What's Wrong with the 3rd Generation (2007–2014) Tahoe?

Tahoe owners have made 443 complaints about the 2007–2014 model years. Using our PainRank™ system we've ranked it 45th out of 80 Chevrolet generations in overall reliability, with some interior and engine concerns.

Compare With Other Tahoe Generations

Common 2007-2014 Chevrolet Tahoe Problems

Some of the worst issues 3rd generation Tahoe owners have to deal with.

  1. 5.3L Vortec 5300 Engine Oil Consumption

    From 2010-2014 GM's Vortec 5300 engine had multiple design flaws that led to an excessive oil consumption responsible for soiled spark plugs, bent pushrods, and timing chain wear to name a few. The problem was compounded by an inadequate oi…

    Continue reading article "5.3L Vortec 5300 Engine Oil Consumption" Oil being poured into an engine

  2. Chevy Shake

    When traveling above 35mph, GM's full size trucks and SUVs are experiencing cabin vibrations along with terribly loud noises from buffeting wind that is making owners sick. GM says these vibrations are within their acceptable vibration rang…

    Continue reading article "Chevy Shake" A blurry image of a Silverado that looks like it's bouncing up and down.

  3. Cracked Dashboard

    Multiple GM vehicles from the 2007-2014 model years are developing dashboard cracks. One of the most common areas of concern is around the passenger airbag cover, leaving owners wondering about potential safety risks.

    Continue reading article "Cracked Dashboard" A crack sloping down from left to right on a Chevy dashboard

  4. Takata Recalls

    A large number of Chevy vehicles have been recalled because they contain dangerous airbag inflators made by Takata. The shrapnel-hurling inflators have been recalled in over 37 million vehicles (and counting).

    Continue reading article "Takata Recalls" A crash test dummy about to hit an airbag with the Takata logo superimposed on top.

What Owners Complain About

Sometimes it helps just to tally up the complaints and see where the biggest stacks are. Use this information to learn about troublespots or to run for the hills.

Worst Issues

What Breaks the Most

Years to Avoid

3rd Generation (2007–2014) Tahoe Key Numbers

  1. 8 model years

    Grouping all models by their year can reveal some baddies.

  2. 443 complaints

    Running tally of owner grievances filed to CarComplaints.com.

  3. 45th in reliability

    Overall reliability rank out of 80 eligible generations.

Recent 3rd Generation (2007–2014) Tahoe News

There's a lot of news out there, but not all of it matters. We try to boil down it to the most important bits about things that actually help you with your car problem. Interested in getting these stories in an email? Signup for free email alerts over at CarComplaints.com.

  1. Toss another lawsuit onto the ever-growing pile of GM Vortec oil consumption cases.

    The Missouri based class-action is the latest in a series of suits saying the 5.3L Vortec engine churns through oil because of defects in the low-tension piston rings. The problem is compounded by GM's questionably designed oil life monitoring system which doesn't warn owners when oil levels get dangerously low.

    In fact the system doesn't monitor oil levels at all, just the quality of the oil itself. So while the engine may be dry and on the verge of collapse, rest assured that last quart of oil is still in tip-top shape. 👍🏼…

    keep reading article "Missouri Vortec Oil Consumption Lawsuit Latest in a Series Against GM"

  2. A new class-action is accusing General Motors of knowingly selling vehicles that consume abnormally high quantities of oil.

    It's not the first time GM has been sued for oil issues in the Vortec engine. Specifically (and stick with me here) the Generation IV 5.3L V8 Vortec 5300 LC9 engine.

    As with previous lawsuits, the plaintiffs say low-tension piston rings, oil spray from the Active Fuel Management (AFM) system, and agressive vacuuming from the engine's positive crankcase ventilation (PCV) system are to blame.…

    keep reading article "Another Vortec Oil Consumption Lawsuit Hits the Docket"

  3. GM owners tired of their dashboards looking like a faultline have taken the matter to the court.

    General Motors allegedly tells consumers the damage is merely cosmetic, but the plaintiffs claim in addition to safety hazards, the damaged dashboards and instrument panels cause a loss of value of the vehicles.

    GM wasn't going to issue a service campaign or recall, and the feds won't investigate issues they don't consider to be a safety defect. With so many of these vehicles having this problem, owners had no other choice but to file a lawsuit.

    https://www.carcomplaints.com/news/2018/gm-cracked-dash-lawsuit.shtml

    keep reading article "Cracking Dashboards and Safety Hazards Lead to Lawsuit"

  5. GM owners are still trying to convince a judge that Vortec 5300 engines have oil consumption problems and don’t give owners adequate warnings when oil levels are dangerously low.

    According to the lawsuit, the Vortec 5300 engines in the vehicles consume extreme levels of oil because of defects in the oil rings that allow oil to invade the combustion chambers … The plaintiffs claim the oil pressure warnings can fail to activate in time to prevent engine damage, something GM has allegedly known is a problem with the Vortec engines.

    The judge had previously dismissed the lawsuit and doesn't seem too interested in complaints about fires, oil rings, or inadequate warnings.

    The plaintiffs have a small, uphill chance if they can amend their complaints.

    keep reading article "GM Owners Still Trying to Convince Judge of Vortec Oil Problems"

  7. There's something funky going on inside GM's 5.3L Vortec 5300 engine causing it to use a higher-than-normal amount of oil.

    Some might even say it's excessive. A lawsuit filed in Minnesota says the problem is multi-faceted.

    1. GM used low-tension piston rings that allow oil to leak out of the crankcase and into the combustion chamber.
    2. The rings, which are already leaking, are then overloaded by a spray of pressurized oil from the Active Fuel Management (AFM) system.
    3. Even more oil is being burned off after being sucked into the intake by the engine's positive crankcase ventilation (PCV).

    That's a recipe for disaster, but the cherry on top is the somewhat useless oil monitoring system. Instead of measuring the volume of oil left in the crankcase, the system measures environmetal variables to determine the quality of the oil.

    Sure, there's only a pint of oil left in the engine but don't worry ... the oil quality is great.

    The lawsuit mentions GM has tried to improve the situation by updating the vehicle's crankcase ventilation and active fuel management system, but it never really helped. Eventually GM just updated the Generation IV Vortec 5300 engine and replaced it with a redesigned Generation V Vortec 5300 that stopped using low-tension oil rings and reintriduced an oil level sensor.

    keep reading article "Lawsuit Claims There Are Multiple Reasons for Excessive Oil Consumption Problems in GM's V8 Vortec 5300 Engine"