Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2009 Chevrolet Tahoe owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
I own a 2009 Chevy Tahoe and I have been dealing with door lock problems for the past year. The driver door will not open at this point and rear passenger door will not open from time to time. At this moment we have 2 working doors, but I am concerned that in case of an emergency these remaining 2 currently working doors will not open either and my family May be trapped. Someone suggested we contact the national transportation safety board and file a complaint to see if maybe we can force GM into a recall since this is a safety issue. Is this something you would be able to help us with? Please advice on how I should proceed with this issue. Thank you so much in advance for your help and cooperation with this issue.
The lock on the rear, driver side door does not work properly. It will not lock or unlock with the key fob. This is a known problem and GM refuses to cover the repairs unless the vehicle is under warranty. This is a safety issue. My son is in a car seat and is not able to unlock the door himself. There are multiple threads online of people all complaining about the same problem. It's an expensive repair. Shame on GM for not covering this when it is clearly a manufacturing defect!!!
Tl* the contact owns a 2009 Chevrolet Tahoe. The contact stated that the rear door locks failed to operate. The failure recurred several times. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the rear locks needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 69,000. ....updated 07/22/15 updated 10/11/2017
Tl* the contact owns a 2009 Chevrolet Tahoe. The contact stated that the dashboard was cracked in four places and the engine compartment was exposed. In addition, the door lock actuators failed on all four doors and the running boards failed. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, but was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified. The approximate failure mileage was 140,000.
Both the front driver and passenger inside door handles of this vehicle, a 2009 Chevy Tahoe ltz, which have a chrome colored plastic coating, have become sharp as a result of peeling on the top of the handle, causing cuts to the fingers of the driver and passengers of the occupants. Calls to general motors were met with acknowledgement of an existing and known problem with this particular part in this model vehicle and trim level, however accommodations are only being made to replace/repair those that were installed in model year 2007. The area of the peeling "chrome" is in an identical location on the identical part on the identical trim level of the identical model of vehicle included in the replacement program. …
Both back doors on my Tahoe began to stop unlocking and locking when using the clicker. A month later they stopped locking and unlocking using the unlock/lock button inside the vehicle. At the time I had a two month old who I was having to carry through the driver's side door and crawl through to the back to put him in his car seat. I asked the Chevrolet dealership about this & I was told it would cost me around $600 per door. By that time, my front passenger door had also stopped working. I do not understand how this is not a recall. What if there were a fire and I could not get to my children? Or heaven forbid I get into an accident and I can't unlock the vehicle to get to my kids. I have done plenty of research on this matter and it seems as if thousands of people are having this issue. Chevrolet has always been our vehicle of choice. …
Driver door and rear door on driver side do not lock/unlock consistently with key fob nor do they lock/unlock with power lock button. I have to manually lock and unlock both doors most of the time. The previous owner said they replaced these a few years back under warranty shortly after purchasing vehicle. Obviously there is a design flaw or mechanical issue causing this to happen. Numerous people have reported the same issue. I have to manually lock and unlock my doors when I leave the vehicle. Passenger side doors appear to work fine all the time. The cost is close to $300 per door to correct and I believe only a 30 day warranty. So it doesn't appear to be a permanent resolution.
Door lock actuators failed on the two front doors and the driver side rear door creating significant difficulty in both entering and leaving the vehicle. Of particular concern was the great difficulty in removing children from the backseat of the car. The manual locks are out of reach of an adult in the front seat which ultimately requires returning the key to the ignition and lowering the rear window to remove a child from the car. This procedure is time-consuming and I hope that no one ever needs to perform that procedure in an emergency situation such as a fire.
Tl* the contact owns a 2009 Chevrolet Tahoe. The contact stated that the doors would not lock when utilizing the electronic key fob from the exterior of the vehicle. When the contact was inside the vehicle, the doors would not lock or unlock automatically, only manually. The vehicle was taken to the dealer for diagnostic testing. The technician stated that the door lock actuator assembly would have to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 39,000. The VIN was not available.
Power locks on driver and rear passenger door stopped functioning properly ( will not lock or unlock ) . This could be a serious problem if in a vehicle crash as I would have trouble accessing my child in the rear seat. Could you imagine a car on fire and not being able to reach your child. Please issue a recall to have the door lock actuators replaced. This came up as a very common issue while searching for a remedy.
Door Lock & Latch complaints in other Tahoe years
Frequently asked questions
How common are door lock & latch problems on the 2009 Chevrolet Tahoe?
NHTSA has 22 complaints about the locks & latches of the 2009 Chevrolet Tahoe, 8% of the model year's 284 complaints.
Is there a recall for 2009 Chevrolet Tahoe door lock & latch problems?
No. NHTSA lists no locks & latches recall for the 2009 Chevrolet Tahoe, though it has 5 recalls for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2009 Chevrolet Tahoe door lock & latch problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 60,000 miles, and 5% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 0 crashes, 0 fires and 1 injury to locks & latches problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.