IllustrationMY 3 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER WAS ABLE TO SHIFT THE VEHICLE FROM PARK INTO NEUTRAL WITHOUT THE KEY IN THE IGNITION AND WITHOUT DEPRESSING THE BRAKE CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO ROLL BACKWARD INTO THE STREET. NO ACCIDENT OR INJURIES OCCURRED AS MY FATHER WAS ABLE TO REACH OVER AND HIT THE BRAKES. *NM
1996 Chevrolet Tahoe
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 1996 Chevrolet Tahoe do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 246.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Tahoe years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
Limited mileage data: 41 of 283 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic. Review the 73 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Visibility. Review the 43 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Power Train. Review the 37 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
27 crash reports5 fire reports18 injury reports
Power Train complaints
37 reportsFATALITY AS A RESULT OF IGNITION SWITCH BEING TURNED WITHOUT A KEY AND WITHOUT THE BRAKES BEING APPLIED.*MR WHEN THE COMPLAINANTS THREE YEAR OLD GRANDSON TURN THE KEY IN THE IGNITION ONE NOTCH FORWARD THIS ALLOWED THE GEAR LEVER TO BE SHIFTED OUT OF PARK AND INTO NEUTRAL WITHOUT THE BRAKE PEDAL BEING PRESSED. AS A RESULT THE V…
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FATALITY AS A RESULT OF IGNITION SWITCH BEING TURNED WITHOUT A KEY AND WITHOUT THE BRAKES BEING APPLIED.*MR WHEN THE COMPLAINANTS THREE YEAR OLD GRANDSON TURN THE KEY IN THE IGNITION ONE NOTCH FORWARD THIS ALLOWED THE GEAR LEVER TO BE SHIFTED OUT OF PARK AND INTO NEUTRAL WITHOUT THE BRAKE PEDAL BEING PRESSED. AS A RESULT THE VEHICLE ROLLED DOWN A DRIVEWAY. IT UNCLEAR IF THE CHILD FELL OR JUMP OUT OF THE VEHICLE AS IT BECAME TO ROLL BUT EITHER WAY HE WAS STRUCK BY THE OPEN DOOR AS THE VEHICLE ROLLED. THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE THEN ROLLED OVER THE CHILD WHICH RESULTED IN FATAL INJURIES TO HIS HEAD. *NM
MY 3 YEAR OLD NEPHEW WAS ABLE TO GET INTO HIS PARENTS 1996 CHEVY TAHOE AND WAS ABLE TO TURN THE KEY TO THE FIRST CLICK (BEFORE THE CLICK TO TURN ON THE RADIO AND POWER WINDOWS, ETC.). THEN WITHOUT TOUCHING THE BRAKE, THE TODDLER WAS ABLE TO PULL THE SHIFTER INTO NEUTRAL AND THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO MOVE. THE TODDLER EITHER WAS …
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MY 3 YEAR OLD NEPHEW WAS ABLE TO GET INTO HIS PARENTS 1996 CHEVY TAHOE AND WAS ABLE TO TURN THE KEY TO THE FIRST CLICK (BEFORE THE CLICK TO TURN ON THE RADIO AND POWER WINDOWS, ETC.). THEN WITHOUT TOUCHING THE BRAKE, THE TODDLER WAS ABLE TO PULL THE SHIFTER INTO NEUTRAL AND THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO MOVE. THE TODDLER EITHER WAS THROWN FROM THE VEHICLE OR WAS SCARED AND JUMPED AND WAS RUN OVER BY THE VEHICLE AND KILLED. ALL MODELS AND MAKES OF VEHICLES CAN DO THIS WITH THE EXCEPTION OF HONDA, TOYOTA AND 2001 OR NEWER DODGE VEHICLES. *JB
MY PROBLEM IS WITH THE TRANSMISSION,I HAVE HAD TWO TRANSMISSION INSTALLED IN MY CHEVY TAHOE.I HAVE A NUMBER OF FRIENDS THAT EITHER HAVE THE CHEVY TAHOE ,OR THE SUBURBAN . WE ALL HAD THE SAME PROBLEM(TRANSMISSION).I SPOKE WITH ONE OF THE SERVICE ADVISOR AT ONE OF THE LOCAL CHEVY DEALERS AND HE SPOKE OF MANY PROBLEMS THAT THEY HAD…
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MY PROBLEM IS WITH THE TRANSMISSION,I HAVE HAD TWO TRANSMISSION INSTALLED IN MY CHEVY TAHOE.I HAVE A NUMBER OF FRIENDS THAT EITHER HAVE THE CHEVY TAHOE ,OR THE SUBURBAN . WE ALL HAD THE SAME PROBLEM(TRANSMISSION).I SPOKE WITH ONE OF THE SERVICE ADVISOR AT ONE OF THE LOCAL CHEVY DEALERS AND HE SPOKE OF MANY PROBLEMS THAT THEY HAD WITH THE 60O SERIES. THANKS AND PLEASE HELP ME AND MY FREINDS.
