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: latches/locks/linkages
65 reports, newest first. Show all
Electrical system, Latches/locks/linkages, Dec 2, 2010
STARTED WITH THE DRIVERS SIDE LOCK NOT WORKING AND HAS PROGRESSED TO ALL 4 LOCKS NOT WORKING WITH KEYLESS ENTRY AND ELECTRIC SWITCH INSIDE CAB. I ARMED AND LOCKED MY VEHICLE AND EXPECTED THE VEHICLE TO BE LOCKED WHEN IT WASN'T AND ITEMS WERE STOLEN FROM MY TRUCK. *TR
Latches/locks/linkages, Dec 2, 2010
ALL FOUR POWER DOOR LOCKS ON MY 2008 CHEVY TAHOE HAVE HAD TO BE REPLACED. MY PASSENGER SIDE DOOR IS BEING REPLACED FOR THE 2ND TIME. I HAVE A TODDLER WHO RIDES IN THE BACK AND I DEPEND ON MY DOORS TO LOCK TO PREVENT HIM FROM BEING ABLE TO OPEN THE DOOR. *TR
Latches/locks/linkages, Nov 17, 2010
I JUST PURCHASED A USED 2008 CHEVROLET TAHOE IN JUNE 2010. AS OF NOVEMBER 2010, 3 OUT OF THE 4 AUTOMATIC DOOR LOCKS DO NOT WORK. I AM VERY UPSET ABOUT THIS AND WANTED TO KNOW WHAT CAN BE DONE BECAUSE THE ESTIMATED COST OF REPAIR IS $250 PER DOOR LOCK. FOR A 30,000 DOLLAR VEHICLE, I THINK THIS IS A LITTLE RIDICULOUS. I AM NOT THE ONLY PERSON THAT I KNOW THAT HAS HAD THIS PROBLEM EITHER. *TR
Latches/locks/linkages, Nov 1, 2010
ON MY 2008 CHEVY TAHOE, THE DOOR LOCK ACTUATOR HAS BEEN REPLACED 3 TIMES, TWICE UNDER WARRANTY AND ONCE OUT OF WARRANTY. THIS HAS OCCURRED ON DIFFERENT DOORS, AND CURRENTLY THE DRIVER'S DOOR IS NOT WORKING. SO THIS WILL BE THE 4TH TIME TO HAVE ONE REPLACED AND THE VEHICLE ONLY HAS 50K MILES. THIS IS A HUGE SAFETY CONCERN, AND SHOULD BE RECALLED IMMEDIATELY. WE HAVE AN INFANT THAT RIDES IN THE BACK SEAT, AND IF THE PASSENGER DOORS WERE TO QUIT WORKING THERE WOULD BE A RISK OF GETTING HIM OUT IN CASE OF AN EMERGENCY. *TR
Latches/locks/linkages, Oct 26, 2010
2008 CHEVY TAHOE LTZ (50000 MILES). MY DRIVERS SIDE DOOR DOES NOT UNLOCK/LOCK WITH MY KEYLESS REMOTE. ALL OF THE OTHER DOORS WORK. I HAVE 7 CO-WORKERS WITH 2008 TAHOE'S AND THEY ALL HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM ON VARIOUS LEVELS. I LOCKED MY DOORS WITH MY REMOTE AND WALKED INTO TO A DINER TO EAT AND LOOKED OUT OF THE WINDOW AND SAW SOMEONE JUST OPEN MY DOOR AND RUN OFF WITH MY SHOPPING BAG. THE DRIVERS DOOR WAS THE ONLY UNLOCKED DOOR. *TR
Latches/locks/linkages, Oct 25, 2010
THE ELECTRONIC DOOR LOCKS ON ALL 4 DOORS DO NOT FUNCTION ON A 2008 CHEVY TAHOE. THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS EXACTLY LIKE MINE CONCERNING THE DOOR LOCKS, YET NO RECALL HAS BEEN INITIATED. IS IT GOING TO TAKE NOT BEING ABLE TO UNLOCK THE REAR DOORS TO SAVE A DROWNING KID BEFORE SOMETHING IS DONE? I HAVE TALKED TO A CHEVY TECHNICIAN AND THEY ARE WELL AWARE OF THE FAULTINESS OF THE ACTUATORS IN THE DOORS, BUT STILL QUOTE ME $1200 TO FIX ALL FOUR LOCKS. *TR
