2009 Chevrolet Tahoe Hybrid Reliability Data: Problems & Recalls
Avoid The 2009 Chevrolet Tahoe Hybrid has a complaint index of 75, ranking 2nd-worst of 5 model years and earning an Avoid verdict. Owners most often reported Electrical System problems (32% of complaints), followed by Brakes (27%), with a median failure mileage of 87,000 miles.
Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology
YearToAvoid Scorecard
- Complaint Index
- 75/100
- #2 of 5 Tahoe Hybrid years
- Verdict
- Avoid
- vs. other years of this model
- Complaints
- 22
- unique NHTSA reports
- Recalls
- 0
- distinct NHTSA campaigns
- Crashes
- 2
- reported in complaints
- Fires
- 1
- Injuries
- 1
- Top issue
- Electrical System
- NHTSA overall rating
- Not rated
- EPA combined MPG
- 20.5
- 20.5 city / 21 hwy
- Injuries / deaths
- 1 / 0
Top 2009 Chevy Tahoe Hybrid problems
Share of this year’s NHTSA complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Electrical System7 (32%)
- Brakes6 (27%)
- Other6 (27%)
- Engine4 (18%)
- Transmission & Powertrain4 (18%)
- Structure & Body3 (14%)
- Airbags2 (9%)
- Fuel System2 (9%)
A complaint can list more than one component, so shares add up to more than 100%. Shares are % of complaints.
What owners report
- Brakes reportedly go to the floor with little to no stopping power, sometimes preceded by a "check brake" warning light and stalling.
- Owners describe the hybrid system disengaging during deceleration and the vehicle surging forward instead of stopping.
- Front and rear door lock actuators fail one at a time, preventing doors from locking or unlocking from the driver's seat or remote.
- Instrument cluster and warning lights reportedly flash erratically or short out while driving at highway speed, sometimes with a drastic loss of speed or stalling.
- Passenger and driver-side airbag dashboard covers develop cracks in the same spot even after prior replacement.
- Some owners report the vehicle unexpectedly shifting from gas to electric mode near a stop even with the brake pedal depressed.
2009 Chevrolet Tahoe Hybrid recalls
No safety recalls on record for this model year.
2009 Chevrolet Tahoe Hybrid fuel economy and fuel cost
- City
- 20.5 MPG
- Highway
- 21 MPG
- Combined
- 20.5 MPG
- Annual fuel cost (EPA)
- $3,175
- 15,000 mi/yr
- Fuel
- Regular
- Current regular gas
- $4.32/gal
- national avg.
EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.
2009 compared with other Tahoe Hybrid years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2009 Chevrolet Tahoe Hybrid reliable?
- NHTSA data gives the 2009 Tahoe Hybrid a complaint index of 75, the second-highest (worst) among the 5 model years with data, resulting in an Avoid verdict relative to other Tahoe Hybrid years.
- What are the most common problems with the 2009 Tahoe Hybrid?
- Electrical System complaints make up 32% of reports, followed by Brakes at 27%, Engine and Transmission & Powertrain each at 18%, and Structure & Body at 14%.
- Does the 2009 Tahoe Hybrid have any recalls?
- NHTSA lists no recalls specifically logged for the 2009 Tahoe Hybrid in this dataset, though one sample complaint references a Takata airbag recall campaign (16v381000).
- How does the 2009 Tahoe Hybrid compare to other years?
- The 2008 model has a higher complaint index of 100 and is also rated Avoid, while 2010 (index 25), 2011 (index 50, Caution), and 2012 (index 0) all show fewer reported problems.
- At what mileage do problems typically appear on the 2009 Tahoe Hybrid?
- The median mileage at failure across all complaints is 87,000 miles, though Electrical System issues had a median of 112,000 miles and Airbags issues 60,000 miles.