2008 Chevrolet TAHOE problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
528 owner complaints analyzed
4 distinct recall campaigns
72,750 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2008 model year. Data snapshot: . 294 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Air Bags is the most frequently named component, appearing in 233 of 528 complaints (44.1%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical and battery issues | 37 | 7.0% |
| Steering behavior | 20 | 3.8% |
| Braking behavior | 16 | 3.0% |
| Engine operation | 12 | 2.3% |
| Transmission and shifting | 8 | 1.5% |
| Fuel system concerns | 5 | 0.9% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Air Bags | 233 |
| Unknown Or Other | 92 |
| Electrical System | 84 |
| Latches/Locks/Linkages | 56 |
| Structure:Body | 49 |
| Engine | 27 |
| Structure | 19 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 16 |
Air Bags: 233; Unknown Or Other: 92; Electrical System: 84; Latches/Locks/Linkages: 56; Structure:Body: 49; Engine: 27; Structure: 19; Vehicle Speed Control: 16
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 28 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 68 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 52 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 63 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 63 |
| 150,000 and above | 20 |
Under 25,000: 28; 25,000 to 49,999: 68; 50,000 to 74,999: 52; 75,000 to 99,999: 63; 100,000 to 149,999: 63; 150,000 and above: 20
25,000 to 49,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (68). 234 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2008 | 7 |
| 2009 | 8 |
| 2010 | 22 |
| 2011 | 26 |
| 2012 | 33 |
| 2013 | 28 |
| 2014 | 25 |
| 2015 | 34 |
| 2016 | 64 |
| 2017 | 106 |
| 2018 | 56 |
| 2019 | 66 |
| 2020 | 22 |
| 2021 | 17 |
| 2022 | 3 |
| 2023 | 2 |
| 2024 | 4 |
| 2025 | 3 |
| 2026 | 2 |
2008: 7; 2009: 8; 2010: 22; 2011: 26; 2012: 33; 2013: 28; 2014: 25; 2015: 34; 2016: 64; 2017: 106; 2018: 56; 2019: 66; 2020: 22; 2021: 17; 2022: 3; 2023: 2; 2024: 4; 2025: 3; 2026: 2
Pattern summary
Air Bags leads the component reports. Electrical and battery issues appears in 37 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 20 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 16 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10262265 · 2009-03-18 (March 18, 2009)
TURN VEHICLE IGNITION OFF TAKE THE KEY OUT OF THE IGNITION, OPEN THE DRIVER DOOR TO GET OUTI GET A FEW DINGS LIKE I HAVE LEFT THE KEY IN THE IGNITION. I CLOSE THE DRIVER DOOR, THE LIGHTS FLASH, HORN HONKS AND DOORS THEN LOCK. I HAVE DONE NOTHING TO MAKE THIS HAPPEN. IT IS AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM. THE TWO LOCAL CHEVY DEALERS CANNOT MAKE IT REPEAT THIS ISSUE AND BECAUSE THERE ARE NO CODES THAT COME UP, THEY TELL ME THEY CAN'T FIX IT. THE SECOND ISSUE IS MY TURN SIGNALS. I TURN ON A TURN SIGNAL, IT SHOWS UP GREEN, IT DOES NOT CLICK AT RAND…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10262265 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10288937 · 2009-10-19 (October 19, 2009)
I TOOK MY 2008 TAHOE IN FOR A DEAD BATTERY IT'S BEEN 4 MONTHS IN WERE ON THE 5TH BATTERY EVERY TIME I GET INTO MY TAHOE I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S GOING TO START. ON THE LAST ONE IT WAS SCARY I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT ABOUT 70 MPH WHEN THE STABILITY TRAC LIGHT CAME ON AND THEN MY CAR SHUT DOWN PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE AND THE CAR WAS DEAD HAD IT TOWED TO THE DEALER AND THE CAR STARTED WITH NO PROBLEM, I REFUSE TO TAKE THE CAR AND I CALLED GM TECH SUPPORT AND THEY TOOK OVER MY CASE WITH THE DEALER DIRECTLY AFTER 8 DAYS AT THE DEALER THE GM TECH C…
