2008 Chevrolet Tahoe
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Air bags is the leading concern among 586 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 3rd highest complaint count among 26 Tahoe model years with reports.
Of the 2008 reports, 7 involved a crash and 5 involved a fire. 21 people were injured.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
Air bags, frontal, passenger side, inflator moduleFeb 5, 2021
General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2009 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, Escalade EXT, Chevrolet Avalanche, Silverado 1500, Silverado 2500, Silverado 3500, Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Sierra 1500, Sierra 2500, Sierra 3500, Yukon, and Yukon XL vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia or "Zone B." Additionally, GM is recalling certain 2007-2008 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, and Escalade EXT, Chevrolet Avalanche, Silverado 1500, Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Sierra 1500, Yukon, and Yukon XL vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming or "Zone C." These vehicles are equipped with non-desiccated passenger frontal inflators containing phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate (PSAN) propellant. These inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, high temperatures, and high temperature cycling.
An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, resulting in serious injury or death.
GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator with an alternate one, free of charge. Interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk were mailed on February 23, 2021. Second notification letters will be mailed once the remedy is available. Owner notification letters were mailed on September 20, 2021. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006, and GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is N212328780.
Campaign 21V052000 on NHTSA.gov
Air bags, frontal, passenger side, inflator moduleFeb 5, 2021
General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2007-2011 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, Escalade EXT, Chevrolet Avalanche, Silverado 1500, Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Sierra 1500, Yukon, Yukon XL, and 2009-2011 Chevrolet Silverado 2500, Silverado 3500, GMC Sierra 2500 and Sierra 3500 vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U.S. Virgin Islands or "Zone A." Additionally, GM is recalling certain 2007-2008 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, Escalade EXT, Chevrolet Avalanche, Silverado 1500, Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Sierra 1500, Yukon, Yukon XL vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia or "Zone B." These vehicles are equipped with non-desiccated passenger frontal inflators containing phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate (PSAN) propellant. These inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, high temperatures, and high temperature cycling.
An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, resulting in serious injury or death.
GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator with an alternate one, free of charge. Interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk were mailed on February 22, 2021. Second notification letters will be mailed once the remedy is available. Owner notification letters were mailed on March 1, 2021. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020; Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006; and GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is N212328760.
Campaign 21V050000 on NHTSA.gov
Electrical systemJun 4, 2010
GM IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2006-2009 BUICK, LUCERNE; CADILLAC DTS; HUMMER H2; MODEL YEAR 2008-2009 BUICK ENCLAVE; CADILLAC CTS; MODEL YEAR 2007-2009 CADILLAC ESCALADE, ESCALADE ESV, ESCALADE EXT; CHEVROLET AVALANCHE, SILVERADO, SUBURBAN, TAHOE; GMC ACADIA, SIERRA, YUKON, YUKON XL; SATURN OUTLOOK; AND MODEL YEAR 2009 CHEVROLET TRAVERSE VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A HEATED WASHER FLUID SYSTEM (HWFS). A RECALL WAS IMPLEMENTED IN 2008 TO ADD A FUSE TO THE CONTROL CIRCUIT HARNESS TO ADDRESS THE POTENTIAL CONSEQUENCES OF A PRINTED CIRCUIT BOARD (PCB) ELECTRICAL SHORT. HOWEVER, THERE HAVE BEEN NEW REPORTS OF THERMAL INCIDENTS ON HWFS MODULES AFTER THIS IMPROVEMENT WAS INSTALLED. THESE INCIDENTS RESULTED FROM A NEW FAILURE MODE ATTRIBUTED TO THE DEVICE'S THERMAL PROTECTION FEATURE. THE SIGNIFICANCE VARIES FROM MINOR DISTORTION TO CONSIDERABLE MELTING OF THE PLASTIC AROUND THE HWFS FLUID CHAMBER.
IT IS POSSIBLE FOR THE HEATED WASHER MODULE TO IGNITE AND A FIRE MAY OCCUR.
