chevrolet tahoe hybrid 2009 Complaints

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

i have a 2009 chevrolet tahoe hybrid that currently has 1085 miles of service. the vehicle has been in service at two different gm dealerships for 7 of 8 weeks of ownership for an array of issues culminating in two serious safety concerns pertaining to the hybrid system. it was placed in service for a surging/lunging problem and self-acceleration. the dealership claimed to have repaired the problem, but it still exists on a constant basis. when returning it to service, they then said that the hybrid system was "searching for higher rpm's so that it could convert modes between battery and engine power". it will rev from a 600 rpm range to 2000 rpm's without notice in traffic, causing the vehicle to surge forward. second issue...while driving the vehicle between service stays, i noticed that i would get a tightness in my chest and serious headaches, with no health history of these problems. my wife has a pacemaker and was seriously affected the same way, with jabbing pains in her head, chest pains and a tightness in her neck during and shortly after riding in the vehicle. she does not have these symptoms away from the vehicle. it took us several outings in the truck to associate the symptoms to the ride. i decided to check the vehicle with a volt meter and found that while running, the meter detected 5-15 millivolts of electricity in the seat rails of the passenger seat. when i returned the vehicle to the dealership again, the service technician accompanied me for a test drive and was visibly confused and speaking differently after 20 minutes in the truck. the next day, i returned to the dealership, still concerned about the electrical problem. the service writer was shocked when he opened the passenger door. they kept the vehicle 8 days, declared it safe as compared to another hybrid on their lot, and sent me away without resolve. the next day, we talked to a gm representative that said they would not work on the vehicle again for any reason and warranty is void.

Reported in: LINDEN MI || Crash: N || VIN #: 1GNFK13559R

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

we had a 2009 tahoe hybrid for only 4 months. on several occassions beginning in march when driving at a low speed or coasting down hill, 'check brake' lights came on. i tried to slow by pressing on the brake pedal and the brakes went to the floor and the car would not stop. i had to coast to a parking lot, put the car in neutral/park and re-start the car. the car stalled while coming down hill - very dangerous. we took it back to the dealership. they charged the battery. the very next morning backing out of the garage,again brake pedal went to the floor and had to re-start.

Reported in: WHEELING WV || Crash: N || VIN #: 1GNFK13549R

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

summary: brake failure in a tahoe hybrid while driving, my chevy tahoe hybrid experienced almost total brake failure. over several days, the brakes had became more and more "grabby." on the day of the total brake failure, with normal pressure applied to the brake pedal there would be almost no braking power. but with just a little bit more pressure applied the brakes would suddenly engage with full braking power. suddenly, this unhappy performance degraded into almost total brake failure. it felt like i had less than 1/30th of the normal braking power. i was not going fast, and nothing was in front of me to hit, and i was a block from my destination, so i continued slowly. before calling for a tow i let the car sit, and i tried the car again. surprisingly, i had my grabby brakes back! i nursed the truck to the dealership where they reloaded the computer program that controls the brakes. i experienced a second total failure just as i arrived at the dealership. the techs reloaded the computer program that controls the braking system and this addressed the problem, mostly. the brakes don't exactly feel like they used to, and there is a little bit of "sudden grab" to them, but the mechanic indicated that the performance is normal for a hybrid system.

Reported in: BRIGHTON MI || Crash: N || VIN #: 1GNFK13529R

LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES

i own a 2009 chevy tahoe hybrid with 55k miles. the front and rear door lock actuators failed one at a time from the rear passenger to passenger to drivers side of the truck from 36k until now at 55k. the faulty door lock actuators prevent locking or unlocking of the doors from the drivers seat as well as with the remote. when the car is put into drive, all the doors are supposed to lock. this no longer happens due to faulty actuators. as i have small children, i feel it is a safety issue to drive with unlocked doors. after researching this issue i have discovered the problem to be widespread on a number of chevrolet vehicles. please reference the following internet forum discussions : http://www.gm-trucks.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=98284&st=165 and http://townhall-talk.edmunds.com/direct/view/.f206d4b/75#msg75 i suggest the nhtsa look into this issue and mandate the installation of a more reliable door lock actuator and replace the existing faulty ones. i contacted my local chevy dealership and asked if they could replace them (at no cost to me of course). the service manager stated that he replaced a number of them already. he also stated that chevy may pick up the cost "depending on if i service my car there and if i have a history of buying chevy products". i really don't think they care about the safety issues this causes. if i can be of further assistance in this matter please let me know. thank you! *tt

