This service bulletin provides information on the proper Reflective High Temperature Heat and/or Insulating Tape to use for certain repairs, such as Wiring Harness Repairs.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2013 Chevrolet Tahoe electrical problems
moderate Owners of the 2013 Chevrolet Tahoe have filed 13 NHTSA complaints about the electrical, typically surfacing around 89,867 miles at roughly $850 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See electrical across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
13
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$850
| Model year | electrical complaints |
|---|---|
| 2009 Tahoe | 35 |
| 2010 Tahoe | 14 |
| 2011 Tahoe | 17 |
| 2012 Tahoe | 11 |
| 2013 Tahoe (this page) | 13 |
| 2014 Tahoe | 15 |
| 2015 Tahoe | 104 |
| 2016 Tahoe | 19 |
| 2017 Tahoe | 17 |
When does it fail?
Of the 13 electrical complaints filed for the 2013 Chevrolet Tahoe, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 0-25,000 mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
What stands out
No new NHTSA electrical complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 7 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering electrical on this vehicle — documented repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall (it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.
The intent of this service bulletin is to identify aftermarket ALDL or DLC interface devices as potential sources for causing multiple customer concerns that do not have other diagnostic methods to identify them.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This service bulletin provides information for dealers/technicians on OnStar Module 2G Sunset Information.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This service bulletin provides information to diagnose batteries that have set for a long period of time and/or cold weather climates and testing those batteries.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This bulletin advises the dealers to maintain the vehicle stock on hand by doing a full inspection on the vehicles before being sold (prepping) to the customer.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
Owners of 2013 Tahoes describe a pattern of electrical failures that leave dealers stumped. The most serious is a complete loss of electrical power while driving—dash goes black, engine stalls, door locks cycle repeatedly—then power mysteriously returns within seconds to ten seconds. This happens without warning, sometimes on the freeway or during lane changes, and has occurred to at least two owners pulling into traffic. The vehicle either restarts itself or requires manual restart. Dealers run diagnostics during these events and find no active codes. One owner mentioned that a dealership suspected a bad voltage regulator or loss of ECM communication to multiple sensors.
Related to this is widespread disabling of stability and traction control systems, typically during warm weather, paired with check engine lights, ABS warnings, and reduced engine power. One vehicle needed fuel modules cleaned; another got dielectric grease applied to wiring, with no lasting fix either time.
Owners also report three out of four door lock actuators failing within two weeks, a speedometer and gear select that go inoperative (though removing and reinstalling the DIC fuse temporarily fixes this), and a battery that won't hold a charge. Multiple owners have linked their symptoms to recalls—specifically NHTSA campaign 14V614000 and recall 14515—but found their VINs excluded from coverage.
Same Chevrolet Tahoe electrical reports on nearby years: 2011 · 2012 · 2014 · 2015 · 2016
Failure modes owners describe
Complete electrical power loss / stalling with instrument cluster shutdown
Vehicle loses all or most electrical power while driving—dash goes blank, all lights extinguish, engine stalls—then recovers within seconds to minutes. Door locks may cycle during the event. Sometimes the vehicle restarts on its own; other times owner must restart it.
When: Between 40,000 and 120,000 miles; occurs during warm weather, in traffic, on highways, sometimes when pulling into traffic or changing lanes
Symptoms owners cite: Complete loss of power / dash goes blank; Engine stalls without warning; Door locks lock/unlock during event; Multiple warning lights flash (check engine, ABS, airbag); Radio shuts off; Loss of engine power / reduced throttle response; Power returns within seconds to 10 seconds; computer may reset and clear codes
Codes mentioned: Loss of ECM communication suspected, Voltage regulator fault suspected
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer unable to diagnose; no active codes present when vehicle is tested. One owner cited AutoZone mention of possible voltage regulator and ECM communication loss. No confirmed repair documented.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Owner referenced NHTSA Campaign 14V614000 (Electrical System); VIN not included in recall. Some owners mention similar symptoms to recall #14515 (chassis computer) but vehicle is 1 year older. GM case file opened with no resolution.
Stability control and traction control disabled with multiple warning lights
StabilityTrak and traction control lights illuminate and systems disable, often accompanied by ABS warning light, check engine light, and reduced engine power. Occurs primarily in warm weather. Power loss and transmission jerking may co-occur.
When: Warm weather conditions; specific mileage not always stated
Symptoms owners cite: StabilityTrak light illuminates and system disables; Traction control light illuminates and system disables; ABS warning light illuminates; Check engine light comes on; Reduced or no engine power; Transmission hard jerks between first and second gear
Codes mentioned: Multiple sensor communication faults suspected (fuel pump, transmission)
Repairs/costs cited: Fuel modules cleaned on one vehicle; dielectric grease applied to wiring; no lasting resolution. One owner cited possible fuel pump flow control module code. No permanent fix documented.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Recall 14V614000 mentioned but VIN exclusions noted in some cases. Multiple dealer visits with inconclusive diagnostics.
Door lock actuator failure
One or more door lock actuators stop functioning, sometimes in quick succession.
When: Two-week period; specific mileage not stated
Symptoms owners cite: Door locks inoperative; 3 of 4 door actuators failed within two weeks
Repairs/costs cited: Replacement of door lock actuators needed; cost not specified.
Instrument cluster malfunction (speedometer and gear select)
Speedometer and gear select indicator stop operating on the dashboard.
When: Mileage not stated
Symptoms owners cite: Speedometer inoperative; Gear select indicator inoperative
Repairs/costs cited: Owner resolved issue by removing and reinstalling DIC fuse under hood. Owner notes this is a known issue and Chevrolet has not issued a recall.
Battery will not hold charge
Battery loses charge and vehicle will not start.
When: Mileage not stated
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle will not start; Battery does not hold charge
Repairs/costs cited: No repair details provided.
Synthesized from 13 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 2 most recent
Traction control and stability trak lights come on while driving, common problem with alot Chevrolet trucks SUV and cars. I had 2005 tahoe previously and the same problem was occurring.
Vehicle does not hold charge to battery. Will not start. *tr
Had electrical trouble with your 2013 Chevrolet Tahoe?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the electrical problem on the 2013 Chevrolet Tahoe?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 13 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $850 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the electrical typically fail?
Across the 12 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most electrical failures cluster between 42,000 and 120,000 miles, with the median around 89,867. A quarter of owners report trouble before 42,000; a quarter make it past 120,000. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $850 for electrical repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to electrical?
No active recalls currently cover electrical issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2013/Chevrolet/Tahoe.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.