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KLUNK
KLUNK

2002 Chevrolet Tahoe

The Verdict

29 Check Engine

The 2002 Chevrolet Tahoe has 463 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. The most reported issues are brakes (177 complaints) and body (136 complaints). With a Klunk Score of 29/100, it earns a "Check Engine" rating. If you're shopping for a Chevrolet Tahoe, consider the 2025 model year which has 92% fewer complaints.

Safe Bet

The 2025 has 92% fewer complaints

View the 2025 Chevrolet Tahoe dashboard →

29

Klunk Score: Check Engine

More complaints than most vehicles. Known issues exist — budget for potential repairs.

How is this calculated?

The Klunk Score ranks this vehicle year against all others in our database based on total owner complaints filed with NHTSA. 100 = fewest complaints (top tier), 0 = most complained-about. Scores above 60 are better than average; below 40 means more problems than most.

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Under the Hood

Each number is a complaint. Darker = bigger problem.

YearBodyBrakesElectricalEngineTransmission
20009413435248
2001147266483126
2002136177615138
20031291092087117
200482812185926
200571221264922
2006551328108
2007420757711439
200819414313549
2009131101223111
20101721128125
20112311199205
201295664105
2013141659168
20144952865
201518918814110240
20166587323039
20173438253041
20183116132711
2019223184414
2020105141410
202153165724945
2022338258224
202318151912022
2024798333
2025673190

By Category

Brakes
177
Body
136
Electrical
61
Engine
51
Transmission
38

By Severity

1
202
2
205
3
6
4
46
5
4

Worst Problems

Complaints

Electrical 4

The contact owned a 2002 Chevrolet Tahoe. The contact stated that while driving at 20 MPH occupied with his sister-in-law and her children, the contact smelled smoke coming from the driver seat of the vehicle the contact mention he pulled to the right side of the road, exiting everyone out the vehicle when he noticed that the drive seat caught fire. No warning lights illuminated. The contact mentioned she noticed smoke and flames coming from the engine, and smoke started coming inside the vehicle. present. The contact mention he called 911. No injuries were sustained. No medical attention was required. A police report was filed. The fire department extinguished the fire, and they informed the contact the fire was from an electrical issue. The vehicle seat of the vehicle was destroyed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 186,000.

2mo ago
Engine 2

MY VEHICLE HAS BEEN DIAGNOSED AS NEEDING THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD BOLTS REPLACED. I HAVE READ THAT THIS IS AN ONGOING ISSUE THAT POSES A RISK TO DRIVERS AND PASSENGERS DUE TO THE FUMES, BUT HAS NOT BEEN RECALLED BY THE MANUFACTURER.

9mo ago
Electrical 2

We were sitting in car with it idling, the right-side air bag just deployed without collision. We turned the ignition off waited a few moments and turned it back on and the right-side dash airbag deployed without any warning. The vehicle has not been in any collisions.

31mo ago
Engine 2

My right side wheel feels like it’s going to fall off and indicate the abs and emergency parking brake. I believe it’s a wheel hub bearing that’s coming loose or tie rods I’m not sure and One time the emergency parking brake engage on me and I had to pull over to the side and wasn’t able to drive it. When I turn on the engine or driving , idling I smell gasoline really bad

46mo ago
Brakes 1

I HAVE AN 02 TAHOE Z71 THAT RECENTLY I'VE BEEN HAVING BRAKE PROBLEMS AT SLOW SPEEDS WHEN TRYING TO STOP LIKE THE ABS IS TRYING TO KICK IN RANDOMLY BETWEEN ABOUT 5 TO 15 MPH WHEN SLOWING FOR RED-LIGHTS OR STOP SIGNS THERE'S TIMES I HAVE TO LET OFF AND REAPPLY BRAKE 2 TO 3 TIMES AT LEAST BEFORE IT WILL ACTUALLY STOP WITHOUT THE ABS KICKING IN. I READ ABOUT SOME RECALLS ON THIS ON 02 TAHOES BUT MY VIN SAID I HAD 0 UNFIXED RECALLS

64mo ago
Brakes 1

ABS AND BRAKE LIGHTS REMAIN ON AFTER TAHOE IS CRANKED AND DRIVEN.

