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U.S. public vehicle records

2008 Chevrolet TAHOE: complaints, problems and recalls

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.

Owner-reported patterns

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.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Electrical and battery issues377.0%
Steering behavior203.8%
Braking behavior163.0%
Engine operation122.3%
Transmission and shifting81.5%
Fuel system concerns50.9%

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.

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
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Air Bags233
Unknown Or Other92
Electrical System84
Latches/Locks/Linkages56
Structure:Body49
Engine27
Structure19
Vehicle Speed Control16

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.

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
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,00028
25,000 to 49,99968
50,000 to 74,99952
75,000 to 99,99963
100,000 to 149,99963
150,000 and above20

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.

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
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
20087
20098
201022
201126
201233
201328
201425
201534
201664
2017106
201856
201966
202022
202117
20223
20232
20244
20253
20262

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.

Examples from the source records

Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.

Owner report 10229512 · 2008-06-02 (June 2, 2008)

TIRE KEPT GOING LOW. I HAVE HAD VEHICLE FOR 3 MONTHS AND BOUGHT BRAND NEW VEHICLE. TIRE IS SEPARATING... DEALERSHIP WILL ONLY REPLACE THE ONE TIRE WHERE I REQUESTED ALL BECAUSE ALL HAVE SAME DATA. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 7,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10229512 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10234363 · 2008-07-15 (July 15, 2008)

AS STATED ON PREVIOUS CONSUMER REPORTS THE MPG ON THE CHEVY TAHOE 2008 IS FALSE I CAN'T GET NO MORE THAN 13 MILES TO THE GALLON & 15 MILES ON THE HIGHWAY. THIS IS FALSE ADVERTISEMENT ON GMC. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 1,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10234363 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10240015 · 2008-08-27 (August 27, 2008)

EXCESSIVE LINT BUILD UP ON EBONY CLOTH SEATS IN 08 CHEVY. TAHOE. GM KNOWS THERE IS A PROBLEM - GM BULLETIN #07-08-50-018A, 10/02/2007 MODELS 2007AND 08 TAHOES AND MANY OTHER MODELS BUILT WITH CLOTH SEATS PRIOR TO 8/01/07. SUPPOSED TO RECOVER THE SEATS BUT AFTER MANY PHONE CALLS BACK AND FORTH WITH GM THEY ARE NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING FOR US. OUR TAHOE IS A 08, # . THE FABRIC SEATS PULL CLOTH FIBERS FROM ANY TYPE OF CLOTHING YOU ARE WEARING AND THE SEATS LOOK FILTHY ALL THE TIME. THE FIBERS ARE DIFFICULT TO REMOVE WITH A LINT BRUSH OR A V…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10240015 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10240218 · 2008-08-29 (August 29, 2008)

2008 CHEVROLET TAHOE LTZ HAS HAD SERVICE AIRBAG WARNINGS DISPLAYED SINCE THE DAY WE PURCHASED IT NEW FROM THE CHEVROLET DEALER. DEALER REPAIRED DAY OF PURCHASE AND IT WAS BEEN RETURNED TO DEALER THREE ADDITIONAL TIMES FOR THE SAME PROBLEM; SERVICE AIRBAG LIGHT ILLUMINATES IN THE DRIVER INFORMATION CENTER. WE'VE RECEIVED A DIFFERENT REPORT OF THE PROBLEM AND THE SOLUTION EACH TIME FROM THE DEALER SERVICE DEPARTMENT. THE MOST RECENT TIME, ONSTAR ACTUALLY CALLED THE VEHICLE AND TOLD US THEY WERE RECEIVING AIRBAG WARNINGS FROM THE VEHICLE AND TH…

Owner-reported narrative. 49 miles reported. Look up ODI 10240218 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 10244442 · 2008-10-05 (October 5, 2008)

2008 TAHOE LTZ - AUTOMATIC LOAD LEVELING AIR SUSPENSION IN THE REAR IS PRESSURED UP SO HIGH THAT IT IS AS IF THERE IS NO SUSPENSION IN THE REAR. IT WILL NOT ADJUST TO LOWER PRESSURE. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS. ON THE HIGHWAY SATURDAY, A ROAD THAT I HAVE TRAVELED MANY TIMES IN ANOTHER VEHICLE, I RAN OVER TWO SMALL BUMPS AND THE REAR END OF THE TAHOE BOUNCED OFF THE ROAD. HAD I NOT CORRECTLY CORRECTED I MAY NOT BE WRITING THIS. AGAIN, THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS DEFECT. I WILL TAKE THE TAHOE IN TO MICHAEL CHEVROLET TOMORROW MORNING AND HOPE THEY …

Owner-reported narrative. 3,100 miles reported. Look up ODI 10244442 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 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 ↗

Recall history

4 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.

08V441000 · Electrical System

Reported: 2008-08-28 (August 28, 2008)

GM IS RECALLING 857,735 MY 2006-2008 BUICK LUCERNE; CADILLAC DTS; HUMMER H2; MY 2007-2008 CADILLAC ESCALADE, ESCALADE ESV, ESCALADE EXT; CHEVROLET AVALANCHE, SILVERADO, SUBURBAN, TAHOE; GMC ACADIA, SIERRA, YUKON, YUKON XL, SATURN OUTLOOK; AND MY 2008 BUICK ENCLAVE VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A HEATED WIPER WASHER FLUID SYSTEM. A SHORT CIRCUIT ON THE PRINTED CIRCUIT BOARD FOR THE WASHER FLUID HEATER MAY OVERHEAT THE CONTROL-CIRCUIT GROUND WIRE.

