Help, Need Guidance. 5.3L engine failure with no brakes

[ZKWBQD]

Hi,

I am in need of some guidance of options available to me. I purchased my first ever GM product in January, 2024...a Tahoe LT. I currently have 23,000 miles on it and have had 2 catastrophic episodes where the Tahoe was not drivable and had to be towed away.

1. The first happened in November, 2024 where the engine stopped working while in the middle of an intersection. I had to have the entire engine replaced which took a month to happen.

2. Two weeks ago I was leaving a parking lot and several error messages popped up and my brakes and steering wheel did not work. The diagnosis was a batter discharge, but had on been on a major road I would have been in a serious accident.

I have also had repeated issues with the infotainment sound not working but I can live with that. I do not feel safe, however, living with the brakes and steering wheel not working randomly. I have a case opened with GM who told me to try to work out a deal with the dealership for a trade. GM has added in $4500 in assistance, but the deal is still ridiculous given I just bought the Tahoe last year for over $67K. I am trying to understand what other options I have at this point pursuing another GM. Will they offer additional assistance? Are there lemon laws or recommended legal avenues available that anyone knows about?

This is a sad story to hear. My 22 Tahoe has given me no problems. Although, I have permanently disabled engine stop-start, that may have helped me avoid problems. The alternatives for a non-hybrid V8 engine are small. Perhaps Jeep and Lexus are something you can look at. I've had Toyota V8 engines go 400,000 miles with no problems. I would've purchased a Toyota Sequoia in 22 but at that point they were hybrid only, which I did not want.

 

[555hp]

So the diagnosis of the issue is that the battery discharged which caused multiple electrical components to fail. I was at the gym and leaving the parking lot and was only going around 10 mph and when I pushed all the way down on the brakes it would not stop the car. It simply kept going. Thankfully I was not going too fast and cruised a bit further in the parking lot and shifted the car into park to fully stop the car. The engine still worked but many core electrical components were not working.

Had I been going at a higher rate of speed on the highway or busy roads I would have been in a serious accident which is what is scary. Thankfully my kids were not in the car with me.

This is a major safety issue that is beyond a normal lemon law claim (and should be reported to the NHTSA). The vehicle should have reserved braking capacity (usually an electric powered vacuum pump assist). Lawyer up now!

 

[555hp]

Thanks for your kind words. My current Tahoe LT has 23,000 miles on it and they are only giving me $50K for a trade and want me to pay 70K for a 2026 Tahoe with the same exact specs as my 2024 Tahoe. I think it's ridiculous for them to expect me to pay an additional $20K after I just spent nearly 70K last year on the original Tahoe. I have escalated to the national GM line and they have said there is not much more they can do so I am looking at hiring an attorney and going down the path of a buyback/lemon. If the dealer would get the difference down to around 10K I would be open to it but they don't want to seem to budge.

Using roughly $0.50/mi for 23k miles, you should pay about 11,500 to replace your vehicle. Tell GM you'll pay 10K to get this replaced or you will see them in Court. Provide them with Noice that this is unsafe and that the dealer can not fix nor find the root cause. Document everything!!

 

[Chris Mosher]

Sounds like the vacuum pump is starting to fail. I just replaced mine. At low speeds in parking lots and reversing the brake pedal goes to floor and truck keeps moving. Try parking car and pumping brakes multiple times without touching gas pedal. If the pump is bad the brake pedal fails and ABS system starts freaking out.

 

[cbahleda2669]

Hi,

I am in need of some guidance of options available to me. I purchased my first ever GM product in January, 2024...a Tahoe LT. I currently have 23,000 miles on it and have had 2 catastrophic episodes where the Tahoe was not drivable and had to be towed away.

1. The first happened in November, 2024 where the engine stopped working while in the middle of an intersection. I had to have the entire engine replaced which took a month to happen.

2. Two weeks ago I was leaving a parking lot and several error messages popped up and my brakes and steering wheel did not work. The diagnosis was a batter discharge, but had on been on a major road I would have been in a serious accident.

