1996 CHEVROLET TAHOE Electrical System Problems

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 PROBLEM WITH THE WIPERS WORKING INTERMITTENTLY AND SOMETIMES GET STUCK IN THE MIDDLE OF THE WINDSHIELD OR JUMPING ACROSS THE WINDSHIELD POP, POP, POP.ETC. *TR

Mileage: 80

OCCASIONALLY WHEN STARTING THE TRUCK THERE IS A MISFIRE/BACKFIRE FROM THE ENGINE WHERE GREY SMOKE PERMEATES THROUGH THE DASHBOARD INTO THE CABIN OF THE TRUCK. SMOKE ALSO COMES FROM UNDER THE HOOD OF THE TRUCK. DEALERSHIP COULD NOT DUPLICATE MISFIRE/BACKFIRE. THIS HAPPENS A FEW TIMES A MONTH. *JB

Mileage: 122,087

THE KEY SWITCH ON SOME FORD AND GENERAL MOTORS VEHICLE CAN BE TURNED ONE NOTCH OR CLICK FORWARD, ALLOWING THE VEHICLE TO BE SHIFTED OUT OF PARK WITHOUT APPLYING THE BRAKE, 1996 CHEVROLET TAHOE. *NM *SB *NM

ABOUT 6 WEEKS AGO I SUBMITTED DOCUMENTATION REGARDING THE EXTENSIVE REPAIRS I HAD TO DO ON MY 1996 CHEVROLET TAHOE. HOWEVER, I HAVE NOT RECEIVED ANYTHING ON THE MATTER. AT THIS TIME I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF THE PAPERWORK WAS RECEIVED, IF THERE IS A NUMBER I SHOULD CALL TO FOLLOW UP OR IS THERE ANOTHER WAY I CAN CHECK ON THE STATUS OF COMPLAINT. THANKS FOR ANY ASSISTANCE. *AK

MY 3 YEAR OLD NEPHEW WAS ABLE TO GET INTO HIS PARENTS 1996 CHEVY TAHOE AND WAS ABLE TO TURN THE KEY TO THE FIRST CLICK (BEFORE THE CLICK TO TURN ON THE RADIO AND POWER WINDOWS, ETC.). THEN WITHOUT TOUCHING THE BRAKE, THE TODDLER WAS ABLE TO PULL THE SHIFTER INTO NEUTRAL AND THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO MOVE. THE TODDLER EITHER WAS THROWN FROM THE VEHICLE OR WAS SCARED AND JUMPED AND WAS RUN OVER BY THE VEHICLE AND KILLED. ALL MODELS AND MAKES OF VEHICLES CAN DO THIS WITH THE EXCEPTION OF HONDA, TOYOTA AND 2001 OR NEWER DODGE VEHICLES. *JB

Mileage: 100,000

CONSUMER WAS HAVING TROUBLE WITH ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. THE EXTERIOR AND INTERIOR LIGHTS INADVERTENTLY FAIL AND CEASE WORKING. CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A DEALER TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE; HOWEVER, THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO LOCATE THE PROBLEM. THE CONSUMER IS STILL EXPERIENCING UNEXPECTED FAILURE WITH THE LIGHTING SYSTEM. ALSO, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON. DEALER COULD NOT DETERMINE WHY THE LIGHT WAS ON. FUEL PUMP HAD TO BE REPLACED TWICE WITHIN THE PAST YEAR.*AK THE BLINKER AND TURN SIGNALS HAVE TO BE REPLACED FREQUENTLY. COOLANT LEAKED INTO THE ENGINE AND IT HAD TO BE REPLACED. AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. STARTER WAS REPLACED. THE STEERING WHEEL SHOOK. THE DEALER REPLACED THE IDLER ARM AND DRAG LINK. WATER PUMP LEAKED. POWER STEERING PUMP LEAKED. BRAKE CABLE BROKE. PINION SEAL LEAKED. MASTER CYLINDER LEAKED. *NM

WHILE DRIVING AT 20 MPH CONSUMER SMELLED BURNING WIRING. PARKED THE VEHICLE, OPENED THE HOOD AND FOUND NOTHING WRONG. AT THE SAME TIME HE LOOKED TO THE REAR AND SAW A HEAVY SMOKE COMING FROM THE PASSENGER'S SIDE AND SUDDENLY VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. FIRE DEPARTMENT SHOWED UP, EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE, AND WROTE A REPORT INDICATING THERE WAS SHORT WIRE ON THE SPEAKER.*AK

WHILE DRIVING ALONG THE BOULEVARD AT 15 MPH, THE SMELL OF BURNING ELECTRICAL WIRES BECAME MORE PRONOUNCED. WHEN I LOOKED THROUGH THE REAR VIEW MIRROR I SAW FIRE DROPPING FROM THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE SPEAKER ENDANGERING THE LIVES OF THE PASSENGERS AND DAMAGING OUR POSSESIONS IN THE CARGO SECTION. I NOTIFIED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND THEY EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE.*AK

