2002 Chevrolet Tahoe Electrical Problems

Your seat caught on fire due to faulty wiring underneath the seat. This is a serious electrical hazard that created a fire risk in your vehicle. The problem likely involves damaged or short-circuiting wires in the seat's electrical system that need immediate inspection and replacement.

Your Tahoe has multiple issues: the engine is leaking oil, both front and rear brakes aren't working properly, and the starter is failing. You're also experiencing intermittent check engine warning lights that come and go, problems with the rear window controls, audio system failures, worn bald tires on the front driver side and rear passenger side, and seat belts that are difficult to latch securely. These problems will likely require visits to a mechanic to replace or repair the engine gaskets, brake components, starter motor, and tires, plus electrical diagnosis for the warning lights and window/audio issues.

DURING THE PAST SEVEN YEARS, AT RANDOM INTERVALS RANGING FROM DAYS, MONTHS AND YEARS, MY TAHOE WILL NOT START. I HAVE HAD IT CHECKED BY A CHEVROLET DEALER AND AN INDEPENDENT AUTOMOTIVE SHOP. THEY ARE UNABLE TO REPLICATE THE PROBLEM. THIS HAPPENS WHEN I STOP THE VEHICLE TO GET GAS, PARK IT TO GO SHOPPING OR TO A DOCTOR'S OFFICE. I NEVER KNOW IF IT IS GOING TO START OR NOT. I FEAR FOR THE SAFETY OF MY WIFE AND SON WHEN THEY ARE OPERATING THE TAHOE IN CASE THIS HAPPENS TO THEM. AT FIRST, I THOUGHT IT WAS JUST MY VEHICLE. BUT, RESEARCHING THE INTERNET TODAY, I FIND THAT COUNTLESS OTHERS HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM WITH A VARIETY OF GM AND GMC VEHICLES -- PRIMARILY SUVS AND PICKUP TRUCKS. THERE ARE EVEN VIDEOS BY DRIVERS WHO HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM AS I HAVE EXPERIENCED: THE VEHICLE WILL NOT START. AFTER WAITING ANYWHERE FROM 10 MINUTES TO OVER AN HOUR AND CONTINUOUSLY TRYING, THE VEHICLES WILL START LIKE NOTHING WAS WRONG. I'VE HAD AAA MECHANICS WHOM I'VE CALLED TO TOW MY TAHOE WITNESS THIS MALADY. I FIRMLY BELIEVE GM/GMC SHOULD ISSUE A RECALL AND REPAIR THIS PROBLEM BEFORE SOMETHING TRAGIC HAPPENS TO SOMEONE WHO CANNOT START THEIR VEHICLE WHEN THEY ARE IN A DANGEROUS SITUATION SUCH AS AT NIGHT OR IN AN INTERSECTION.

PURCHASED THE TRUCK BRAND NEW IN 2002 AND HAVE HAD NOTHING BUT HELL FROM IT. WE'VE HAD SEVERAL ISSUES, SEVERAL BREAKDOWNS AND STRANDED MOMENTS ON THE HIGHWAY DUE TO SOMETHING MALFUNCTIONED IN THE FUEL SYSTEM THAT EVEN CHEVY COULDN'T FIGURE OUT. IT'S BEEN UNRELIABLE AND GIVEN US HELL THE ENTIRE TIME WE'VE OWNED IT. WE'VE DUMPED THOUSANDS $$ INTO REPAIRS IN THE LAST 15 YEARS. MOST RECENTLY A NEW TRANSMISSION AFTER IT WENT OUT ON US TOWING A SMALL TRAILER WITH A TOW PACKAGE THAT COULDN'T TOW. WE'VE DUMPED ENOUGH MONEY INTO THIS TRUCK TO HAVE PURCHASED ANOTHER TRUCK BRAND NEW. ON 3/28/16 THE TRUCK SPONTANIOUSLY CAUGHT FIRE AND BURNED DOWN WHILE UNOCCUPIED AND PARKED IN OUR DRIVEWAY. TO ADD TO THE HARDSHIP WE HAD JUST REDUCED THE INSURANCE TO LIABILITY AFTER CARRYING FULL COVERAGE FOR THE PAST 15 YRS. THE TRUCK IS A TOTAL LOSS AND NOW WE ARE WITHOUT TRANSPORTATION!! WHAT HAPPENED CHEVY?

