1999 Chevrolet Tahoe Power Train
Owner-reported problems and safety issues filed with NHTSA. Review common failures, severity levels, and complaint trends over time.
Complaint Timeline
Chronological view of owner reports
WHILE DRIVING WITH MY FAMILY IN THE CAR AND WITHOUT WARNING, THE CAR STOPPED MOVING. IN THE MIDDLE OF AN INTERSECTION IT WAS AS IF IT WAS IN NEUTRAL. THIS WAS TERRIFYING, THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN IT FELT LIKE I WAS HIT FROM BEHIND AND THE CAR POPPED INTO GEAR AND SHOT FORWARD. I NOW HAVE NO REVERSE AND UNSURE WHICH GEARS MIGHT WORK, AS I IMMEDIATELY GOT IT HOME. I AM A DISABLED VETERAN ON A LIMITED INCOME AND NO AM FACING POSSIBLY HUGE EXPENSES FOR TRANSMISSION REPAIRS THAT I NOW HAVE READ HAVE BEEN COMPLAINTS ON MY CAR FOR YEARS! I CAN'T UNDERSTAND HOW GM/CHEVROLET DOESN'T SEE TRANSMISSION ISSUES AS A SAFETY PROBLEM. THIS TRANSMISSION HAS HAD WAY TOO MANY COMPLAINTS. HAVING NO WARNING AND THE INABILITY TO BE ABLE TO MOVE THE CAR IN AN INTERSECTION COULD HAVE BEEN CATASTROPHIC!! ALOS WHEN CALLING A LOCAL DEALERSHIP THEY SHOULD BE BETTER INFORMED ABOUT ANY TSB'S AS TO INFORM CONSUMERS. I JUST THANK GOD MY FAMILY IS SAFE, HOWEVER AM NOW OUT OF A CAR. THANKS GENERAL MOTORS/CHEVROLET, LOOKS LIKE YOURE LOSING ANOTHER LOYAL CUSTOMER.
JUST DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AND CAR JUST STOPPED GOING AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS I GOT THE VEHICLE TO GO INTO GEAR AND DROVE TO DEALER THE VEHICLE WAS WORKING FINE AND THE WAS NO INDICATION OF PENDING TRANSMISSION FAILURE. HAVE TO PUT IN NEW TRANSMISSION THIS IS THE SECOND ONE IN THIS VEHICLE THAT HAS 119,900 ON IT. *TR
DEFECTIVE TRANSFER CASING / DRIVE TRAIN CAUSING SUDDEN INABILITY TO DRIVE VEHICLE. NO ABILITY TO CHECK TRANSFER CASING OIL WITHOUT GOING UNDER VEHICLE FOR INSPECTION. *AK
THIS IS THE SECOND TIME I HAVE HAD TO REPAIR MY TRANSMISSION IN MY '99 TAHOE. THE FIRST INCIDENT LEFT ME STRANDED AT 50K MILES. LUCKY I HAD AND EXTENDED WARRANTY. THE REPAIR SHOP HAD TO DO A FULL ANALYSIS TO DETERMINE THE FAILURE WHICH HAD SOMETHING TO DO WITH A WEAK RINGREVERSE GEAR? THIS TIME IT APPEARS THE SAME PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED AGAIN, ONLY NOW I HAVE 170K MILES. I WOULD HAVE EXPECTED THE ENGINE TO GO FIRST. THE REPAIR SHOP SAID SOMETHING SIMILAR HAS HAPPENED THIS TIME AS WELL.
