1996 Chevrolet Tahoe LS 5.7L Vortec

Summary:

Solid dependable performer, even with high miles and heavy use

Faults:

Front and rear u-joints (towed a heavy trailer).

Rear pinion seal.

Gas gauge spins around.

General Comments:

Comfy seats.

Lots of rear leg room.

Great cargo space.

Good power.

Good for towing.

Solid in adverse weather conditions.

Still looks good after all these years.

I'm a Ford guy at heart, but I really love my Tahoe.

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 17th June, 2015

1996 Chevrolet Tahoe LT 5.7

Summary:

Great vehicle design, weak engineering in some areas

Faults:

Starting from the beginning: Rear tailgate mis-aligned from factory.

6 sets of front brakes replaced before 32k.

A/C unit leaked and was told by service personnel this was normal only to have it go out after the warranty expired.

Odometer needed repairing 6 times.

Wiper motor replaced 14k.

Alternator failed just outside of warranty.

2 transmissions failed @ 38k and 40k, 3rd trans had to be taken back to dealer 6 times for correction.

Intake manifold failed @ 48k, fuel pump failed @ 56k.

Rat chewed up wiring! (OK not GM's fault)

General Comments:

This vehicle has been super comfortable and tows great.

The paint and interior have held up well, but the sunvisors could have been made a little stronger.

The factory sound system was anemic considering a 36k sticker price.

The A/C system is too cold on the passenger side and too warm on the driver side.

Overall I like the vehicle, but had I not been a mechanic to foresee these problems and get it into service it would have stranded me on several occasions.

I will give serious consideration before buying another GM product not so much because of the product, but because of the rude treatment from customer service!

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Don't Know

Review Date: 1st October, 2007

1996 Chevrolet Tahoe LT 5.7 350ci

Summary:

Sweet and dependable truck!

Faults:

Transmission went at about 130,000 miles, but I expected that.

Nothing else major, just normal wear and tear things such as replacing the radiator ect...

General Comments:

My 1996 Chevy Tahoe (2 door) is a great truck! I love it and chicks dig it too. I have had no problem with this truck and love it. The engine is the best, there is a reason that the 350ci Chevy is so popular. I get complements on the truck all the time, its great. I wish that Chevy would come back with the two door version of the Tahoe... if I had the money I would buy one as soon as it came out!

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Don't Know

Review Date: 11th August, 2006

1996 Chevrolet Tahoe LS 5.7 liter

Summary:

High quality, smooth riding truck. Well worth the money

Faults:

During frigid weather, the transmission seems to slide into 2nd gear as opposed to the smooth shifting when outdoor temperatures are warmer. Still haven't serviced the tranny, perhaps would cure the problem.

Brake rotors are due to be turned, unsure of the last time it was done.

No other problems.

General Comments:

The Tahoe is a very comfortable ride.

Lazy Boy type of seats are comfortable for tall people, smooth quiet ride and still manages 16 mpg highway/city.

The 350 motor still has plenty of balls, even at almost 100,000 miles. Lighting up the tires is easy to do in this truck and at 96,000, it doesn't leak a drop of anything.

Controls are well designed and laid out.

Interior still looks new and is very quiet when driving, no rattles or squeaks.

Acceptable sound system, but CD's will skip over large bumps or when the door is slammed, not sure if that is typical with CD players.

Truck handles pretty well for its size and has more than enough power for highway passing, etc.

I can't say enough about this truck, dependable, good looking, powerful, tolerable gas consumption (compared to my previous F-150), flawless 4WD system, all paint and hardware still in excellent shape even after 8 years, nice center console, killer A/C, the list could go on.

My only complaint is the rear windows don't roll down far enough. Is there a way to bypass this?

If you are in the market for one, buy it!

Would you buy another car from this manufacturer? Yes

Review Date: 22nd October, 2003

2nd Jul 2004, 01:20

I have also been wondering if there is a way to make the windows go all the way down for my dog.

18th Aug 2004, 21:08

I have a 1996 Tahoe that I bought new. It now has over 186,000 miles on it and still runs and drives like the day I brought it home. The transmission went bad at 107,000 but I think that was due to my neglect to service it. Overall a great vehicle. I too, would like to know if there is a way to bypass the back passenger windows to allow them to lower farther. This is my only complaint with the interior features.

17th Nov 2004, 12:36

Hello,

I have a 97 tahoe and have the same complant. The back window level. After look at the system it appears to not be able to override due to the Wheel well that comes into the door Jamb.

2nd Mar 2005, 13:53

In concern to the negative comments in regards to the rear windows not going down all the way. This is a child safety feature, Just about every vehicle on todays market does this with their rear windows. I highly doubt that it can be manipulated.

17th Apr 2014, 08:19

I know this is a old post, but yes take off the door panel and remove the nylon stopper attached to the window track; the only reason it's in there was for child safety in the back seat, and this goes for a lot of vehicles that are like this. It's a very easy quick fix!