Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2002 Chevrolet Tahoe, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Service brakes90
- Service brakes, hydraulic68
- Steering40
- Power train37
- Tires37
- Air bags31
- Electrical system30
- Parking brake24
- Suspension19
- Engine and engine cooling19
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026 · 45 injuries and 4 deaths reported
Compared with other years
NHTSA ODI complaints by model year
Fatal crashes in the US
From 2020 to 2023, 169 2002 Tahoe vehicles were involved in crashes on US public roads in which someone died; 106 people died inside them, and 61 of the vehicles rolled over. This is a count, not a crash rate: it grows with the number of cars on the road.
NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), crash years 2020–2023 (public domain)
New York safety inspections
At its first New York inspection the 2002 Chevrolet Tahoe failed the safety check 2.49% of the time — 24% more often than the average 2002 passenger car (2.00%). Median odometer at inspection: 186,598 miles.
NY DMV Vehicle Inspections (vezn-fmmk), initial inspections since Aug 2021 · how we count
In New Zealand
6 2002 cars are on the New Zealand register; 83% arrived as used imports, 17% were sold new in New Zealand.
NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi, Motor Vehicle Register (March 2026) · CC BY 4.0
Recalls in Canada
3 Transport Canada recalls for the 2002 Chevrolet Tahoe.
| 2004395 5 Nov 2004 | Brakes Certain vehicles located in Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, and Newfoundland & Labrador may experience unwanted Antilock Brak… |
| 2002166 20 Sept 2002 | Seats And Restraints Certain vehicles equipped with rearward folding head restraints on the second row seats. Two potential pinch points exist on each of the folding head restraint… |
| 2002068 11 Apr 2002 | Seats And Restraints Certain vehicles fail to conform to CMVSS 209, seat belt assemblies. These vehicles have a condition where one or two sensors in the driver's and front seat pas… |
Transport Canada Vehicle Recalls Database · Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls
CERTAIN PICKUP TRUCKS AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES MAY EXPERIENCE UNWANTED ANTILOCK BRAKE SYSTEM (ABS) ACTIVATION. THIS CONDITION IS MORE LIKELY TO OCCUR IN ENVIRONMENTALLY CORROSIVE AREAS. THIS RECALL WILL BE LAUNCHED IN THE "SALT BELT" STATES OF CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, IOWA, MARYLAND, MASSACHUSETTS, MAINE, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, MISSOURI, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, VERMONT, WEST VIRGINIA, WISCONSIN AND THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA ONLY.
CERTAIN PICKUP TRUCK, VAN, AND MINI VAN CONVERSIONS EQUIPPED WITH SOUTHERN COMFORT BUILT RUNNING BOARDS THAT CONTAIN CERTAIN COURTESY LIGHTS MANUFACTURED BY AMERICAN TECHNOLOGY COMPONENTS, INC. THESE UNITS CONTAIN A COURTESY LIGHT OR LIGHTS THAT MIGHT OVERHEAT WHEN THE WIRE HARNESS IS EXPOSED TO EXCESSIVE MOISTURE AND ROAD SALT.
ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH REARWARD FOLDING HEAD RESTRAINTS ON THE SECOND ROW SEATS, TWO POTENTIAL PINCH POINTS EXIST ON EACH OF THE FOLDING HEAD RESTRAINTS WHEN THE RESTRAINTS ARE FOLDED REARWARD AS THE SEATBACK IS FOLDED DOWN.
Whether a recall was fixed on a particular car is known only to the manufacturer: check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
NHTSA recalls · summaries in NHTSA's own words
Service bulletins
What Chevrolet told its dealers about the 2002 Chevrolet Tahoe: known faults, fixes and updates.