VEHICLE STARTED SURGING WHILE GOING DOWN THE ROAD,ALSO HARD SHIFT BETWEEN 1ST AND 2ND GEARS.ALSO HAVE WIPER PROBLEMS. *AK
CLUNK IN REAR SUSPENSION WHEN STARTING AFTER A FULL STOP. DEALER HAS LUBRICATED DRIVESHAFT YOKE, REPLACED U-JOINTS. I LUBRICATED DRIVESHAFT YOKE MYSELF, FOUND IT WELL-LUBED, NOT THE PROBLEM. NOONE KNOWS HOW TOM FIX IT.*AK
TRANSFER CASE FOR THE 4X4. THIS WAS THE MOST EXPENSIVE ITEM TO REPAIR. GM NEEDS TO GET A GRIP ON ALL PROBLEMS WRONG WITH THIS TAHOE. GRINDING NOISE WHEN ENGAGING THE 4X4 YOU THOUGHT THE BOTTOM OF THE SUV WAS TO DROP OUT. ALSO THE KNOCKING IN THE AXLE WHEN YOU START FROM A STOP.*AK
THE CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT SIX MONTH AGO ABOUT PROBLEMS WITH THE TRANSMISSION. THE DEALER REPLACED THE TORQUE CONVERTER, SIX MONTH LATER, THE TRANSMISSION FAILED WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH. THE DEALER REBUILT THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONS AT THE OWNER EXPENSE. *JB THE TRANSMISSION WAS COMPLETELY REBUILT AND HAD BEEN SERVICED PRIOR TO PURCHASE WHICH INCLUDED A TRANSMISSION FLUSH. THE VEHICLE LEAKED FLUID, FOUND FRONT PUMP LEAKING DUE TO THE BEARING FAILURE(BOTH WERE REMOVED AND REPLACED), WHEN THE VEHICLE WOULD GET WARM, A LOUD RATTLING NOISE WOULD BE HEARD, THE A/C WOULD GET WARM, THE FAN WOULD STOP BLOWING(FOND TERMINAL BURNT/WIRING REPAIRED), THE TRANSMISSION SLIPPED UPON ACCELERATION(FOUND THE INPUT CARRIER BEARING COMING APART AND METAL THROUGHOUT/THE TRANSMISSION WAS COMPLETELY RECONDITIONED). *SC
WHEN DRIVING TO WORK IN THE MORNING I CAME TO A STOP LIGHT A COUPLE OF BLOCKS FROM MY HOUSE AND WHEN I CAME TO A STOP THE 99 TAHOE LURCHED FORWARD A COUPLE OF TIMES AND THEN STOPPED. I HAD TO HOLD THE BRAKE DOWN HARD TO KEEP FROM HITTING THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. AFTER THAT LIGHT THE AUTOMOBLE WORKED FINE. AFTER WORK THE SAME THING HAPPENED ON THE WAY HOME. THIS HAPPENS EVERY MORNING AND AFTERNOON OR WHEN THE CAR SITS FOR A LONG PERIOD OF TIME. THE DEALER HAD A HARD TIME FINDING THE PROBLEM BUT WHAT HE CAME UP WITH WAS THAT THE WIRING HARNESS INSIDE THE TRANSMISSION HAD SHORTED OUT CAUSEING THE PCM MODUAL TO BURN UP. THEY DIDN'T SEEM TO THINK IT WAS A SAFTY HAZARD. THE CAR IS IN THE DEALER NOW GETTING THE WIRE HARNESS AND THE PCM MODUAL REPLACED AND REPROGRAMED. I CANNOT FIND ANY RECALL NOTICES FOR THIS PROBLEM. I ASKED FOR THE OLD PARTS TO BE RETURNED TO ME.I WILL PICK THE CAR UP TODAY 09/01/04 WITH THE BILL AT OVER A THOUSAND DOLLARS.*AK
TRANSMISSION ON 1999 CHEVY TAHOE I TOOK TO ELLIOTT CHEVROLET 3 DAYS AFTER I PURCHASED IT. WAS TOLD THAT THEIR WAS NOT A RECALL BUT I WAS INFORMED BY AN EMPLOYEE THAT THERE WAS ON SOME PART AND IT WAS COVERED. I COULD NOT GET THE DEALER TO COVER THIS. *PH
WHILE DRIVING THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION DIDN'T SHIFT FROM THE FIRST TO THE SECOND GEAR PROPERLY. *NLM
THE VEHICLE WAS IN PARK AND WAS NOT RUNNING AT THE TIME. THE DAUGHTER ACCIDENTAL KNOCK THE GEAR INTO NEUTRAL. CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO SPED OFF INTO THE CONSUMER HOUSE. PLEASE FILL IN ADDITIONAL INFORMATION DEALER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. MR