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET TAHOE. WHILE DRIVING AT 45 MPH, THE ABS WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT APPLIED THE BRAKE PEDAL AND HEARD AN ABNORMAL NOISE. THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF AND WOULD NOT RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 180,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET TAHOE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE KEY FAILED TO TURN TO START THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE PASS LOCK FAILED TO WORK. THE FAILURE OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO RESTART AFTER NUMEROUS ATTEMPTS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,167.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET TAHOE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENGINE COULD NOT BE STARTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS REPLACED. THE CONTACT WAS MADE AWARE OF A MANUFACTURER'S RECALL PERTAINING TO THE IGNITION SWITCH, HOWEVER HER VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 205,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET TAHOE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE HEADLIGHTS SUDDENLY FAILED TO ILLUMINATE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS FAULTY AND MALFUNCTIONED. THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS REPLACED AND THE FAILURE WAS REMEDIED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 175,000.

IN 2009 MY IGNITION SWITCH WOULD NOT WORK.I WOULD TRY 3 OR 4 TIMES TO START THE CAR AND IT WOULD FINALLY START. IT OCCURRED DRIVING FOR ABOUT 1 HOUR OVER BUMPY ROADS. I HAD WESELOH CHEVROLET DIAGNOSE IT BUT THEY COULDN'T IDENTIFY THE PROBLEM. FINALLY THEY INSTALLED A NEW IGNITION SWITCH AND CHARGED ME 425.OO AND IT STILL SHUTS OFF. NOW I FIN D OUT THEY KNEW ABOUT THIS IN 2003.MY CAR IS UNSAFE.THEY INSTALLE ANOTHER DEFECTIVE IGNITION SWITCH. THE DEALERSHIP IS IN CARLSBAD CALIFORNIA.THEIR PHONE NUMBER IS[XXX] PLEASE HELP. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET TAHOE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES WHERE THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE IGNITION WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 104,000.

TL - THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET TAHOE. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE WOULD OCCUR INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE THE FAILURE WAS UNABLE TO BE REPLICATED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WERE 187,000. RK UPDATED 04/17/14*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE IGNITION CUT OFF WHILE DRIVING. UPDATED 05/20/14

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET TAHOE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE ABS WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSIS OR REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 46,273.

IT STARTED ON OCT. 15, 2013, I WENT OUTSIDE O START MY TRUCK AND IT WOULD NOT START I HAD TO GET A JUMP FOR IT TO TURN OVER. IT HAPPENS EVERYDAY. I REPLACED THE BATTERY AS WELL AS THE STARTER RECENTLY. I HAVE TO PUT IT ON CHARGE EVERY OTHER NIGHT SINCE SOMETHING IN THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM IS CAUSING IT TO DRAIN. I HAVE YET TO FIND OUT WHAT. THERE IS NOTHING LEFT ON AT NIGHT OR WHEN I PARK IT DURING THE DAY. I AM TRYING TO FIND OUT IF THERE IS A POSSIBLE WIRING ISSUE THAT IS CAUSING SOMETHING TO KICK BACK ON & RUN WHEN IT IS NOT STARTED. I HAVE HEARD OTHER PEOPLE COMPLAINING ABOUT THE SAME ISSUE FOR THE SAME YEAR TAHOE THAT I HAVE; BUT THERE SEEMS TO BE NO ONE ADDRESSING IT. *TR

WHEN THE A/C FAN IS TURNED ON..IT BEGINS TO MAKE A FLUTTERING NOISE THE WHOLE TIME YOU ARE DRIVING.( VERY LOUD). I HAVE HAD TO A/C BELTS TO BREAK BECAUSE OF THIS FLUTTERING. THE COMPRESSOR MUST BE LOCKING UP. *TR

2002 CHEVROLET TAHOE DRIVERS SEAT HEATER SHOCKING DRIVER AND BURNING HOLES THROUGH THE SEAT AND LEATHER. THIS OCCURS WHETHER THE HEATER IS TURNED OFF OR ON. *TR