68mo ago
Electrical 4

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2002 CHEVROLET TAHOE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE RAN ACROSS BLACK ICE CAUSING THE CONTACT TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SPIN UNCONTROLLABLY EVENTUALLY CRASHING INTO A CONCRETE WALL WITH THE FRONT-END OF THE VEHICLE. NO AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THE CONTACT RECEIVED INJURIES TO THEIR KNEE, SHOULDER, NECK, BACK, AND EYE. MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS NEEDED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE TOWED AND DEEMED TOTALED. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000.*DT THE CONTACT RECIEVED A CLAIM ID NUMBER #ODI11382901 AND CASE NUMBER [XXX].*JB

68mo ago
Body 1

ACCESS TO THE THIRD ROW SEATING CABLE LACY FAILED. IF ANYONE IN THE THIRD ROW NEEDED TO GET OUT IN AN EMERGENCY THEY WOULD BE TRAPPED MOST LIKELY. ALL REAR SEAT CABLES ARE BROKEN.

72mo ago
Electrical 2

HAVE REPLACED RUNNING LIGHTS ABOUT 30TY TIMES BOTH RT AND LT.FINELY IT BURNED OUT SO BAD THAT IT WANT LET ME REPLACE THE BULBS THEY JUST DON'T WORK ANYMORE.THIS STARTED ABOUT 2015 I DIDN'T KNOW OF THIS SITE SO HERE WHAT CAN WE DO.THANKS

72mo ago
Body 1

FEELS LIKE I'M DRIVING A BOAT. DELAYED ACTION WHEN STEERING . VEHICLE IS USED INTERMITTENTLY

73mo ago
Electrical 4

I WAS COMING HOME ON MY ROAD GOING 30 MILES AN HOUR GOING AROUND THE CURVE 25 IF THAT MY STEERING DID NOT WORK I WENT ON THE ROAD STARTED ROLLING IN TWICE AND LANDED UPSIDE DOWN NOT ONE OF MY AIRBAGS WENT OFF I WENT TO THE HOSPITAL THE AMBULANCE HAD TO COME AND GET ME

79mo ago
Brakes 2

BRAKE LINES HAVE RUSTED THROUGH AND CAUSED AN EXTREMELY UNSAFE SITUATION. WHILE ON A FAMILY VACATION TO THE OUTER BANKS THE BRAKES FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. WE WERE ABLE TO FIND A REPAIR SHOP TO LOOK OVER THE BRAKE SYSTEM AFTER REFILLING THE MASTER CYLINDER WITH BRAKE FLUID. THE REPAIR SHOP FOUND NO ISSUES WITH THE BRAKES AND SAID SOMEONE PROBABLY FORGOT TO BLEED THE BRAKES AFTER SERVICING THEM. SINCE IT WAS A RECENTLY PURCHASED VEHICLE AND WE DIDN'T KNOW THE HISTORY OF WORK PERFORMED WE THOUGHT THIS WAS POSSIBLY THE ISSUE. AFTER DRIVING ANOTHER 50 MILES OR SO THE BRAKES FAILED AGAIN FOR THE SECOND TIME. THIS TIME MY FAMILY AND I WERE ON THE WAY TO THE STATE FAIR. I CRAWLED UNDER THE VEHICLE AND FOUND ONE LINE TO BE COMPLETELY RUPTURED AND ALL OTHERS TO BE SEVERELY RUSTED. I NOW PLAN TO REPLACE ALL BRAKE LINES BEFORE THE VEHICLE IS USED AGAIN. I OWN MUCH OLDER VEHICLES WITH BRAKE LINES IN PERFECT SHAPE. AFTER DOING A LITTLE RESEARCH I FOUND THAT CHEVROLET BRAKE LINES USED IN THIS MODEL AND YEAR HAVE HAD ABNORMALLY HIGH BRAKE LINE CORROSION AND FAILURE COMPARED TO OTHER VEHICLES MANUFACTURED DURING THE SAME TIME PERIOD. I AM WONDERING WHY THIS ISSUE HASN'T BEEN BROUGHT TO THE PUBLICS ATTENTION AND WHY NO RECALL? THE BRAKE LINES WERE OBVIOUSLY MANUFACTURED WITH INFERIOR MATERIALS OR WORKMANSHIP OR BOTH. THANKS

