Complain about a product or service

Chevy Tahoe Brakes

Chevy Tahoe • Brakes • Dexcool • Steering • WipersWipers

William of Pwllheli, North Walkes, UK (2/17/04):
I was going through a town at speeds of 10-30 mph when a car pulled out in front of me and I had to do a quick stop. There was a bang and then another bang. I had to serve to miss the car then, because my brakes would not work. I checked the fluid and it was OK. I had to get the car taken home on a transporter.

After taking off the wheels, I nearly had a heart attack! Both rotors had broken off where the cast is joined to the inner part. In the Tahor I had my wife, daughter, son and 9-month-old granddaughter. It's lucky I was only going about 15 mph.

Bob of West Palm Beach FL (10/15/03):
I am so glad to see that other people are having the same problems as myself. On 12/09/2002, I was on my way to the office. I was going through an intersection when another SUV decided to stop in front of me while I was driving my 1999 Tahoe Limited. I was traveling between 25-30 mph and had about 50 feet to stop. Well...guess what? No brakes!

The brake pedal went all the way to the floor. I could not get over into another lane as a vehicle was beside me. So, I slammed into a brand-new M-Benz SUV. The driver of the other SUV saw my reaction in his mirror as I was trying to stop my Tahoe. He said that I looked like I was trying to brake hard and could not stop. He braced for the impact.

That was quite the feeling of having sooo much time to stop your vehicle, but there was nothing you could do about it. Later that day, I took my vehicle to the dealer ... what a joke that was. They would not even tell me what they did to my vehicle except for that there is nothing wrong with the braking system. Surprise surprise.

I contacted GM and they faxed a list of things that they wanted the dealer to inspect on my vehicle. I still don't know what they did to my vehicle. I traded the vehicle in on a new Tahoe which I absolutely love ... because the brakes actually work all the time! To date, my insurance company (GEICO) and myself have had to pick up the charges of this accident that was totally a GM's braking/safety issue. In my opinion, the older Tahoe's should absolutely be recalled regarding this type of braking issue.

Bottom line...it's the case of the little dog up against the big dog.

Rick of Arbor Vitae WI (9/27/03):
I've purchased a 1995 Chevy Tahoe and have been having problems with the anti-lock brakes. I've talked with other owners of 95 & 96 Tahoe's & Yukon's and have been finding the problem with the brakes pulsating as if the anti-lock brakes are applying even on dry pavement is very common. What i have found is that if I remove the fuse for the ABS the problem goes away.

Timothy of Woodbridge VA (3/17/03):
Every 6 months or so I need to replace something in the brakes. Ever since I have owned my 99 Tahoe. I bought it, and 3 weeks later I was complaining about the brakes. It is the only reason I don't or can't tell my customers or friends to go run out and buy one.

Doug of Middletown CA (1/28/03):
I purchased a 2000 Chevy Tahoe in August of 2000. In May of 2002, I took my Tahoe to the dealer because of a problem with the brakes. The brake pedal would pulse and became spongy and grab slightly. I took it to Woodward Chevrolet in Fairfield, CA, where the vehicle was purchased. I was told they would inspect the vehicle and see what the problem was. Their conclusion was that the brake pads were worn out and the rotors needed to be turned. In other words, the vehicle needed a front brake job (pads & rotor).

I was charged $300 for a brake job. The vehicle only had 22,000 miles, was never used for towing, and was never treated roughly. Therefore, I feel it should have been fixed under warranty. I had to pay the $300 to get my vehicle out of the shop so I could use it, and I was told to contact General Motors Warranty for a possible refund. After eight months of dealing with Chevrolet Warranty Center, my claim was denied, and I was told by Chevrolet that the normal life span of brakes on all Tahoes is between 20,000 and 25,000 miles.

I've had numerous new vehicles and have never had to have a brake job before a minimum of 40,000. I had to pay $300 for a brake job that Chevrolet should have covered under warranty.