I have also had repeated issues with the infotainment sound not working but I can live with that. I do not feel safe, however, living with the brakes and steering wheel not working randomly. I have a case opened with GM who told me to try to work out a deal with the dealership for a trade. GM has added in $4500 in assistance, but the deal is still ridiculous given I just bought the Tahoe last year for over $67K. I am trying to understand what other options I have at this point pursuing another GM. Will they offer additional assistance? Are there lemon laws or recommended legal avenues available that anyone knows about?

With all the electrical issues you’re having, and the dead battery, I’d start looking around the Tahoe for tell tale signs of flood damage. Check your paperwork to see if it was brought in by the dealer from out of state.

 

[NT1978]

This is a sad story to hear. My 22 Tahoe has given me no problems. Although, I have permanently disabled engine stop-start, that may have helped me avoid problems. The alternatives for a non-hybrid V8 engine are small. Perhaps Jeep and Lexus are something you can look at. I've had Toyota V8 engines go 400,000 miles with no problems. I would've purchased a Toyota Sequoia in 22 but at that point they were hybrid only, which I did not want.

I had 2 straight 2nd Gen Toyotas then they screwed up the 3rd gen by getting rid of the V8 and making the cargo and 3rd row useless. That is what drew me to the Tahoe and ultimately decide to purchase it.

 

[NT1978]

Thanks everyone for the input. I spoke with the general manager of the regional automotive group and he is going to work tomorrow on trying to come up with a better deal to make it right. I am hopeful that we can come to terms so I do not have to go down the legal path though I am prepared and have an attorney already lined up.

I do have a question for those that know more about the different trims. My current Tahoe is an LT with the comfort package. My primary requirements are Leather seats, a bench 2nd row (which is rare) and power folding mirrors. The ride of the LT is super smooth which is what I want. One challenge now is that there are hardly any LTs with bench seats within 500 miles. There are a few RST models which I know cost more and I would be willing to pay a bit more if the ride quality is similar. Does anyone know how the ride quality of the RST compares to the LT?

 

[NT1978]

Hey all-I wanted to bump this question I asked earlier. My local dealer is trying to work with me on a reasonable trade in offer. We do want leather and a 2nd row bench like we have in our current faulty LT trim model. However, there are hardly any LTs with a bench seat within 500 miles. There are a few RSTs with bench which is a higher price point. When I drove the 2024 RST it was a much rougher ride. I just drove a 2026 RST which is supposed to have an improved suspension, and it seemed to be smoother than the 2024, but I did not feel its still as comfortable of a ride as the LT. I am curious of others thoughts on the 2026 Tahoe 5.3L RST vs Trim from a ride quality/comfort perspective.

 

[olyelr]

Hey all-I wanted to bump this question I asked earlier. My local dealer is trying to work with me on a reasonable trade in offer. We do want leather and a 2nd row bench like we have in our current faulty LT trim model. However, there are hardly any LTs with a bench seat within 500 miles. There are a few RSTs with bench which is a higher price point. When I drove the 2024 RST it was a much rougher ride. I just drove a 2026 RST which is supposed to have an improved suspension, and it seemed to be smoother than the 2024, but I did not feel its still as comfortable of a ride as the LT. I am curious of others thoughts on the 2026 Tahoe 5.3L RST vs Trim from a ride quality/comfort perspective.

I wouldnt worry too much about others opinions on ride quality. They are too “opinionated”. I think my ram 2500 rides great.

I would focus on your own personal opinion, which sounds like you have already formed. A better question to ask yourself would be, is the rougher ride of the rst acceptable to you.

 

[NT1978]

Well guys I think I must be bad luck. I received a Traverse Loaner while I am trying to figure out what to do with my Tahoe that has had to be towed twice, and tonight I ran to a local store and when I went back to the car it would not start. It only has around 10,000 miles but it sounded like an alternator issue. It had to be towed and I had my son pick me up. This is my 3rd Chevy to be towed in the past 18 months. I love the layout and drive of the Tahoe but feel like I need to go a different path than Chevy/GM. The challenge is that there are not a ton of great full size SUV options on the market.

 

[TahoeFL2017]

Ok thanks. Are they a national firm? I have not heard of them but will do some research.

Morgan and Morgan are solid if they take your case, they have a pretty tight pre-screen process.

i know because a lawsuit-happy friend got denied twice for his attempts lol