DEALERS WILL PERMANENTLY DISABLE AND REMOVE THE HEATED WASHER FLUID MODULE. AN UPDATED PAGE FOR THE OWNER MANUAL WILL BE PROVIDED AND INSERTED IN THE OWNER MANUAL TO DOCUMENT THAT THE FEATURE HAS BEEN PERMANENTLY DISABLED AND REMOVED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JUNE 11, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT BUICK AT 1-866-608-8080, CADILLAC AT 1-866-982-2339, CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438, SATURN AT 1-800-972-8876, GMC AT 1-866-996-9463 AND HUMMER AT 1-800-732-5493 OR AT THE OWNER CENTER AT WWW.GMOWNERCENTER.COM.
Campaign 10V240000 on NHTSA.gov
Electrical systemAug 28, 2008
GM IS RECALLING 857,735 MY 2006-2008 BUICK LUCERNE; CADILLAC DTS; HUMMER H2; MY 2007-2008 CADILLAC ESCALADE, ESCALADE ESV, ESCALADE EXT; CHEVROLET AVALANCHE, SILVERADO, SUBURBAN, TAHOE; GMC ACADIA, SIERRA, YUKON, YUKON XL, SATURN OUTLOOK; AND MY 2008 BUICK ENCLAVE VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A HEATED WIPER WASHER FLUID SYSTEM. A SHORT CIRCUIT ON THE PRINTED CIRCUIT BOARD FOR THE WASHER FLUID HEATER MAY OVERHEAT THE CONTROL-CIRCUIT GROUND WIRE.
THIS MAY CAUSE OTHER ELECTRICAL FEATURES TO MALFUNCTION, CREATE AN ODOR, OR CAUSE SMOKE INCREASING THE RISK OF A FIRE.
DEALERS WILL INSTALL A WIRE HARNESS WITH AN IN-LINE FUSE FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON SEPTEMBER 12, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT BUICK AT 1-866-608-8080; CADILLAC AT 1-800-982-2339 OR HTTP://WWW.CADILLAC.COM; CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438; SATURN AT 1-800-972-8876 OR HTTP://WWW.SATURN.COM, GMC AT 1-866-996-9436; OR HUMMER AT 1-800-732-5493; OR THROUGH THEIR WEBSITE AT <A HREF=HTTP://WWW.GMOWNERCENTER.COM>HTTP://WWW.GMOWNERCENTER.COM</A> .
Campaign 08V441000 on NHTSA.gov
Representative owner complaints: engine
39 reports, newest first. Show all
Engine, Apr 1, 2015
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET TAHOE. WHILE DRIVING AT 5 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 69,900.
Latches/locks/linkages, Engine, Jan 9, 2015, crash
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET TAHOE HYBRID. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REAR HATCH DOOR FAILED TO UNLOCK. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. ON A SEPARATE OCCASION, WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED CAUSING ANOTHER VEHICLE TO CRASH INTO THE REAR OF THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES REPORTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 117,475.