82mo ago
Engine 1

THIS VEHICLE WAS LEAKING OIL FROM THE ENGINE, FRONT AND BACK BRAKES WERE FAULTY, THE STARTER WAS GOING BAD, THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FOR THE BACK WINDOWS WERE NOT IN WORKING CONDITION. THE VEHICLE WOULD DISPLAY SENSOR LIGHTS TO HAVE THE VEHICLE ENGINE CHECKED BUT THEN AFTER ABOUT 2 DAYS IT WOULD NOT SHOW A DISPLAYING MESSAGE IT WOULD ALSO EFFECT THE AUDIO FUSE THAT ALLOWS THE AUDIO SYSTEM TO FUNCTION. THE TIRES WERE BALD ON THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE AND LEFT BACK PASSENGER SIDE. THE SEAT BELTS WERE DIFFICULT TO ENTER INTO LATCH IN ORDER TO SECURE SEATBELT.

84mo ago
Electrical 4

SEAT CAUGHT ON FIRE FROM WIRING UNDERNEATH.

85mo ago
Body 1

CABLE THAT OPERATES THE REAR SEAT MECHANISM BROKE SO REAR SEAT CANNOT BE FOLDED DOWN WHICH IMPEDES THE ABILITY TO ACCESS THE 3RD ROW SEATING. PASSENGERS IN 3RD ROW SEAT CANNOT EXIT THE VEHICLE THROUGH THIS DOOR.

95mo ago
Brakes 2

WIFE CAME HOME AND SAID THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO FLOOR WHEN ATTEMPTING TO STOP. WITH ENGINE RUNNING, BRAKE FLUID IS SEEN PUMPING OUT OF RIGHT FRONT BRAKE LINE. MECHANIC REPORTS LINE BURST AND ALL OTHER LINES ARE SEVERELY RUSTED AND MUST BE REPLACED. $1500 REPAIR ESTIMATE.

97mo ago
Brakes 2

STEEL BRAKE LINES - CORROSION - LOST BRAKING POWER DUE TO CORROSION OF BRAKE LINES.

99mo ago
Brakes 1

THE BRAKES ON MY TRUCK ARE ENGAGING THE ABS AT LOW SPEED STOPS. THIS IS CAUSING A LOSS OF BREAKING AT THE CRITICAL LAST FEW FEET OF STOPPING. THIS PROBLEM IS OCCURRING ON SMOOTH DRY PAVEMENT. YOUR 2008 ACTION NUMBER PE05020 WAS A RECALL SPECIFIC TO MY PROBLEM. CHECKING FOR A RECALL ON MY TRUCK SHOWED NO SPECIFIC RECALL FOR MY VIN. BOTH MY LOCAL DEALERSHIP AND THE GM REPRESENTATIVE AT 800-222-1020 TELL ME THAT I HAVE TO PAY FOR ANY REPAIRS OUT OF MY OWN POCKET BECAUSE THERE IS NO "RECALL" ON MY VEHICLE. I AM CONCERNED FOR MY SAFETY AND THE SAFETY OF MY FAMILY EVERY TIME WE DRIVE THE VEHICLE. IS THERE ANYTHING YOU CAN DO TO HAVE THIS PROBLEM FIXED?

102mo ago
Brakes 4

MY ABS ACTIVATES UNDER 5MPH ON DRY ROADS. THERE WAS A RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM BUT MY TRUCK DOESN'T QUALIFY. THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE AND THEY CAN "WALK AWAY" SAYING MY VIN IS NOT AFFECTED. BUNCH OF GARBAGE - I'VE BEEN A CHEVY GUY FOR EVER AND WORKED AT A CHEVY DEALERSHIP - THIS CAUSES ME TO LOOSE SOME FAITH. DEALERSHIPS HAVE THE ABILITY TO HELP BUT THERE HANDS ARE TIED BY GM. SAD!!

104mo ago
Electrical 4

TAKATA RECALL

114mo ago

463 total

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