2000 Chevrolet Tahoe Problems

What owners report

Owners of this model year most often describe brake problems, and ABS that engages when it shouldn't at low speeds is the recurring theme, frequently in states where road salt is used. A second, separate brake pattern involves rusted steel brake lines bursting and the pedal going to the floor, typically on higher-mileage trucks. Scattered reports also cover air bag warning lights and non-deployment, power window motors, and steering that loses power assist or locks up.

1. 1
   Brakes

   ABS engages at low speed when it shouldn't

   • 57 complaints (20%)
   • median 77,000 mi at 6.3 yrs old (45 state mileage)
   • 4 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2001–2023

   Complaints describe the antilock system kicking in during low-speed stops, parking, or turning, with the pedal pushing back and the truck not slowing as expected. Some owners say the ABS pump or module keeps running after the key is turned off and the only way to quiet it is pulling the fuse. Dealers and the manufacturer often told owners the truck was outside a related regional campaign based on vehicle identification or where they lived, so repairs were paid out of pocket or the system was disconnected. Reported from roughly 30,000 to 183,000 miles, often in wet or salt-treated climates and mostly at speeds under about 10 mph.

   Recall 05V3790003 related service bulletins

   What to check: Ask whether the front wheel speed sensor corrosion campaign was performed and on which wheels, and check whether the ABS light stays on. A slow-speed test stop on a wet or gravel surface will show if the system engages early.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Abs intermittently came on when I apply the brakes. After several weeks of this happening the brakes became very mushy. Changed both front wheel sensors but didn't fix the problem. Took to repair shop and they said the brake modulator was bad - $1200 to repair. We disconnected the anti-lock brake system at this point. Brakes work fine without it.”

   NHTSA complaint #10281277, filed 2009-08, 112,000 miles

   “Exiting freeway brakes were applied at a slow speed , brake pedal pushed back on my foot and vehicle did not stop as if I didn't have any brakes. Had to take my foot off the brake and pump them. I was very fortunate that there was no one (car or person) ahead of me. These were ABS brakes and at slow speeds they fail. According to a new media there is no recall on my vehicle (2000 Tahoe) because we do not live in rust or salt belt. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10142206, filed 2005-11, 32,000 miles
2. 2
   Brakes

   Rusted brake lines burst, pedal to the floor

   • 59 complaints (21%)
   • median 118,000 mi at 12.2 yrs old (44 state mileage)
   • 8 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $1,200 (median of 7 quotes)
   • filed 2000–2019

   Complaints describe the steel brake lines rusting through and bursting, usually at a front or rear line, with the pedal sinking all the way down and the truck not stopping. Several owners report the pedal felt soft or mushy in the days before the failure. Shops typically replaced the failed line, and some owners note that replacing all the lines was costly enough that they repaired only the damaged section. Most reports come between about 60,000 and 250,000 miles, mostly on older trucks in areas that use road salt.

   Recall 00V34500010 related service bulletins

   What to check: Have a shop inspect the full length of the steel brake lines, especially above the rear axle and along the frame, for rust or seepage. Pre-formed replacement line kits are available, so ask whether any lines have already been replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “A few days before the complete failure we noticed that the brakes had started to feel mushy . On 9/29/12 my husband hit the brakes hard and that is when the brake line blew out in the front and the rear. The brake line is completely rusted from front to rear.”

   NHTSA complaint #10478962, filed 2012-09, 122,199 miles

   “In 2011 at a traffic light intersection brakes failed on my 2000 chevy Tahoe (60k miles). Brake pedal fully depressed slowed the vehicle enough to swerve and avoid a collision. Repair revealed extensive corrosion on brake line that caused it to rupture. The repair is extremely costly since these lines are difficult to access, and they must be custom bent and fitted. To replace all lines would have cost $1500-$2000 to repair. As a result, like many people affected by this defect, we opted to only repair the damaged lines. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10544830, filed 2013-09, 60,000 miles
3. 3
   Electrical system

   Steering loses assist or locks up

   Mentioned in 5 of 60 sampled complaints

   Complaints describe the steering becoming very hard to turn, locking in the direction it was being turned, or losing power assist in left turns and curves. Some owners were told the power steering pump or the steering box needed replacement, and one report describes bolts holding the steering box shearing. Symptoms were sometimes intermittent, going back to normal after a few minutes. Reported from about 4,000 to 115,000 miles, at low speeds such as parking or backing out.

   What to check: Turn the wheel lock to lock while parked and listen for whining or binding, and check the power steering fluid level and condition. Ask whether the steering box, pump, or its mounting hardware has been serviced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Intermittently steering wheel will lock up in the direction it's being turned, driver has to apply brakes to unlock it. The dealership indicated that because the steering column has bushings instead of bearing, the bushing wear out, which cause the problem. Please provide more details. Ts”

   NHTSA complaint #10002305, filed 2003-01, 35,000 miles

   “Steering loses power when turned mostly to the left. Also loses power in left curves and has to be manually steered in the curve to keep from crossing the center lines on the highway. This has become a frequent occurrence as of late.”

   NHTSA complaint #10056483, filed 2004-02, 10,200 miles

Buying note. The brake system deserves the most attention on this model year: confirm whether the ABS sensor corrosion campaign was done, and have the steel brake lines inspected for rust before purchase. Records of past brake line or ABS repairs are worth asking for, since these are the two patterns owners describe most.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.