2008 Chevrolet Tahoe: sudden loss of power

Filed Sep 27, 2025 · Electrical, Engine · MI

I had bought the 08 Tahoe hybrid. The day it was delivered, it stalled I called the dealership out of Minnesota and was told oh it could be this it could be that went to two local shops and a private shop all had different specifications as to what was wrong with the car due to so many codes being thrown out. You would try to take off from a stop sign or a red light car would completely lose all power, almost had multiple people slam into me because it always happened, caused so much anxiety because my only wheels to get my children around. Once again was told to take it in GM had it for over a year and could not figure the issue out. I was told by the dealer multiple times it was not their issue and they knew the position I was in an said it was inspected but refused to send me the paperwork.

Filed May 13, 2022 · Electrical, Engine · GA

A number of warning lights came on including ABS, Stability control, and engine light, car lost power and shut off

Filed Feb 19, 2022 · Steering · CA · 1 injury

Sudden Loss of power steering & Complete Loss of Steering control movement.. It caused a minor injury to my hand... Friction burn to both palms and sore finger joints Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? Have not taken it in for service yet.. While Performing a LEFT turn The wheel suddenly & unexpectedly BY IT SELF, jerked and changed direction from 80-90% left turning angle to 50-70% right turning in a quarter of a second , this almost caused the vehicle to smash into two other vehicles present in the area the other person had to slam on their brakes as the SUV by it self cut them off... Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others? No......... Service Power Steering message was shown on the Driver information Center (DIC) when the incident occurred ... nothing prior This incident was caught on dash camera.. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7lUqZUsOLEk

Filed Mar 17, 2020 · Airbags, Electrical · 200,000 miles · PA

There has been a recall on my airbags for years. For about 2 weeks now my service airbag message has been on. It came on when I started my car one day and has remained there. The 2nd issue is something electrical. I can be driving and I'll lose all power and lights/radio for 5-20 seconds and then pop back on. That has happened numerous times. Or I'll get out of my car and go to lock it and have no power. Both times that has happened , I popped the hood and the power came back on without me doing anything.

Filed Aug 11, 2019 · Brakes · 89,000 miles · CA

Rear brakes faulty no to minimal braking power to the rear bakes as of today stopping distance significantly increased...by 20-30 feet .. No check engine light,ABS or brake light illuminated ...currently there is no reason as to why it should not be working... Front brakes work perfectly fine.. Momentary power loss to vital components lost. System power loss event that caused power steering and all wheels to lock up among other things to stop working. Approximate speed at the time was 50mph... Engine was still running at the time I was very fortunate for it to happen on a off ramp the two cars behind me were able to stop in time ... It nearly cause and accident pile up with 2 other cars

Filed Jun 30, 2019 · Electrical, Steering · 89,400 miles · CA

2008 tahoe 2mode hybird 6.0l trim: hy2 with electrical power assisted steering freeway off ramp 45-50mph A/C was on at the time medium setting radio was on at the time engine running issue. Had a momentary loss of power steering in "emergency " maneuver... Not only did the SUV keep going straight the wheel locked up(like if it was off and would not move at all) everything was fine after that momentary loss of epas was able to come to a complete stop without accident... I had a good following distance from the car in front of me and they moved out of the way (fast)so did I. (look like they were moving out of the way of a object in the road) anyways no object in the road.. I did notice there was a recalled issued for the 2015+ model electrical power assisted steering but not for the 2008-2013 2mode hybrids that are equipped with electrical power assisted steering example: 2mode hybird chevy tahoe 2008-13 gmc yukon 2008-13 cadillac escalade 2009-13 gmc serria 2009-13 chevy silverado 2009-13

Filed May 15, 2018 · Driver assistance, Electrical · 42,286 miles · TX

All ip warning lamps illuminated, loss of power, stalling, gage fluctuation, intermittent door lock operation. Vehicle was in motion on highway when this occurred. Error codes include u0073, u0121m u0101, u0242 ( from dealership analysis). Cause unknown. Vehicle has been in dealership more than 7 weeks without cause of problem not isolated. Technician stated crackling sound when grasping wiring in dashboard area. Loss of communication between control module and various components occurs within one (1) to five (5) seconds. Chevrolet issued tech bulletin #08-07-30-021e. Dealership has followed this bulletin without correcting the problem.

Filed Jul 6, 2017 · Driver assistance, Engine · 138,000 miles · FL

Reduced power to engine while driving on a highway

Filed Jul 31, 2014 · Engine · 58,150 miles · CA

We had this same recurring problem with this tahoe for the last 10k miles. Sometimes when driving at higher speed or just idling, it will display a "reduced engine power" and you will loose all power. Engine is still running and lights and radio will work, but you get no power when pressing the gas. Its scary because it happens so suddenly with out any warning. We have spend a couple of thousand dollars trying to trouble shoot this but it hasn't been solved..

Filed Oct 5, 2012 · Driver assistance, Electrical · 12,000 miles · SC

1. Door locks failed. Have been replaced multiple times. As a result, my [xxx] old baby got locked in the car in 100 degree weather in august. It continues to be an issue and often I have to resort in climbing through the back tailgate. 2. Stabilitrack and traction control lights flash. Sometimes after these lights flash, my vehicle will go into "reduced power mode" on its on which is very dangerous going 65 MPH or pulling out from somewhere. 3.my wipers work when they want to...ever since the two recalls chevrolet released, the work intermittently when they want to. 4. Major electrical issues with these vehicles....I have replaced the battery four times and something continues to drain it. Parts of this document have been redacted to protect personally identifiable information pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6).

Filed Jan 2, 2012 · Electrical · 38,970 miles · WI

While driving on the interstate all of the dash board instruments lost power, the door locks actuated as rapidly as possible, the four wheel drive engaged, and the engine temporarily lost power, & all the dome lights came on. The entire episode lasted approximately five seconds outside of the four wheel drive would not go back into two wheel until the vehicle was shut off and the ignition turned on. This type of scenario has occurred now four times. At one point the vehicle locked itself while shut off with our two year old child in the car stuck in his car seat. The vehicle is going in tomorrow for the fourth time and the mechanics have not been able to replicate the problem. The most recent event was preceded by the rear door refusing to open prior to departure, the headlights flickering, the radio panel shutting off, and when the headlights were switched from dim to bright the door locks again actuated at a high rate, the entire instrument fell dead, the engine briefly lost power & the air bag lights went on and off for about twenty seconds. Once the major failure happened the radio and instrument panel would go dead about every five minutes. Once we reached our destination I shut the car off and went to start it the next day and it had similar problems.