Reported in: BARNEGAT NJ || Crash: N || VIN #: 1GNFK13509R

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

i have never had any issues other than the recalls with my tahoe. i pulled into a parking space at my bank. as i got into the space. the brakes went to the floor and i put both feet on the brake pedal at this point. the rpms went up. it was like the engine came to life by itself. it self accelerated over the concrete spacer and sidewalk into the bank's brick wall. the airbag deployed upon impact. there was never a time it decelerated. there was no one in the car but me thankfully. there were no warning lights. there were no bells warning of the failure. i would estimate it took 2-3 seconds to go from almost stopped in a parking space to hitting the brick. i am so shaken by this incident and i have no idea what to do. gmc has been informed. *kb

Reported in: LEBANON OR || Crash: Y || VIN #: 1GNFK13509R

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

i have never had any issues other than the recalls with my tahoe. i pulled into a parking space at my bank. as i got into the space. the brakes went to the floor and i put both feet on the brake pedal at this point. the rpms went up. it was like the engine came to life by itself. it self accelerated over the concrete spacer and sidewalk into the bank's brick wall. the airbag deployed upon impact. there was never a time it decelerated. there was no one in the car but me thankfully. there were no warning lights. there were no bells warning of the failure. i would estimate it took 2-3 seconds to go from almost stopped in a parking space to hitting the brick. i am so shaken by this incident and i have no idea what to do. gmc has been informed. *kb

Reported in: LEBANON OR || Crash: Y || VIN #: 1GNFK13509R

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

i have never had any issues other than the recalls with my tahoe. i pulled into a parking space at my bank. as i got into the space. the brakes went to the floor and i put both feet on the brake pedal at this point. the rpms went up. it was like the engine came to life by itself. it self accelerated over the concrete spacer and sidewalk into the bank's brick wall. the airbag deployed upon impact. there was never a time it decelerated. there was no one in the car but me thankfully. there were no warning lights. there were no bells warning of the failure. i would estimate it took 2-3 seconds to go from almost stopped in a parking space to hitting the brick. i am so shaken by this incident and i have no idea what to do. gmc has been informed. *kb

Reported in: LEBANON OR || Crash: Y || VIN #: 1GNFK13509R

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

i have never had any issues other than the recalls with my tahoe. i pulled into a parking space at my bank. as i got into the space. the brakes went to the floor and i put both feet on the brake pedal at this point. the rpms went up. it was like the engine came to life by itself. it self accelerated over the concrete spacer and sidewalk into the bank's brick wall. the airbag deployed upon impact. there was never a time it decelerated. there was no one in the car but me thankfully. there were no warning lights. there were no bells warning of the failure. i would estimate it took 2-3 seconds to go from almost stopped in a parking space to hitting the brick. i am so shaken by this incident and i have no idea what to do. gmc has been informed. *kb

Reported in: LEBANON OR || Crash: Y || VIN #: 1GNFK13509R

STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR

the electric door locks that engage when the vehicle is placed in gear have stopped working. if a parent relies on this system the doors may not lock resulting in a dangerous situation. this is a system failure...

Reported in: CHEYENNE WY || Crash: N || VIN #: 1GNFK13529R

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

the electric door locks that engage when the vehicle is placed in gear have stopped working. if a parent relies on this system the doors may not lock resulting in a dangerous situation. this is a system failure...

Reported in: CHEYENNE WY || Crash: N || VIN #: 1GNFK13529R

ENGINE

when decelerating using braking and in hybrid mode the vehicel surges ahead when the hybrid system disengages. this causes the vehicle to accelerate and prevents stopping. high potential to hit the vehicle in front or person if at a crosswalk. chevrolet dealer iin avon ct, was unable to find cause with two visits.

Reported in: SIMSBURY CT || Crash: N || VIN #: 1GNFK13539R

POWER TRAIN

when decelerating using braking and in hybrid mode the vehicel surges ahead when the hybrid system disengages. this causes the vehicle to accelerate and prevents stopping. high potential to hit the vehicle in front or person if at a crosswalk. chevrolet dealer iin avon ct, was unable to find cause with two visits.

Reported in: SIMSBURY CT || Crash: N || VIN #: 1GNFK13539R