CONSUMER STATED WHILE TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEED AND WITHOUT ANY INDICATION THAT VEHICLE WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO SECOND GEAR. VEHICLE WAS SERVICED, TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK *TS
4TH TRANSMISSION FAILURE IN 4 YEARS. ON THE LAST REBUILD, I HAD THE DEALERSHIP REPAIR THE DEFECTIVE WIRE HARNESS PER THE TSB BUT APPARENTLY IT DID NOT HELP. THE DEALERSHIP AND CHEVROLET BOTH SAY IT IS NOT THEIR PROBLEM BUT I THINK THERE IS A DEFECT AND IT IS THEIR PROBLEM.*AK
TRANSMISSION FAILED 4 TIMES AT APPROXIMATELY. 80000, 98000,119000, AND 153000 MILES. ALTHOUGH TRUCK HAS HIGH MILEAGE, IT IS MOSTLY HI-WAY. LIGHT TOWING USE - 5,000LB BOAT, 5,000 HORSE TRAILER. LITTLE 4X4 USE. ALL REPLACEMENTS DONE BY GM DEALER. DID NOT WORK CORRECTLY AFTER LAST TRANSMISSION REPLACEMENT - HAD TO PUT BACK IN …
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TRANSMISSION FAILED 4 TIMES AT APPROXIMATELY. 80000, 98000,119000, AND 153000 MILES. ALTHOUGH TRUCK HAS HIGH MILEAGE, IT IS MOSTLY HI-WAY. LIGHT TOWING USE - 5,000LB BOAT, 5,000 HORSE TRAILER. LITTLE 4X4 USE. ALL REPLACEMENTS DONE BY GM DEALER. DID NOT WORK CORRECTLY AFTER LAST TRANSMISSION REPLACEMENT - HAD TO PUT BACK IN SHOP. THEY CHANGED AN ELECTRICAL HARNESS. *JB
SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND ENGINE WAS RUNNING ROUGH AND MISFIRING, DEALER REPLACED DEFECTIVE FUEL INJECTOR, FUEL FILTER, 3 INJECTORS, DISTRIBUTOR CAP AND A SET OF SPARK PLUG WIRES. *SLC
THIS MODEL HAS THE MANUAL TRANSFER CASE SHIFT LEVER. ALTHOUGH THE LEVER MOVES CORRECTLY IN THE VARIOUS POSITIONS, SUCH AS 2WD., 4WD. HIGH 4WD. LOW, NEUTRAL AND MAKES THE USUAL NOISES WHEN SHIFTING, THE FOUR WHEEL DRIVE IS NOT ENGAGING NOR IS THE INDICATOR LIGHT , SHOWING THE FRONT AXLE IS ENGAGED, LIGHTING UP. THIS HAS CAUSED S…
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THIS MODEL HAS THE MANUAL TRANSFER CASE SHIFT LEVER. ALTHOUGH THE LEVER MOVES CORRECTLY IN THE VARIOUS POSITIONS, SUCH AS 2WD., 4WD. HIGH 4WD. LOW, NEUTRAL AND MAKES THE USUAL NOISES WHEN SHIFTING, THE FOUR WHEEL DRIVE IS NOT ENGAGING NOR IS THE INDICATOR LIGHT , SHOWING THE FRONT AXLE IS ENGAGED, LIGHTING UP. THIS HAS CAUSED SEVERAL CLOSE CALLS IN " ALMOST ACCIDENTS" AND ALMOST BEING STRANDED. WE LIVE IN A RURAL SETTING WHERE THERE IS A 11 MILE DISTANCE BETWEEN SOME NEIGHBORS AND VERY SPARSE CELL PHONE ACCESS. THE POINT BEING THAT WHEN WE BUY A VEHICLE WITH 4 WHEEL DRIVE , WE EXPECT IT TO WORK AND OUR LIVES DEPEND ON IT! IN THIS CASE A FRONT WHEEL DRIVE CAR WOULD PROVIDE BETTER