Engine, Jul 31, 2014
WE HAD THIS SAME RECURRING PROBLEM WITH THIS TAHOE FOR THE LAST 10K MILES. SOMETIMES WHEN DRIVING AT HIGHER SPEED OR JUST IDLING, IT WILL DISPLAY A "REDUCED ENGINE POWER" AND YOU WILL LOOSE ALL POWER. ENGINE IS STILL RUNNING AND LIGHTS AND RADIO WILL WORK, BUT YOU GET NO POWER WHEN PRESSING THE GAS. ITS SCARY BECAUSE IT HAPPENS SO SUDDENLY WITH OUT ANY WARNING. WE HAVE SPEND A COUPLE OF THOUSAND DOLLARS TRYING TO TROUBLE SHOOT THIS BUT IT HASN'T BEEN SOLVED.. *TR
Engine, Jun 12, 2014
I WAS IN THE PARKING LOT WITH THE MOTOR RUNNING AND HEARD A KNOCKING SOUND COMING FROM ENGINE. I IMMEDIATELY TOOK IT TO ROBBINS CHEVROLET. *TR
Power train, Engine, Fuel/propulsion system, Jun 3, 2014
WHEN STARTED (USUALLY THE SECOND TIME OF THE DAY AFTER BEING DRIVEN TO WORK AND THEN HAVING SAT ALL DAY) THE VEHICLE COUGHS AND RUNS ROUGH FOR A SECOND. THEN THE THROTTLE DOES NOT RESPOND TO INPUT FOR A VARIABLE PERIOD OF TIME. WHEN IT DOES RESPOND IT MAY RESPOND TO PREVIOUS INPUT CAUSING UNANTICIPATED ACCELERATION. I HAVE HAD TO USE BOTH FEET ON THE BRAKE TO AVOID A CRASH. THROWS NO CODES. DEALER SAYS THEY CANNOT DIAGNOSE IT ALTHOUGH THEY HAVE REPRODUCED IT. IN ADDITION, AN INDEPENDENT SHOP SAYS THAT ON START/RESTART THERE IS A GRINDING NOISE IN THE STARTER/TRANSMISSION (THE ELECTRIC MOTOR IN THE TRANSMISSION IS USED AS A STARTER). DEALER DENIES HEARING THIS ALTHOUGH THE INDEPENDENT SAYS IT HAPPENS EVERY TIME. *TR
Vehicle speed control, Engine, Mar 13, 2014
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE COMPLETELY STALLS NO ELECTRICAL NOT EVEN HAZARD LIGHTS. I WAS DRIVING AND RADIO STARTED TO STATIC AND THEN CAR STALLED WAS NOT ABLE TO TURN ON HAZARDS MAKING IT VERY DANGEROUS AS OTHER VEHICLES WERE NOT ABLE TO SEE THAT I WAS STALLED AND GOT VERY CLOSE TO HITTING MY TRUCK HAD TO CALL FOR HELP AS I WAS SITTING IN INTERSECTION HAD NO WAY OF TELLING THEM I WAS UNABLE TO MOVE HAD TO OPEN MY DOORS TO CALL ATTENTION TO DRIVERS. A DAY BEFORE I NOTICED THAT PROBLEM BEGAN WHEN I PARKED VEHICLE AND IGNITION KEY TURNED OFF ALL ELECTRICITY WILL QUICKLY SHUT OFF INCLUDING RADIO. WHEN AT A NORMAL TIME RADIO WOULD STAY ON UNTIL DOOR OPENED. THIS INCIDENT HAS HAPPEN TO ME 3 TIMES ALREADY. I HAVE HAD FULL BODY THROTTLE REPLACED, BATTERY AND GROUND CABLES REPLACED AND STILL NOT FIXED VEHICLE ALSO SHAKES ALOT AT TIMES WHEN STOPPED AT INTERSECTION. *TR
Engine and engine cooling, Feb 23, 2014
GM IS REFUSING TO REPLACE A DEFECTIVE CATALYTIC CONVERTER UNDER WARRANTY MANDATED BY FEDERAL LAW AND APPLICABLE TO RESIDENTS OF MASSACHUSETTS, CALIFORNIA, NEW YORK, VERMONT, AND MAINE. *TR
Engine, Sep 11, 2013
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET TAHOE HYBRID. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION AND THEY STATED THAT THE CAUSE OF FAILURE WAS UNKNOWN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 57,000.
