2016 Chevrolet Tahoe
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Service brakes is the leading concern among 257 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 14th highest complaint count among 26 Tahoe model years with reports.
Of the 2016 reports, 17 involved a crash and 1 involved a fire. 13 people were injured.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
Power train, transfer case (4-wheel drive)Do not drive until repairedMay 7, 2026
General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2026 Cadillac Escalade and Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Silverado 1500, Suburban, and Tahoe, and GMC Sierra 1500, Yukon, and Yukon XL vehicles with four-wheel (4WD) or all-wheel drive (AWD), and certain 2015-2020 Suburban, Escalade, Escalade ESV, Yukon, Yukon XL, and Tahoe vehicles. A component missing from the drivetrain transfer case may cause the front and/or rear wheels to lock up without warning to the driver.
Front or rear wheel lockup increases the risk of a crash.
Owners are advised not to drive their vehicle until the remedy is completed. Dealers will inspect and, if necessary, replace the transfer case assembly, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 18, 2026. Owners may contact GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020 or Cadillac customer service at 1-800-333-4223. GM's number for this recall is N262557620. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on May 7, 2026.
Campaign 26V289000 on NHTSA.gov
Seat belts, frontApr 8, 2021
General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2014-2016 Chevrolet Silverado 1500, 2015-2016 Chevrolet Tahoe, and 2014-2015 GMC Sierra 1500 vehicles that may have received an incorrect replacement tensioner cable assembly as part of a previous recall remedy or a subsequent repair. The flexible steel cable connecting the driver's seat belt to the outboard side of the seat may be repeatedly bent over the seat side shield as the driver enters and exits the vehicle causing the cable to fatigue and separate.
A broken pretensioner cable reduces the effectiveness of the driver's seat belt, increasing the risk of injury.
GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver seat belt lap pretensioner, free of charge. The recall began on May 5, 2021. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, and GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is N212330040.
Campaign 21V245000 on NHTSA.gov
Service brakes, hydraulic, antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip, wheel speed sensor/tone ringOct 24, 2019
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2015-2020 Chevrolet Suburban, Tahoe, and GMC Yukon, and 2014-2018 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 and GMC Sierra 1500 vehicles equipped with a 5.3-liter engine, a 3.08-ratio rear axle and four-wheel drive. If a wheel-speed sensor fails, while the vehicle is traveling between 41 and 60 mph in four-wheel or automatic mode, the Electronic-Brake Control Module (EBCM) software may activate the driveline-protection system.
Unintended activation of the driveline-protection system will cause unintended braking on the wheel on the opposite side of the failed sensor, causing the vehicle to pull to one side unexpectedly, increasing the risk of a crash.
GM will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the EBCM, free of charge. The recall began December 11, 2019. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-630-2438 or GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is N192261050.
Campaign 19V761000 on NHTSA.gov
Service brakes, hydraulic, power assist, vacuumSep 6, 2019
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2015-2017 Cadillac Escalade, 2014-2018 Chevrolet Silverado, GMC Sierra, 2015-2018 Chevrolet Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Yukon vehicles. The amount of vacuum created by the vacuum pump may decrease over time.
As the vacuum level drops, the brake assist decreases, increasing braking effort, extending the distance required to stop the vehicle, thereby increasing the risk of a crash.
GM will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the Electronic Brake Control Module, free of charge. The recall began October 8, 2019. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-630-2438, Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006 or GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is N192268490.
Campaign 19V645000 on NHTSA.gov
Seat belts, frontMay 3, 2018
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2015-2016 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 and Tahoe Police Pursuit and Special-Service vehicles. The flexible steel cable connecting the driver's seat belt to the outboard side of the seat may be repeatedly bent over the seat side shield as the driver enters and exits the vehicle causing the cable to fatigue and separate.
If the pretensioner cable becomes fatigued or breaks, the driver may not be properly restrained in the event of a crash, increasing their risk of injury.
GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the pretensioner cable and seat side-shield, free of charge. The recall began June 19, 2018. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is 18156.
Campaign 18V291000 on NHTSA.gov
Air bags, frontalJul 10, 2017
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2014-2016 Buick Lacrosse and Chevrolet Spark EV, Caprice PPV and SS vehicles, 2014-2017 Buick Encore and Chevrolet Corvette, Silverado 1500 and GMC Sierra 1500 vehicles, 2015-2016 Cadillac Escalade and Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Tahoe, Trax, Suburban and Silverado 2500 and 3500 and GMC Yukon and Yukon XL vehicles, and 2015-2017 GMC Sierra HD 2500 and 3500 vehicles. While being previously remedied for recall 16V-651, the affected vehicles may not have received the complete software update necessary to remedy the recall condition. Without the update, certain driving conditions may cause the air bag sensing and diagnostic module (SDM) software to activate a diagnostic test. During this test, deployment of the frontal air bags and the seat belt pretensioners would not occur in the event of a crash.
