Chevrolet · Tahoe · 2002
6
Recalls
448
Complaints
-
Not Rated
The 2002 Chevrolet Tahoe has 6 recalls and 448 owner-reported complaints on file with NHTSA. Most reported issue: service brakes (79 reports).
Source: NHTSA Public Records · Updated Apr 22, 2026
This page combines three types of NHTSA data: recall campaigns (official manufacturer or government actions), owner complaints (unverified consumer reports), and crash test ratings (where available). A vehicle with many complaints is not necessarily less reliable — complaint volume correlates with sales volume and vehicle age. Recalls indicate identified defects, not overall quality. To compare this model year with others, use the year navigation in the sidebar or return to the model overview page.
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.
Remedy Status
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 1-800-745-6096.
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.
Remedy Status
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 SIGNAL IS WITHIN SPECIFICATIONS. THE RECALL BEGAN SEPTEMBER 22, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438 OR GMC AT 1-866-996-9463.
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.
Remedy Status
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 AT 1-800-462-8782, OR CADILLAC AT 1-800-458-8006.
CERTAIN PRO-A MOTORS CORNER LAMPS, TURN SIGNALS, AND HEADLIGHTS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. SOME COMBINATION LAMPS THAT ARE NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT.
Remedy Status
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.
CERTAIN REPLACEMENT FUEL FILTERS, FRAM BRAND NAME P/N G3727, WITH DATE CODES X52911 THROUGH X60801 SEQUENTIALLY OR X600141 AND A MEXICO COUNTRY OR ORIGIN MARKING ON THE FUEL FILTER HOUSING MANUFACTURED FROM OCTOBER 18, 2005, THROUGH MARCH 21, 2006, SOLD FOR USE ON THE VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE AND ON CERTAIN SCHOOL BUSES. (TO SEE THE SCHOOL BUS ENGINE SIZES, CLICK ON "DOCUMENT SEARCH" AND THEN "BUS APPLICATIONS"). THE CONNECTOR ON THE FUEL FILTER WAS NOT MANUFACTURED TO HONEYWELL'S SPECIFICATION. AS A RESULT, THE O-RING MAY NOT SEAT CORRECTLY ON THE FUEL LINE.
Remedy Status
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).
CERTAIN FEDERAL-MOGUL REPLACEMENT WHEEL HUB ASSEMBLIES WITH THE BRAND NAMES: NATIONAL, CARQUEST P/NOS. 515020, 515021, 515025, 515053, 515054, 515059, AND 515060, SHIPPED BETWEEN JANUARY 23, 2006, AND DECEMBER 20, 2007, SOLD FOR LIGHT DUTY AND MEDIUM DUTY TRUCKS. THE INBOARD RETENTION NUT USED TO MAINTAIN HUB BEARING ASSEMBLY CAN LOOSEN RESULTING IN AN ABS LIGHT INDICATION, NOISE, AND/OR WHEEL SEPARATION.
Remedy Status
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.
MY VEHICLE HAS BEEN DIAGNOSED AS NEEDING THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD BOLTS REPLACED. I HAVE READ THAT THIS IS AN ONGOING ISSUE THAT POSES A RISK TO DRIVERS AND PASSENGERS DUE TO THE FUMES, BUT HAS NOT BEEN RECALLED BY THE MANUFACTURER.
We were sitting in car with it idling, the right-side air bag just deployed without collision. We turned the ignition off waited a few moments and turned it back on and the right-side dash airbag deployed without any warning. The vehicle has not been in any collisions.
