2002 Chevrolet Tahoe problems
NHTSA has received 543 complaints about the 2002 Chevrolet Tahoe, and 36% of them involve brakes. Next are steering (8%) and tires (7%).
At a glance
- Complaints
- 543 filed with NHTSA
- Most reported
- Brakes 36% of complaints
- Crashes and fires
- 53 and 13
- Injuries and deaths
- 57 and 4
- Typical mileage
- 84,000 miles 402 complaints with mileage
Source: NHTSA owner complaints
Where the complaints are
Share of this model year's complaints by the part of the car involved. One complaint can name more than one part, so the shares can add up to more than 100%.
When problems show up
View the numbers
| Mileage | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 0k to 20k miles | 35 |
| 20k to 40k miles | 53 |
| 40k to 60k miles | 59 |
| 60k to 80k miles | 46 |
| 80k to 100k miles | 49 |
| 100k to 120k miles | 37 |
| 120k to 140k miles | 39 |
| 140k to 160k miles | 20 |
| 160k to 180k miles | 21 |
| 180k to 200k miles | 29 |
| 200k+ miles | 14 |
What the data shows
Of the 402 complaints that include odometer readings, half describe a problem before roughly 84,000 miles. For brakes specifically, the median reported mileage is about 107,000 miles (170 complaints with mileage).
Safety-related details: 53 complaints mention a crash; 13 complaints mention a fire; 57 injuries reported; 4 deaths reported.
Looking only at complaints filed within five years of the model year (so older and newer years are comparable), the 2002 ranks 12th most-complained-about out of 32 model years of the Chevrolet Tahoe with enough data (253 complaints in that window). It is also covered by 3 safety recall campaigns.
What owners wrote
A few complaints as filed, shortened and with personal details removed. The first ones are among the most serious reports for this model year; the rest are typical.
Tl* the contact owns 2002 chevrolet tahoe. The contact stated that while driving 45 MPH, another vehicle crashed into the contact's vehicle causing the vehcle to spin and become uncontrollable. In addition, another vehicle crashed into the vehicle causing it to roll over several times before crashing into a guard rail. The air bags failed to deploy. The driver sustained critical injuries and the front passenger sustained fatal injuries. Both the contact and front passenger required medical attention.
Tl* the contact owned a 2002 chevrolet tahoe. While driving at approximately 45 MPH, the contact crashed into a guard rail. The air bags did not deploy. A police report was filed. The contact sustained a fractured collar bone, several broken ribs, head trauma, brain bleeding, and strokes. The contact was placed into a medically induced coma and on a respiratory machine, but later died. The vehicle was towed to a savage yard. The vehicle was destroyed. The manufacturer was notified of the failure.
Tl - the contact owns a 2002 chevrolet tahoe. The contact stated that while the driver was driving at 45 MPH and attempted to avoid a crash with another vehicle. As a result, the driver crashed into a guardrail and the air bags failed to deploy. A police report was filed. The contact was taken to a hospital and sustained injuries to the ribs, the collar bones, a brain trauma and a collapsed lung. The driver suffered from fatal injuries. The vehicle was destroyed. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure.
I have an 02 chevy tahoe with only 70,000 miles on it garage kept was driving down the road one day and brake pedal went right to the floor almost crashed brake fluid all over the floor we looked under the vehicle and it was total rust and corroded I called the dealer to see if there was a recall they said that this is a known problem and I said that it should be a recall I almost got killed we take care of our vehicles very well and garage kept I can't afford the price of the brake lines or the labor I think that…
While traveling at highway speeds vehicle wanders left and right and ABS light appears. Codes are "erratic wheel speed" mechanic diagnosed front wheel hubs worn and must be replaced unknown if covered by possible recall due to unable to find part number. Also while turning left and right a "knocking clunking" noise is heard from front suspensions. Mechanic diagnosed worn idler arms after being replaced with oem. This can lead to loss of steering causing accident or injury.