VehicleVerdict

2001 Chevrolet Tahoe problems

Verdict · NHTSA data

One of the years to avoid

With 607 complaints filed to NHTSA — about 2.0 times the median Tahoe year — the 2001 model ranks #6 of 37 Tahoe years for complaint volume. It lands on the years-to-avoid list. Reports tied to this model year include 11 deaths and 53 injuries, per the complaint records themselves.

The trouble concentrates in one system: brakes issues account for 48% of all reports (294 of 607), far ahead of tires & wheels at 37.

607

NHTSA complaints

8

Recalls

6

Investigations

52

Crash-involved

13

Fires reported

53

Injuries

11

Deaths

NCAP overall

How does 2001 compare to other Tahoe years?

See all Tahoe years to avoid →

What are the most common 2001 Chevrolet Tahoe problems?

ComponentComplaintsShare
Brakes29448%
Tires & Wheels376%
Airbags315%
Seat Belts295%
Transmission295%
Body & Structure254%
Electrical System224%
Steering213%
Seats213%
Engine193%
Visibility & Wipers163%
Fuel System152%
Speed Control142%
Suspension132%
Other71%
Lighting61%
Latches & Locks51%
Climate Control (A/C & Heat)20%
Trailer Hitch10%

Does the 2001 Chevrolet Tahoe have recalls?

8 NHTSA recall campaigns on file. Recall repairs are free at franchised dealers.

07E106000Tires & WheelsDecember 17, 2007 · 130,000 units

Defect

CERTAIN FEDERAL-MOGUL REPLACEMENT WHEEL HUB ASSEMBLIES WITH THE BRAND NAMES: NATIONAL, CARQUEST P/NOS. 515020, 515021, 515025, 515053, 515054, 515059, AND 515060, SHIPPED BETWEEN JANUARY 23, 2006, AND DECEMBER 20, 2007, SOLD FOR LIGHT DUTY AND MEDIUM DUTY TRUCKS. THE INBOARD RETENTION NUT USED TO MAINTAIN HUB BEARING ASSEMBLY CAN LOOSEN RESULTING IN AN ABS LIGHT INDICATION, NOISE, AND/OR WHEEL SEPARATION.

Consequence

WHEEL SEPARATION CAN RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

Remedy

FEDERAL-MOGUL WILL NOTIFY CUSTOMERS AND WILL REPLACE THE HUB ASSEMBLY FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON FEBRUARY 7, 2008. OWNERS CAN CONTACT FEDERAL-MOGUL TOLL-FREE AT 877-489-6659.

06E043000Fuel SystemMay 19, 2006 · 88,303 units

Defect

CERTAIN REPLACEMENT FUEL FILTERS, FRAM BRAND NAME P/N G3727, WITH DATE CODES X52911 THROUGH X60801 SEQUENTIALLY OR X600141 AND A MEXICO COUNTRY OR ORIGIN MARKING ON THE FUEL FILTER HOUSING MANUFACTURED FROM OCTOBER 18, 2005, THROUGH MARCH 21, 2006, SOLD FOR USE ON THE VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE AND ON CERTAIN SCHOOL BUSES. (TO SEE THE SCHOOL BUS ENGINE SIZES, CLICK ON "DOCUMENT SEARCH" AND THEN "BUS APPLICATIONS"). THE CONNECTOR ON THE FUEL FILTER WAS NOT MANUFACTURED TO HONEYWELL'S SPECIFICATION. AS A RESULT, THE O-RING MAY NOT SEAT CORRECTLY ON THE FUEL LINE.

Consequence

THIS CONDITION MAY CAUSE AN INADEQUATE SEAL AT THE CONNECTION, POTENTIALLY LEADING TO A FUEL LEAK. IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE, A FIRE COULD OCCUR.

Remedy

HONEYWELL WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE FUEL FILTERS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 18, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FRAM CUSTOMER SERVICE AT 1-800-890-2075 (OPTION 1).

06E026000LightingMarch 23, 2006 · 61,944 units

Defect

CERTAIN PRO-A MOTORS CORNER LAMPS, TURN SIGNALS, AND HEADLIGHTS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. SOME COMBINATION LAMPS THAT ARE NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT.

Consequence

WITHOUT THE AMBER REFLECTORS, THE VEHICLE WILL BE POORLY ILLUMINATED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.

Remedy

PRO-A MOTORS WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER TO REPURCHASE THE LAMPS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 3, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT PRO-A MOTORS AT 323-838-2988.

