Door Lock Actuator Failure - 2008 Tahoe

08HoeCD · May 25, 2016

Just noticed this today and am studying options to solve the problem. Seems like the classic case of a bad actuator motor. I bought this vehicle recently with the full realization that I'd probably need to address issues here & there, but this issue is annoying. It seems like a pure design/engineering failure on GM's part and they won't recognize it with a recall.

How many of you with faulty lock actuator motors have replaced them yourself rather than going to the dealer or repair shop? I just watched a couple of videos and it doesn't seem terrible.

08HoeCD · May 26, 2016

Ordered the replacement assembly, studied a few YouTube videos.......and then the existing actuator returns to fully functional.
Just a matter of time before she gives up the ghost for good, I guess. Now I've got her replacement on the way.

CrashTestDummy · May 30, 2016

Ours on our '10 seem okay, other than the rear door switches being in-op from the factory. But that's a PPV thing.

08HoeCD · Jul 6, 2016

I got the part a month ago but have been ignoring the issue because it happens only about 5-10% of the time. However, it seems very sensitive to ambient temps---much more likely to happen when vehicle sits in the sun and temp is above 85 degrees. Today it's 94 degrees with lots of sun and high heat index, and the problem affected BOTH rear doors, for the first time. Annoying.

Going to order a replacement actuator assembly from Gruven for driver-side rear door then replace both driver-side and passenger-side at once.

t.stimpson · Jul 11, 2016

i replaced two of my actuators with the parts from gruven. Worked out well, easy job for the most part.

08HoeCD · Jul 11, 2016

t.stimpson said:
i replaced two of my actuators with the parts from gruven. Worked out well, easy job for the most part.

Good to hear.

08HoeCD · Jul 12, 2016

I went ahead and changed out my passenger-side rear door actuator. Took me an hour because I didn't full know what the hell I was doing....and my neighbor stopped by to shoot the breeze for a few.

I'm no mechanical engineer, but the whole lock mechanism & actuator layout seems poorly engineered. The rod which is actuated up & down by the actuator is angled at several points, in such a way that it seems destined to bind during travel at least occasionally, if not often, over-stressing the weak actuator motor.

Crossing my fingers that this actuator lasts at least a couple years.

sumo · Jul 14, 2016

Gm not the only one. Some of the Hondas I work on have the rods run behind the window run channel,
So I have to unbolt it and move it out of the way. Still I have to manuver the assembly out a small cut out in the door while trying not to touch the edges where the inner protective skirt attaches.
They use a paste/glue thats like rvt silicone. Gets on your arm or hands and it just smears, hard to wash off

08HoeCD · Jul 14, 2016

It's almost like they want to bury the mechanism in a tomb.

gGM Fan · Jul 20, 2016

I am the original owner of an 08 Tahoe LTZ, The actuators were replaced under warranty due to a bad batch of actuators as I was told. I had 2 fail and asked if they would replace the other two at the same time, knowing about the bad batch, they replaced them all. This was 6 years ago and are all working fine.

Door Lock Actuator Failure - 2008 Tahoe

08HoeCD

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