Mileage: 90,000

THE WIRING HARNESS THAT CONECTS TO THE TURN SIGNAL MODUAL, THE WIRES BECOME BRITTLE AND ARE BREAKING. THE FIRST WIRE TO CAUSE ME A PROBLEM WAS THE WIRE FOR THE HEADLIGHTS, THE HEADLIGHTS WOULD FLICKER ON AND OFF UNTILL THE WIRE FINALY BROKE AND THEN THERE WERE NO LIGHTS AT ALL. THE NEXT WIRE THAT BROKE IS THE WIRE FOR THE CRUISE CONTROL BROKE. AND NOW THERE IS NO CRUISE CONTROL. THE HEADLIGHTS I WAS ABLE TO REROUTE THE WIRE AND RECONECT TO THE LIGHT SWITCH TO POWERUP THE RELAY WITH THE SWITCH. NOT THE RIGHT WAY TOO DO IT BUT IT WORKS. ALSO MY VEHICLE HAS TILT STEERING WHEEL.*AK

Mileage: 97,000

ELECTRICAL FIRE STARTED IN THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR OF '96 CHEVROLET TAHOE DURING THE NIGHT WHILE CAR WAS PARKED IN VERY COLD TEMPERATURES AFTER BLIZZARD WITH HEAVY SNOWFALL. INTERIOR OF SUV WAS DESTROYED ALONG WITH CONTENTS.*AK

Mileage: 130,000

CONSUMER STATES THAT HE NOTICE THAT THE BATTERY WAS LEAKING CAUSING THE CABLE TO BE EATEN UP. NLM

COMPUTER CHIP FAILED, AND VEHICLE WILLNOT START AT ALL. DEALERSHIP REPLACED COMPUTER CHIP, AND NOTED THAT WINDSHIELD WIPERS WILL NOT WORK. *AK CONSUMER STATED THAT THE ALTERNATOR, FUEL PUMP, FUEL FILTER, DAYTIME RUNNING LAMPS, AIRCONDITIONER, AND COMPUTER BRAIN WERE ALL REPLACED. *SLC

THIS COMPLAINT IS TO BE FILED TO THE PREVIOUS NHTSA ACTION NUMBER PE99073. NO SAFETY DEFECT MENTIONED IN SUMMARY.

CONSUMER HAD TO REPLACE BATTERY AND ALTENATOR BECAUSE THE BATTERY WAS LEAKING ON THE RIGHT SIDE, JUST LIKE INVESTIGATION EA 00 013 BATTERY LEAKS ACID. *AK

CONSUMER HAD TO REPLACE BATTERY AND ALTENATOR BECAUSE THE BATTERY WAS LEAKING ON THE RIGHT SIDE, JUST LIKE INVESTIGATION EA 00 013 BATTERY LEAKS ACID. *AK

THE BATTERY FAILED AFTER 2 YEARS (5 YEAR BATTERY). THE FAILURE CAUSED BATTERY ACID TO SPILL ALL OVER THE ELECTRICAL HARNESS AND CAUSE MAJOR ELECTRICAL DAMAGE. THIS IS THE SECOND BATTERY THEY INSTALLED, AND I BELIEVE GMC SHOULD RE-IMBURSE ME FOR THE DAMAGE IT CAUSED TO MY VEHICLE. *AK

THE BATTERY ACID IS LEAKING ON ELECTRICAL, STEERING AND BRAKE LINE AND FRAME OF VEHICLE.*AK

EA00013/BATTERY LEAKS ACID: BATTERY ACID LEAKAGES CAUSES DAMAGES TO AIR SYSTEM/ WIRING HARNESS/HEADLIGTHS, ETC. DEALER / MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

THE PROBLEM I HAD IS SIMILAR TO ONE YOU ARE INVESTIGATING AGAINST CHEVROLET. MY VEHICLE WOULDN'T START AND IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE BATTERY LEAKED ACID AND I HAD TO HAVE THE BATTERY ASSEMBLY, TERMINALS AND BATTERY REPLACED. I JUST WANTED TO ADD MY COMPLAINT TO THE 200+ YOU HAVE SO FAR. PLEASE FEEL FREE TO CONTACT ME IF YOU'D LIKE. THANK YOU. *AK

THERE WAS AN ELECTRICAL BURNING SMELL COMING FROM VEHICLE. ALSO, HEADLIGHTS & SIGNALS WOULD NOT WORK IF STEERING WHEEL & COLUMN WAS TILTED. SOMETIMES HEADLIGHTS/ WINDSHIELD WIPERS & SIGNALS WOULD GO HAY WIRE. VEHICLE IS AT THE SHOP. *AK

