehicle was not movable and had to be towed using a lift truck to the dealer. The dealer performed an analysis, reproduced the problem, and determined that the engine failed due to a spun bearing despite no documented codes from the analysis. In performing research, this failure appears identical to NHTSA Campaign 25V274 / GM number N252494000 however the car has been deemed to not be covered with mileage at 139,300.
NHTSA complaint #11754638 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
An Over-The-Air / Chevrolet Dealership software update removed a physical, hands-on-wheel control function, forcing me to divert my eyes from the road to the central touchscreen to perform a basic driving task (channel surfing) on the radio. Specifically, the right front steering wheel toggle used to allow you to scroll sequentially up or down from one radio station / frequency / SiriusXM channel to the next. The new functionality only allows you to select preset stations, duplicating the functionality on the left rear (back side of the wheel) steering wheel toggle button. The only way you can now scroll sequentially up/down from one channel to the next is by taking your eyes off the road, reaching over to the center console, and swiping left or right to move from one channel to the next. This is far more dangerous as it is a distraction to the driver and it takes the driver's eyes off their forward view.
NHTSA complaint #11753297 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
They radio screen and radio navigation system. It will run batteries down replaced 2 Batteries this year. Radio goes haywire changes channels, makes dinging sound, navigation goes off. Screen moves jumps changes volume. Hard to drive very distracting and navigation stops working. None of this will stop until the vehicle is turned off and generally on restart it starts back up. Makes for very unsafe driving distraction. It started about a year ago it would happen occasionally now it’s every time you start the vehicle and drive. The constant noise and movement is again unsafe distracting and disrupts driving and anyone trying to have a conversation in my vehicle. Very very unsafe…
NHTSA complaint #11751928 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
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.
NHTSA complaint #11748963 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Odometer Fraud. The contact intended to purchase a 2013 Chevrolet Tahoe. The contact stated that while inspecting the vehicle, the odometer reading displayed 88,000 miles; however, the Carfax history report provided by O'Reilly Auto Parts listed the mileage at 162,000.
NHTSA complaint #11749051 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
We had car checked due to strange and erratic shifting in less than a year of owning. Then took in for recall, they stated it was fine and performed the remedy with higher grade oil. Still had issues and took to another dealership to look at and they stated it was fine as well. About 2 months later while I was driving it was hesitating and would kind of buck and when I was about to turn on to a busy road it just stopped. I couldn’t do anything at all, the entire car was locked up. The tow truck driver couldn’t even get it into neutral to tow. Dealership said it’s the engine and it needs to be completely replaced.
NHTSA complaint #11748582 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ON JUNE 2ND 2026, the air conditioning in my 2025 Chevrolet Tahoe failed without warning. The system began blowing warm air instead of cold air, making the vehicle uncomfortable to drive. At the same time, I noticed that both front ventilated (cooled) seats had also stopped working. Although the seat cooling indicator lights illuminated when activated, the seats did not produce any cooling. I called to schedule an appt and took the vehicle to the dealership for diagnosis and repair on june 4, 2026. The dealership determined that the A/C condenser had failed and replaced it. I was advised that the repair had been completed, and I picked up the vehicle believing the issue had been resolved. Shortly after the repair, it became apparent that the problems had not been fully corrected. While the air conditioning initially appeared to function, the ventilated seats continued to provide no cooling despite appearing to operate normally. This marked the beginning of an ongoing series of HVAC-related failures that ultimately required multiple return visits to the dealership.
NHTSA complaint #11748633 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The air conditioning/climate control system failed. I initially brought the vehicle to the dealership on June 4, 2026, because it was blowing hot air. The dealership replaced the condenser on June 5, 2026. On June 12, 2026, the driver's side again began blowing hot air while the passenger side remained cold. By June 13, 2026, both sides were blowing hot air. The vehicle is being returned to the dealership on June 15, 2026, for an additional repair attempt related to the recurring air conditioning failure. The excessive heat created a safety concern because the cabin temperature exceeded 100°F despite the air conditioning being turned on. I developed hives and a rash on my face, neck, trunk, and arms from the heat exposure. Excessive cabin temperatures can impair driver concentration and increase the risk of heat-related illness. Yes. An authorized Chevrolet dealership diagnosed the issue and replaced the condenser on June 5, 2026. The problem reoccurred within approximately one week of that repair. The vehicle has been inspected by an authorized Chevrolet dealership and remains available for inspection by the manufacturer or its representatives. There were no warning lights or messages. The only symptom was the air conditioning blowing hot air instead of cold air.
NHTSA complaint #11744160 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The contact owned a 2015 Chevrolet Tahoe and stated that while driving, the vehicle's doors locked and unlocked randomly, the cabin lights flickered, and the doors failed to unlock properly during entry attempts, while the radio randomly selected its own options and the touchscreen occasionally stopped working despite the alternator and battery being replaced. Furthermore, the vehicle suddenly and randomly lost motive power and shut off on main roads, highways, and at stop signs, which caused the dashboard to flash on and off and the power steering to fail completely. When attempting to turn off the vehicle by twisting the key, it refused to shut down initially and triggered a large engine bay fan to kick on, though replacing the temperature gauges eventually resolved this specific shutdown issue. The vehicle has been taken to multiple dealers and independent mechanics, but was failed to be diagnosed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 250,000.