I HAVE A 02'CHEVY IMPALA WHEN I TURN IT ON ALL ELECTRIC COMES ON AND THE ENGINE RUNS FOR A SPLIT SECOND AND DIES THEN THE BATTERY LIGHT AND SERVICE TRACTION SYSTEM COMES ON I GOT THE FUEL PUMP AND SENSOR REPLACED STILL THE SAME PROBLEM OCCURS. I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE IT FOR A FEW MILES AFTER READING THE MANUAL AND PUSHING THE GAS TO THE FLOOR WHILE HOLDING THE KEYS ON FOR THREE SECONDS BUT EVENTUALLY IT DIED AGAIN. PLEASE HELP!!!!! *TR

THIS IS A GENERAL POINT OF INFORMATION MESSAGE: FOR THE LAST DECADE OR MORE, GM VEHICLES HAVE A PROPENSITY TO BURN OUT THEIR LAMPS DUE TO AN OVERCHARGE CONDITION (CAUSE UNKNOWN TO ME); THIS CONDITION CAN AFFECT ANY OF THE LAMPS OR BULBS, MOST NOTICABLY HEADLAMPS, TAIL LIGHTS, AND RUNNING (PARKING) LAMPS. COULD YOU PLEASE INVESTIGATE THIS ELECTRICAL DEFECT IN ALL GM VEHICLES.*TR

MY 2002 CHEV TAHOE SPEEDOMETER IS NOT WORKING CORRECTLY. IT SHOWS I AM GOING ABOUT 5 MPH SLOWER THAN I ACTUALLY AM. *JB

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WITHOUT WARNING, THE INSTRUMENT PANEL BECAME INOPERABLE. THE DEALERSHIP DETERMINED THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. UPDATED 05/02/06

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE WINDSHIELD WASHER FLUID RESERVOIR HAD BEEN RECENTLY FILLED. WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH IN RAINY CONDITIONS IT FAILED TO DISPENSE ANY FLUID. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP WHO DETERMINED THAT BATTERY ACID HAD LEAKED ONTO THE RESERVOIR AND CAUSED A HOLE WHICH ALLOWED THE FLUID TO LEAK OUT. THE DEALER REPLACED THE RESERVOIR, WASHER PUMP AND HOSES, BUT DID NOT REPLACE THE BATTERY. THE SAME PROBLEM OCCURRED WITH THE VEHICLE PREVIOUSLY AND DEALER REPLACED ONLY THE WASHER HOSES AND THE PUMP. UPDATED 6/16/2006- *NM

DT: 2002 CHEVROLET IMPALA LS. THE CONSUMER STATED CAR DEVELOPED A SPORADIC FAILURE OF TURN SIGNALS. THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING FOR ABOUT 3 WEEKS. INVOLVED LEFT AND RIGHT TURN SIGNALS. THE CONSUMER CONTACTED CHEVROLET, THEY TOLD THE CONSUMER TO CONTACT THE DEALER, IMPERIAL CHEVROLET. HOWEVER, THE DEALER TOLD THE CONSUMER SHE WOULD HAVE TO PAY $46.00 JUST TO LOOK AT CAR. THE CONSUMER STATED THAT AN ARTICLE IN LOCAL NEWSPAPER STATED THERE HAS BEEN A TREND OF FAULTY IGNITION SWITCHES IN THIS MODEL VEHICLE. WHEN THE CONSUMER CALLED IMPERIAL CHEVROLET THEY STATED THEY WERE WELL AWARE OF THE PROBLEM WITH THE FAULTY IGNITION SWITCHES. *AK