WIRING HARNESS HAS CORROSION IN IT UP NEAR THE FIREWALL. APPEARS THAT THE WIRING HARNESS WAS DEFECTIVE (DAMAGED) DURING THE ASSEMBLY PROCESS. CORROSION ON GROUND SIDE OF AIR BAG ARMING CIRCUIT MEANS THAT IN A COLLISION THE AIR BAG WILL NOT DEPLOY. DEALER SAYS THAT THIS IS NOT A WARRANTY ITEM. CORROSION IN THE AIR BAG ARMING CIRCUIT COULD ALSO CAUSE IT TO DEPLOY WHEN IT SHOULD NOT, LEADING TO AN ACCIDENT. ISN'T THERE UNLIMITED WARRANTY ON SAFETY SYSTEMS AND POLLUTION CONTROL SYSTEMS? *AK

CONSUMER NOTICED A HOLE IN BATTERY, WHICH LEAKING FLUID ONTO BRAKES. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFOMTATON. *AK

STARTER RELAY FAILED. NLM

I HAVE A 96 CHEVY TAHOE. IT HAS 37,000 MILES AND IS, THEREFORE, JUST OUTSIDE THE 36,000 MILE BUMPER TO BUMPER WARRANTY. I HAVE TALKED TO SEVERAL OTHER CHEVY TRUCK OWNERS AND THEY TELL ME THAT CHEVY TRUCKS HAVE A PROBLEM WITH BATTERIES. THOUGH THE BATTERY IS RATED AT 72 MONTHS, IT ONLY LASTS FOR APPROXIMATELY 24 MONTHS. I HAVE ASKED TWO DIFFERENT MECHANICS AT THE CHEVY DEALER (MACPHERSON CHEVROLET) AND THEY SAY THAT IT IS TRUE - BATTERIES ONLY LAST ABOUT 2 YEARS. THEY ALSO ADMIT THAT THEY REPLACE HUNDREDS OF BATTERIES, OFTEN REPEATEDLY ON THE SAME VEHICLES. THEY ALSO TELL ME THAT IN THEIR OPINION IT IS A GM DESIGN DEFECT THAT THE MANUFACTURER HAS CHOSEN TO IGNORE. I HAVE NOW REPLACED THE BATTERY TWICE (THIS IS THE THIRD BATTERY IN THE VEHICLE). THE FIRST TIME GM PAID FOR IT UNDER THE WARRANTY. THE SECOND TIME IT WAS JUST OUT OF WARRANTY SO I HAD TO PAY FOR IT. I ALSO HAD TO PAY FOR REPAIR OF A BATTERY CABLE THAT LEAKING BATTERY FLUID HAD DAMAGED. THOUGH THE DEALER ADMITS THAT THE 72 MONTH WARRANTY IS PRINTED RIGHT ON THE BATTERY, THEY SAY THAT THE WARRANTY ENDS WITH ALL OTHER WARRANTEES AT 36,000 MILES. THAT IS GM POLICY AND THEY SHOWED ME A MEMO FROM GM SAYING SO. I HAD PLANNED TO KEEP THIS VEHICLE FOR A COUPLE OF YEARS. HOWEVER I DO NOT RELISH THE THOUGHT OF HAVING A VERY UNRELIABLE VEHICLE WHEN I TRAVEL FOR ANY DISTANCE, KNOWING THAT THE BATTERY MAY GO DEAD AT ANY TIME. BY THE WAY, WHEN THIS HAPPENS, DUE TO THE ALL ELECTRONIC NATURE OF THE ENGINE, NOTHING WORKS - THE ENGINE DIES, THE POWER BRAKES NO LONGER WORK, AND THE POWER STEERING NO LONGER WORKS, EVEN AT FREEWAY SPEED. IN MY OPINION THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS BEHAVIOR. THANKS FOR YOUR ASSISTANCE, TOM NICKELSEN

BATTERY HAS A CRACK, CAUSING ACID LEAKS THROUGH BATTERY PLATE ONTO FLOOR. DEALER/MFR. NOTIFIED. PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN RESOLVED AT THIS TIME. *AK

IGNITION FAILED.

IGNITION LOCK FAILED.

ALTERNATOR FAILED.

HORN FAILED.

INSOLATOR/SEAL FAILED.

BATTERY FAILED.

CONSUMER STATES THERE IS AN ELECTRICAL SHORT IN THE WIRING HARNESS, CAUSING A SHORT IN THE HEADLIGHTS, THE HEADLIGHTS TURN OFF AND ON, AND THE SWITCH PLATE GET VERY HOT. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED THE DEALER. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

ELECTRICAL SHORT IN THE WIRING HARNESS, CAUSING A SHORT IN THE HEADLIGHTS. THE HEADLIGHTS TURN ON AND OFF, AND THE SWITCH PLATE GETS VERY HOT. *AK

ELECTRICAL SHORT IN THE WIRING HARNESS, CAUSING A SHORT IN THE HEADLIGHTS, THE HEADLIGHTS TURN OFF AND ON, AND THE SWITCH PLATE GETS VERY HOT. *AK

COMPUTER SHUTS DOWN ENGINE WHEN VEHICLE REACHES 100MPH.

COMPUTER FAILURE CAUSES ENGINE TO STALL AT 100 MPH, CAUSING LOSS OF POWER STEERING/BRAKES. *DH