TRACTION, HAVING THE WEIGHT OF THE ENGINE OVER THE DRIVE WHEELS, RATHER THAN HAVING THE LIGHT REAR END WHEELS TRYING TO PUSH THE HEAVY FRONT END OF A TRUCK AROUND. WHEN YOU ARE DRIVING A VEHICLE EXPECTING IT TO PERFORM AS A FOUR WHEEL DRIVE VEHICLE, SUCH AS IN STEERING AND ADDED GRIP AND MANEUVERABILITY, THE UNEXPECTED SURPRISE EQUALS THAT OF A BRAKE FAILURE! YOUR HELP AND RESEARCH IN THIS MATTER IS APPRECIATED. I HAVE HAD NOTHING BUT A IGNORANT, LYING. AND EXPENSIVE EXPERIENCE WITH MY LOCAL CHEVROLET DEALER AND HAVE HAD TO TAKE IT TO ANOTHER STATE FOR ANY REPAIRS. THANKS!*AK
THIS IS THE 2ND TIME WITHIN A 2 YEARS THAT TRANSMISSION WENT OUT 1 YEAR 7 MONTHS AFTER I PURCHASED A NEW TRANSMISSION. THIS IS THE 3RD TRANSMISSION WITH A 5 YEARS PERIOD. NEVER HAULED ANYTHING, NORMAL DRIVING ON REGULAR ROADS. NEVER BEEN ON A DIRT ROAD. *AK
Official recalls
303V159000 · Visibility:windshield Wiper/washer
Apr 28, 2003
ON CERTAIN MINIVANS, PICKUP TRUCKS, AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES WITH CERTAIN MODEL-ENGINE COMBINATIONS, THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR MAY FAIL DUE TO CRACKED SOLDER JOINTS ON THE CONTROLLER CIRCUIT BOARD. THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS COULD WORK INTERMITTENTLY OR NOT AT ALL.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF THIS WERE TO OCCUR DURING BAD WEATHER, DRIVER VISIBILITY WOULD BE REDUCED, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE WIPER MOTOR CIRCUIT BOARD AND COVER. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON JUNE 19, 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 CHEVROLET AT 1-800-222-1020, GMC AT 1-800-462-8782, OR OLDSMOBILE AT 1-800-442-6537.
98V150001 · Visibility:windshield Wiper/washer
Jul 1, 1998
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: LIGHT DUTY PICKUP TRUCKS AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, 2 AND 4-WHEEL DRIVE. SOLDER JOINTS NEAR THE WIRING HARNESS CONNECTOR CAN CRACK CAUSING THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS TO WORK INTERMITTENTLY.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS CONDITION CAN RESULT IN INOPERATIVE WIPERS, REDUCING A DRIVER'S VISIBILITY, AND INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE WIPER MOTOR CIRCUIT BOARD AND COVER.
96V057000 · Vehicle Speed Control
Apr 4, 1996
THESE VEHICLES WERE ASSEMBLED WITH THE THROTTLE CABLE CONTACTING THE DASH MAT WHICH COULD BIND THE THROTTLE. THIS DOES NOT MEET WITH THE MAXIMUM RETURN TIMES REQUIRED BY FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 124, "ACCELERATOR CONTROL SYSTEMS."