My right side wheel feels like it’s going to fall off and indicate the abs and emergency parking brake. I believe it’s a wheel hub bearing that’s coming loose or tie rods I’m not sure and One time the emergency parking brake engage on me and I had to pull over to the side and wasn’t able to drive it. When I turn on the engine or driving , idling I smell gasoline really bad
I HAVE AN 02 TAHOE Z71 THAT RECENTLY I'VE BEEN HAVING BRAKE PROBLEMS AT SLOW SPEEDS WHEN TRYING TO STOP LIKE THE ABS IS TRYING TO KICK IN RANDOMLY BETWEEN ABOUT 5 TO 15 MPH WHEN SLOWING FOR RED-LIGHTS OR STOP SIGNS THERE'S TIMES I HAVE TO LET OFF AND REAPPLY BRAKE 2 TO 3 TIMES AT LEAST BEFORE IT WILL ACTUALLY STOP WITHOUT THE ABS KICKING IN. I READ ABOUT SOME RECALLS ON THIS ON 02 TAHOES BUT MY VIN SAID I HAD 0 UNFIXED RECALLS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2002 CHEVROLET TAHOE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE RAN ACROSS BLACK ICE CAUSING THE CONTACT TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SPIN UNCONTROLLABLY EVENTUALLY CRASHING INTO A CONCRETE WALL WITH THE FRONT-END OF THE VEHICLE. NO AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THE CONTACT RECEIVED INJURIES TO THEIR KNEE, SHOULDER, NECK, BACK, AND EYE. MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS NEEDED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE TOWED AND DEEMED TOTALED. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000.*DT THE CONTACT RECIEVED A CLAIM ID NUMBER #ODI11382901 AND CASE NUMBER [XXX].*JB
ABS AND BRAKE LIGHTS REMAIN ON AFTER TAHOE IS CRANKED AND DRIVEN.
BRAKE LINES HAVE RUSTED THROUGH AND CAUSED AN EXTREMELY UNSAFE SITUATION. WHILE ON A FAMILY VACATION TO THE OUTER BANKS THE BRAKES FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. WE WERE ABLE TO FIND A REPAIR SHOP TO LOOK OVER THE BRAKE SYSTEM AFTER REFILLING THE MASTER CYLINDER WITH BRAKE FLUID. THE REPAIR SHOP FOUND NO ISSUES WITH THE BRAKES AND SAID SOMEONE PROBABLY FORGOT TO BLEED THE BRAKES AFTER SERVICING THEM. SINCE IT WAS A RECENTLY PURCHASED VEHICLE AND WE DIDN'T KNOW THE HISTORY OF WORK PERFORMED WE THOUGHT THIS WAS POSSIBLY THE ISSUE. AFTER DRIVING ANOTHER 50 MILES OR SO THE BRAKES FAILED AGAIN FOR THE SECOND TIME. THIS TIME MY FAMILY AND I WERE ON THE WAY TO THE STATE FAIR. I CRAWLED UNDER THE VEHICLE AND FOUND ONE LINE TO BE COMPLETELY RUPTURED AND ALL OTHERS TO BE SEVERELY RUSTED. I NOW PLAN TO REPLACE ALL BRAKE LINES BEFORE THE VEHICLE IS USED AGAIN. I OWN MUCH OLDER VEHICLES WITH BRAKE LINES IN PERFECT SHAPE. AFTER DOING A LITTLE RESEARCH I FOUND THAT CHEVROLET BRAKE LINES USED IN THIS MODEL AND YEAR HAVE HAD ABNORMALLY HIGH BRAKE LINE CORROSION AND FAILURE COMPARED TO OTHER VEHICLES MANUFACTURED DURING THE SAME TIME PERIOD. I AM WONDERING WHY THIS ISSUE HASN'T BEEN BROUGHT TO THE PUBLICS ATTENTION AND WHY NO RECALL? THE BRAKE LINES WERE OBVIOUSLY MANUFACTURED WITH INFERIOR MATERIALS OR WORKMANSHIP OR BOTH. THANKS
SEAT CAUGHT ON FIRE FROM WIRING UNDERNEATH.
THIS VEHICLE WAS LEAKING OIL FROM THE ENGINE, FRONT AND BACK BRAKES WERE FAULTY, THE STARTER WAS GOING BAD, THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FOR THE BACK WINDOWS WERE NOT IN WORKING CONDITION. THE VEHICLE WOULD DISPLAY SENSOR LIGHTS TO HAVE THE VEHICLE ENGINE CHECKED BUT THEN AFTER ABOUT 2 DAYS IT WOULD NOT SHOW A DISPLAYING MESSAGE IT WOULD ALSO EFFECT THE AUDIO FUSE THAT ALLOWS THE AUDIO SYSTEM TO FUNCTION. THE TIRES WERE BALD ON THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE AND LEFT BACK PASSENGER SIDE. THE SEAT BELTS WERE DIFFICULT TO ENTER INTO LATCH IN ORDER TO SECURE SEATBELT.
