CHEVROLET TAHOE · model year

2002 CHEVROLET TAHOE

541 NHTSA complaints, 53 crash reports, and 6 active recalls for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 2002CHEVROLETTAHOE carries 541 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 53 crashes, 11 fires, 57 injuries, and 4 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.

Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 2002 TAHOE is service brakes with 90 filings, followed by service brakes, hydraulic (32) and service brakes, hydraulic:antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip (29). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability. This model year has 6 active recall campaigns, which means the manufacturer is obligated to remedy the covered defect at no charge for the life of the vehicle — the full NHTSA campaign numbers are listed below.

NHTSA currently has 57 investigation files overlapping the 2002 TAHOE, and 2 remain open. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.

541
Complaints
53
Crashes
11
Fires
57
Injuries
4
Deaths

Total Complaints

541 filings

Crashes Reported

53 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

Above median complaint volume — review patterns below.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
SERVICE BRAKES90
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC32
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP29
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION27
STEERING24
PARKING BRAKE24
TIRES23
AIR BAGS23
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM21
SUSPENSION12
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE12
STEERING:COLUMN8
TIRES:SIDEWALL7
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL7
UNKNOWN OR OTHER7

Recalls (6)

05V37900029/08/2005

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

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, MAR

06E02600023/03/2006

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

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 D

06E04300019/05/2006

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

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 CE

07E10600017/12/2007

WHEELS:HUB

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 M

02V25300017/09/2002

SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:HEAD RESTRAINT

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.

03V09400007/03/2003

STRUCTURE

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 EX

Recent Complaints

20250929ENGINE

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.

20231221AIR BAGS

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.

20220923FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING

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

20220923WHEELS

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

20220923FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

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

20210325SERVICE BRAKES

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

Mileage: 220,536

20201211SERVICE BRAKES

ABS AND BRAKE LIGHTS REMAIN ON AFTER TAHOE IS CRANKED AND DRIVEN.

Mileage: 141,000

20201210CrashAIR BAGS

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

Mileage: 150,000

20200804EXTERIOR LIGHTING

HAVE REPLACED RUNNING LIGHTS ABOUT 30TY TIMES BOTH RT AND LT.FINELY IT BURNED OUT SO BAD THAT IT WANT LET ME REPLACE THE BULBS THEY JUST DON'T WORK ANYMORE.THIS STARTED ABOUT 2015 I DIDN'T KNOW OF THIS SITE SO HERE WHAT CAN WE DO.THANKS

Mileage: 130,670

20200804SEATS

ACCESS TO THE THIRD ROW SEATING CABLE LACY FAILED. IF ANYONE IN THE THIRD ROW NEEDED TO GET OUT IN AN EMERGENCY THEY WOULD BE TRAPPED MOST LIKELY. ALL REAR SEAT CABLES ARE BROKEN.

20200713STEERING

FEELS LIKE I'M DRIVING A BOAT. DELAYED ACTION WHEN STEERING . VEHICLE IS USED INTERMITTENTLY

20200113CrashFireAIR BAGS

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

20200113CrashFireSTEERING

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

20191007SERVICE BRAKES

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 A

Mileage: 200,000

20190805SERVICE BRAKES

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.

Mileage: 185,777

20190805ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

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.

Mileage: 185,777

20190805ENGINE

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.

Mileage: 185,777

20190712FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM

SEAT CAUGHT ON FIRE FROM WIRING UNDERNEATH.

20190712FireSEATS

SEAT CAUGHT ON FIRE FROM WIRING UNDERNEATH.

20180907SEATS

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.

Mileage: 108,000

Compare 2002CHEVROLETTAHOE to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations 2 Open

View all investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 2002 CHEVROLET TAHOE have?
The 2002 CHEVROLET TAHOE has 541 NHTSA complaints, 53 crashes, 11 fires, 57 injuries, and 4 deaths reported.
Are there any recalls for the 2002 CHEVROLET TAHOE?
Yes, the 2002 CHEVROLET TAHOE has 6 recall(s). The most common affected component is SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP. Recalls are issued by NHTSA and manufacturers must provide a free remedy.
What are the most common problems with the 2002 CHEVROLET TAHOE?
The most-complained component for the 2002 CHEVROLET TAHOE is SERVICE BRAKES with 90 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC and SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP.
Is the 2002 CHEVROLET TAHOE safe to buy?
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.

Vehicle Safety Guides

Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.