2001 Chevrolet Tahoe Problems, Recalls & Reliability

607 owner complaints sit in the federal file for the 2001 Chevrolet Tahoe, alongside 8 recall campaigns and 6 defect investigations. It scores 46/100 on the trouble index — a below-average year for this model. Brakes & stability leads the reports, typically around 76,000 miles.

607Complaints
46/100Trouble index
8Recalls
70,000Typical trouble mileage

Below average

Where 2001 sits among all Tahoe years

Darker = quieter yearsBrighter amber = more trouble

What owners report

Brakes & stability 292 complaints (48%) · typically ~76,000 miles
“Emergency brake fails to hold will not permit vehicle to roll back but will permit vehicle to roll forward esp on hills. Dt”— owner report to NHTSA, 2001 Tahoe
Wheels & tires 37 complaints (6%) · typically ~59,476 miles
“Was driving in newmexico on hot sumer day. Tire failed. The tread and sidewall shreaded. Firestone claimed it was not their fault! Finally replaced the tire at a discount price of $70.00. There was no reason for this tire to have failed. Had been driven the day before about 800 miles over hot…”— owner report to NHTSA, 2001 Tahoe
Airbags 31 complaints (5%) · typically ~82,000 miles
“Airbags did not deploy during side impact. He says that the b pillar is shoved against the side where the air bag is located, so where is the airbag suppose to go. Ts”— owner report to NHTSA, 2001 Tahoe
Seat belts 29 complaints (5%) · typically ~50,000 miles
“The front passenger seat belt locks up and can't be adjusted. It continues to get tighter after fastening and allows for no movement. It is very uncomfortable and does not allow for any movement. It has been that way since original purchase in 2001. I have brought to attention of chevy dealership.…”— owner report to NHTSA, 2001 Tahoe
Transmission & drivetrain 29 complaints (5%) · typically ~47,000 miles
“I was traveling out of town in my 2001 cheverolet tahoe when the transmission started "slipping" it would not chg past 2nd gear. I had less than 55,000 miles. It cost me $500 bec i wanted another gm transmission and not the transmission the warranty was offering with only 12000 miles”— owner report to NHTSA, 2001 Tahoe
Electrical 27 complaints (4%) · typically ~60,000 miles
“Consumer stated that while driving the battery terminal cracked, resulting in acid leaking on to battery tray and other underhood electrical wiring. Ts”— owner report to NHTSA, 2001 Tahoe

Mileage when trouble shows up

Among the 375 reports that include an odometer reading, problems most often appear around 70,000 miles. Half of those reports fall between 46,000 and 105,000 miles — a useful range to weigh against the mileage of the exact car you're looking at.

Recalls (8)

WHEELS 07E106000 2007

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…

Fix: 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.

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE 06E043000 2006

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…

Fix: 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).

EXTERIOR LIGHTING 06E026000 2006

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…

Fix: 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.

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC 05V379000 2005

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…

Fix: 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,…

STRUCTURE 03V094000 2003

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…

Fix: 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…

SEATS 02V253000 2002

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.

Fix: 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…

SEAT BELTS 01V159000 2001

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…

Fix: 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…

STRUCTURE 00V343000 2000

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.

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

Federal defect investigations

Brake line corrosion failure EA11001 opened 2011, closed 2015
PARKING BRAKE FAILURE DP05009 opened 2005, closed 2006
UNWANTED LOW-SPEED ABS ACTIVATION PE05020 opened 2005, closed 2005

Led to recall campaign 05V379000.

STEEL WHEEL RIM FRACTURE PE03026 opened 2003, closed 2003
ALLEGED FAILURE OF 2ND ROW SEATBELT ALR PE02067 opened 2002, closed 2003
THROTTLE STICKING CLOSED EA02015 opened 2002, closed 2004

Technical service bulletins

510 manufacturer communications — service bulletins, the biggest share on engine and electrical — are on file for the 2001 Chevrolet Tahoe. A TSB is factory repair guidance, not a recall — the repair is not automatically free.

See the 2001 Tahoe TSB list →

Complaint history for this model year

When owners filed their reports — a long tail means problems kept surfacing for years.

2000peak 85 in 20052025

Questions buyers ask

Is the 2001 Chevrolet Tahoe reliable?

The 2001 Chevrolet Tahoe drew 607 complaints in federal safety records — a below-average year for this model. Its trouble index is 46/100, scored against the model's worst year (2007).

What are the most common 2001 Chevrolet Tahoe problems?

The top reported problems for the 2001 Chevrolet Tahoe are brakes & stability (292 complaints), wheels & tires (37), and airbags (31).

At what mileage do 2001 Chevrolet Tahoe problems show up?

Owners most often report 2001 Chevrolet Tahoe problems around 70,000 miles. Half of all reports that include an odometer reading fall between 46,000 and 105,000 miles.

Does the 2001 Chevrolet Tahoe have recalls?

8 recall campaigns apply to the 2001 Chevrolet Tahoe. Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer.

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Data updated 2026-08-20 from NHTSA's public records

Every number on this page is a count of records in the federal complaint, recall, and investigation files published by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation. Check any specific vehicle's open recalls by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.