Owner-reported narrative. 21,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10288937 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10249282 · 2008-11-19 (November 19, 2008)
I HAVE EXTENSIVE DOCUMENTATION TO SHOW THAT I HAVE A CONSISTENT VIBRATION PROBLEM. TO DATE LOCAL CHEVY DEALERS HAVE REPLACED MY TIRES 3 TIMES, RIMS TWICE, NEW DRIVE SHAFT, NEW DRIVER SIDE REAR AXLE, NEW STEERING SHAFT, AND BALANCED MY TIRES 7 TIMES. I STILL HAVE THE VIBRATION AND NOW GOING THROUGH LEMON CLAIM. PLEASE CONTACT ME AS I HAVE 2 LETTERS WHICH OUTLINE ALL OF MY SERVICE RECORDS AND INCIDENTS. NOT ENOUGH ROOM ON HERE TO SUBMIT. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 5,600 miles reported. Look up ODI 10249282 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10430675 · 2011-10-18 (October 18, 2011)
THERE ARE SEVERAL CRACKS IN THE DASHBOARD OF MY 2008 CHEVY TAHOE. THERE ARE TWO SEPARATE PIECES TO THE DASH= THE FIRST: "PANEL ASSEMBLY, UPPER TRIM" HAS SEVERE CRACKS ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE AND PASSENGER SIDE. THE SECOND: "PANEL ASSEMBLY, INSTRUMENT" HAS A SMALL CRACK THAT IS TOUCHING THE PASSENGER AIR BAG PANEL & THERE IS A CRACK LEADING UP TO THE STEERING WHEEL. I AM VERY NERVOUS ABOUT THESE CRACKS BECAUSE IF A WRECK HAPPENS THEN I FEAR THIS DASHBOARD WOULD JUST BREAK APART AND SOMEHOW INTERFERE WITH THE DEPLOYMENT OF THE AIR BAGS. I HAVE …
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10430675 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10240551 · 2008-09-01 (September 1, 2008)
AFTER GETTING THE REQUIRED SOFTWARE UPDATE FROM GM, MY 2008 HYBRID TAHOE HAS HAD MULTIPLE EPISODES OF UNCONTROLLED ACCELERATION WHEN DRIVING ON CRUISE CONTROL. WHEN USING CRUISE CONTROL AT AROUND 30MPH AND WHEN REACHING AN INCLINE THAT REQUIRES SLIGHT ACCELERATION TO MAINTAIN SPEED, THE VEHICLE "FLOORS" ITSELF, DOWNSHIFTS AND ACCELERATES AGGRESSIVELY. I'VE HAD TO JUMP ONTO THE BRAKES TO AVOID LAUNCHING FORWARD. IF I HAD BEEN IN A SITUATION WHERE I WAS CLOSE TO ANOTHER VEHICLE OR OTHER OBJECT, OR IF I HAD NOT BEEN PAYING CLOSE ATTENTION, THE TRU…
Owner-reported narrative. 5,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10240551 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10278342 · 2009-07-26 (July 26, 2009)
MY VEHICLE 2008 CHEVY TAHOE LTZ 8 MONTHS OLD 16 K MILES ALL 4 ROTORS HAD METAL SHAVED AND GROVES FROM THE BRAKE PADS BUT THE PADS WAS 25 % WORN. CHEVY RESURFACE ROTORS AND REPLACE BRAKE PADS MY CONCERN IS SAFETY. IS THIS A WIDE SPREAD PROBLEM. ACCORDING TO MY MECHANIC YES BUT THEY DID NOT REPLACE THE ROTORS JUST RESURFACE THEM. IS THERE A BATCH OF CHEVY ROTORS THAT HAVE DEFECTIVE MATERIAL? *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 16,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10278342 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10565957 · 2014-02-26 (February 26, 2014)
TL- THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET TAHOE. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH THERE WAS STATIC COMING FROM THE RADIO AND THEN THE VEHICLE STALLED. THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE STATIC FROM THE RADIO ALSO CAUSED THE ELECTRIC WINDOWS TO OPEN AND CLOSE INTERMITTENTLY. THE FAILURE WAS DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE FULL BODY THROTTLE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS …
