2002 Chevrolet Tahoe: Reliability Data
Source: NHTSA — 541 complaints
541
Total Complaints
83,500mi
Median Mileage
Service Brakes
Top Issue
53
Crash Reports
When Do Complaints Happen?
Distribution of NHTSA complaints by vehicle mileage at time of report.
43,000
25th Percentile
83,500
Median Mileage
132,599
75th Percentile
What Fails?
Most reported component issues from NHTSA complaints.
Service Brakes
90
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
32
Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
29
Automatic Transmission
27
Steering
24
Parking Brake
24
Air Bags
23
Tires
23
Electrical System
21
Fuel System, Gasoline
12
Severity Assessment
53
Crashes
11
Fires
57
Injuries
4
Deaths
Sample Complaint Reports
"TIRE BLEWOUT ON STRAIGHT SECTION OF HIGHWAY, TREAD STARTED TO SEPARATE.*AK (DOT NUMBER: 8X72 WL2 TIRESIZE: P265/70R16)"
"A BLISTER IS FORMING ON THE SIDEWALL OF THE FRONT/RIGHT FIRESTONE TIRE, SIZE: P265/70R16, DOT: UNKNOWN. TIRE HAS APPROXIMATELY 300 MILES ON IT, AND IS ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT ON 2002, CHEVROLET TRUCK, TAHOE.*AK CONSUMER STATED THE DOT# 8X72WL24301, THE DEALER REPLACED ALL 5 TIRES.*SLC"
"CHEVROLET HAS 3 OTHER CASES OPEN THAT HAVE NOT BEEN RESOLVED. WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES HARD TO STOP SUDDENLY THE VEHICLE PULLS HARD TO THE RIGHT. THE DEALERSHIP HAS TRIED TIRES, BRAKE PADS, ROTORS ETC.. IT APPEARS ALL NEW TAHOES DO THIS AS I DROVE ANOTHER BRAND NEW ONE AND IT DOES THE SAME THING...."
Source: NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Names and identifying details omitted.
When Were Complaints Filed?
Number of complaints by the year the issue occurred.
When Does Each Component Fail?
Median mileage at complaint for top components.
Service Brakes
90 complaints
25th: 105,034 mi
Median: 136,500 mi
75th: 164,811 mi
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
32 complaints
25th: 73,000 mi
Median: 97,000 mi
75th: 133,800 mi
Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
29 complaints
25th: 45,750 mi
Median: 54,750 mi
75th: 95,625 mi
Automatic Transmission
27 complaints
25th: 24,500 mi
Median: 38,409 mi
75th: 54,150 mi
Steering
24 complaints
25th: 35,750 mi
Median: 61,500 mi
75th: 102,530 mi
Where Are Complaints Coming From?
Top states by complaint count.
CA: 81
TX: 47
NY: 40
FL: 31
OH: 21
MI: 21
VA: 21
MD: 20
GA: 18
MA: 18
Who Files Complaints?
29.9%
Original Owners
70.1%
Second+ Owners
Chevrolet Tahoe — Other Years
See how this model compares across different model years.
Active Recalls (6)
Federal safety recalls issued for this vehicle.
Exterior Lighting
Campaign 06E026000 | 23/03/2006
WITHOUT THE AMBER REFLECTORS, THE VEHICLE WILL BE POORLY ILLUMINATED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.
PRO-A MOTORS WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER TO REPURCHASE THE LAMPS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 3, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT PRO-A MOTORS AT 323-838-2988.
Fuel System, Gasoline
Campaign 06E043000 | 19/05/2006
THIS CONDITION MAY CAUSE AN INADEQUATE SEAL AT THE CONNECTION, POTENTIALLY LEADING TO A FUEL LEAK. IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, A FIRE COULD OCCUR.
HONEYWELL WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE FUEL FILTERS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 18, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FRAM CUSTOMER SERVICE AT 1-800-890-2075 (OPTION 1).
Hub
Campaign 07E106000 | 17/12/2007
WHEEL SEPARATION CAN RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
FEDERAL-MOGUL WILL NOTIFY CUSTOMERS AND WILL REPLACE THE HUB ASSEMBLY FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON FEBRUARY 7, 2008. OWNERS CAN CONTACT FEDERAL-MOGUL TOLL-FREE AT 877-489-6659.
Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
Campaign 05V379000 | 29/08/2005
THIS CAN CAUSE INCREASED STOPPING DISTANCES DURING LOW-SPEED BRAKE APPLICATIONS, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.
DEALERS ARE TO REMOVE THE WHEEL SPEED SENSOR AND THOROUGHLY CLEAN THE WHEEL SPEED SENSOR MOUNTING SURFACE ON THE BEARING, APPLY RUST INHIBITOR TO THE CLEANED SURFACE, GREASE THE MOUNTING SURFACE, REINSTALL THE WHEEL SPEED SENSOR, AND CHECK THE PEAK-TO-PEAK OUTPUT VOLTAGE TO ENSURE THE WHEEL SPEED SI
Head Restraint
Campaign 02V253000 | 17/09/2002
IF A PERSON WERE TO INSERT THEIR FINGER(S) INTO THE PINCH POINT WHEN THE HEAD RESTRAINT FOLDS, IT COULD TRAP AND PINCH THE FINGER(S) CAUSING INJURY.
DEALERS WILL INSTALL PROTECTIVE COVERS OVER THE PINCH POINTS. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN NOVEMBER 8, 2002. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-222-1020, GMC
Structure
Campaign 03V094000 | 07/03/2003
THIS OVERHEATING CONDITION CAN CAUSE THE RUNNING BOARD TO MELT OR CAUSE A FIRE.
DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE WIRING HARNESS ON THESE RUNNING BOARDS. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN MARCH 7, 2003. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT SOUTHERN COMFORT AT 1-800-745-60
Extend Your Brake Life
Based on the most common issues reported for this vehicle.
- Replace brake pads before they wear to the metal — rotors cost 3x more
- Flush brake fluid every 2-3 years regardless of mileage
- Don't ride the brakes downhill — use engine braking
- Address any grinding, pulsing, or pulling immediately
- Have brakes inspected during every tire rotation
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Data source: View this vehicle on NHTSA.gov | NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Public domain.
Methodology: Complaint counts and mileage distributions are computed directly from consumer-reported NHTSA complaints. This data represents reported issues, not failure rates — vehicles without complaints are not represented. Full methodology.
Data through: 2026-03-28