I WAS COMING HOME ON MY ROAD GOING 30 MILES AN HOUR GOING AROUND THE CURVE 25 IF THAT MY STEERING DID NOT WORK I WENT ON THE ROAD STARTED ROLLING IN TWICE AND LANDED UPSIDE DOWN NOT ONE OF MY AIRBAGS WENT OFF I WENT TO THE HOSPITAL THE AMBULANCE HAD TO COME AND GET ME
WIFE CAME HOME AND SAID THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO FLOOR WHEN ATTEMPTING TO STOP. WITH ENGINE RUNNING, BRAKE FLUID IS SEEN PUMPING OUT OF RIGHT FRONT BRAKE LINE. MECHANIC REPORTS LINE BURST AND ALL OTHER LINES ARE SEVERELY RUSTED AND MUST BE REPLACED. $1500 REPAIR ESTIMATE.
STEEL BRAKE LINES - CORROSION - LOST BRAKING POWER DUE TO CORROSION OF BRAKE LINES.
CABLE THAT OPERATES THE REAR SEAT MECHANISM BROKE SO REAR SEAT CANNOT BE FOLDED DOWN WHICH IMPEDES THE ABILITY TO ACCESS THE 3RD ROW SEATING. PASSENGERS IN 3RD ROW SEAT CANNOT EXIT THE VEHICLE THROUGH THIS DOOR.
THE BRAKES ON MY TRUCK ARE ENGAGING THE ABS AT LOW SPEED STOPS. THIS IS CAUSING A LOSS OF BREAKING AT THE CRITICAL LAST FEW FEET OF STOPPING. THIS PROBLEM IS OCCURRING ON SMOOTH DRY PAVEMENT. YOUR 2008 ACTION NUMBER PE05020 WAS A RECALL SPECIFIC TO MY PROBLEM. CHECKING FOR A RECALL ON MY TRUCK SHOWED NO SPECIFIC RECALL FOR MY VIN. BOTH MY LOCAL DEALERSHIP AND THE GM REPRESENTATIVE AT 800-222-1020 TELL ME THAT I HAVE TO PAY FOR ANY REPAIRS OUT OF MY OWN POCKET BECAUSE THERE IS NO "RECALL" ON MY VEHICLE. I AM CONCERNED FOR MY SAFETY AND THE SAFETY OF MY FAMILY EVERY TIME WE DRIVE THE VEHICLE. IS THERE ANYTHING YOU CAN DO TO HAVE THIS PROBLEM FIXED?
MY ABS ACTIVATES UNDER 5MPH ON DRY ROADS. THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM BUT MY TRUCK DOESN'T QUALIFY. THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE AND THEY CAN "WALK AWAY" SAYING MY VIN IS NOT AFFECTED. BUNCH OF GARBAGE - I'VE BEEN A CHEVY GUY FOR EVER AND WORKED AT A CHEVY DEALERSHIP - THIS CAUSES ME TO LOOSE SOME FAITH. DEALERSHIPS HAVE THE ABILITY TO HELP BUT THERE HANDS ARE TIED BY GM. SAD!!
MY TRUCK IS HAVING THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM AS NOTED IN RECALL #05068, NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 05V379000, BUT THEY STATE MY VIN NUMBER IS EXCLUDED FROM THE RECALL. THIS CAR WAS OPERATED IN MICHIGAN. AT LOW SPEED, COMING UP TO AN INTERSECTION UNDER 5 MPH, FOR EXAMPLE, THE ABS KICKS ON AND LURCHES THE CAR FORWARD. I READ THIS HAS TO DO WITH THE WHEEL SPEED SENSORS. THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING AND GETTING WORSE FOR THE PAST YEAR. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2002 CHEVROLET TAHOE. WHILE THE DRIVER WAS MAKING A LEFT TURN, ANOTHER VEHICLE DROVE THROUGH A RED LIGHT AND CRASHED INTO THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE OF THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED A FRACTURED CLAVICLE, STERNUM, VERTEBRAE, LEFT HAND, ELEVEN FRACTURED RIBS, AND A MAJOR LACERATION ACROSS THE FACE THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED AND DEEMED DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 239,000.
COMPLETE BRAKE FAILURE. AVOIDED ANY COLLISION. COST TO REPAIR $1,025.56. OCCURED ON A BUSY ROUNDABOUT. NEEDED TO BE TOWED TO DEALER FOR REPAIR.