MY 2002 CHEVROLET TAHOE STARTED GIVING ME TROUBLE ON 9/23/05. THE MESSAGE CENTER NEVER CAME ON TO SHOW THAT THE BATTERY WAS WEAK. ON 9/24/05, IT WOULDN'T START, I GOT A BOOST, I WENT TO YAZOO MOTOR'S TO CHECK THE BATTERY, I WAS TOLD SINCE THEIR ELECTRICITY WAS OFF (LIGHTS WERE OFF AT THE TIME), THEY COULDN'T CHECK IT. I WAS TOLD TO BRING THE TRUCK BACK MONDAY. I EXPLAINED TO THEM THAT I HAD TO GET IT JUMP-STARTED TO GET HERE. I ASKED IF I GO AND PURCHASE ANOTHER BATTERY FROM ANOTHER PLACE, COULD I BRING IT BACK MONDAY AND HAVE IT ADJUSTED. I WAS ASKED HOW MANY MILES WERE ON MY TRUCK, I TOLD THEM 53,000 I WAS TOLD BY MARK, THAT THE WARRANTY WAS OFF. HE TOLD ME THAT THE BATTERY WAS ONLY COVERED WITH A 3 YEAR OR 36,000 MILES. HE STATED THAT IF I HAD PURCHASED THE BATTERY MYSELF, HE COULD ADJUST, BUT SINCE IT CAME AT THE TIME OF PURCHASE, THERE WAS NOTHING HE COULD DO. I LEFT GOING TO AUTO ZONE AND HAD THE BATTERY TESTED, HE (THE SALESMAN), STATED THAT IT SHOWED THE BATTERY WAS GOOD. THE DOT ON TOP OF THE BATTERY WAS GREEN, BUT WHEN I WENT TO LEAVE, MY TRUCK WOULDN'T START. SO I PURCHASED A NEW BATTERY AND MY TRUCK STARTED RIGHT UP. TWO WEEKS AGO MY HUSBAND, WHO OWNS A 2002 CADILLAC, HIS CAR CUT OFF WITHOUT A WARNING. HE CARRIED IT TO YAZOO MOTORS AND HE WAS TOLD THAT IT WOULD COST HIM $115.00 FOR THE BATTERY AND $35.00 TO INSTALL, THIS WAS DUE TO THE BATTERY BEING LOCATED UNDER THE BACK SEAT. HIS BATTERY WAS ALSO A DELCO WITH A 6 YEAR WARRANTY. NO LIGHT NEVER CAME ON HIS MESSAGE CENTER TO ADVISE HIM THAT THE BATTERY WAS GOING OUT. MY QUESTION: HAVE THERE BEEN ANY COMPLAINTS ON THE DELCO BATTERIES PUT IN TO THE 2002 GENERAL MOTORS PRODUCTS? THIS IS VERY UNUSUAL THAT THE BATTERIES IN TWO DIFFERENT VEHICLES, IN THE SAME HOUSEHOLD, MADE THE SAME YEAR WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED WITHIN A TWO WEEK PERIOD. BOTH WERE DELCO BATTERY WITH A 6 YEAR WARRANTY. PLEASE ADVISE ME IF YOU HAVE HAD ANY PROBLEMS WITH THIS PRODUCT. *JB

TURNED A/C ON AND HEARD A RATTLE THEN A THUMPING SOUND. A/C STILL WORKED FOR TWO DAYS THEN THE A/C BELT BROKE. THIS WAS A BRAND NEW BELT. MECHANIC REPLACED BELT, DROVE ACROSS THE STREET....COMPRESSOR LOCKS UP AND BREAKS THE BELT. MECHANIC CONTACTS GM AND FINDS OUT THAT THE FAN CLUTCH COULD GO OUT, SEND A SIGNAL TO A/C COMPRESSOR CAUSING TO LOCK UP. REPLACE FAN CLUTCH, REPLACED BELT....AGAIN NOISE THEN BELT BREAKAGE. THE COMPRESSOR IS WORKING THEN LOCKS UP FOR NO REASON. PUTTING IN A NEW COMPRESSOR, NEW BELT, AND THE NEW FAN CLUTCH REMAINS.

