2013 Chevrolet TAHOE

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Avoid This Year

Quick Summary

The 2013 Chevrolet TAHOE has 308 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 3.9x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is other problems (40% of all complaints), specifically: i was driving up a grade during a snow storm and when i tried to select 4wd i had to take my eyes off the road to find the 4wd control knob,which is hidden behind the steering wheel. i consider this a serious problem because i nearly wrecked while trying to locate the 4wd control knob. i blame th.

3 crash reports 6 injuries

308

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

3.9x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

OTHER

122 complaints

40%

• I WAS DRIVING UP A GRADE DURING A SNOW STORM AND WHEN I TRIED TO SELECT 4WD I HAD TO TAKE MY EYES OFF THE ROAD TO FIND THE 4WD CONTROL KNOB,WHICH IS HIDDEN BEHIND THE STEERING WHEEL. I CONSIDER THIS A SERIOUS PROBLEM BECAUSE I NEARLY WRECKED WHILE TRYING TO LOCATE THE 4WD CONTROL KNOB. I BLAME TH
• ON MONDAY 05/25/15 MY HUSBAND NOTICED A SMALL CRACK IN THE DASH ON THE DRIVERS SIDE. I HAVE WATCHED IN THE PAST COUPLE DAYS IT GROW IN SIZE AND HAVE TAKEN PICTURES TO DOCUMENT IT TOO. I AM UPSET AS THIS IS A NEW CAR I PURCHASED USED FROM A GM DEALER. I HAVE READ THAT ANOTHER CRACK IS SOON TO BE EXPE
• I NOTICED A TINY CRACK IN MY DASHBOARD ON AUGUST 15TH. SINCE THAT TIME IT HAS GROWN 4 INCHES AND VEERED OFF ANOTHER 2 INCHES A DIFFERENT DIRECTION. MY VEHICLE IS GARAGE KEPT AND I AM A STAY AT HOME MOTHER. MY CAR IS RARELY PARKED IN THE SUN FOR LONG AMOUNTS OF TIME.

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“I WAS DRIVING UP A GRADE DURING A SNOW STORM AND WHEN I TRIED TO SELECT 4WD I HAD TO TAKE MY EYES OFF THE ROAD TO FIND THE 4WD CONTROL KNOB,WHICH IS HIDDEN BEHIND THE STEERING WHEEL. I CONSIDER THIS A SERIOUS PROBLEM BECAUSE I NEARLY WRECKED WHILE TRYING TO LOCATE THE 4WD CONTROL KNOB. I BLAME TH”

— NHTSA complaint filing

BODY/STRUCTURE

56 complaints

18%

• THE DOORS DO NOT DRAIN WATER EFFECTIVELY, THIS WILL CAUSE AN ELECTRICAL SHORTAGE AND FAILURE FOR THE WINDOWS TO WORK AND THE DOORS TO RUST!! *TR
• THE ENTIRE FRAME AND ALL SUPPORTING BOLTS OF THE VEHICLE IS RUSTING AND ROTTING.
• DASHBOARD CRACKED VERY SMALL AREA BUT NOW IS CRACKING EVERYWHERE.

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“THE DOORS DO NOT DRAIN WATER EFFECTIVELY, THIS WILL CAUSE AN ELECTRICAL SHORTAGE AND FAILURE FOR THE WINDOWS TO WORK AND THE DOORS TO RUST!! *TR”

— NHTSA complaint filing

AIR BAGS

51 complaints

17%

• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET TAHOE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE OF THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE DRIVER AND THE FOUR PASSENGERS IN THE VEHICLE SUSTAINED WHIPLASH THAT DID NOT REQ
• THIS VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED FROM MAC HAIK CHEVROLET IN HOUSTON, TX. ONLY ONE KEY WAS PROVIDED DURING THE VEHICLE PURCHASE. THE OTHER KEY WAS PROMISED IN AN "WE OWE YOU" STATEMENT, BUT NEVER RECEIVED. AT SOME POINT IN TIME, IT IS BELIEVED THE 2ND KEY WAS USED TO ACCESS THIS VEHICLE AT UNDISCLOSED LOCA
• DASH IS CRACKING AROUND PASSENGER AIRBAG. VEHICLE IS GARAGE KEPT AND A SUN VISOR USED WHEN PARKED IN THE SUN. THIS VEHICLE HAS NEVER BEEN IN A COLLISION AND NONE OF THE AIR BAGS HAVE EVER DEPLOYED IN THIS VEHICLE. THE CRACK SEEMS COSMETIC BUT GIVEN THE LOCATION, I AM CONCERNED ABOUT THE INTEGRITY

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 1 crashes

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET TAHOE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE OF THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE DRIVER AND THE FOUR PASSENGERS IN THE VEHICLE SUSTAINED WHIPLASH THAT DID NOT REQ”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ELECTRICAL

