Engine, electrical system, and structural issues are among the top complaints to the NHTSA from vehicle owners
The 2022 Chevy Tahoe is a full-size SUV designed to carry the largest families. The automaker claims that it is “impossible to ignore.” However, what can’t be ignored are the problems some owners experience. This large SUV seems to have a defective electrical system, engine issues, and problems that relate to its structure.
Click on other model years to view more problems: 2019 2020 2021
Consumer complaints to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) relate to at least 10 components and systems, with some listed in more than one category.
The components most frequently named are the structure, engine and powertrain, and electrical system. There is also a complaint about brake failure. Fortunately, there wasn’t an accident, but the Tahoe wasn’t drivable after the brake system failed.
The category in which the remaining complaints are filed doesn’t always indicate the problem.
For instance, a complaint filed as an airbag problem relates to a sensor issue, which is electrical. Backover prevention and forward collision avoidance problems focus on safety features not incorporated in a particular model. A fuel system/gasoline complaint is a structural issue involving the faulty installation of a fuel tank strap hanger.
A seat belt complaint filed in mid-October, 2022, follows a recall of 484,155 Chevrolet, Cadillac, and GMC vehicles in August 2022 that may have a deformed rivet that won’t properly restrain a person if there is a crash. This, of course, increases the risk of injury. The complaint is that after two months the part to do the recall repair is still not available.
Let’s take a closer look.
| Complaint Category | Number of Complaints |
|---|---|
| Engine | |
| Electrical System | |
| Service Brakes | |
| Unknown Or Other | |
| Power Train | |
| Fuel/propulsion System | |
| Structure:body | |
| Forward Collision Avoidance: Warnings | |
| Visibility/wiper | |
| Back Over Prevention: Rearview System Braking |
There are 4 NHTSA complaints that relate to the powertrain and/or engine. The issues are loss of power or stalling.
A ticking noise that sounded like rocks in the fender well alerted an owner from Alabama that something was wrong. It got louder and then the Tahoe “started to lose power, like it was taking longer to shift. My safety and others were at risk because continuing to drive with lifter issues could’ve caused engine failure, which could’ve caused an accident. The problem was confirmed at a dealership.”
An owner from Georgia was driving down the interstate when the engine shut off. There wasn’t a problem with the electrics and the gas tank was half full. “I selected neutral and proceeded to start the engine. It started with no issues and was able to be put back in gear.”
A week after buying a 2022 Tahoe, a South Carolina owner found the engine stalled when putting the vehicle into neutral gear. “The dashboard will then instruct me to press the power button, and when I do, the vehicle restarts and will be in Park. It has happened once while driving on the interstate and twice while making turns into oncoming traffic. When I go to accelerate there will be no acceleration, the vehicle will just be in neutral with no warning.”
The start button is an issue for an owner in Massachusetts whose new Tahoe had little more than 10 miles on the clock when the issue of no power at startup first emerged.
Then, with 22 miles on the clock, the start button stuck when pressed, but there was no power and the engine was off. “I could not get the start button to turn off.” After towing the new SUV to the dealership, they updated the software and made sure the battery had a full charge. But after being driven home and parked in the driveway for a few days, the issue recurred. No power.
At 44 miles, it happened again. The dealer found the battery was draining for no apparent reason and replaced it. After 200 miles “the car seems ok.”
“I am reporting this because what if I had lost power while driving on the highway? Plus I have heard of several 2002 Tahoe owners that this is occurring.”
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There are 3 complaints about the electrical system on file with the NHTSA. Here are 2 of them.
An owner from Massachusetts complains that 6 months after taking possession of a 2022 Chevy Tahoe Z71, the instrument cluster was blank. “There was no warning or indication this was about to occur. I only needed to go a short distance, so I went to my destination and turned the vehicle off. When I returned to the vehicle (approx 15 minutes later) and started the vehicle the instrument cluster was working again. This occurred another 4 or 5 times over the following 4+/- weeks.”
According to the dealer, there were no codes that identified the issue. However, “Chevy had a bulletin (“22-na-130”), which I believe was a software update to address various things, including a blank screen, and the vehicle was ‘reprogrammed’. Now a week after this service appointment, the same issue (has) occurred again.”
The owner’s primary concern is that a blank instrument cluster cannot show the vehicle speed or any other performance metrics. “I believe this is a serious safety issue. While I have driven the vehicle in this condition, it is only because I was going short distances on local roads where one cannot travel over 25 or 30 MPH. If I was going to be driving on a highway, the vehicle would be unusable. Please investigate this issue, as Chevy’s bulletin 22-na-130 and the associated software update has clearly not addressed the issue, and caused Chevy to develop a fix for the issue and recall all impacted vehicles for updating.”
Logged as a problem in the Electrical System, Airbags, and Unknown or Other categories, an owner from Maryland says the Tahoe isn’t safe. This follows numerous messages from the computer system and app warning that something is wrong. They include messages saying that the “Service Safety Restraint System” needs servicing.
After airbag sensor issues in January 2022, the vehicle was back with the dealer. “I was told they couldn’t fix it and GM knows it’s an issue and may do a recall.” This means “I am riding with my son and grandkids in an unsafe vehicle.”
“They are not fixing these issues and could cost me or my family’s life.”
One Edmunds review states: “I picked up a brand new 2022 Tahoe Premier on Monday. On Tuesday I had to take it back for service. The infotainment system does not work! This apparently is a known issue, but as of today there is no fix.”
However, a non-functional infotainment system, blank instrument cluster, and faulty airbag sensors are not the only electrical problems with 2022 Tahoes. Service Bulletin #PIT5869 also says that the air conditioning system can blow warm air because the wiring in the front floor console is defective.
There are 2 complaints filed under Structure. Both relate to the roof leaks that are detailed in a dedicated Tahoe Roof leak article. They describe “sloshing water” in the headliner and water that floods into the cab of the Tahoe.
There is another complaint related to a structural or installation fault that is filed in the category of Fuel System/Gasoline.
The fuel system is responsible for moving the gasoline to the engine for power. When it doesn’t work correctly, danger follows, even when it’s related to the structure of the vehicle.
That’s the case with the problems outlined in an NHTSA complaint listed under Fuel System/Gasoline. The Georgia owner of a 2022 Tahoe with only about 353 miles on the clock had to have new fuel tank straps installed after finding that the original straps hadn’t been installed correctly.
Just a few days after purchasing a 2022 Tahoe, she was alerted to the fact that there was something hanging down from underneath the vehicle. She looked under the SUV and saw that “the fuel tank strap hanger was not installed properly and was hanging down underneath the vehicle.” A local dealer confirmed this and a mechanic installed new fuel tank straps.
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Brian Jones spent more than 30 years working as an ASE Certified Master Tech and Parts Specialist at multiple dealerships. Brian has become an authority in the industry, traveling across the country to consult for car dealerships and contributing his expertise as a writer for several major automotive publications. In his spare time, Brian enjoys working on pickup trucks, muscle cars, Jeeps and anything related to motorsports.
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This week while driving my 2022 Chevy Tahoe, Z71. I was traveling about 65 in a tunnel, when the gear moved out of Drive to Neutral. The dash message came on “Cannot switch gears at this time” or something to that. I had to pull over fast since I was coasting unable to place it back in Drive. Was able to place in Park, turn off engine/start engine, place in Drive and drive off. 30-35 seconds it happened again. I pulled over stopped, started the engine, never happened again on my drive home from the mountains. thankfully this situation didn’t cause a crash.