DURING THE PAST SEVEN YEARS, AT RANDOM INTERVALS RANGING FROM DAYS, MONTHS AND YEARS, MY TAHOE WILL NOT START. I HAVE HAD IT CHECKED BY A CHEVROLET DEALER AND AN INDEPENDENT AUTOMOTIVE SHOP. THEY ARE UNABLE TO REPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THIS HAPPENS WHEN I STOP THE VEHICLE TO GET GAS, PARK IT TO GO SHOPPING OR TO A DOCTOR'S OFFICE. I NEVER KNOW IF IT IS GOING TO START OR NOT. I FEAR FOR THE SAFETY OF MY WIFE AND SON WHEN THEY ARE OPERATING THE TAHOE IN CASE THIS HAPPENS TO THEM. AT FIRST, I THOUGHT IT WAS JUST MY VEHICLE. BUT, RESEARCHING THE INTERNET TODAY, I FIND THAT COUNTLESS OTHERS HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM WITH A VARIETY OF GM AND GMC VEHICLES -- PRIMARILY SUVS AND PICKUP TRUCKS. THERE ARE EVEN VIDEOS BY DRIVERS WHO HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM AS I HAVE EXPERIENCED: THE VEHICLE WILL NOT START. AFTER WAITING ANYWHERE FROM 10 MINUTES TO OVER AN HOUR AND CONTINUOUSLY TRYING, THE VEHICLES WILL START LIKE NOTHING WAS WRONG. I'VE HAD AAA MECHANICS WHOM I'VE CALLED TO TOW MY TAHOE WITNESS THIS MALADY. I FIRMLY BELIEVE GM/GMC SHOULD ISSUE A RECALL AND REPAIR THIS PROBLEM BEFORE SOMETHING TRAGIC HAPPENS TO SOMEONE WHO CANNOT START THEIR VEHICLE WHEN THEY ARE IN A DANGEROUS SITUATION SUCH AS AT NIGHT OR IN AN INTERSECTION.
THE ABS KEEPS ENGAGING DURING LOW SPEED STOPPING AND PARKING MANEUVERS, DRY CONDITIONS. THIS IS INCREASING BRAKING DISTANCE WHEN APPROACHING SLOWING TRAFFIC AND IS VERY ALARMING. WE NEARLY HAD AN ACCIDENT WHEN THIS HAPPENED. I CALLED A LOCAL DEALER, AND THEY SAID THAT "RECALL WORK" HAD BEEN PERFORMED FOR THIS ISSUE IN 2005, AND I WAS ON MY OWN FOR THE REPAIR. I THINK THIS IS A MAJOR DESIGN FLAW AND GM SHOULD COVER THE REPAIR INDEFINITELY UNLESS A DESIGN IMPROVEMENT WAS CREATED. A CAR SHOULD STOP WHEN YOU NEED IT TOO, NOT CONTINUE ON ITS COURSE AND SPEED IGNORING MY INPUT. IT SEEMS TO ME THAT THEY REPLACED PARTS OF A BAD DESIGN WITH PARTS OF THE SAME DESIGN THEN THERE WAS NO DESIGN IMPROVEMENT TO PREVENT A RECURRENCE WHEN THE "RECALL WORK" WAS PERFORMED. I THINK THIS IS A MAJOR FLAW IN THE RECALL PROCESS. WHAT RECOURSE TO I HAVE NOW? I KNOW SEVERAL OWNERS OF MID-2000'S CHEVY TRUCKS WITH THIS ISSUE, AND IT KEEPS COMING BACK IF YOU OWN THE TRUCK LONG ENOUGH. WHAT IS BEING DONE? I SHOULD NOT HAVE TO KEEP PAYING FOR REPAIRS.
Showing 1–20 of 25 complaints
The 2002 Chevrolet Tahoe has 6 recalls recorded by NHTSA.
NHTSA has received 448 owner-reported complaints for the 2002 Chevrolet Tahoe.
NHTSA has not published a safety rating for the 2002 Chevrolet Tahoe.
The most commonly reported complaint categories for the 2002 Chevrolet Tahoe are service brakes (79 reports), service brakes, hydraulic (51 reports), tires (31 reports).
Yes. NHTSA has 6 recalls on record for the 2002 Chevrolet Tahoe. Scroll up to review the published recall summaries, consequences, and remedies. To check for unrepaired recalls on your specific vehicle, use your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Look up recalls and complaints for any year, make, and model.
This page summarizes publicly available data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaint counts reflect reports submitted to NHTSA by vehicle owners and do not by themselves prove defect severity or vehicle safety. Safety ratings may not be available for all vehicle-years. This site is not affiliated with NHTSA or any vehicle manufacturer. For official information, visit the official NHTSA page for this vehicle.