Chevrolet Tahoe fire or smoke problems

Filed Sep 16, 2026 · Engine, Fuel system · OR · fire

On September 5, 2026, at approximately 7:18 p.m. Pacific Time, a 2025 Chevrolet Tahoe High Country equipped with the 6.2L L87 V8 engine and approximately 18,000 miles experienced a sudden catastrophic failure while the engine was running. There were two occupants. A distinct pop was heard. The engine immediately lost power and multiple dashboard warning lights/messages began flashing. Within approximately 20-30 seconds, smoke and an electrical-burning odor were noticed. The vehicle was shut off manually and both occupants exited. Flames were first observed toward the rear of the engine compartment. The fire spread extremely rapidly, and the vehicle was substantially engulfed within approximately two minutes and completely destroyed. The sudden loss of propulsion created a crash risk, and the rapid fire placed both occupants at risk of serious injury or death. No physical injuries were reported. The precise failed component and fire origin have not yet been determined. The vehicle had received an oil change from an independent service facility within approximately 30 days before the incident. The cause has not been confirmed by GM, a dealer, or an independent fire expert. The vehicle is involved in an active insurance total-loss claim; inspection should be coordinated promptly before the salvage is released, dismantled, sold, or destroyed. More than 100 photographs and several videos taken during and after the fire are available. A fire department report is pending. Because the federal safety agency Engineering Analysis EA26005 includes 2021-2026 GM vehicles equipped with the L87 engine and later-produced engines outside Recall 25V‑274, please associate this complaint with that investigation and evaluate whether an L87 engine failure initiated the fire.

Filed May 13, 2026 · Electrical · 186,000 miles · IN · fire

The contact owned a 2002 Chevrolet Tahoe. The contact stated that while driving at 20 MPH occupied with his sister-in-law and her children, the contact smelled smoke coming from the driver seat of the vehicle the contact mention he pulled to the right side of the road, exiting everyone out the vehicle when he noticed that the drive seat caught fire. No warning lights illuminated. The contact mentioned she noticed smoke and flames coming from the engine, and smoke started coming inside the vehicle. present. The contact mention he called 911. No injuries were sustained. No medical attention was required. A police report was filed. The fire department extinguished the fire, and they informed the contact the fire was from an electrical issue. The vehicle seat of the vehicle was destroyed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 186,000.

Filed Apr 19, 2026 · Electrical · KY · fire

The battery energy control module GM Part # 84442220 located inside the HV battery assembly caught fire. The harness that was most affected was the battery cell voltage sense wires. The way the battery voltage sense circuit is manufactured seems dangerous as there is no fusible link between the battery cell and the module. If a short circuit occurs the full current of the cell will be induced on a very thin gauge wire going to the module which will result in a fire.

Filed Mar 11, 2026 · Engine · 51,000 miles · CA

The contact owns a 2021 Chevrolet Tahoe. The contact stated that the engine was consuming an excessive amount of oil, and there was an abnormal knocking sound coming from the engine. Additionally, the vehicle hesitated and failed to accelerate as needed, with blue smoke coming from the exhaust pipes. The check engine warning light was intermittently illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who determined that there were metal shavings in the engine oil and that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 51,000.

Filed Feb 9, 2026 · 134,000 miles · GA · fire

The contact owned a 2008 Chevrolet Tahoe. The contact stated that while stopped by the school to pick up one of his children, the vehicle was parked. The contact then noticed smoke emanating from the driver's front seat. The contact safely removed his occupant, who was his autistic child, seated in the front passenger seat. The vehicle was engulfed in flames. Â The fire department was called, and the fire was extinguished. The contact and his children did not sustain any injuries. The vehicle was towed to a local towing yard. The insurance company was notified and towed the vehicle to a facility used by the insurance company. The insurance company declared the vehicle a total loss. The contact believes the fire to be related to an electrical failure due to the hood of the vehicle not being damaged. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 134,000.

Filed Jul 5, 2025 · Electrical · MI · fire · 1 injury

Passenger side rear air conditioning blower motor caught on fire and burned vehicle out completely. Fire trucks called to put out fire but is completely burned out. My safety was at risk flames in back by the time I got stopped on highway. Thankful no one was riding in back seat. First issue I had with it and it torched the vehicle. No warnings on dash. Vehicle is waiting to be inspected by insurance adjuster.