WENT TO START CAR SO I COULD PICK DAUGHTER UP FROM A BASKETBALL GAME (11:30 P.M. ON A FRIDAY NIGHT) AND THE TRUCK WOULD NOT START. IT WOULD TURN BUT GOT NO FIRE TO IT. THE FOLLOWING MORNING IT DID THE SAME THING TO INCLUDE THE MONDAY MORNING. HAD IT TOWED TO DEALER, IT STARTED ON THE FIRST TRY WHEN THE TOW TRUCK LET IT DOWN. THEY CHECK IT OUT, TOLD ME IT WAS MY FUEL PUMP. CHARGED ME $645. THE FOLLOWING WEEK (SUNDAY, THE SAME THING OCCURED AGAIN AND I TOOK IT TO ANOTHER DEALER ON MONDAY AND THEY CHECKED IT OUT, PUT IT ON THE MACHINE AND NO PROBLEM WAS NOTED BY THE MACHINE. SERVICE MANAGER SUGGESTED THAT IT COULD BE THE SENSORS BECAUSE ABOUT EVERY 300 MILES OR FULL TANK OF GAS, IT HAS STARTED DOING THIS. SUGGESTED I BRING IT IN NEXT TIME WHEN IT DOES NOT START TO SEE IF THEY CAN DETECT THE PROBLEM. CHRISTMAS DAY, IT DID NOT START AS WE WERE ON OUR WAY OUT OF TOWN FOR A FAMILY CHRISTMAS IN ANOTHER STATE. IT DID START THE NEXT DAY (SUNDAY) AND WAS FINE FOR THE WEEK UNTIL TODAY (NEW YEAR'S EVE). AGAIN, HAD IT TOWED TO THE LAST DEALER AND THEY CHECKED IT. IT DID NOT START THE FIRST TIME BUT IT DID THE SECOND TRY. ASKED IF I PUMPED THE GAS WHILE TRYING TO START IT. I DID NOT AND THEY CHECKED THE VEHICLE OUT AND AGAIN PUT IT ON THE MACHINE AND IT DID NOT DETECT ANYTHING WRONG. THEY ASKED THAT I MAKE AN APPT. FOR THURSDAY SO THEY KEEP IT OVER NIGHT AND SEE IF IT WILL START FOR THEM. ALL DEALERS WERE CHEVROLET DEALERS. NO ADDITONAL PARTS WERE PLACED ON TEH VEHICLE. HAVE STEADY OIL CHANGES, TIRE ROTATIONS AND ANY AND ALL SERVICES DONE IN A TIMELY MANNER. SINCE DEC 6 (FIRST INCIDENT) IT HAS NOT CRANKED ON ME 3 SEPARATE TIMES.*AK

BATTERY DIED, REPLACED. BATTERY LIGHTS COMING ON WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE, UNABLE TO START VEHICLE, VEHICLE STALLING. UNABLE TO OPERATE VEHICLE DUE TO LOSS OF POWER. THIS HAPPENED WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH IN THE RAIN. BARELY ABLE TO PULL VEHICLE OFF ROADWAY. NO POWER AT ALL INCLUDING LIGHTS AND HAZARD LIGHTS. TOOK TO CHEVROLET DEALER - FOUND NO PROBLEM, NOTHING DONE TO CORRECT. WAS TOLD THAT AFTER MARKET ALARM SYSTEM (INSTALLED AT CHEVROLET DEALER) COULD BE THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. TOOK TO AUDIO INSTALLER AND HAD ALARM REMOVED. WAS TOLD BY DIFFERENT CHEVY DEALER THAT THEY HAD THE SAME PROBLEM RIGHT NOW WITH A TAHOE IN THEIR SHOP. THEY REMOVED ALARM AND HAVE HAD NO PROBLEMS SINCE (2 DAYS). WOULD NEED TO DRIVE MY VEHICLE TO SEE IF IT HAPPENS AGAIN. THIS IS A SEVERE SAFETY ISSUE AS IT COULD EASILY RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT BECAUSE ONCOMING VEHICLES CAN NOT SEE YOU WITHOUT HAZARD LIGHTS. OLD PART IS AVAILABLE. I HAVE KEPT THE ALARM SYSTEM IF NEEDED TO REVIEW.*AK

THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM HAS SHORTED OUT THE FUEL PUMP 3 TIMES, DEALER REPLACED FUEL PUMP AFTER EVERY INCIDENT. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. TS

FOR THE BATTERY, THE POSITIVE POST (SIDE POST BATTERY) CAME COMPLETELY OUT OF THE BATTERY. WHEN I TRIED TO REPLACE THE BATTERY, THE POSITIVE TERMINAL SPARKED WHICH COULD HAVE CASUED A FIRE. THE WASHER CONTAINER IS UNDER THE BATTERY, WHEN THE BATTERY LEAKED BATTERY ACID, IT STARTED TO CORRODE THE CONTAINER. DT

WHILE DRIVING INSTRUMENTAL PANEL DIDN'T WORK PROPERLY. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO ADD ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. *AK