Three problems related to manifold/header/muffler/tail pipe have been reported for the 1996 Chevrolet Tahoe. The most recently reported issues are listed below.
The contact's mother owns a 1996 Chevrolet Tahoe. The windshield wipers were not operating normally. They were repaired in 2001. Recall 03v159000 component: visibility:windshield wiper/washer is related to the failure. The dealer confirmed that the VIN is not related to the recall. The dealer also wrote on the invoice that the windshield wipers are working temporarily and can fail at anytime. The corporate office of gm was also notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 147956 and current mileage was 148114. Updated 01/08/09 the consumer stated the problems started when the vehicle would not start. It was determined the problem was the fuel pump. The headlights were not coming on. The consumer requested that the headlight switch be looked at. The vehicle began to shake and stall and white smoke emitted from the muffler. The check engine light also illuminated. Updated 01/09/09.
Exhaust y pipe sheared off, common in this type of vehicle. Very expensive because parts include y pipe two catalletic converters and three O2 sensors.
Intake manifold leaks can lead to any number of very serious, and expensive, problems. While the part itself isn't costly, the labor to repair it is very intensive, and has been quoted around $800 usd (give or take a couple hundred depending on the vehicle). This is in addition to any other costly problem(s) the intake manifold gasket leak may have produced. We are demanding accountability from general motors. A nationwide backorder should be reason enough for gm to assemble a recall. We can only hope that the world's largest vehicle manufacturer who has been the world's automotive sales leader since 1931 will stand up and claim responsibility for a problem that is so prevalent among their vehicles. Recalls should be mandated in all cases of incompetence, not solely when it affects public safety. While some of us have been fortunate enough to have this problem occur within our warranty, there are many others of us that have had to pay for these expensive repairs just after the warranty expires. Because gm has refused to admit liability on this issue, we feel that this will be a repetitive problem. Once this gasket has been replaced, and customers pockets drained, gm service centers everywhere can expect to see consumers returning, for this same problem that hasn't been rectified due to a designing flaw on gm's part. This error should have been corrected, not the first time in for service, but before entering mass production in millions of vehicles. Can one presume this is one way of keeping general motors patrons coming back time after time?.