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: CONSEQUENCE OF NON-COMPLIANCE: THE ENGINE SPEED MAY NOT RETURN TO IDLE INCREASING THE POTENTIAL FOR A VEHICLE ACCIDENT.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT FOR ADEQUATE THROTTLE CABLE TO DASH MAT CLEARANCE, AND IF THERE IS INSUFFICIENT CLEARANCE, CUT OUT A PORTION OF THE DASH MAT TO PROVIDE PROPER CLEARANCE.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
7EA02006 · Windshield Wiper Failure
Opened May 31, 2002 · Closed Jul 23, 2003
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Visibility:windshield Wiper/washer:motor
AS A RESULT OF THIS, AND THE PRECEDINGINVESTIGATION, RQ99-003, GM HAS EXPANDED THE POPULATION OF SAFETY RECALL 98V-150 (REPLACEMENT OF THE WINDSHIELD WIPER CONTROL MODULE) TO INCLUDE AN ADDITIONAL 1.77 MILLION VEHICLES.INCLUDED ARE VARIOUS 1994-1997 MY M/L VANS, S/T TRUCKS AND SUVS, & C/K TRUCKS AND SUVS.SEE ATTACHED TECHNICAL REPORT FOR DETAILS.
Additional source detail variants (2)
Visibility:windshield Wiper/washer:motor
AS A RESULT OF THIS, AND THE PRECEDINGINVESTIGATION, RQ99-003, GM HAS EXPANDED THE POPULATION OF SAFETY RECALL 98V-150 (REPLACEMENT OF THE WINDSHIELD WIPER CONTROL MODULE) TO INCLUDE AN ADDITIONAL 1.77 MILLION VEHICLES.INCLUDED ARE VARIOUS 1994-1997 MY M/L VANS, S/T TRUCKS AND SUVS, & C/K TRUCKS AND SUVS.SEE ATTACHED TECHNICAL REPORT FOR DETAILS.
Visibility:windshield Wiper/washer:motor
AS A RESULT OF THIS, AND THE PRECEDINGINVESTIGATION, RQ99-003, GM HAS EXPANDED THE POPULATION OF SAFETY RECALL 98V-150 (REPLACEMENT OF THE WINDSHIELD WIPER CONTROL MODULE) TO INCLUDE AN ADDITIONAL 1.77 MILLION VEHICLES.INCLUDED ARE VARIOUS 1994-1997 MY M/L VANS, S/T TRUCKS AND SUVS, & C/K TRUCKS AND SUVS.SEE ATTACHED TECHNICAL REPORT FOR DETAILS.
PE01023 · Seat Belt Anchorage Separation
Opened Jul 17, 2001 · Closed Dec 20, 2001
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Seat Belts:front:anchorage
ODI HAS RECEIVED ONE (1) COMPLAINT ALLEGING THAT THE 2ND ROW PASSENGER-SIDE SEAT BELT RELEASE BUCKLE ANCHOR DETACHED FROM SEAT FRAME DURING A SIDE IMPACT CRASH.DURING THE CRASH, THE OCCUPANT WAS THROWN FROM HIS SEAT, PARTIALLY EJECTED THROUGH THE REAR QUARTER WINDOW OF THE VEHICLE.OCCUPANT SUSTAINED INJURY.GM HAS SUBSEQUENTLY CHANGED SEAT BELT ANCHORING DESIGN IN MY 2000. ODI HAS COMPLETED A PRELIMINARY INVESTIGATION AND HAS DETERMINED THAT FURTHER INFORMATION IS NEEDED TO DETERMINE WHETHER A SAFETY DEFECT EXISTS.
EA00024 · Headlight
Opened Sep 26, 2000 · Closed Dec 21, 2001
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Exterior Lighting
No summary supplied.