Latches/locks/linkages, Oct 22, 2010
DISCOVERED THAT THE REAR DOOR LOCK ACTUATORS ARE NOT WORKING ON MY 2008 CHEVY TAHOE. I FOUND OUT BECAUSE CHILD OPENED DOOR AND ALMOST WENT OUT THE DOOR. THIS HAPPENED WHEN MILEAGE WAS AT ABOUT 40,000 AND CHEVY DEALER WOULD ONLY FIX AFTER I PAID OVER $500. *TR
Latches/locks/linkages, Oct 19, 2010
AUTOMATIC DOOR LOCKS BEGAN TO INTERMITTENTLY MALFUNCTION ABOUT FOUR MONTHS AGO. NOW HAPPENING ON A CONTINUAL BASIS. REAR DOORS WILL NOT UNLOCK OR LOCK WITH EITHER KEY FOB OR DOOR CONTROL. DEFINITELY A SAFETY ISSUE SINCE DOORS CAN NOT BE LOCKED OR UNLOCKED IN CASE OF AN EMERGENCY. TOLD IT'S THE ACTUATORS WITH A APPROX COST OF $300.00 TO REPLACE. *TR
Latches/locks/linkages, Oct 14, 2010
I HAVE A 2008 CHEVY TAHOE HYBRID. ABOUT 3 MTHS AGO THE DOORS QUIT LOCKING FROM TIME TO TIME. I LOOKED IT UP ONLINE AND READ HUNDREDS OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM. ON MY TRUCK IT ROTATES FROM DOOR TO DOOR WHICH ONES THAT WILL NOT LOCK. I CALLED THE REPAIR SHOP AND FOR THEM TO FIX ONE DOOR THEY QUOTED $350. DURING MY READING ONLINE SOMEONE STATED THAT GM ACTUALLY KNOW THE PROBLEM AND IT HAS TO DO WITH THE WIRING HARNESS NOT THE ACTUAL DOORS. GETTING THE ACTUATORS ON THE DOORS FIXED IS ONLY A TEMPORARY FIX. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD WHILE DRIVING, WITH A DOOR OPENING AND WHILE PARKED OR SITTING IN TRAFFIC BECAUSE OF ALL THE CAR JACKINGS GOING ON IN SOCIETY. I DO SEE DANGERS ASSOCIATED WITH PROBLEM AND A MAJOR RECALL NEEDS TO BE ORDERED AND GM FORCED TO FIX THEIR KNOWN PROBLEM. *TR
Latches/locks/linkages, Sep 29, 2010
ON BOTH MY 2008 CHEVROLET TAHOE AND 2008 GMC YUKON WE HAVE HAD 5 POWER DOOR LATCHES QUIT WORKING LEAVING THE DOORS UNLOCKED OR LOCKED. I AM CONCERNED WHAT COULD HAPPEN IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH. *TR
Latches/locks/linkages, Sep 19, 2010
THE POWER DOOR LOCKS WORK INTERMITTENTLY IN MY 2008 CHEVY TAHOE. I HAVE HAD THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR LOOKED AT IN THE PAST AT MY LOCAL CHEVY DEALER, AND THEY WERE UNABLE TO FIND A PROBLEM. RECENTLY MY DRIVERS SIDE DOOR WILL NOT LOCK OR UNLOCK USING THE KEY FOB. THE ALARM IS SET AND ALL OTHER DOORS LOCK, EXCEPT THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR. I DO NOT KNOW HOW LONG THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING, AS I USUALLY TRUST THAT THE DOOR IS LOCKED WHEN I PUSH THE BUTTON. PLUS, I CAN HEAR THE