DIFFERENTIAL FAILED AND BOTH AXLES CAME OUT FROM UNDER THE VEHICLE WHILE TRAVELLING AT APPROXIMATELY 30MPH.*AK
NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK
THE FLOATING DRIVESHAFT WAS INADEQUATELY LUBED CAUSING A POPPING NOISE AT THE DRIVESHAFT YOKE, THE CONSUMER BELIEVES THIS PROBLEM CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE TRANSMISSION. NLM
VEHICLE SHUDDERS WHEN BRAKING FROM HIGH SPEEDS, AND PULLS TO THE SIDE WHEN BRAKING FROM LOW SPEEDS, VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED AND IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE RIGHT FRONT HUB LEAKED GREASE ON THE PAD AND BRAKE DRUM RENDERING THE BRAKES USELESS, THE CAUSE WAS A SEAL LEAKING, FOUR MONTHS LATER CONSUMER EXPERIENCED PROBLEMS AGAIN, MECHANIC FOUND THAT BOTH REAR AXLE SEALS HAD LEAKED GREASE/OIL ON BOTH REAR BRAKES RENDERING THEN USELESS AND CAUSING EXCESSIVE WEAR ON THE FRONT BRAKES, CONSUMER REQUESTED THAT THE REAR AXLE BE REPLACED ENTIRELY WHICH WOULD PROBABLY ELIMINATE THE BRAKE FAILURE, HOWEVER DEALER STATED THAT THEY ONLY REPLACED THE AXLE SEALS.*JB
WHEN TAKING OFF OR STOPPING THERES A SQUEALING NOISE COMING FROM REAR. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER, AND THEY SAID DRIVESHAFT NEEDED TO BE LUBED. *AK
WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 30 MPH TRANSMISSION WENT OUT, NO PRIOR WARNING, MILEAGE AT THE TIME WAS 27000. *AL
THE TRANSMISSION FAILED WHILE DRIVING. NLM
I HAVE BEEN TRYING TO GET THE TRUCK REPAIRED BY NUMEROUS DEALERS SINCE THE DAY WE BOUGHT IT. THE TRUCK HAD 823 MILES ON IT WHEN WE BOUGHT IT "NEW" LATER ON FOUND OUT IT WAS A "DEMO". ARBITRATION DID NOTHING. WE STILL HAVE THE SHAKING TRUCK. OUT OF DESPIRATION FROM THE VEHICLE SHAKING VIOLENTLY, CAUSING ME TO PASS BLOODY STOOLS, I DECIDED TO REPLACE THE DIFFERENTIAL MYSELF. IT SEEMS TO HAVE CURED THE PROBLEM. NOW THAT THE DIFFERENTIAL IS OUT, I CAN SEE THAT IT IS BENT AND THE AXLES CRYSTALIZING DUE TO THE VIOLENT SHAKING. CHEVROLET DEALERS NOW SAY THAT I HAVE "VOIDED" MY 3 YR 36,000 MILE WARRANTY. SEVERAL CHEVROLET SERVICE CONSULTANTS RUDE AND THREATENING TO HANG UP ON ME. I DID HAVE A VERY GOOD SERVICE CONSULTANT WHOM I HAVE SPOKEN TO LATELY WHO WAS SHOCKED AT MY ORDEAL AND AGREES WITH ME THAT THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE. I AM NOW TRYING TO GET REIMBURSED FOR MY OUT-OF-POCKET EXPENSES ON MY "WARRANTIED" VEHICLE. I DO NOT WISH TO BE REIMBURSED FOR MY TIME, DIAGNOSING AND REPAIRING THIS TRUCK, BUT PERHAPS THE PROBLEM SHOULD BE AKNOWLEDGED BY CHEVROLET AND SOMEHOW REIMBURSED BY THEM. IF I HAD NOT CHANGED THE DIFFERENTIAL MYSELF, I FEEL THAT IT SURELY WOULD HAVE CAUSED A MAJOR ACCIDENT AND DEATHS DUE TO THE FAILURE OF CHEVROLET NOT TAKING CARE OF THIS. I FEEL THAT BEFORE WE BOUGHT THIS TRUCK, SOMEONE REALLY ROMPED IT THROUGH THE DESERT. IT HAD REALLY LARGE TIRES ON IT THAT WE HAD THE DEALER CHANGE TO WHAT WAS RECCOMENDED ON THE DOOR PANEL. WE