2001 Chevrolet Tahoe Body & Structure Problems

Your brake lines from the master cylinder to the distribution block rusted through, causing your brake pedal to sink to the floor while driving at 50 mph—you lost braking ability and ran through a stop sign. You also have significant rust damage on the lower body panels on both sides of the truck. The repair will require replacing the rusted brake lines and likely inspecting the entire brake system to ensure it's functioning properly.

THE LIFTGATE GLASS HINGE HAS SEPARATED FROM THE MOLDING CAUSING THE LIFTGATE GLASS WINDOW TO BECOME UNSAFE SINCE IT IS NOW HELD ONTO THE CAR BY ONLY ONE RUBBER HINGE BRACKET. THE GLASS IN THE LIFTGATE WILL NOT CLOSE AND COULD BECOME SEPARATED FROM THE CAR WHILE THE CAR IS MOVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY CAUSING SERIOUS INJURY TO CARS FOLLOWING MY CAR. THE LOCAL DEALER STATED THAT HE HAD SEEN THE PROBLEM BEFORE BUT THERE IS NO RECALL AND MY ONLY RECOURSE WAS TO PURCHASE A NEW REAR LIFTGATE WINDOW AT A COST OF NEARLY $1000. I AM NOW ON RECORD AS HAVING STATED IN WRITING THAT, IN MY OPINION, THIS IS A SERIOUS SITUATION AND THIS MANUFACTURE DEFECT COULD CAUSE THE REAR GLASS TO BECOME SEPARATED FROM THE CAR AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS AND HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE ON THE HIGHWAY. THE ODOMETER ON MY CAR READS 40,000 MILES. *TR

WHILE DRIVING AT 55 MPH IN HEAVY (BUMPER TO BUMPER) TRAFFIC ON A 4 LANE HIGHWAY, I HAD A GUT FEELING TO GET OFF THAT MAIN ROAD SO, I TOOK A RIGHT ONTO A SMALL COUNTRY ROAD. NOT EVEN A MILE DOWN THE ROAD THERE WAS A LOUD THUMP FROM THE BACK OF THE TAHOE - SOUNDED AS THOUGH THE BUMPER FELL OFF AND HIT THE ROAD. LOOKED THROUGH MY REARVIEW MIRROR AND SAW SOMETHING SHOOT STRAIGHT BACK (WOULD HAVE BEEN EVEN WITH A CAR'S WINDSHIELD) AND THE THING CURVED UP AND WENT OVEN AN EMBANKMENT. HUSBAND GOT OUT WHILE I LOOKED UNDER THE BACK OF TAHOE - THE SPARE TIRE HAD BROKEN LOOSE AND IT WAS THE TIRE THAT WENT DOWN THE EMBANKMENT. THE BRACKET HOLDING IT HAD BROKEN. HAD I STAYED ON THE MAIN HIGHWAY, THE TIRE WOULD HAVE SHOT THROUGH THE CAR'S WINDSHIELD BEHIND ME AND CHANCES ARE 100% THE PERSON WOULD HAVE BEEN DECAPITATED. TOOK THE TAHOE TO THE DEALER FIRST THING MONDAY MORNING AND THEY FIXED IT. TELLING ME THEY HAD NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE THIS BEFORE. THIS TAHOE HAD ABOUT 50,000 MILES, NEVER BEEN OFF ROAD, NEVER TOWED, NEVER ABUSED, AND NEVER BOTTOMED OUT. MY TAHOE IS 2001 AND JUST TURNED 122,000 MILES - DON'T DO A LOT OF DRIVING AND I KEEP IT SERVICED. DO TAKE CARE OF WHAT I OWN. JUST IN CASE YOU OWN A 2001 TAHOE, MAY WANT TO HAVE THE BRACKET CHECKED. MINE HAD JUST SNAPPED - THERE WAS NO RUST - NOTHING THAT WOULD CAUSE THIS. THAN GOODNESS NO ONE WAS HURT/KILLED. LAST YEAR THE TAHOE HAD A BENT ROD, FRONT END BRACKET/TIE ROD BROKEN, TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT GO OUT OF 4WD, HAD IT IN THE SHOP - ALL PROBLEMS HAVE COME BACK- I SPENT OVER 4,000.00 AND I'M NOT SPENDING ANYMORE - THIS TAHOE JUST TURNED 122,000 MILES. WHAT THE HECK. I TAKE GOOD CARE OF ALL MY CARS AND THIS ON JUST KEEPS HAVING PROBLEMS. (I'D HAVE TO FIND THE LIST FROM THE SHOP - BUT I HAVE NO MORE MONEY TO FIX IT OR BUY ANOTHER - AND I JUST LOVE THIS THING :( *TR