Owner-reported narrative. 76,127 miles reported. Look up ODI 10565957 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10568940 · 2014-03-13 (March 13, 2014)
WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE COMPLETELY STALLS NO ELECTRICAL NOT EVEN HAZARD LIGHTS. I WAS DRIVING AND RADIO STARTED TO STATIC AND THEN CAR STALLED WAS NOT ABLE TO TURN ON HAZARDS MAKING IT VERY DANGEROUS AS OTHER VEHICLES WERE NOT ABLE TO SEE THAT I WAS STALLED AND GOT VERY CLOSE TO HITTING MY TRUCK HAD TO CALL FOR HELP AS I WAS SITTING IN INTERSECTION HAD NO WAY OF TELLING THEM I WAS UNABLE TO MOVE HAD TO OPEN MY DOORS TO CALL ATTENTION TO DRIVERS. A DAY BEFORE I NOTICED THAT PROBLEM BEGAN WHEN I PARKED VEHICLE AND IGNITION KEY TURNED OFF ALL…
Owner-reported narrative. 77,120 miles reported. Look up ODI 10568940 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10293924 · 2009-11-29 (November 29, 2009)
AFTER COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP I PRESS ON THE ACCELERATOR, AT TIMES I PRESS HARDER AND HARDER BEFORE THE AUTO STARTS TO MOVE AND IT THEN GOES MUCH TO FAST. THIS DOES NOT HAPPEN AT EVERY STOP. IT IS EITHER IN THE ACCELERATOR OR THE TRANSMISSION. THE DEALER SHIP CAN NOT MAKE IT DUPLICATE THE SITUATION BECAUSE IT DOES NOT HAPPEN ALL OF THE TIME. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 24,113 miles reported. Look up ODI 10293924 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10352313 · 2010-08-27 (August 27, 2010)
2008 TAHOE FIRST SERVICE REPORTED A NOISE FROM THE CENTER OF VEHICLE AND PASSENGER REAR SIDE. SERVICE SAID NEEDED GREASE ON THE TRANSMISSION COLLAR AND THE SUSPENSION ON IN THE REAR. PROBLEM RECURS EVERY 6 TO 8 MONTHS. NEED PROBLEM RESOLVED. NOW OUT OF WARRANTY. WOW - NOW THEY WILL TELL ME WHAT THE PROBLEM IS AND HOW I CAN HAVE IT FIXED AND HOW MUCH IT WILL COST. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10352313 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10970277 · 2017-04-03 (April 3, 2017)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET TAHOE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD AN ABNORMAL FUEL ODOR. UPON INSPECTION, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE FUEL PUMP EXPERIENCED A LEAK DUE TO CORROSION AND THE MATERIAL USED TO MANUFACTURER THE FUEL PUMP. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED WITH AN ALUMINUM FUEL PUMP MODULE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THEY COULD NOT ASSIST BECAUSE THERE WAS NO RECALL. THE VIN WAS INVALID. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMA…
Owner-reported narrative. 161,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10970277 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10981129 · 2017-04-27 (April 27, 2017)
FIRE HAZARD EXPLOSION HAZARD ENVIRONMENTAL HAZARD. WHILE IN MOTION PRESSURIZED FUEL LINES AT THE FURL PUMP CAN UNEXPECTEDLY FAIL DUE TO CORROSION RESULTING IN FUEL BEING PUMPED OUT OF THE VEHICLE ONTO THE UNDER SURFACES OF THE VEHICLE AND THE ROADWAY. AS MUCH AS 25 GALLONS OF FUEL CAN BE EXPELLED FROM THE VEHICLE WHILE IN MOTION WITH NO WARNING TO THE DRIVER OTHER THAT A RAPIDLY DIMINISHING OF AMOUNT OF FUEL REMAINING AS SHOWN BY THE FUEL GAGE. THE VEHICLE WAS BEING DRIVEN ON AN INTERSTATE HIGHWAY WHEN THE FAULT OCCURRED BUT IT WAS NOT NOTIC…
Owner-reported narrative. 86,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10981129 at NHTSA ↗