EA00013 · Battery Leaks Acid
Opened May 2, 2000 · Closed Jun 28, 2002
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Electrical System
There is no summary currently available
PE00017 · Headlight
Opened Apr 11, 2000 · Closed Sep 26, 2000
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Exterior Lighting
BASED ON THE REPORTS RECEIVED BY ODI FROM CONSUMERS, FAILURE OF THE HEADLIGHT ELECTRICAL CIRCUIT MAY OCCUR IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES, AND MAY RESULT FROM REPEATED ADJUSTMENT OFTHE TILT STEERING WHEEL IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES.REPEATED ADJUSTMENT OF THE STEERING WHEEL POSITION MAY STRAIN THE WIRING IN THE HEADLIGHT CIRCUIT TO THE POINT OF FAILURE WHERE THEY ARE ATTACHED TO THE MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH, RESULTING IN THE UNANTICIPATED LOSS OF HEADLIGHTS WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION.ODI HAS CONCERNS REGARDING THE HIGH RATE OF WARRANTY REPAIRS FOR PROBLEMS POTENTIALLY ASSOCIATED WITH THE ALLEGED DEFECT IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES, WITH THE RECOGNITION THE EACH INCIDENT OF HEADLIGHT FAILURE REPRESENTS A CONDITION OF VEHICLE DISABLEMENT.IN ADDITION, THE MANUFACTURER'S EVALUATION OF THE ALLEGED DEFECT HAS NOT BEEN RECEIVED, AND THIS OFFICE HAS INTEREST IN THE DETAILS OF THE METHODOLOGIES AND RESULTS OF THAT ASSESSMENT.
PE99073 · Battery Leaks Acid
Opened Dec 3, 1999 · Closed May 2, 2000
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Electrical System
ODI HAS RECEIVED 21 COMPLAINTS WHERE OWNERS ALLEGE THAT THE STANDARD GM FACTORY SUPPLIED AC DELCO BATTERY CASE FAILED, RESULTING IN THE LEAKAGE OF SULFURIC ACID.OF THE 21 COMPLAINT VEHICLES, SIX SUBURBAN, THREE TAHOES, AND ONE YUKON OWNER(S) COMPLAINED ABOUT A LOSS OF BRAKE FLUID FROM DETERIORATION OF THE RIGHT FRONTBRAKE LINE AS A RESULT OF SULFURIC ACID CONTAMINATION.THE REMAINING 11 COMPLAINTS PERTAIN PRIMARILY TO SULFURIC ACID LEAKAGE FROM THE BATTERY CASE.AT LEAST ONE COMPLAINANT STATED THAT THE REPLACEMENT BATTERY ALSO FAILED.SEVERAL OF THE COMPLAINANTS NOTE THAT THE LEAKING ACID HAD COME IN CONTACT WITH A WIRE HARNESS AT THE FRAME IN THE VICINITY OF THE STEEL BRAKE LINE.A FIELD INSPECTION BY ODI INDICATES THAT THE DESCRIBED HARNESS IS THE ABS CONNECTION TO THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL SPEED SENSOR.PRIOR TO THE BATTERY CASE FAILURE, THERE IS USUALLY NO WARNING (SHORT OF AN UNDERHOOD INSPECTION), AND THE ENSURING DAMAGE (SULFURIC ACID CONTAMINATION) IS PROGRESSIVE.OF THE KNOWN BATTERY FAILURES, THERE MAY BE A TEMPERATURE CORRELATION, AS 60% OF THE OWNER COMPLAINTS CAME FROM FOUR STATES; CALIFORNIA, FLORIDA, GEORGIA AND TEXAS.THERE IS ALSO A PRODUCT IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM AND ENGINEERING CHANGE NOTICE TO ADD 1% SILVER TO THE BATTERY'S POSITIVE SIDE TERMINALL, WITH THE EARLIEST IMPLEMENTATION DATE FOR THIS BEING FEB 2, 1998.THE EFFECT OF THIS DESIGN CHANGE IS AS YET UNKNOWN; FURTHER REVIEW IS WARRANTED.AN EA IS BEING OPENED TO GATHER FURTHER APPROPRIATE INFORMATION, CLARIFY ANY DEFECT TRENDS, AND TO ASSESS THE SAFETY IMPLICATIONS AND RISKS CONCERNING THESE FAILURES.
RQ99015 · Front Seat Recliner Bolt Failure
Opened Jul 14, 1999 · Closed Dec 28, 2001
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Seats:front Assembly:recliner
No summary supplied.