Rod of Mesa AZ (10/31/02):
Involved in a 4-car accident, my 2002 Chevy Tahoe ran squarely into the rear of a Lincoln causing a estimated total to the vehicle. The brakes "hicupped" when quickly applied to avoid the accident. The brakes engaged for about 1 second than disengaged and the pedal went to the floor.

Shawn of Greenfield, IN, writes:
I have had my 2000 Chevy Tahoe in the Service Department on three different occasions because of the same problem with the brakes. The brakes are very spongy, very sensitive when they are wet. It feels like you are going to go thru the windshield because of how they grab. If you have to stop quickly, you can't, there is a lot of vibrating in the front when applying the brake, you can feel them grab like a pulse and when you release them you can really feel it. The first time I had it in the shop they said they had a recall on the rotors so they replaced them and said that the front brake pads were gone so they replaced them also.

My father went to pick up my Tahoe when they called and said it was done. He started down the road and had to apply the brakes because of a car pulling out in front of him and the brakes were not fixed, they still had all the problems that there was before they worked on it. So he turned around and went back and had a service tech drive it and then put it on a lift. They said that the new rotor was warped. He told my father that they would order a new one and in the meantime the truck would be OK to drive.

Well I am sorry but to me a warped rotor doesn't seem too safe. They told us that it would be a few days to order the parts and they would call when it came in which should have been a few days, but they never called. I called about a week and half later and they hadn't even ordered the parts. So finally they got the parts. I took it in again for the third time and they replaced the rotors again and when I picked it up and started down the road they seemed OK. But over the next few days they seemed to be getting worse -- back to the way they were before I ever took it in for repairs.

I have 2 children ages 2 and 4 and that is our family car and I am scared to put them in it except to go back and forth to the babysitters which is one mile from our house. It is not right that I am paying $36,000 for a vehicle that I can't put my children in. It's a lot of money to be paying when you can't drive it because you don't know if you will stop at the next light or if someone or something darts out in front of you. I have always wanted a Tahoe, but now I wish I had never bought it. I wouild never recommend the Tahoe to anyone.

Larry of Dewy, OK, writes:
May of 99 purchased a new Tahoe, in June of 99 took it to service because brake pedal would go to floor and was concerned. Was told that the brakes were operating within factory specs. I argued that I had never seen a Chev do that but was told there was nothing to worry about.

Oon Sunday Feb 6, my wife ran into the rear of another vehicle because the brakes failed (pedal went to the floor). I contacted the dealership and was told GM would not pay for wrecker to their dealership as there was a dealer closer in Bartlesville and if I could get it to Bartlesville dealer (Russ Rogers Chev) they would give us a loaner car to drive.

Monday I talked to GM on their 800 number and was told nothing could be done until a rep looked at my vehicle and that a rep would get with me in 48 hrs.

After repeated calls a rep finally called at 2pm Friday the 11th, was told they would have the dealer check the vehicle and would get back with me.

So for 7 days we have had to depend on other people for transportation. this is hard to swallow after spending so much for a veh and feeling that the warranty would protect us from any extra expense.

Aat this time still dont know if GM will take responsibility for all that has happened. I do feel that customer loyalty means absolutely nothing. This is the 4th GM vehicle we have purchased in the last 10 years, all new. I am so tired of getting no answers and no person seems to have any authority to do anything.

Suzanne of Milford, PA:
I am responding to the complaint of the new Chevy Tahoe with no brakes. Six years ago I purchased a GMC Suburban. Same exact problem!! Pedal to the floor, no brakes. did it at about 25 miles an hour or less when approaching intersection. Cannot tell you how many times I found myself in the middle of an intersection!

In the course of owning the vehicle I had 3 master cylinders replaced in NJ at the dealership because vehicle was still under initial warranty. I finally traded it in just short of the 3 year mark of ownership.

Very dangerous situation with the antilock brake system in these vehicles! I just wanted others to be aware this is a problem that has been going on a long time. Obviously it is not fixed yet.

I'm staying away from GM and sticking with Ford trucks. We haul horses all the time to shows and I have to have brakes that work, ALL the time!

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