NHTSA Complaint #10090821 — 2002 CHEVROLET TAHOE

WE PURCHASED A 2002 CHEV TAHOE NEW IN MARCH 2002. THIS VEHICLE JUST ROLLED OVER THE 30,000 MILE MARK. WITHIN THE 30 MONTHS THAT WE HAVE OWNED THIS VEHICLE, THE FUEL PUMP HAD TO BE REPLACED 3 TIMES, THE FIRST ONE BEING REPLACED AT 12,000 MILES. IN ADDITION, THE FUEL GAUGE SENSOR AND THE AIR CONDITIONER COMPRESSOR HAVE HAD TO BE REPLACED. APPROXIMATELY 6 WEEKS AGO, WHILE ON VACATION, THE TAHOE DIED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. WE WERE 3 HOURS FROM HOME, SO WE HAD TO BE TOWED TO THE NEAREST DEALERSHIP AND RENT AN AUTOMOBILE TO CONTINUE ON OUR TRIP. THE NEXT DAY WE HAD TO GO BACK TO THIS DEALERSHIP TO PICK UP THE TAHOE. WE WERE TOLD THAT THE FUEL PUMP CONNECTOR WIRES HAD WORKED LOOSE. LAST WEEKEND, WHILE DRIVING AT 55 MPH, IT DIED AGAIN IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. WE HAD IT TOWED TO OUR LOCAL DEALERSHIP AND HAVE HAD TO REPLACE YET ANOTHER FUEL PUMP. EVERY TIME THE FUEL PUMP WENT OUT, THE TAHOE WAS BEING DRIVEN IN TRAFFIC. TO HAVE A VEHICLE DIE SUDDENLY AT 55 MPH IN TRAFFIC IS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION. WE CONTACTED GM BACK IN MAY AFTER PUTTING OUR VEHICLE IN THE SHOP FOR A NEW AIR CONDITIONER COMPRESSOR. AFTER MANY LENGTHY DISCUSSIONS WITH A GM CUSTOMER REP, WE WERE GIVEN AN EXTENDED WARRANTY. WHILE WE APPRECIATE THE EXTENDED WARRANTY, THE PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN RESOLVED. APPARENTLY THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG WITH OUR VEHICLE AND/OR THE FUEL PUMPS THEMSELVES THAT ARE CAUSING THIS REPEATED FAILURE. IT HAS BECOME A SAFETY ISSUE. NOW WE FEEL THAT WE HAVE NO CHOICE BUT TO GET RID OF OUR VEHICLE. HOWEVER, BY TRADING IT IN, ALL WE'RE DOING IS PASSING THE PROBLEM ON TO THE NEXT UNLUCKY SOUL. WE CAN'T, IN GOOD CONSCIENCE, SELL THE CAR TO SOMEONE WITHOUT TELLING THEM ALL THE PROBLEMS WE'VE EXPERIENCED. ONLY A FOOL WOULD BUY IT FROM US. SO, WHAT WE'RE LEFT WITH IS AN UNSELLABLE $635 PER MONTH POTENTIAL DEATH TRAP. *AK