2 DOOR LATCHES AND REAR DOOR WILL NOT OPEN AS THE DOOR HANDLE WILL NOT SPRING BACK IN PLACE AFTER OPENING. NEED TO PUSH IN THE HANDLE ON THE OUTSIDE AFTER CLOSING THE DOOR TO BE ABLE TO OPEN THE DOOR AGAIN FROM THE INSIDE OR THE OUTSIDE. *TR

OPERATING ON THE REAR ACCESS ROAD TO A MALL AND NOTICED BRAKE PEDAL ALMOST WENT TO THE FLOOR AND IT TOOK A STRONG EFFORT TO STOP THE VEHICLE. TRIED PUMPING BRAKES TO SEE IF PEDAL WOULD RISE, IT DID NOT. CHECKED BRAKE FLUID RESERVOIR AND IT WAS SLIGHTLY DOWN. LOOKED UNDER TRUCK AND NO LEAK AT ALL FOUR WHEELS OR ON INSIDE MASTER CYLINDER COWL. DROVE SLOWLY TO NEARBY MECHANIC AND THIS TIME NOTICED DRIPPING UNDER DRIVER SIDE FLOOR. MECHANIC SAID I NEEDED BRAKE LINE REPLACEMENT AND AM AWAITING REPAIR. VEHICLE IS WELL MAINTAINED, ALWAYS PARKED ON PAVED DRIVEWAY, AND WAXED ALONG WITH UNDERCARRAIGE CAR WASHES DURING THE WINTER MONTHS. PURCHASED USED FROM CHEVY DEALER AND FOUND LEFT REAR BACKING PLATE HAD ALMOST ROTTED OFF EXPOSING REAR AXLE SEALS WHICH DEALER REPLACED WITHIN WEEK OF MY PURCHASE. *TR

REAR WINDOW HINGE IS CRACKED, COULD NOT CLOSE WINDOW SO WE TO TAKE THE PISTON OFF. EVEN WITH THAT IT WAS DIFFICULT TO CLOSE. READ OTHER PEOPLE HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM AND ALSO MENTIONED THE WINDOW FALLING OFF. TRUCK IS GARAGE KEPT AND NOT EXPOSE TO TOO MUCH WEATHER. THINK THIS COULD BE MANUFACTURE PROBLEM AND NOT THE CONSUMERS. THANKS *TR

I WAS STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT AND WHEN I ACCELERATED THE SPARE TIRE HOIST CABLE BROKE DUE TO FRAYING CAUSING THE SPARE TIRE TO FALL FROM UNDERNEATH THE TRUCK. THE DRIVER BEHIND ME RAN OVER THE SPARE. FORTUNATELY, I HAD JUST BEGAN TO PULL OFF SO SPEED WAS NOT A FACTOR AND THERE WAS NO DAMAGE TO THE OTHER VEHICLE OR PERSON. *LN

MY REAR DOORS ON MY CHEVY TAHOE 2001 ARE BECOMING IMPOSSIBLE TO OPEN.

THE TRUCK IS A 2001, HAS BEEN IN THE GARAGE FOR OVER 90% OF ITS LIFE. I NOTICED 2 MONTHS A SMALL PATCH OF PAINT STARTING TO BUBBLE ON THE ROOF. THIS PATCH HAS NOW EXTENDED TO APPROXIMATELY 2 SQ FT IN SIZE. *TR

BOTH SIDE-VIEW MIRROR CASINGS (NOT THE GLASS) BROKE WITHIN A MONTH OF ONE ANOTHER. MUST BE A DEFECT. IT IS DANGEROUS SINCE THEY CAN FALL OFF AT ANYTIME AND IF THAT OCCURS I AM UNABLE TO SEE MY SURROUNDINGS AS NEEDED TO PROVIDE A SAFE DRIVING ENVIRONMENT FOR MYSELF, MY PASSENGERS, AND OTHER SURROUNDING VEHICLES OR PEDESTRIANS. THE FIRST MIRROR BROKE IN SEPTEMBER 2005 THE SECOND ON OCTOBER 5, 2005. *NM

UPON OPENING THE LIFTGATE GLASS ON MY 2001 CHEVROLET TAHOE THE PASSENGER SIDE BODY-TO-GLASS HINGE SEPARATED FROM THE GLASS. THE GLASS WILL LATCH BUT DOES NOT MAKE A WEATHERPROOF SEAL AND CAN NOT BE OPENED.*AK

I RECENTLY TRADED MY FORD EXPEDITION FOR CHEVROLET TAHOE. UPON OPENING REAR TAIILGATE ONE NIGHT NOTICED THAT THE HINGES THAT HOLD GLASS TO TAILGATE HAD SEPARATED FROM VEHICLE. THIS SEEMS TO BE A COMMON ISSUE WITH THIS MODEL AFTER READING OTHER OWNERS COMPLAINTS.*AK

