2002 Chevrolet Tahoe: complete transmission failure

Filed Apr 19, 2016 · Electrical · 220,000 miles · OK · fire

Purchased the truck brand new in 2002 and have had nothing but hell from it. We've had several issues, several breakdowns and stranded moments on the highway due to something malfunctioned in the fuel system that even chevy couldn't figure out. It's been unreliable and given us hell the entire time we've owned it. We've dumped thousands $$ into repairs in the last 15 years. Most recently a new transmission after it went out on us towing a small trailer with a tow package that couldn't tow. We've dumped enough money into this truck to have purchased another truck brand new. On 3/28/16 the truck spontaniously caught fire and burned down while unoccupied and parked in our driveway. To add to the hardship we had just reduced the insurance to liability after carrying full coverage for the past 15 yrs. The truck is a total loss and now we are without transportation!! What happened chevy?

Filed Jan 18, 2014 · Transmission · 115,789 miles · CA

I was driving home & while accelerating I noticed my truck begin to rev & no longer accelerate,my check engine light came on. I took my foot off the accelerator & put it back on it, I was in an 50 MPH area, & my truck just continued to rev. I started to lose speed. I repeated to put my foot on the accelerator then I picked up speed but on to about 35 MPH. My truck wouldn't shift to 3rd gear. I made it home. The next day I had it towed to the repair shop. I order a new transmission off ebay, had it installed & got my truck back in about 3wks. In june 2012 the exact same thing happened, my truck wouldn't shift into 3rd gear & my check engine light came on. I had the transmission replaced with another new transmission & in july 2013 the exact same thing happened again. This time I did not go get another new transmission. I started asking around & found that others have been having the same problem with their tahoe transmissions. I then tried putting lucas stop slip & that did nothing to help the problem. My truck has been sitting for months because I have put too much money into new factory built transmissions & the transmission does not seem to be the problem.

Filed Apr 4, 2011 · Transmission · 94,182 miles · NC

Transmission failure on 2002 tahoe.first failure around 17,000 miles. Fixed under warranty. Second failure little over a year later. Fixed under warranty. Third failure little over a year later. Dealer fixed, but said they paid for it. Fourth failure little over 2 years later. I have read about defective sun gear in transmission and that they were never taken out of service. Gm would not replace the transmission and would only rebuild I have had 4 failure's in about 75,000 miles. I don't think this is normal service.

Filed Aug 23, 2006 · Transmission · 93,000 miles · CA

I had a maintenance service performed on my 2002 chevy tahoe at the carl chevrolet dealership in san jose, ca. A minor transmission service was included with this service. They replaced the filter, performed a visual inspection of the transmission and replaced 4.5 quarts of transmission fluid that was removed for filter replacement. I picked-up my SUV and drove it home. There was a slight delay in shifting, but this was only noticeable intermittently. The next day, I was leaving on a family camping trip and my transmission went out approximately 1/4 of a mile from home. We were making a right turn and I heard a loud "clunk" which was followed by a spinning or high RPM winding sound. Since we were about to start down a steep hill, I tried to turn around. As I was in the process of making a y-turn, I put the car into reverse. I had lost my reverse gear, so I was unable to complete the turn. This left my car stranded in the lane of oncoming traffic. Fearing for my families safety,I put the car into neutral and pushed the car forward into a driveway to prevent blocking the lane. I had my tahoe towed back to the carl chevrolet dealership. The transmission tech stated that the sun shell gear had worn out and caused the transmission to fail. He also stated that there was no connection between the previous day's service and the transmission failure the following day. The service manager stated that this is a common problem with the 4l60e transmissions that are standard equipment in the tahoes. The transmission tech also stated that the chevrolet distributed a technical bulletin within the company advising the mechanics that the sun shell gear was faulty due to a lack of proper heat treating. Chevy has been aware of this problem since the year 2000. I asked chevy customer service for financial assistance and they offered to pay 10% of the bill. My family was put at risk due to this known part defect in the transmission.

Filed Mar 8, 2005 · Body, Electrical · CA

Chevrolet tahoe 2002, transmission failure. *bf the consumer purchased a vehicle that once had a transmission problem, the consumer was told the transmission problem had been fully corrected. The consumer then found out that the transmission was never fixed and the vehicle has been in the shop for a total of 3 times. Not only was the vehicle slipping, slow to shift and exhibiting a noise when shifting from park to drive, there were other problems such as not being able to turn the key in the ignition, the seat warmed light illuminated when the button was pushed, the speakers were cracking loudly, the A/C light came on by itself, the moon roof rattled and was leaking, the cargo power switch did lock the doors within 5 seconds of the cargo door being closed, the handle on the third row seat fell off, the cigarette lighter was missing, and the rubber stripping on the cargo door was loose.

Filed Oct 29, 2004 · Transmission · 40,343 miles · MI

The consumer was unable to place the vehicle in reverse. The dealership informed the consumer that the transmission failed.

Filed Apr 20, 2004 · Transmission · CA

Consumer stated transmission failed three times. . First year that consumer had the vehicle he had to replace transmission. Then, exactly one year later the same thing happened. Currently, transmission failed again. When consumer stopped at a traffic light vehicle moved a little and started to shake. Finally, it stopped doing anything. Consumer felt he purchased a lemon.

Filed Feb 3, 2004 · Steering, Tires · 26,000 miles · TX

Transmission shifting hard,only 26,000 miles. Ttook to dealership and was told second and third gear was gone. They rebuilt those gears. Pick tahoe up and within a hr it was doing the same thing. Return to dealership next day, was told it was pump sticking. Replace that. Pick back up and within a hr did the same thing. Return vehicle and they decided to replace for new transmission. A week later it has now starting to have a problem with the power sterring. There appears to be a leak in the lines. This 2002 tahoe has had problems starting within months of purchase. Sterring colum making clunking nose, required lube twice. Headlights filling with water. Nose in the front drivers side around shock area. They had different repairs such as replacing shocks, greasing. After over a year the dealership added bushings to the shocks, so far ok. Have replace firestone tires at 25,000 miles for wearing on inside of tire.

Filed Sep 10, 2003 · Transmission · CA

Transmission failed. Part has been repaired three times; however, problem still exists.

Filed May 17, 2003 · Transmission · 31,662 miles · WI

Transmission went out oct-02 @ 21,000 miles, would only replace 1 part, transmission went out again may 13,2003 @ 31,000 miles, this time I was told all parts in transmission were destroyed and dealer wanted to fix broken parts and put back in. It got very frustrating at this point....called toll free number at chevrolet and got no where, they think I'm stupid, I pay more than $40,000 for a brand new vehicle and have this happen twice in 5 months....I am very concerned about the safety issue here for my family and myself. I should have known I was doomed when I purchased my vehicle, it took almost 6 weeks to get and they kept giving me the run around about where it was, they kept telling it had left the factory and was on its way, but always found an excuse, then they said it got pulled off the line for inspection...what's wrong here? They told me at least 5 different times it had left the factory and then all of a sudden it's on the line...it never left the factory....I should have known then....

Filed Jun 19, 2002 · Brakes, Transmission · CA

Transmission takes 30 seconds to shift to second gear. Vehicle has been taken to dealer twice, cannot remedy the problem.*ak after the second attempt, the transmission was replaced. The vehicle still makes noises as if the transmission was not adjusted correctly. The vehicle also doesn't run the same. It feels as if the vehicle loses power. There is a scraping noise that is heard from the rear wheels. The brakes were replaced and the rotors deglazed.