Looking at getting a used Tahoe Hybrid. Things to watch out for?

Ok, my 1999 Tahoe is getting a bit long in the tooth. I've had a ruptured brake AND fuel line in the last year and my wife is starting to consider it "unsafe" and "unreliable". While I had the brake line serviced and replaced the rear fuel lines myself (dealer wanted $1600-$2000 estimate), I still need to maintain domestic harmony.

So, looking around, I'm considering a Tahoe hybrid. Seems like the only ones available are 2009 and older (what's magic about that year and why so few newer ones)? What should be on my watch out list for evaluating these? I don't put a lot of mileage on (figure 7k miles per year, I've only got a 3 mile commute), but I would want to get 4WD and towing capability for those occasional needs (I'm in the Chicago area). I'm not a show guy. I use it for hauling stuff, camping, bikes, etc.

Any tips appreciated. Likewise, open if anyone knows of a good deal out there.

I'm in a similar situation. I have a 2001 Tahoe with 238k miles. Just replaced the transmission line among a bunch of other stuff that comes with age; but dash is clean no lights and still runs ok. Anyway; I also might get a 2009 Tahoe hybrid ; with 125k...

One issue I hear and I hope someone can clarify is " sometimes" the truck jumps so to speak when coming to a complete stop or excelerating.

I think the jumping people refer to is shifting from Regen braking to hydraulic. If your hydraulic brakes are loose, old or oily it will seem as though you went from good braking to poor. You need to keep up on the brakes just like any other car. An air bubble in the line will screw you up too.
I just bought a 2009 Hyhoe, still learning the systems in it. I just finished a 1200 mile trip From Michigan to the lower tip of Louisiana. Avg'd 19.6MPG
I think the original owner put larger tires on it causing it to drop out of V4 mode more often.
The problems I found when purchasing it were the Drivers door not unlocking. (Dealer replaced free) Rear window defroster tab broke off (dealer replaced free) and a small chip in the windshield.
Rear driver side window switch up is intermittent.
Everything else runs great.

The 12Volt battery did die on me on the test drive. I had the Acc. on w/ the AC and all the lights on going through rear end and inspecting everything and when I got it to start it....Nothing.

I jumped it and it started right up. Dealer also replaced 12V for free.
It comes with a factory 8yr-100,000 mile warranty on the hybrid system.
I had 95K when I bought it.

gof said:

Ok, my 1999 Tahoe is getting a bit long in the tooth. I've had a ruptured brake AND fuel line in the last year and my wife is starting to consider it "unsafe" and "unreliable". While I had the brake line serviced and replaced the rear fuel lines myself (dealer wanted $1600-$2000 estimate), I still need to maintain domestic harmony.

So, looking around, I'm considering a Tahoe hybrid. Seems like the only ones available are 2009 and older (what's magic about that year and why so few newer ones)? What should be on my watch out list for evaluating these? I don't put a lot of mileage on (figure 7k miles per year, I've only got a 3 mile commute), but I would want to get 4WD and towing capability for those occasional needs (I'm in the Chicago area). I'm not a show guy. I use it for hauling stuff, camping, bikes, etc.

Any tips appreciated. Likewise, open if anyone knows of a good deal out there.

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They did not sell. So GM quit making SUV and or Truck Hybrids in 2013. Short sighted?? on their part. Seems everyone else including Ford are adding Hybrid models to their lines. Just not trucks I guess as of yet...

All my friends with hybrids like them. None are SUV, truck owners however.

I found a 2009 Tahoe Hybrid 2WD that had never been sold. Its "New" never titled, at the Chevy Dealer here in a rural Texas town. They also had a 2013 Volt at the time. They had put 2800 miles on it as a CS vehicle then parked it on their lot listed as "New" but in reality "Used" as not all of the GM Warranty remains. I always thought OEM warranty ran from in service date but not true.

So it never sold to those "country folks" that buy a lot of trucks and full size SUVs. Paid 54% of MSRP. They would go no lower. Tahoe had a cracked dash cap which I assume comes from sitting around for seven years in the Texas sun. They should have replaced before I drove up to look at it. I gave them heck. They had to order a part GM no longer makes...part Number:19331338
(remind me to order a dash mat) then replaced the "new" Tahoe cracked dash with the "new old stock" and I picked it up. Had to make two trips.

I also insisted they flush/fill the tranny, radiator, change oil/filter, flush/fill brake fluid and steering fluid upon which I was informed its electric and has no hydraulic fluids to change (new to me), then rotate and balance the old "new" tires. I'm sort of worried about those "old" new tires. Bridgstone Dueler H/Ts. 265/65/18. Not impressed with their ride at all. Could be too many years sitting around causing flat spots but so far not a great ride. Probably be shopping Discount Tire for some new tires soon. Anyone out there that can vouch for a better riding tire and optional size please let me know.

Got home and it has 2,960 miles on it and about 31.6 hours on engine. Should be good to go for some time. I'll make a new post when I tow my boat next and test how it does compared to my 1999 Tahoe.

Nice! Sounds like a good deal. How do you like it so far?

Bowtie_Beast said:

Nice! Sounds like a good deal. How do you like it so far?

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I actually just bought at 2010 hybrid and I really like it. So far, no issues at all. The only thing I can see getting kind of annoying is the fact that the engine cuts off (due to being a hybrid) and cuts on sometimes I guess to save gas. Other than that it's super legit. Extremely smooth and has the right power along with all be bells and whistles.