ASKED A MECHANIC WHO WORKS ON TRUCKS ALL THE TIME HOW THE AXLE AND DIFFERENTIAL COULD HAVE GOTTEN BENT LIKE THAT. HIS RESPONSE WAS, "THEY PROBABLY DROVE IT OFF A CLIFF". THERE ARE NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS TO CHEVROLET REGARDING THIS TRUCK. THEY HAVE A COMPLETE HISTORY OF OUR COMPLAINTS AFTER WE BOUGHT IT. THERE WERE NO RECORDS BEFORE WE BOUGHT IT. PERHAPS THEY REPAIRED THE VEHICLE THEMSELVES AND DIDN'T HAVE TO REPORT WHAT HAD HAPPENED TO IT. IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO DISCUSS THE TRUCK IN DEPTH, PLEASE CALL ME AT THE NUMBER I LISTED BEFORE.*AK
TRANSMISSION STUCK IN 3RD GEAR. UPON DEALER DIAGNOSIS THEY FOUND TRANSMISSION HARNESS CHAFED WITHIN THE TRANSMISSION HOUSING. THIS COMPONENT IS NOT EXPOSED TO OUTSIDE ELEMENTS. BECAUSE IT IS WIRING WITH NO EXPOSURE, THE INSULATION ON THE WIRE SHOULD NOT DETERIORATE UNLESS SUBJECTED TO EXTREME HIGH TEMPERATURES OR RUBBING. *AK
THE VEHICLES DRIVETRAIN CAUSES VIBRATION. NLM
WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 55 AND 75 MPH AND WHEN VEHICLE IS SHIFTING INTO OVERDRIVE ENTIRE VEHICLE SEVERELY VIBRATES, CAUSE UNKNOWN. DEALER REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION AND THE DRIVESHAFT ALONG WITH OTHER PARTS WHICH DID NOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHR DETAILS.*AK
WHILE TOWING A TRAVEL TRAILER WELL WITHIN THE TAHOE LIMITS, THE TAHOE BROKE DOWN AT 13,800 MILES ON 5/10/99 WITH REAR END PROBLEMS, IT WAS REPAIRED. BROKE DOWN AGAIN AT 14,531 MILES ON 5/14/99 IT WAS IN THE SHOP UNTIL 5/21/99 WITH REAR END PROBLEMS, THEN REPAIRED. THEN IT BROKE DOWN AGAIN AT 15,319 MILES ON 5/29/00 REPAIRED BY THE DEALER EACH TIME. WE WERE TOLD IT WOULD NOT HAPPEN AGAIN. WE WENT ON VACATION THIS YEAR AND GOT BACK HOME. WE HEARD A NOISE FROM THE BACK AREA. WE TOOK IT IN AND THEY SAID IT WAS THE REAR END , WE WERE AT 33,915 MILES ON 8/17/00, THEY HOWEVER WOULD NOT REPAIR IT EVEN THOUGH WE ARE STILL UNDER WARRANTY (3 YEARS OR 36,000 MILES). WE HAD TO AUTHORIZE AND PAY FOR THE REPAIR TO BE COMPLETED, AND UNDER PROTEST WE DID. WE HAD TO GO HAVE THE TRAILER AND TAHOE WEIGHED AND GET A CERTIFICATE TO SHOW WE WERE NOT OVERWEIGHT. WE DID AND WERE WITHIN TOWING REQUIREMENTS. WE HAVE ALL THE REQUIRED AND PROPER WEIGHT DISTRUBUTION HITCH ASSEMBLY. WE HAVE ALL OUR WORK ORDERS IF NEEDED FOR FUTHER INSPECTION. THIS PROBLEM COULD HAVE OR MAY RESULT IN A SERIOUS ACCIDENT IN THE FUTURE.*AK
CONSUMER ATTEMPTED TO PUT VEHICLE IN REVERSE, THE VEHICLE STRONGLY RESISTED ANY MOVEMENT, CONSUMER REALIZED THAT SOME HOW THE 2 WHEEL DRIVE AND 4 WHEEL DRIVE WERE ENGAGED AND AT NO TIME WERE EITHER TURNED ON, VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO DEALER AND NO PROBLEM WAS FOUND, THESE FAILURES COULD POSSIBLY BE DUE TO A FAULTY TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE. *SLC
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Quick Summary
The 1999 Chevrolet Tahoe has 35 Power Train complaints on file. 1 crashes have been reported. Review the timeline above for detailed owner experiences.