Engine, Jun 3, 2013, fire
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET TAHOE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN A RESIDENTIAL GARAGE WHEN THE FIRE STARTED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN SITTING FOR 6 HOURS PRIOR TO THE FIRE. THE FIRE AND POLICE DEPARTMENTS WERE CONTACTED AND RESPONDED TO THE FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT STATED THAT THE HOTTEST PART OF THE FIRE WAS ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE BETWEEN THE ENGINE AND DASHBOARD. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INSPECTED. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. *TR
Electrical system, Engine, Jan 14, 2013
FIRST PROBLEM WAS THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT CRANK. THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE JUMPED OFF AND THEN IT CRANKED QUICKLY. WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE, THE WINDOW CONTROL, SPEAKERS AND HEATER WOULD GO IN/ OUT OF OPERATION. THE SPEAKERS IN ALL FOUR DOORS WOULD GO OUT THEN COME BACK ON AT DIFFERENT TIMES. SOMETIMES THEY WOULD WORK ALL AT ONCE, OTHER TIMES ONE, TWO OR EVEN THREE MAY COME ON AND OFF. THE HEATER WOULD COME ON BLOWING SOME TIMES THEN CUTS OFF AGAIN AND AGAIN. THE HEATER BLOWER WOULD ALSO BLOW AT ONE SPEED THEN BLOW AT ANOTHER SPEED WITHOUT ANYONE CHANGING THE SETTINGS. THE WINDOW CONTROLS WILL MAKE THE HEATER BLOW STRONGER, THEN WHEN THE WINDOW CONTROL IS RELEASED IT WILL CUT THE HEATER OFF. THE REAR PASSENGER WINDOW CONTROLS WILL NOT WORK AT ALL. THE REAR PASSENGERS ALSO CAN NOT GET OUT OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE HAS TO BE OPEN FROM THE OUTSIDE FOR INDIVIDUALS SITTING IN THE SECOND ROW SEATS. THE ONLY CONTROL THAT WILL WORK THE REAR PASSENGER WINDOWS IS THE DRIVER SIDE CONTROL. THE VEHICLE ALSO HAS A LIGHT SMOKE SMELL COMING FROM THE VENTS. THE PASSENGER SIDE DOOR IN THE FRONT WILL OPEN FOR THE PASSENGER SOMETIMES THEN AT OTHER TIMES SOMEONE WILL HAVE TO OPEN THE DOOR FROM THE OUTSIDE. THE VEHICLE WILL NOT CRANK BACK UP AFTER BEEN CUT OFF, IT ALWAYS HAS TO BE JUMPED OFF. THE BATTERY IS DRAINED EVERYTIME THE VEHICLE IS SITTING DOWN AND NOT BEING OPERATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP NUMEROUS TIMES WITHOUT BEING FIXED. GM CORPORATION WAS CALLED AND I WAS INFORMED A RECALL WAS ON SOME VEHICLES BUT NOT OTHERS. I WAS TOLD THAT MY VEHICLE WAS NOT LISTED AS ONE THOU. THE DEALERSHIP CHECKED MY VEHICLE AND INFORMED ME THAT MY VEHICLE DIDN'T HAVE ANY ISSUES BUT THEN ON A SECOND REQUEST THEY INFORMED ME THAT MY VEHICLE HAD A BAD BATTERY AND WAS HAVING FIRING TROUBLE. THEY ALSO INFORMED ME THAT I WAS NOT COVERED BY MY WARRANTY. *TR
Power train, Engine, Nov 6, 2012