| Bulletin | Summary |
|---|---|
| 636575 | SUBJECT REGARDING KINKED TRANSMISSION OIL COOLER LINES. *TT |
| 636537 | CUSTOMER MAY COMPLAIN THAT THE FUEL GAUGE IS READING INACCURATE. *TT |
| 634905 | SOME VEHICLES WILL NOT MOVE WHEN 4-WHEEL DRIVE IS REQUESTED, NOISE, SHUDDER, POOR PERFORMANCE, TRANSMISSION / TRANSFER CASE SLIPS, TRANSMISSION WILL NOT UPSHIFT, SLIPS IN 4-WHEEL DRIVE. *TT |
| 634899 | SOME CUSTOMERS MAY COMMENT ON THE SERVICE 4WD INDICATOR ILLUMINATING WITH DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODE B2725 SET. *TT |
| 634821 | SOME CUSTOMERS MAY COMMENT THAT THE MANUAL LOCK LEVER COMES LOOSE FROM THE DOOR TRIM PANEL. *TT |
| 634805 | SOME CUSTOMERS MAY COMMENT ON HIGHER THAN EXPECTED ENGINE OIL CONSUMPTION. *TT |
| 634788 | SOME CUSTOMERS MAY COMMENT ON A MILD TO SEVERE ENGINE PING (COMMONLY REFERRED TO AS SPARK KNOCK) USUALLY WORSE DURING ACCELERATION AND / OR AN ILLUMINATED MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LAMP. *TT |
| 634587 | REAR WIPER JUMPS WHEN THE FOG LAMPS ARE TURNED ON. *TT |
| 632304 | SUBJECT REGARDING VEHICLES SHIPPED WITH 2 ANTENNA MASTS. *TT |
| 631670 | SUBJECT REGARDING, 2001-2002 CHEVROLET AND GMC C/K PICKUP AND UTILITY MODELS, DIAGNOSTICS FOR POSSIBLE GEAR INDICATOR CONCERNS. *JG |
| 631259 | SUBJECT REGARDING, 2001-2002 CHEVROLET AND GMC C/K PICKUP AND UTILITY MODELS, DIAGNOSTICS FOR POSSIBLE GEAR INDICATOR CONCERNS. *SLC |
| 629394 | INFORMATION CONCERNING THE SPARE TIRE HAVING A DIFFERENT SIZE THAN OTHER TIRES. *TT |
| 628934 | SOME CUSTOMERS MAY COMMENT THAT THE SERVICE ENGINE SOON LAMP IS ILLUMINATED, NO 3RD AND 4TH GEAR, THE TRANSMISSION DOES NOT SHIFT CORRECTLY, THE TRANSMISSION FEELS LIKE IT SHIFTS TO NEUTRAL OR A LOSS OF DRIVE OCCURS. *TT |
| 628508 | SUBJECT REGARDING DOOR MANUAL LOCK LEVER DISENGAGES FROM DOOR TRIM PANEL (REPAIR LOCK LEVER) *JG |
| 628505 | SUBJECT REGARDING FRONT AND REAR SIDE DOOR ACCESS DOOR NOISE (REPLACE DOOR CHECK LINK). *JG |
| 628142 | SUBJECT REGARDING CORROSION CONCERNS WITH THE REAR LICENSE PLATE CHROME COVERS. *TT |
| 628096 | CONCERNS WITH FLAPPING NOISE EMANATING FROM THE DASH AREA, USUALLY WHEN THE ENGINE IS RUNNING AND THE RADIO IS OFF. *TT |
| 627912 | SERVICE ENGINE SOON LAMP ILLUMINATED, INCORRECT TRANSMISSION SHIFTS, POOR PERFORMANCE OF ENGINE, TRANSMISSION SLIPPING. *YH |
| 627802 | INFORMATION REGARDING A/C NOT COLD ENOUGH, A/C BLOWS WARM AIR WITH VEHICLE AT EXTENDED IDLE. *YH |
| 627471 | INFORMATION REGARDING FRONT AND REAR SIDE ACCESS DOOR NOISE. *YH |
| 627425 | SUBJECT ON DOOR MANUAL LOCK LEVER DISENGAGES FROM DOOR TRIM PANEL. *YH |
| 626187 | SOME VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH HVAC ELECTRONIC CLIMATE CONTROL MAY EXPERIENCE A BUZZ OR RATTLE FROM THE ROOF OR HEADLINER. *SLC |
| 625405 | SUBJECT REGARDING SHORT SHIP OF THIRD ROW SEAT FLOOR MATS. *TT |
| 625338 | CUSTOMERS MAY COMPLAIN OF A RATTLE NOISE COMING FROM THE SECOND ROW SEATBELT. *SLC |
| 623883 | SOME CUSTOMER MAY COMMENT ON A WHINING-TYPE NOISE THAT IS AUDIBLE INTHE VEHICLE'S PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. *TT |
NHTSA manufacturer communications (public domain)
NHTSA investigations
Brake line corrosion failure
PARKING BRAKE FAILURE
UNWANTED LOW-SPEED ABS ACTIVATION
STEEL WHEEL RIM FRACTURE
THROTTLE STICKING CLOSED
NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation