RecallRepo

1996 Chevrolet Tahoe Recalls

Recalls on record Updated July 2026

The 1996 Chevrolet Tahoe has 3 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 3,692,465 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 390 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the service brakes, hydraulic. Last updated July 5, 2026.

Recall campaigns

VISIBILITY 03V159000 2003-04-28 1,755,876 affected
Defect

ON CERTAIN MINIVANS, PICKUP TRUCKS, AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES WITH CERTAIN MODEL-ENGINE COMBINATIONS, THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR MAY FAIL DUE TO CRACKED SOLDER JOINTS ON THE CONTROLLER CIRCUIT BOARD. THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS COULD WORK INTERMITTENTLY OR NOT AT ALL.

Consequence

IF THIS WERE TO OCCUR DURING BAD WEATHER, DRIVER VISIBILITY WOULD BE REDUCED, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.

Remedy

DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE WIPER MOTOR CIRCUIT BOARD AND COVER. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON JUNE 19, 2003. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT CHEVROLET AT 1-800-222-1020, GMC AT…

VISIBILITY 98V150001 1998-07-01 1,557,585 affected
Defect

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: LIGHT DUTY PICKUP TRUCKS AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, 2 AND 4-WHEEL DRIVE. SOLDER JOINTS NEAR THE WIRING HARNESS CONNECTOR CAN CRACK CAUSING THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS TO WORK INTERMITTENTLY.

Consequence

THIS CONDITION CAN RESULT IN INOPERATIVE WIPERS, REDUCING A DRIVER'S VISIBILITY, AND INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE CRASH.

Remedy

DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE WIPER MOTOR CIRCUIT BOARD AND COVER.

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 96V057000 1996-04-04 379,004 affected
Defect

THESE VEHICLES WERE ASSEMBLED WITH THE THROTTLE CABLE CONTACTING THE DASH MAT WHICH COULD BIND THE THROTTLE. THIS DOES NOT MEET WITH THE MAXIMUM RETURN TIMES REQUIRED BY FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 124, "ACCELERATOR CONTROL SYSTEMS."

Consequence

CONSEQUENCE OF NON-COMPLIANCE: THE ENGINE SPEED MAY NOT RETURN TO IDLE INCREASING THE POTENTIAL FOR A VEHICLE ACCIDENT.

Remedy

DEALERS WILL INSPECT FOR ADEQUATE THROTTLE CABLE TO DASH MAT CLEARANCE, AND IF THERE IS INSUFFICIENT CLEARANCE, CUT OUT A PORTION OF THE DASH MAT TO PROVIDE PROPER CLEARANCE.

Complaints by component

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP
39
7crashes4injuries
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
20
3crashes1injuries2deaths
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER
18
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR
18
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS
11
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY
10
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
9
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
9
AIR BAGS
8
4crashes6injuries
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:MASTER CYLINDER
8
Total complaints390

What owners report

Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal information removed.

“Tl* the contact owns a 1996 chevrolet tahoe equip with dexteero dht2 tires, sized: p265/75r/16, dot 01bthbac00420, and line: not available. The contact stated that while driving approximately 25 mph and making a left turn the front drivers side tire suddenly experienced a blow out causing the…”

TIRES · reported 2020-08-29

“I have a 1996 chevy tahoe which I have been the original owner since new. I recently had maintenance performed on the vehicle and had the shop check the drivers side air bag because the check air bag indicator light was coming on during the operation of the vehicle. The repair shop indicated to me…”

AIR BAGS · reported 2020-03-30

“Tl* the contact owns a 1996 chevrolet tahoe. While driving approximately 5 mph and pushing another vehicle, the brakes failed when the brake pedal was depressed. As a result, both vehicles crashed into a wall. The air bags did not deploy. A police report was not filed and there were no injuries.…”

SERVICE BRAKES · reported 2013-08-13

“Vehicle stop shut down complete with jerking before shutting down stop pulling and lost all power now service engine light is on and anti-lock brake light is on and want shift into second gear as if something is wrong with transmission. *tr”

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL · reported 2013-05-17

“My husband was driving our 1996 tahoe when it just stopped! We found that the key had shut off while driving. We were in the middle of a thruway when everyone was driving 60 mph. A very dangerous situation indeed. This has happened 3 times in the year I've owned the vehicle. We are also having a…”

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM · reported 2013-03-20

“My husband was driving our 1996 tahoe when it just stopped! We found that the key had shut off while driving. We were in the middle of a thruway when everyone was driving 60 mph. A very dangerous situation indeed. This has happened 3 times in the year I've owned the vehicle. We are also having a…”