HEARD A TICKING SOUND COMING FROM ENGINE, SOUNDED LIKE AN EXHAUST LEAK. TOOK IN FOR INSPECTION WAS ADVISED THAT THERE WAS A BROKEN BOLT ON EXHAUST MANIFOLD IN THE REAR. WAS ADVISED IT WAS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY OR EXTENDED WARRANTY AS IT FELL UNDER "EXHAUST" AND "FASTENER" COMPONENTS THAT ARE NOT COVERED. AFTER SEARCHING THE INTERNET, I HAVE FOUND THAT THIS IS A VERY COMMON ISSUE. THIS IS A FIRE HAZARD AND WILL CAUSE ME TO FAIL EMISSIONS WHEN I AM DUE, WHICH ALSO VIOLATES THE EPA LAWS. I LIVE IN ARIZONA WHERE WE DO NOT HAVE WEATHER CONDITIONS THAT LEAD TO RUST ISSUES. HOW CAN THIS BE POSSIBLE WITH SUCH A LARGE PROBLEM?? *TR
Engine, Nov 5, 2012
CHECK ENGINE LIGHT BEGAN FLASHING, CHECK STABILITRAK LIGHT CAME ON, ENGINE SPUTTERED. THIS WAS FIRST OF 4 INCIDENTS FROM OIL CONSUMPTION ISSUE GM HAS WITH THIS ENGINE. THEY DIDN'T RECALL THE ENGINE, BUT HAD A PROTOCOL - A SERIES OF BANDAIDS THAT SHOPS USED TO REPAIR OR PROLONG. ULTIMATE STEP IS ENGINE REBUILD/REPLACEMENT, WHICH GM DID UNDER WARRANTY FOR THOSE "IN THE KNOW." MY DEALERSHIP IN SMALL TOWN HAMILTON, OH, ROSE CHEVROLET, WAS DROPPED BY GM AND IS NOW INDEPENDENT. NEITHER ROSE OR GM INFORMED ME OF THIS ONGOING PROBLEM. AFTER SPENDING MORE THAN $9-- OUT OF MY OWN POCKET, THE CAR NOW NEEDS PISTONS AND RINGS, FOR ANOTHER $3000. AGAIN, GM KNEW OF THIS ISSUE AND DIDN'T INFORM ME OF IT. HAD I KNOW ABOUT IT, AND THE MAGNITUDE, I WOULD HAVE INSISTED ON REPAIR OR REPLACEMENT WHILE UNDER WARRANTY. I'M A SALES REP AND DRIVE A LOT. THE CAR NOW HAS 146,000 MILES AND I HAVE A CASE NUMBER WITH GM. THEY SHOULD PAY FOR THE REPAIR, REIMBURSE ME FOR MY OUT OF POCKET AND/OR REPURCHASE THE VEHICLE FROM ME. *TR
Engine and engine cooling, Electrical system, Aug 2, 2012
WHILE I WAS DRIVING THE AIR CONDITIONER BLOWER QUIT BLOWING AND TODAY WHEN I WENT TO A DEALER FOR HELP HE TOLD ME HOW TO DIAGNOSE THE FAN RELAY, BUT IT PERFORMED CORRECTLY. HE ALSO TOLD ME THAT HE HAS SEEN BEFORE ON THE TAHOES THE A/C FAN HARNESS HAS MELTED BEFORE ON THIS TYPE OF VEHICLE. *TR
Engine and engine cooling, Sep 11, 2009, fire
I WAS DRIVING MY TRUCK TO A SOFTBALL GAME WHEN I DROVE INTO THE PARKING LOT I NOTICED A BURNING SMELL. I PARKED IN THE PARKING LOT AND THE SMELL GOT STRONGER. I DIDN'T REALIZE THE SMOKE WAS COMING FROM MY HOOD UNTIL I GOT OUT OF THE VEHICLE. TWO CITIZENS THAT WERE WALKING BY NOTICED THE SMOKE AND HELPED ME OPEN MY HOOD AND ABOUT THIRTY SECONDS LATER FLAMES STARTED COMING UP OUT OF THE ENGINE BY THE UPPER RIGHT DRIVER'S SIDE. A GUY POURED POWERAIDE ON THE FLAMES AND IT WENT OUT. AFTER I MADE AN INSURANCE CLAIM AND CALLED GM I FOUND OUT IT WAS THE HEATED WASHER FLUID THAT CAUSED THE FIRE. THERE WAS A RECALL ON THIS SPECIFIC ITEM AND I WAS INFORMED THEY HAD FIXED THIS RECALL IN JAN. OF 2009. I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE IN APRIL OF 2009 NOT KNOWING THERE HAD EVER BEEN A RECALL ON MY VEHICLE. GM HAS NOT EVEN SENT A REPRESENTATIVE FROM THEIR COMPANY TO LOOK AT IT OR TAKE CARE OF THE PROBLEM. I AM HAVING TO PAY FOR A RENTAL CAR OUT OF MY OWN POCKETS TO GET TO AND FROM WORK. *TR