Consequence: THIS MAY CAUSE OTHER ELECTRICAL FEATURES TO MALFUNCTION, CREATE AN ODOR, OR CAUSE SMOKE INCREASING THE RISK OF A FIRE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A WIRE HARNESS WITH AN IN-LINE FUSE FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON SEPTEMBER 12, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT BUICK AT 1-866-608-8080; CADILLAC AT 1-800-982-2339 OR HTTP://WWW.CADILLAC.COM; CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438; SATURN AT 1-800-972-8876 OR HTTP://WWW.SATURN.COM, GMC AT 1-866-996-9436; OR HUMMER AT 1-800-732-5493; OR THROUGH THEIR WEBSITE AT <A HREF=HTTP://WWW.GMOWNERCENTER.COM>HTTP://WWW.GMOWNERCENTER.COM</A> .

NHTSA campaign record ↗
10V240000 · Electrical System

Reported: 2010-06-04 (June 4, 2010)

GM IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2006-2009 BUICK, LUCERNE; CADILLAC DTS; HUMMER H2; MODEL YEAR 2008-2009 BUICK ENCLAVE; CADILLAC CTS; MODEL YEAR 2007-2009 CADILLAC ESCALADE, ESCALADE ESV, ESCALADE EXT; CHEVROLET AVALANCHE, SILVERADO, SUBURBAN, TAHOE; GMC ACADIA, SIERRA, YUKON, YUKON XL; SATURN OUTLOOK; AND MODEL YEAR 2009 CHEVROLET TRAVERSE VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A HEATED WASHER FLUID SYSTEM (HWFS). A RECALL WAS IMPLEMENTED IN 2008 TO ADD A FUSE TO THE CONTROL CIRCUIT HARNESS TO ADDRESS THE POTENTIAL CONSEQUENCES OF A PRINTED CIRCUIT BOARD (PCB) ELECTRICAL SHORT. HOWEVER, THERE HAVE BEEN NEW REPORTS OF THERMAL INCIDENTS ON HWFS MODULES AFTER THIS IMPROVEMENT WAS INSTALLED. THESE INCIDENTS RESULTED FROM A NEW FAILURE MODE ATTRIBUTED TO THE DEVICE'S THERMAL PROTECTION FEATURE. THE SIGNIFICANCE VARIES FROM MINOR DISTORTION TO CONSIDERABLE MELTING OF THE PLASTIC AROUND THE HWFS FLUID CHAMBER.

Consequence: IT IS POSSIBLE FOR THE HEATED WASHER MODULE TO IGNITE AND A FIRE MAY OCCUR.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL PERMANENTLY DISABLE AND REMOVE THE HEATED WASHER FLUID MODULE. AN UPDATED PAGE FOR THE OWNER MANUAL WILL BE PROVIDED AND INSERTED IN THE OWNER MANUAL TO DOCUMENT THAT THE FEATURE HAS BEEN PERMANENTLY DISABLED AND REMOVED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JUNE 11, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT BUICK AT 1-866-608-8080, CADILLAC AT 1-866-982-2339, CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438, SATURN AT 1-800-972-8876, GMC AT 1-866-996-9463 AND HUMMER AT 1-800-732-5493 OR AT THE OWNER CENTER AT WWW.GMOWNERCENTER.COM.

NHTSA campaign record ↗
21V050000 · Air Bags:Frontal:Passenger Side:Inflator Module

Reported: 2021-02-05 (February 5, 2021)

General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2007-2011 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, Escalade EXT, Chevrolet Avalanche, Silverado 1500, Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Sierra 1500, Yukon, Yukon XL, and 2009-2011 Chevrolet Silverado 2500, Silverado 3500, GMC Sierra 2500 and Sierra 3500 vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U.S. Virgin Islands or "Zone A." Additionally, GM is recalling certain 2007-2008 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, Escalade EXT, Chevrolet Avalanche, Silverado 1500, Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Sierra 1500, Yukon, Yukon XL vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia or "Zone B." These vehicles are equipped with non-desiccated passenger frontal inflators containing phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate (PSAN) propellant. These inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, high temperatures, and high temperature cycling.

Consequence: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, resulting in serious injury or death.

Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator with an alternate one, free of charge. Interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk were mailed on February 22, 2021. Second notification letters will be mailed once the remedy is available. Owner notification letters were mailed on March 1, 2021. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020; Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006; and GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is N212328760.

NHTSA campaign record ↗
21V052000 · Air Bags:Frontal:Passenger Side:Inflator Module

Reported: 2021-02-05 (February 5, 2021)

General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2009 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, Escalade EXT, Chevrolet Avalanche, Silverado 1500, Silverado 2500, Silverado 3500, Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Sierra 1500, Sierra 2500, Sierra 3500, Yukon, and Yukon XL vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia or "Zone B." Additionally, GM is recalling certain 2007-2008 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, and Escalade EXT, Chevrolet Avalanche, Silverado 1500, Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Sierra 1500, Yukon, and Yukon XL vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming or "Zone C." These vehicles are equipped with non-desiccated passenger frontal inflators containing phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate (PSAN) propellant. These inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, high temperatures, and high temperature cycling.

Consequence: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, resulting in serious injury or death.

Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator with an alternate one, free of charge. Interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk were mailed on February 23, 2021. Second notification letters will be mailed once the remedy is available. Owner notification letters were mailed on September 20, 2021. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006, and GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is N212328780.

NHTSA campaign record ↗