1996 Chevrolet TAHOE: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
146 owner complaints analyzed
3 distinct recall campaigns
110,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1996 model year. Data snapshot: . 41 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer:Motor is the most frequently named component, appearing in 14 of 146 complaints (9.6%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 33 | 22.6% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 24 | 16.4% |
| Transmission and shifting | 14 | 9.6% |
| Steering behavior | 13 | 8.9% |
| Fuel system concerns | 9 | 6.2% |
| Engine operation | 5 | 3.4% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer:Motor | 14 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 11 |
| Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer | 11 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip | 10 |
| Air Bags | 8 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Fuel Pump | 8 |
| Electrical System:12v/24v/48v Battery | 7 |
| Electrical System | 6 |
Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer:Motor: 14; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 11; Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer: 11; Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip: 10; Air Bags: 8; Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Fuel Pump: 8; Electrical System:12v/24v/48v Battery: 7; Electrical System: 6
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 1 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 0 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 3 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 8 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 23 |
| 150,000 and above | 6 |
Under 25,000: 1; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 3; 75,000 to 99,999: 8; 100,000 to 149,999: 23; 150,000 and above: 6
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (23). 105 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 |
|---|---|
| 1995 | 1 |
| 1996 | 12 |
| 2000 | 43 |
| 2001 | 18 |
| 2002 | 22 |
| 2003 | 6 |
| 2004 | 12 |
| 2005 | 11 |
| 2006 | 4 |
| 2007 | 1 |
| 2008 | 3 |
| 2010 | 5 |
| 2011 | 2 |
| 2013 | 2 |
| 2014 | 1 |
| 2016 | 1 |
| 2020 | 2 |
1995: 1; 1996: 12; 2000: 43; 2001: 18; 2002: 22; 2003: 6; 2004: 12; 2005: 11; 2006: 4; 2007: 1; 2008: 3; 2010: 5; 2011: 2; 2013: 2; 2014: 1; 2016: 1; 2020: 2
Pattern summary
Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer:Motor leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 33 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 24 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 14 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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10001530 · 2002-12-26 (December 26, 2002)
THE WINDSHIELD WIPER COMES ON AND OFF INTERMITTENTLY. WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. DEALER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. TS THIS VEHICLE RUNS OFF OF ETHANOL. AT TIMES, THE WIPERS WILL NOT SHUT OFF. REPAIRS HAVE NOT BEEN MADE AS OF YET. *JG
Owner-reported narrative. 90,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10001530 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10003408 · 2003-01-25 (January 25, 2003)
SEAT BACKS BROKE DURING REAR END COLLISION
Owner-reported narrative. 130,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10003408 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10008840 · 2002-04-23 (April 23, 2002)
AT A SPEED OF 50 MPH I APPLIED BRAKES ON THE APPROACH OF A STOP LIGHT. THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT DOWN ABOUT TWO INCHES AND THEN CATAPULTED UP VARY QUICKLY. AT THIS POINT THE PEDAL WAS VERY HARD. WHICH IF THE VACUUM BOOSTER FAILED IT SHOULD HAVE LEFT ME WITH HYDRAULIC MANUAL BRAKES, AND IT DID NOT. I HAD TO STOP THE TRUCK WITH THE EMERGENCY BRAKE AFTER ROLLING THROUGH A RED LIGHT AT ABOUT 30 TO 40 MPH. I REPLACED THE VACUUM BOOSTER AND IT FIXED THE PROBLEM. CHEVY CUSTOMER SERVICE DEPT. WAS CALLED AND A CASE WAS OPENED #C06749958. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE…
Owner-reported narrative. 84,700 miles reported. Look up ODI 10008840 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10010779 · 2003-03-20 (March 20, 2003)
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
Owner-reported narrative. 80,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10010779 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10019019 · 2003-05-20 (May 20, 2003)
INTAKE MANIFOLD LEAKS CAN LEAD TO ANY NUMBER OF VERY SERIOUS, AND EXPENSIVE, PROBLEMS. WHILE THE PART ITSELF ISN'T COSTLY, THE LABOR TO REPAIR IT IS VERY INTENSIVE, AND HAS BEEN QUOTED AROUND $800 USD (GIVE OR TAKE A COUPLE HUNDRED DEPENDING ON THE VEHICLE). THIS IS IN ADDITION TO ANY OTHER COSTLY PROBLEM(S) THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKET LEAK MAY HAVE PRODUCED. WE ARE DEMANDING ACCOUNTABILITY FROM GENERAL MOTORS. A NATIONWIDE BACKORDER SHOULD BE REASON ENOUGH FOR GM TO ASSEMBLE A RECALL. WE CAN ONLY HOPE THAT THE WORLD'S LARGEST VEHICLE MANUFACT…
Owner-reported narrative. 105,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10019019 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10032882 · 2003-08-15 (August 15, 2003)
1996 CHEVROLET TAHOE 2 WHEEL DRIVE 4 DOOR 5.7 VORTEC FUEL PUMP FAILURE. I HAVE REPLACED THE FUEL PUMP ASSEMBLY 3 TIMES IN THE LAST 45,000 MILES(4 MONTHS)THE WIRING CONNECTOR TO THE PUMP GETS HOT AND MELTS THE WIRES INSIDE THE PUMP THE LAST ONE HAD MELTED THE WIRE BARE INSIDE THE TANK.THE PUMP STILL WORKS BUT THE PUMP ASSEMBLY IS UNUSABLE DUE TO MELTING OF THE HOUSING AND RESULTING LEAKAGE. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 110,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10032882 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10036849 · 2003-08-29 (August 29, 2003)
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
Owner-reported narrative. 136,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10036849 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10040479 · 2003-09-24 (September 24, 2003)
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
Owner-reported narrative. 100,388 miles reported. Look up ODI 10040479 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
3 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
03V159000 · Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer
Reported: 2003-04-28 (April 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: 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.
NHTSA campaign record ↗96V057000 · Vehicle Speed Control
Reported: 1996-04-04 (April 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: 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.
NHTSA campaign record ↗98V150001 · Visibility:Windshield Wiper/Washer
Reported: 1998-07-01 (July 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: 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.
NHTSA campaign record ↗