15 complaints

• I WAS DRIVING UP A GRADE DURING A SNOW STORM AND WHEN I TRIED TO SELECT 4WD I HAD TO TAKE MY EYES OFF THE ROAD TO FIND THE 4WD CONTROL KNOB,WHICH IS HIDDEN BEHIND THE STEERING WHEEL. I CONSIDER THIS A SERIOUS PROBLEM BECAUSE I NEARLY WRECKED WHILE TRYING TO LOCATE THE 4WD CONTROL KNOB. I BLAME TH
• VEHICLE DOES NOT HOLD CHARGE TO BATTERY. WILL NOT START. *TR
• OVER A PERIOD OF 2 WEEKS, ABOUT 4 TIMES, WHILE DRIVING IN TRAFFIC INCLUDING FREEWAY. A SUDDEN LOST OF ALL POWER, DASH GOES BLANK WHILE DOOR LOCKS LOCK AND UNLOCK, IN A BLINKING SEQUENCE. THIS HAPPENS IN A TIME PERIOD UP TO 10 SECONDS, THEN THE CAR CONTINUES DRIVING WITH NO PROBLEMS OR INDICATOR WARN

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

— NHTSA complaint filing

ENGINE

13 complaints

• 2013 CHEVROLET TAHOE POLICE PACKAGE (65 TOTAL) CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO ENGINES HESITATE ON ACCELERATION, IDLE SPEED FLUCTUATES AND THE ENGINE WOULD STALL. *SMD GENERAL MOTORS ACKNOWLEDGED THE CONCERN AND STATED THEY WERE WORKING ON A RESOLUTION. GENERAL MOTORS RELEASED A SERVICE BULLETIN WHI
• 2013 CHEVROLET TAHOE. REPRESENTATIVE FROM THE CITY WRITES IN REGARDS TO PROBLEMS WITH POLICE FLEET. *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED AFTER THE NEW ENGINE CALIBRATIONS WERE INSTALLED ON SEVEN VEHICLES, LESS THAN 24 HOURS LATER, THE PROBLEM CONTINUED, ALONG WITH ADDITIONAL ISSUES AND PROBLEMS THAT WERE NEVER
• THIS VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED FROM MAC HAIK CHEVROLET IN HOUSTON, TX. ONLY ONE KEY WAS PROVIDED DURING THE VEHICLE PURCHASE. THE OTHER KEY WAS PROMISED IN AN "WE OWE YOU" STATEMENT, BUT NEVER RECEIVED. AT SOME POINT IN TIME, IT IS BELIEVED THE 2ND KEY WAS USED TO ACCESS THIS VEHICLE AT UNDISCLOSED LOCA

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“2013 CHEVROLET TAHOE POLICE PACKAGE (65 TOTAL) CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO ENGINES HESITATE ON ACCELERATION, IDLE SPEED FLUCTUATES AND THE ENGINE WOULD STALL. *SMD GENERAL MOTORS ACKNOWLEDGED THE CONCERN AND STATED THEY WERE WORKING ON A RESOLUTION. GENERAL MOTORS RELEASED A SERVICE BULLETIN WHI”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

OTHER(~50K mi)

$500

BODY/STRUCTURE(~50K mi)

$500

AIR BAGS(~50K mi)

$500

ELECTRICAL(~50K mi)

$500

ENGINE(~50K mi)

$500

Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 308 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
OTHER: I WAS DRIVING UP A GRADE DURING A SNOW STORM AND WHEN I TRIED TO SELECT 4WD I HAD TO TAKE MY EYES OFF THE ROAD TO FIND THE 4WD CONTROL KNOB,WHICH IS HIDDEN BEHIND THE STEERING WHEEL. I CONSIDER THIS A SERIOUS PROBLEM BECAUSE I NEARLY WRECKED WHILE TRYING TO LOCATE THE 4WD CONTROL KNOB. I BLAME TH
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
BODY/STRUCTURE: THE DOORS DO NOT DRAIN WATER EFFECTIVELY, THIS WILL CAUSE AN ELECTRICAL SHORTAGE AND FAILURE FOR THE WINDOWS TO WORK AND THE DOORS TO RUST!! *TR
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
AIR BAGS: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET TAHOE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE OF THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE DRIVER AND THE FOUR PASSENGERS IN THE VEHICLE SUSTAINED WHIPLASH THAT DID NOT REQ
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ELECTRICAL: I WAS DRIVING UP A GRADE DURING A SNOW STORM AND WHEN I TRIED TO SELECT 4WD I HAD TO TAKE MY EYES OFF THE ROAD TO FIND THE 4WD CONTROL KNOB,WHICH IS HIDDEN BEHIND THE STEERING WHEEL. I CONSIDER THIS A SERIOUS PROBLEM BECAUSE I NEARLY WRECKED WHILE TRYING TO LOCATE THE 4WD CONTROL KNOB. I BLAME TH
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)