NHTSA complaint #11740038 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I am writing to formally report a critical safety defect regarding the OnStar Telematics Control Module in my 2022 Chevrolet Tahoe High Country VIN: [XXX] . My vehicle was recently diagnosed by SERRA CHEVROLET as having a failed module, which has rendered numerous essential features inoperative. This is not an isolated incident; there is clear evidence of a widespread failure affecting thousands of GM and Chevrolet owners. The failure of this module creates significant safety risks, including: * Loss of Emergency Services: The OnStar SOS button and automatic crash response are disabled, leaving me without a lifeline in the event of an accident. * Systemic Vehicle Malfunctions: This module is deeply integrated into the vehicle’s architecture. Its failure has caused [list your specific issues, e.g., "Check Engine" lights, heads-up display failure, and battery drainage]. * Disabled Connectivity: Core features I paid a premium for, such as navigation, remote start, and Wi-Fi, are now "bricked". It is unacceptable that a flagship $80,000+ vehicle is operating in a degraded and potentially dangerous state due to a known hardware defect. I am requesting that GM take immediate responsibility for this repair at no cost to me, regardless of warranty status, as this is a fundamental safety issue. Please provide a timeline on how GM intends to rectify this widespread defect. I look forward to your prompt response. Sincerely, [XXX] [XXX] 39,000 INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
NHTSA complaint #11739786 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The contact owned a 2002 Chevrolet Tahoe. The contact stated that while driving at 20 MPH occupied with his sister-in-law and her children, the contact smelled smoke coming from the driver seat of the vehicle the contact mention he pulled to the right side of the road, exiting everyone out the vehicle when he noticed that the drive seat caught fire. No warning lights illuminated. The contact mentioned she noticed smoke and flames coming from the engine, and smoke started coming inside the vehicle. present. The contact mention he called 911. No injuries were sustained. No medical attention was required. A police report was filed. The fire department extinguished the fire, and they informed the contact the fire was from an electrical issue. The vehicle seat of the vehicle was destroyed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 186,000.
NHTSA complaint #11737693 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The contact owned a 2002 Chevrolet Tahoe. The contact stated that while driving at 20 MPH occupied with his sister-in-law and her children, the contact smelled smoke coming from the driver seat of the vehicle the contact mention he pulled to the right side of the road, exiting everyone out the vehicle when he noticed that the drive seat caught fire. No warning lights illuminated. The contact mentioned she noticed smoke and flames coming from the engine, and smoke started coming inside the vehicle. present. The contact mention he called 911. No injuries were sustained. No medical attention was required. A police report was filed. The fire department extinguished the fire, and they informed the contact the fire was from an electrical issue. The vehicle seat of the vehicle was destroyed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 186,000.
NHTSA complaint #11737693 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
While driving, the vehicle experienced a total loss of power steering, accompanied by a 'Power Steering: Drive with Care' dashboard alert. The steering wheel became extremely heavy and difficult to maneuver. Simultaneously, the ABS and brake warning lights illuminated. Although I managed to bring the vehicle to a safe stop, a subsequent repair attempt failed to resolve the issue. The vehicle remains undriveable as the intermittent failure persists, creating a severe safety hazard.
NHTSA complaint #11735388 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
My 2022 Chevrolet Tahoe diesel unexpectedly lost power while driving. I was stopped, made a right turn, and accelerated to approximately 34–40 mph on a two-way street when the vehicle suddenly shook, shifted into neutral, and the engine shut off without warning. There were no warning lights, dashboard messages, or prior symptoms before the failure. I was driving with two young children secured in car seats at the time. This created a serious safety risk because the vehicle became disabled in the roadway, and I had limited control while traffic was present. The vehicle has not yet been diagnosed, and the exact failed component/system is unknown. The vehicle is available for inspection upon request. The incident has been reported to a dealer or service center, but the problem has not yet been confirmed or reproduced at this time.
NHTSA complaint #11734060 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
2023 Tahoe Z71 had recently been put in the shop, and evaluated for engine failure recall. Dealership/GM deemed it failed test for replacement, we were given 0W40 oil and sent back out, this last weekend we had catastrophic engine failure while operating at 50+MPH.
NHTSA complaint #11733261 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The battery energy control module GM Part # 84442220 located inside the HV battery assembly caught fire. The harness that was most affected was the battery cell voltage sense wires. The way the battery voltage sense circuit is manufactured seems dangerous as there is no fusible link between the battery cell and the module. If a short circuit occurs the full current of the cell will be induced on a very thin gauge wire going to the module which will result in a fire.
NHTSA complaint #11732170 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.