05V379000BrakesAugust 29, 2005 · 1,353,718 units

Defect

CERTAIN PICKUP TRUCKS AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES MAY EXPERIENCE UNWANTED ANTILOCK BRAKE SYSTEM (ABS) ACTIVATION. THIS CONDITION IS MORE LIKELY TO OCCUR IN ENVIRONMENTALLY CORROSIVE AREAS. THIS RECALL WILL BE LAUNCHED IN THE "SALT BELT" STATES OF CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, IOWA, MARYLAND, MASSACHUSETTS, MAINE, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, MISSOURI, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, VERMONT, WEST VIRGINIA, WISCONSIN AND THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA ONLY.

Consequence

THIS CAN CAUSE INCREASED STOPPING DISTANCES DURING LOW-SPEED BRAKE APPLICATIONS, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.

Remedy

DEALERS ARE TO REMOVE THE WHEEL SPEED SENSOR AND THOROUGHLY CLEAN THE WHEEL SPEED SENSOR MOUNTING SURFACE ON THE BEARING, APPLY RUST INHIBITOR TO THE CLEANED SURFACE, GREASE THE MOUNTING SURFACE, REINSTALL THE WHEEL SPEED SENSOR, AND CHECK THE PEAK-TO-PEAK OUTPUT VOLTAGE TO ENSURE THE WHEEL SPEED SIGNAL IS WITHIN SPECIFICATIONS. THE RECALL BEGAN SEPTEMBER 22, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438 OR GMC AT 1-866-996-9463.

03V094000Body & StructureMarch 7, 2003 · 3,674 units

Defect

CERTAIN PICKUP TRUCK, VAN, AND MINI VAN CONVERSIONS EQUIPPED WITH SOUTHERN COMFORT BUILT RUNNING BOARDS THAT CONTAIN CERTAIN COURTESY LIGHTS MANUFACTURED BY AMERICAN TECHNOLOGY COMPONENTS, INC. THESE UNITS CONTAIN A COURTESY LIGHT OR LIGHTS THAT MIGHT OVERHEAT WHEN THE WIRE HARNESS IS EXPOSED TO EXCESSIVE MOISTURE AND ROAD SALT.

Consequence

THIS OVERHEATING CONDITION CAN CAUSE THE RUNNING BOARD TO MELT OR CAUSE A FIRE.

Remedy

DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE WIRING HARNESS ON THESE RUNNING BOARDS. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN MARCH 7, 2003. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT SOUTHERN COMFORT AT 1-800-745-6096.

02V253000SeatsSeptember 17, 2002 · 558,904 units

Defect

ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH REARWARD FOLDING HEAD RESTRAINTS ON THE SECOND ROW SEATS, TWO POTENTIAL PINCH POINTS EXIST ON EACH OF THE FOLDING HEAD RESTRAINTS WHEN THE RESTRAINTS ARE FOLDED REARWARD AS THE SEATBACK IS FOLDED DOWN.

Consequence

IF A PERSON WERE TO INSERT THEIR FINGER(S) INTO THE PINCH POINT WHEN THE HEAD RESTRAINT FOLDS, IT COULD TRAP AND PINCH THE FINGER(S) CAUSING INJURY.

Remedy

DEALERS WILL INSTALL PROTECTIVE COVERS OVER THE PINCH POINTS. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN NOVEMBER 8, 2002. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-222-1020, GMC AT 1-800-462-8782, OR CADILLAC AT 1-800-458-8006.

01V159000Seat BeltsMay 17, 2001 · 9,196 units

Defect

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PICKUP AND UTILITY TRUCKS. SOME OF THESE VEHICLES HAVE AN INTERNAL COMPONENT IN THE OUTBOARD SEAT BELT RETRACTORS FOR THE 2ND AND 3RD ROW OF SEATS THAT COULD BE CRACKED. WITH REPEATED ACTUATION OF THE LOCKING MECHANISM, THE CRACK COULD SPREAD TO THE POINT SUCH THAT THE SEAT BELT WOULD NO LONGER LOCK.

Consequence

IN A CRASH, INCREASED OCCUPANT INJURY COULD RESULT FROM THE NO-LOCK CONDITION.

Remedy

DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE OUTBOARD SEAT BELTS FOR SPECIFIC LOT NUMBERS AND REPLACE THE BELTS IF NECESSARY. GM IS ENCLOSING AN INSPECTION PROCEDURE FOR THE OWNERS TO USE OR THEY CAN HAVE THEIR DEALERS DO THE INSPECTIONS. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN JULY 2, 2001. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-222-1020 OR GMC AT 1-800-462-8782.