VISIBILITY/WIPER · reported 2013-03-20

“Unwanted antilock brake activation at low speed started intermittent now consistent in unwanted activation resulting in increased stopping distance. There is a current campaign for 1999-2002 that should be expanded to include 1996 vehicles. Campaign no. 05v379000. *tr”

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC · reported 2011-08-01

“Tl*the contact owns a 1996 chevrolet tahoe. While driving approximately 25 mph the brakes were applied and the pedal extended to the floor. The vehicle was taken to his residence and the contact could see brake fluid leaking from the brake lines. The failure was not diagnosed and the vehicle was…”

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC · reported 2010-12-16

Defect investigations

Investigation EA00013 Opened 2000-05-02 · closed 2002-06-28

BATTERY LEAKS ACID

There is no summary currently available

Investigation EA00024 Opened 2000-09-26 · closed 2001-12-21

HEADLIGHT

Investigation EA02006 Opened 2002-05-31 · closed 2003-07-23

WINDSHIELD WIPER FAILURE

AS A RESULT OF THIS, AND THE PRECEDINGINVESTIGATION, RQ99-003, GM HAS EXPANDED THE POPULATION OF SAFETY RECALL 98V-150 (REPLACEMENT OF THE WINDSHIELD WIPER CONTROL MODULE) TO INCLUDE AN ADDITIONAL 1.77 MILLION VEHICLES.INCLUDED ARE VARIOUS 1994-1997 MY M/L VANS, S/T TRUCKS AND SUVS, & C/K TRUCKS AND SUVS.SEE ATTACHED…

Investigation EA02006 Opened 2002-05-31 · closed 2003-07-23

WINDSHIELD WIPER FAILURE

AS A RESULT OF THIS, AND THE PRECEDINGINVESTIGATION, RQ99-003, GM HAS EXPANDED THE POPULATION OF SAFETY RECALL 98V-150 (REPLACEMENT OF THE WINDSHIELD WIPER CONTROL MODULE) TO INCLUDE AN ADDITIONAL 1.77 MILLION VEHICLES.INCLUDED ARE VARIOUS 1994-1997 MY M/L VANS, S/T TRUCKS AND SUVS, & C/K TRUCKS AND SUVS.SEE ATTACHED…

Investigation PE00017 Opened 2000-04-11 · closed 2000-09-26

HEADLIGHT

BASED ON THE REPORTS RECEIVED BY ODI FROM CONSUMERS, FAILURE OF THE HEADLIGHT ELECTRICAL CIRCUIT MAY OCCUR IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES, AND MAY RESULT FROM REPEATED ADJUSTMENT OFTHE TILT STEERING WHEEL IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES.REPEATED ADJUSTMENT OF THE STEERING WHEEL POSITION MAY STRAIN THE WIRING IN THE HEADLIGHT…

Investigation PE01023 Opened 2001-07-17 · closed 2001-12-20

SEAT BELT ANCHORAGE SEPARATION

ODI HAS RECEIVED ONE (1) COMPLAINT ALLEGING THAT THE 2ND ROW PASSENGER-SIDE SEAT BELT RELEASE BUCKLE ANCHOR DETACHED FROM SEAT FRAME DURING A SIDE IMPACT CRASH.DURING THE CRASH, THE OCCUPANT WAS THROWN FROM HIS SEAT, PARTIALLY EJECTED THROUGH THE REAR QUARTER WINDOW OF THE VEHICLE.OCCUPANT SUSTAINED INJURY.GM HAS…

Investigation PE99073 Opened 1999-12-03 · closed 2000-05-02

BATTERY LEAKS ACID

ODI HAS RECEIVED 21 COMPLAINTS WHERE OWNERS ALLEGE THAT THE STANDARD GM FACTORY SUPPLIED AC DELCO BATTERY CASE FAILED, RESULTING IN THE LEAKAGE OF SULFURIC ACID.OF THE 21 COMPLAINT VEHICLES, SIX SUBURBAN, THREE TAHOES, AND ONE YUKON OWNER(S) COMPLAINED ABOUT A LOSS OF BRAKE FLUID FROM DETERIORATION OF THE RIGHT…

Investigation RQ99015 Opened 1999-07-14 · closed 2001-12-28

FRONT SEAT RECLINER BOLT FAILURE

Sources & methodology

Recall, complaint, and investigation records from official NHTSA datasets (FLAT_RCL, FLAT_CMPL, FLAT_INV), synced weekly. Counts reflect NHTSA records for the 1996 Chevrolet Tahoe as of July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page contains ads and affiliate links. Full methodology.