I have a 2022 Chevy Tahoe premier, I have had it to the dealership multiple times. Most recently I am getting engine light to come on, multiple problems are listed, service traction control, reduced acceleration drive with care, forward collision system unavailable. When using the cruise control speed is not adjusted going downhill it will go over 10 miles over set speed or more, I thought maybe this was normal, but drove my sons Chevrolet Silverado to work today and used cruise control and no change in set speed when I went down hills. I have taken it to the dealership, they told me that the issue was a software update and was waiting on a ? modulator, well they got that in and I took it now 4 times and the issue is not fixed. It is in the garage as I am typing this. I also received a recall that the park assist software was now available (over 1 year since having the vehicle) but the dealership says that no one has gotten the software in and it could be 6-7 more months. For the cost of this vehicle and the electrical issues and software issues and me having to take it to the dealership all the time is ridiculous.
Bought a 2022 Tahoe LS Nov 2021 3 days after taking it home the instrument cluster light came on. I took it right to the dealer and was told it was a chip problem and just hit dismiss or wait 10 mins and restart the vehicle..wait..what..was never fixed and still happens. Then 14 months of owning it at 18k miles it started with my key fob and then when I got in to start it everything went dead. One second later the press start button again light came on, once I did the entire cluster went blank again not starting and repeating the same message again hit start button. I exited the Tahoe looked the vehicle called OnStar which was useless and waited ten mins. Went back and it started but had check engine light on. It has also had problems with shutting off after I got the start/stop button. It is now at the dealership awaiting a diagnosis. I’m without a vehicle to drive and even stranger is the my Chevy app for my Tahoe shows problems with a Chevy Volt lithium battery issue…again. What! Not happy this is the second time in the service department!
2022 Tahoe RST 6.2L engine, purchased 12/06/2021 **BRAKING SYSTEM FAILURE**
Upon starting the vehicle in my garage, the braking system failure, abs, electronic stability control (esc), traction control, and brake motor warning lights were all illuminated. So I thought maybe it was just the computer, I shut the car off to ‘cycle it’, turned it back on and everything was still illuminated with “Braking System Failure, 43MPH MAX SPEED” being the first message that popped up in the dash. I tried to back it out of the garage and noticed when depressing the brake pedal, the brake pedal was firm and the vehicle failed to stop and it rolled forward. I backed it out to a level spot and was finally able to a stop and parked it. Then I moved it an hour later back into the garage to see if anything changed, and the remote start from the key fob would not work, my brakes were in the same failure state, the exterior warning sensors stopped working, and upon shutting it off the interior lights would not turn off, the infotainment system remained illuminated all night. By morning time the battery was dead and the vehicle wouldn’t start, tried to jump it 3x, still would not start. The car is going to the dealer, waiting to find out the diagnosis.
Mileage at failure 9,312
Date of failure 11/22/2022
I have a 2022 chevy tahoe with 11,000 miles that the infonet system goes out ,dash goes blank and get dumb alerts like turn your engine on when driving ,every time I take to dealer they won’t even look at it because of course it is working ,will not even put on computer ,Mike
After first oil change at the dealership where we purchased the car (I-35 & Inwood Rd in Dallas), our 2022 Chevy Tahoe is shaking, check engine light came on, ESC light, service traction light as well as other lights came on. Having to toll the vehicle back to the dealership for service. By the way, this dealership has no loaners. Seems they are so Friendly!
I bought a 2022 Tahoe LS on 2/28/22. After getting it home my neighbor asked me if it had been in an accident. He pointed out that the driver’s side fender does not fit. It sticks out more than an inch farther than the door and none of the lines match up. It looks like it was in an accident and had a bad body shop repair. I did not see that when I picked it up. I wasn’t looking for something like that. I was dazzled by the new Tahoe I just bought and was told it had been through a Pre-Delivery Inspection. I trusted that the dealer had looked it over. I took it to the dealer. I was told that it was ok. The passenger side looks perfect, so I do have a comparison. It looks terrible. Not sure how this passed quality control.
We purchased a 2022 Tahoe and it started having issues a month ago. Air bag sensors came on and all the lights. We couldn’t get the lights off. Onstar was no help. Just yesterday, the message came on service ESC system. Engine light came on and traction and front collision lights on the dashboard. We are taking it to them tomorrow for service. We just purchased it 11/13/21. This is awful. There are no recalls either. We may need legal help if they don’t get this together.