BOUGHT A USED 2001 TAHOE JUNE 4, 2004. OPENED REAR GLASS ON HATCH MANY TIMES WITH NO PROBLEMS. IN LATE JULY MY HUSBAND OPENED AND ONE OF THE HINGES BROKE. THE METAL ACTUALLY TORE. TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM THE WHOLE GLASS MUST BE REPLACED, THE HINGE IS PART OF THE GLASS. I HAVE SINCE HEARD "THROUGH THE GRAPEVINE" THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE CHEVY TAHOE. WHEN THE SERVICE DEPART. AT MY LOCAL CHEVY DEALER ORDERED THE NEW GLASS, BY COMPUTER, THE PART # CHANGED MANY TIMES, AS IF MANY CHANGES HAD BEEN MADE AND EVENTUALLY THE PART (GLASS) HAD TO COME DIRECTLY FROM THE GLASS MANUFACTURER. OBVIOUSLY GM IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. MY CONCERN IS THAT HAD ONE OF MY CHILDREN, OR EVEN MYSELF WITH NOT AS MUCH STRENGTH AS MY HUSBAND OPENED THE GLASS ON THE HATCH,WE WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO CATCH AND HOLD THE END WITH THE BROKEN HINGE RESULTING IN THE REMAINING HINGE "TEARING" AND THERE COULD HAVE BEEN SERIOUS INJURY. MY TAHOE IS NOT UNDER WARRANTY SO I WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE 700.00 BILL THAT I TRULY FEEL GM SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR AS THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE. *JB

REAR TAILGATE GLASS HINGE SEPARATED FROM PLASTIC MATERIAL IN WHICH IT WAS EMBEDDED. FAILURE RESULTS IN IMPROPER SECURING OF REAR TAILGATE WINDOW, CAN LEAD TO GLASS SEPARATING FROM VEHICLE AT SPEED. GLASS WAS REPLACED. *LA

THE TRUCKS BED CRACKED ON THREE SEPARATE OCCASIONS. *PH THE CONSUMER REQUESTED A FULL REFUND AND A GUARANTEE THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD BE INSPECTED. (MODEL/FLEETSIDE) *SC *JB

CONSUMER NOTICED REAR HATCH GLASS FELL OUT. DEALER HAD BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

BACK GLASS LIFT GATE HING CAME UNGLUED/UNATTACHED AND WHEN WE OPENED THE WINDOW, IT SPRUNG WAY OUT OF WACK AND WOULDN'T CLOSE PROPERLY. CHEVROLET DEALER THAT FIXED IT, SAID THEY HAVE SEEN MANY OF THESE HINGES FAIL.

LIFTATE GLASS SEPARATES FROM HINGES.LOCAL DEALER AND LOCAL GLASS SHOPS SAY THIS IS COMMON PROBLEM. CHEVROLET DENIES EVER HEARING OF THIS TROUBLE. IF THIS HAD HAPPENED AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS THE BACK WINDOW WOULD HAVE SHATTERED AND WHO KNOWS WHAT THE END RESULT COULD HAVE BEEN. *AK

THE CONSUMER TRIED AT LEAST 10-12 CAR SEATS AND NONE OF THEM FIT IN THE VEHICLE WITHOUT A LOT OF PLAY IN THEM. THE CONSUMER WENT TO THE POLICE DEPT AND THEY COULD NOT GET THE SEAT TO FIT PROPERLY EITHER. *JB

THE HEADLINER ON MY 2001 CHEVROLET TAHOE LT HAS BEEN LOSING THE RETAINER PLUGS SINCE I TOOK DELIVERY ON THE TRUCK IN 2001. I HAVE HAD THE DEALER REPLACE THE HEADLINER BECAUSE THEY "CLAIMED" IT WAS THE WRONG ONE FOR THE TRUCK. SINCE IT WAS REPLACED AND PLUGS REPLACED NUMEROUS TIMES, THEY DECIDED THAT IT WASN'T CRITICAL ENOUGH TO WARRANT NEW DESIGN OR REPAIR. MY HEADLINER HAS DROPPED DOWN AND REMAINS SO TODAY. THEIR FIX IS TO WRAP FELT AROUND THE PLUGS AND "RAM THEM BACK IN" AS THE SERVICE WRITER EXPLAINED TO ME. THIS IS UNEXCEPTABLE TO ME AND I HAVE TRIED TO GET THEM TO FIX IT ANOTHER WAY TO NO AVAIL.

BUMPERS ON INSIDE ARE NOT PROPERLY TREATED FOR RUST AND CORROSION. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED. *AK THE MANUFACTURER HAS MADE NO EFFORT TO PREVENT RUST NOR TO REMEDY THE PROBLEM. CONSUMER IS CONCERNED THAT IF THE BUMPER RUSTS THROUGH THAT IT MAY CAUSE INJURY TO SELF AND OTHERS. *JG

PASSENGERS SIDE DOOR ISN'T CLOSING CORRECTLY. DOORS WILL LOCK. BUT DOORS AREN'T SECURE. DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK

PASSENGER'S DOOR WOULDN'T LOCK PROPERLY. *AK