00V343000Body & StructureOctober 25, 2000 · 35,659 units

Defect

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: LIGHT DUTY PICKUP TRUCKS AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES. SOME OF THESE VEHICLES HAVE LOOSE OR MISSING REAR WHEELHOUSE PLUGS. UNDER CERTAIN VEHICLE OPERATING CONDITIONS, EXHAUST GASES CAN FLOW FORWARD AND ACCUMULATE IN THE REAR WHEELHOUSE.

Consequence

THESE GASES COULD FLOW INTO THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT IF THE PLUG IS MISSING OR LOOSE AND COULD CAUSE POSSIBLE ILLNESS, UNCONSCIOUSNESS, OR DEATH.

Remedy

DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE VEHICLE FOR LOOSE OR MISSING WHEELHOUSE PLUGS AND INSTALL NEW PLUGS IF NECESSARY.

Consumer complaints filed with NHTSA

Representative excerpts, cleaned of personal information. These are consumer statements, not verified defects.

MY VEHICLE EXHIBITS THE SAME PROBLEM AS NHTSA RECALL #05V379000 . I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE NEW IN PORTLAND MAINE AND OPERATED IT THERE FOR 1 YEAR. I AM ACTIVE DUTY NAVY AND HENCE WAS NOT A RESIDENCE OF MAINE. I DID NOT TITLE THE VEHICLE IN MAINE. GM WILL NOT HONOR THE RECALL SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS…

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Brakes · December 1, 2006 · crash

BLOWOUT (OUTSIDE SIDEWALL). TIRES WERE USED ON A 2001 CHEVROLET TAHOE WITH ONLY 17,000 MILES USE. SPEED OF THE VEHICLE AT TIME OF INCIDENT WAS APPROX 60MPH. THIS OCCURRED AT NIGHT WHEN TEMPERATURE WAS ABOUT 58 DEGREES. I HAVE INCLUDED THIS INFORMATION SO YOU CAN SEE THAT NEITHER EXCESSIVE SPEED OR…

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Tires & Wheels · December 11, 2002

VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT WHILE TRAVELING AT 50 MPH WHEN VEHICLE T-BONED A VEHICLE CROSSING AN INTERSECTION. AIRBAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. DEALERSHIP COULD NOT PROVIDE A REASON FOR FAILURE OF AIRBAGS TO DEPLOY. *AK THE MAUFACTURER INDICATED THAT THE VEHICLE SKIDDED 20 TO 25 FEET AFTER IMPACT…

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Airbags · March 21, 2001 · crash

GAS PEDLE STUCK OR LINKAGE IN COLD WEATHER. DID NOT DROP OUR OF PAQSSING GEAR BUT HELD IN PASSING GEAR FOR A COUPLE OF SECONDS. PRESSING BREAK COULD NOT OVERCOME THE ENGINE REVING.

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Transmission · January 30, 2004 · crash

TL* - THE VEHICLE OWNS A 2001 CHEVROLET TAHOE. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE WAS IN A HEAD ON COLLISION WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH. THE SEAT BELT FAILED ON THE PASSENGER'S REAR SIDE SEAT BELT. THE SEAT BELT ASSEMBLY FAILED TO SECURE THE PASSENGER DURING THE IMPACT. THE PASSENGER WAS FORCED INTO THE…

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Seat Belts · December 3, 2006 · crash

2001 Chevrolet Tahoe — common questions

Is the 2001 Chevrolet Tahoe reliable?

NHTSA data argues against it: 607 complaints put the 2001 model at #6 of 37 Tahoe years. It is one of the Tahoe years to avoid.

What are the most common 2001 Tahoe problems?

According to NHTSA complaint data, the leading problem areas are brakes (294 complaints), tires & wheels (37 complaints), airbags (31 complaints).

Does the 2001 Chevrolet Tahoe have recalls?

Yes — NHTSA lists 8 recall campaigns affecting the 2001 Chevrolet Tahoe. Recall repairs are free at franchised dealers; check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to confirm the work was done.

Is the 2001 Chevrolet Tahoe under NHTSA investigation?

NHTSA opened 6 investigations into this model year; all are now closed.

Which Chevrolet Tahoe years should you avoid?

Based on complaint rates and open investigations, the Tahoe years to avoid are 2007, 2015, 2008, 1999, 2003, 2001, 2021, 2011, 2004, 2002, 1997, 2010, 2009, 2013, 2023, 2012, 2022, 2014, 2024. The cleanest record among Tahoe years belongs to 1988.

Related

Based on NHTSA ODI data through June 2026. Complaints are consumer-reported and unverified. Updated July 5, 2026.

Compiled by Sharon Ben-Moshe, Founder.