OTHER DOORS LOCK AND I HAVE NEVER HAD TO VISUALLY OR PHYSICALLY CHECK THAT ALL DOORS ARE LOCKED. LAST YEAR I HAD A SIMILAR PROBLEM WHEN I WOULD PUT THE CAR IN PARK WITH THE ENGINE RUNNING. THE DOORS WOULD UNLOCK AND THEN LOCK AGAIN. AT ONE POINT I HAD ACTUALLY GOTTEN OUT OF MY CAR, SHUT MY DOOR, THEN THE DOORS LOCKED, AND I WAS UNABLE TO OPEN THE REAR DRIVERS DOOR TO ACCESS MY CHILDREN. THANK GOODNESS THE DRIVERS DOOR DID NOT LOCK. I WAS ABLE TO OPEN THE DRIVERS DOOR AND MANUALLY UNLOCK THE REAR DRIVERS SIDE DOOR. *TR
Latches/locks/linkages, Aug 26, 2010
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET TAHOE. THE CONTACT OBSERVED THAT ALL FOUR EXTERIOR PASSENGER DOOR HANDLES WERE STUCK IN POSITION. THE OCCUPANTS WERE UNABLE TO ENTER OR EXIT THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT HAD TO ACTIVATE THE AUTOMATIC WINDOWS IN ORDER TO ALLOW ACCESS TO RELEASE THE EXTERIOR DOOR HANDLE. THE DOORS WOULD NOT RESPOND TO THE KEYLESS REMOTE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN ADVISED THAT THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO A DEFECT IN THE DOOR LOCK ACTUATOR. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 47,000.
Latches/locks/linkages, Aug 16, 2010
POWER DOOR LOCK ACTUATING UNIT FAILURE. TWO MONTHS AGO I WAS UNABLE TO ENTER MY DRIVERS DOOR WHEN IT WOULD NOT UNLOCK WITH THE REMOTE CONTROL. I UNLOCKED IT WITH THE KEY AND TESTED THE LOCK MECHANICS AND DISCOVERED THAT THE DOOR WOULD NEITHER LOCK OR UNLOCK ELECTRONICALLY. GM REPLACED THE DOOR LOCK ACTUATOR TO FIX THE PROBLEM. LAST WEEK THE PASSENGER REAR DOOR LOCK FAILED IN THE SAME MANNER. GM ONCE AGAIN REPLACED A DEFECTIVE LOCK ACTUATOR, PART # 25876390. THIS FAILURE IS A SAFETY CONCERN. IF THE DOOR DOES NOT LOCK ELECTRONICALLY, A SMALL CHILD COULD INADVERTENTLY OPEN THE DOOR WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION. SINCE TWO OF THE FOUR ACTUATORS HAVE ALREADY FAILED, I AM SURE IT IS JUST A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE THE REST FAIL TOO. *TR
Latches/locks/linkages, Aug 12, 2010
A FEW MONTHS AGO, THE DRIVERS SIDE DOOR WOULDN'T UNLOCK. IF MANUALLY PULLED UP, WOULDN'T LOCK. CHEVROLET FIXED THE PROBLEM. NOW, A FEW MONTHS LATER, MY OTHER 3 DOORS ARE ALL THE SUDDEN NOT UNLOCKING. IF MANUALLY PULLED UP WILL NOT LOCK. CHEVROLET SAYS ITS THE ACTUATORS(?) DOOR LOCKS. I HAVE TO WAIT A FEW DAYS UNTIL THEY CAN SQUEEZE THE TRUCK IN TO REPLACE ALL THREE... *TR
Latches/locks/linkages, Sep 13, 2009
DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR LATCH FAILURE. DOOR WILL NOT CLOSE. ONCE LATCHED, DOOR WILL NOT OPEN. *TR