Filed Jun 17, 2025 · Engine · 85,000 miles · OK

The contact owned a 2021 Chevrolet Tahoe. The contact stated while driving approximately 60 MPH, the check engine warning light illuminated, and the vehicle started losing motive power. The contact stated there was an abnormal ticking sound coming from the engine compartment. The contact stated that the vehicle slowed to approximately 10 MPH with black smoke coming from the exhaust pipe. The contact was able to drive the vehicle to a dealer. The dealer diagnosed the vehicle and determined that the engine connecting rods had failed and needed to be replaced. The contact researched online and related the failure to the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 25V274000 (Engine and Engine Cooling); however, the VIN was not included in the recall. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was informed of the failure and referred the contact to the federal safety agency Hotline to report the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 85,000.

Filed May 1, 2025 · Engine, Fuel system · CA

On May 14, 2023 I was on a trip driving the Tahoe (midnight blue Tahoe in the pictures) about 60 mph, on highway 41 (middle of nowhere, no cell reception) south of kettleman city, CA when, without any warning or symptoms of any problem whatsoever, the engine lost propulsion and died. I was able to coast onto the shoulder and tried starting it. It started again and I continued driving and about 35 minutes later I stopped at a red light on Highway 41 in Lemoore, CA. Again the Tahoe engine died without warning and would not restart. When I tried starting it I could smell a burning smell. The engine cranked but wouldn’t start, and then the check engine light came on. I was at a stoplight on a major highway and was unable to move the vehicle, and was scared to sit in it, so I put on the vehicle hazard lights, got out of the car and ran to the side of the road for safety. Luckily I did not have my children with me. I called 911 and a police officer came and parked behind my vehicle with his lights on so hopefully no other vehicles would hit it. A tow truck was immediately dispatched as high priority by the police. I had it towed to Hedricks Chevrolet dealership in Clovis, California, who informed me there was metal parts in the oil and that the engine was destroyed and had to be replaced. It took several months to get the engine replaced and in the meantime, I bought a new 2023 Cadillac Escalade so I would have a vehicle to drive. The Cadillac Escalade ended up having an extremely similar problem (and I will file a separate report for that vehicle). A few months later when the Tahoe replacement engine was installed I picked up the Tahoe from the dealership and sold it to Carmax.

Filed May 1, 2025 · Engine · 66,000 miles · TN

The contact owns a 2021 Chevrolet Tahoe. The contact stated while driving 70 MPH, the check engine warning light and other unknown warning lights illuminated. The message "Loss of Oil Pressure" was displayed, and the vehicle made an abnormally loud banging sound. The contact was able to continue driving at slow speeds with the hazard lights engaged. The contact drove to the dealer, where he was employed. The dealer diagnosed that the engine lifters had failed. The vehicle was then towed to the Chevrolet dealer, where it was diagnosed that the lifters had failed. The dealer provided an estimated fee for the repair. The vehicle was towed to Redline Performance LLC, where it was diagnosed that there were metal shavings in the oil pump, camshaft, and in other unknown parts, along with the lifters failure. The mechanic replaced the lifters, the connecting rod, the camshaft, the oil pump, and other unknown parts; however, the failure recurred after picking up and driving the vehicle to the residence. Additionally, there was smoke coming from the engine. The vehicle was towed to Stan McNabb Chevrolet Columbia (101 S James Campbell Blvd, Columbia, TN 38401), who informed the contact that the vehicle would not be diagnosed by the dealer. The contact became aware that the VIN was included in the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 25V274000 (Engine and Engine Cooling), which the contact related to the failure; however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 66,000. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

Filed Apr 9, 2025 · Electrical · 73 miles · MD · fire · 1 injury

The contact owned a 2022 Chevrolet Tahoe. The contact stated that, while driving at an undisclosed speed, the center console armrest suddenly burst into flames. The contact was able to pull to the shoulder of the roadway and evacuate the vehicle. Within moments, the front end of the vehicle became engulfed in flames. The air bags did deploy. Local emergency services were able to extinguish the flames but did not investigate the cause of the fire. The vehicle was towed to a tow yard and deemed a total loss by the contact's insurance provider. A fire report was filed. A police report was filed, and injuries were reported. The contact transported himself to an area hospital and was treated for a second-degree burn to his left pinky finger. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, and a case was opened. The contact was informed that the manufacturer intended to send a specialist to inspect the vehicle. The VIN was not available. The failure mileage was 73,000.