1996 Chevrolet Tahoe recalls & problems

Safety recalls

Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. A recall listed here may already have been fixed on a particular car: enter its 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see open recalls.

Crash test ratings

NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (New Car Assessment Program). Ratings are comparable only between vehicles of similar size and weight, and ratings from 2011 on use tougher tests than earlier years. Photos: NHTSA.

Fuel economy

EPA estimates from fueleconomy.gov for each engine and transmission sold. Annual cost is the EPA's estimate for 15,000 miles a year at its current fuel and electricity price assumptions. Your results will vary.

What owners report

*Median odometer reading when the problem happened, where owners gave one. One complaint can name several problem areas.

Recent owner complaints

• TiresCrash

  TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 CHEVROLET TAHOE EQUIP WITH DEXTEERO DHT2 TIRES, SIZED: P265/75R/16, DOT 01BTHBAC00420, AND LINE: NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH AND MAKING A LEFT TURN THE FRONT DRIVERS SIDE TIRE SUDDENLY EXPERIENCED A BLOW OUT CAUSING THE DRIVER TO LOOSE CONTROL OF THE STEERING AND CRASHED INTO A GUARD RAIL. NO INJURIES WERE REPORTED. NO POLICE REPORT WAS TAKEN AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED AWAY. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE LOCAL DEALER WALMART LOCATED AT 10404 6TH ST RANCH CUCAMONGA CA. NOTIFIED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE SAME FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 100 FOR THE TIRE. *LN* *BF *TR

  Aug 29, 2020 · 240,000 miles
• Air bags

  I HAVE A 1996 CHEVY TAHOE WHICH I HAVE BEEN THE ORIGINAL OWNER SINCE NEW. I RECENTLY HAD MAINTENANCE PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE AND HAD THE SHOP CHECK THE DRIVERS SIDE AIR BAG BECAUSE THE CHECK AIR BAG INDICATOR LIGHT WAS COMING ON DURING THE OPERATION OF THE VEHICLE. THE REPAIR SHOP INDICATED TO ME THAT THE SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED BUT THE SENSOR WAS NO LONGER AVAILABLE EVEN AFTER A STATES WIDE SEARCH WAS PERFORMED. I CONTACTED GENERAL MOTORS ONLY TO FIND OUT THE PART HAS BEEN DISCONTINUED AND NO REPLACEMENT PART IS AVAILABLE. THE PART NUMBER FROM GM IS #16162465 AND THERE IS NO AFTER MARKET PARTS. IS GENERAL MOTORS STILL RESPONSIBLE FOR A REPLACEMENT PART FOR THIS REQUIRED SAFETY ITEM…

  Mar 30, 2020 · 144,906 miles
• Service brakesCrash

  TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1996 CHEVROLET TAHOE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH AND PUSHING ANOTHER VEHICLE, THE BRAKES FAILED WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. AS A RESULT, BOTH VEHICLES CRASHED INTO A WALL. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 170,000.

  Aug 13, 2013 · 170,000 miles
• Electrical system

  MY HUSBAND WAS DRIVING OUR 1996 TAHOE WHEN IT JUST STOPPED! WE FOUND THAT THE KEY HAD SHUT OFF WHILE DRIVING. WE WERE IN THE MIDDLE OF A THRUWAY WHEN EVERYONE WAS DRIVING 60 MPH. A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION INDEED. THIS HAS HAPPENED 3 TIMES IN THE YEAR I'VE OWNED THE VEHICLE. WE ARE ALSO HAVING A PROBLEM WITH THE WIPERS WORKING INTERMITTENTLY AND SOMETIMES GET STUCK IN THE MIDDLE OF THE WINDSHIELD OR JUMPING ACROSS THE WINDSHIELD POP, POP, POP.ETC. *TR

  Mar 20, 2013 · 80 miles
• Vehicle speed control

  VEHICLE STOP SHUT DOWN COMPLETE WITH JERKING BEFORE SHUTTING DOWN STOP PULLING AND LOST ALL POWER NOW SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT IS ON AND ANTI-LOCK BRAKE LIGHT IS ON AND WANT SHIFT INTO SECOND GEAR AS IF SOMETHING IS WRONG WITH TRANSMISSION. *TR

  May 17, 2013 · 125,000 miles
• Structure › Body

  PAINT STARTED CHIPPING/PEELING OFF FROM DRIVERS FRONT FINDER AND HOOD IN APPROX. 2009 TO TODAYS DATE (08/21/2013). PS WE ARE THE ORIGINAL OWNERS AND OUR TAHOE HAS BEEN KEPT UP IN TOP CONDITION. *TR

  Aug 5, 2009 · 110,000 miles
• Service brakes, hydraulic

  UNWANTED ANTILOCK BRAKE ACTIVATION AT LOW SPEED STARTED INTERMITTENT NOW CONSISTENT IN UNWANTED ACTIVATION RESULTING IN INCREASED STOPPING DISTANCE. THERE IS A CURRENT CAMPAIGN FOR 1999-2002 THAT SHOULD BE EXPANDED TO INCLUDE 1996 VEHICLES. CAMPAIGN NO. 05V379000. *TR

  Aug 1, 2011 · 130,000 miles
• Seats

  DRIVER POWER SEAT WILL NOT OPERATE . I HAVE READ SIMILAR COMPLAINTS ON THE WEB ABOUT THE FAILURE OF SEAT WORKING PROPERLY AND HAS THERE BEEN A RECALL? I HAVE OWNED THE VEHICLE NEW AND THE ONLY DRIVER. I ONLY WEIGHT 90LBS. *TR

  Apr 16, 2005 · 50,000 miles

Owner complaints are submitted to NHTSA by the public and are not verified. Shown as filed (NHTSA removes personal details); long reports are shortened.

NHTSA defect investigations

• WINDSHIELD WIPER FAILUREClosedLed to recall 03V159000

  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.

  EA02006 · opened May 31, 2002 · closed Jul 23, 2003
• SEAT BELT ANCHORAGE SEPARATIONClosed

  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.

  PE01023 · opened Jul 17, 2001 · closed Dec 20, 2001
• HEADLIGHTClosed
  EA00024 · opened Sep 26, 2000 · closed Dec 21, 2001
• BATTERY LEAKS ACIDClosed

  There is no summary currently available

  EA00013 · opened May 2, 2000 · closed Jun 28, 2002
• HEADLIGHTClosed

  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…

  PE00017 · opened Apr 11, 2000 · closed Sep 26, 2000
• BATTERY LEAKS ACIDClosed

  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…

  PE99073 · opened Dec 3, 1999 · closed May 2, 2000
• FRONT SEAT RECLINER BOLT FAILUREClosedLed to recall 99V130000
  RQ99015 · opened Jul 14, 1999 · closed Dec 28, 2001