A failure of the front air bags or seat belt pretensioners to deploy in the event of a crash necessitating deployment increases the risk of injury to the driver and front passenger.
GM will notify owners, and dealers will reflash the SDM software. Vehicles that have had a previous air bag deployment will have the SDM replaced. These repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began on August 4, 2017. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300, Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, or GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is 17287.
Campaign 17V437000 on NHTSA.gov
Air bags, frontalSep 8, 2016
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2015-2017 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 HD, 3500 HD, Tahoe, Suburban, GMC Sierra 2500 HD and 3500 HD, GMC Yukon, GMC Yukon XL, Cadillac Escalade and Cadillac Escalade ESV vehicles and 2014-2017 Chevrolet Corvette, Silverado 1500, Trax, Caprice Police Pursuit Vehicle, GMC Sierra 1500, Buick Encore, and 2014-2016 Buick Lacrosse, Chevrolet Spark EV and SS vehicles. In the affected vehicles, certain driving conditions may cause the air bag sensing and diagnostic module (SDM) software to activate a diagnostic test. During this test, deployment of the frontal air bags and the seat belt pretensioners would not occur in the event of a crash.
A failure of the front air bags or seat belt pretensioners to deploy in the event of a crash necessitating deployment increases the risk of injury to the driver and front passenger.
GM will notify owners, and dealers will reflash the SDM software. Vehicles that have had a previous air bag deployment will have the SDM replaced. These repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began on October 13, 2016. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300, Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, or GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is 16007.
Campaign 16V651000 on NHTSA.gov
Suspension, front, control armDo not drive until repairedApr 28, 2016
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2016-2017 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 and 2016 Cadillac Escalade, Cadillac Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Suburban, Chevrolet Tahoe, GMC Sierra, GMC Yukon and GMC Yukon XL vehicles. The front upper control arms may have inadequate welds near the control arm bushing.
Inadequate welds may allow the control arm to separate from the bushing, compromising steering and increasing the risk of a crash.
GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the left and right front upper control arms and realign the vehicle, free of charge. The recall began on May 18, 2016. Until the repairs have been made, owners are advised not to drive their vehicles. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006, or GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is 42190.
Campaign 16V256000 on NHTSA.gov
Representative owner complaints: electrical system
31 reports, newest first. Show all
Electrical system, Apr 11, 2019
MY AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON AND IT STAYS ON
Electrical system, Visibility, Oct 3, 2018
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 CHEVROLET TAHOE. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY, THE DEFROSTER FAILED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WATER ENTERED FROM THE ANTENNA AND CAUSED AN ELECTRICAL FAILURE IN THE VEHICLE. CHEVROLET OF WESLEY CHAPEL (26922 WESLEY CHAPEL BLVD, WESLEY CHAPEL, FLORIDA 33544, (813) 435-3981) WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND DIAGNOSED THAT THE ANTENNA NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND PROVIDED THE CONTACT WITH CASE NUMBER: 8-4680994969. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
Steering, Electrical system, Engine, Jun 30, 2017
I PURCHASED A 2016 CHEVROLET TAHOE LAST YEAR FROM WALKER CHEVROLET. THE VEHICLE HAS 16,000 MILES. ISSUES I HAVE WITH THE VEHICLE. CURRENT DEALERSHIP IS JIM ELLIS CHEVROLET. 1. TRANSMISSION JERKS WHEN SHIFTING. 2. TRANSMISSION WILL SHIFT INTO FIRST GEAR WHEN HILL ASSIST IS ACTIVATED. 3. NAVIGATION GOES BLANK. 4. VOLUME BUTTON QUITS WORKING AND VOLUME TURNS ALL THE WAY UP. 5. TAHOE SQUEAKS FROM V8 TO V4. 6. LOUD METAL POPPING NOISE WHEN TAKING SHARP LEFT TURNS. 7. NAVIGATION ASSISTANT WILL NOT MUTE. 8. NAVIGATION WILL NOT SHUT OFF WHEN THE CAR IS OFF AND DOORS ARE LOCKED. 9. SUSPENSION MAKES AWFUL NOISES WHEN GOING OVER SPEED BUMPS AND FLEXING. 10. TAHOE HAS A VERY ROUGH IDLE IN FIRST GEAR. MY PRIMARY CONCERN IS THE SAFETY OF THE VEHICLE. MY WIFE ALMOST WRECKED THE TAHOE AFTER THE VOLUME WOULD NOT TURN DOWN FROM BEING STUCK AT THE HIGHEST VOLUME LEVEL. A TRACTOR TRAILER ALMOST REAR-ENDED US AFTER THE HILL ASSIST ACTIVATED AND THE GEAR WENT INTO TO FIRST. I WENT TO JIM ELLIS AND TOLD THEM SPECIFICALLY ABOUT THESE PROBLEMS AND I WAS TOLD THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH THE TRANSMISSION BECAUSE THEY CAN'T REPRODUCE THE ISSUE. I DO NOT WANT MY FAMILY'S LIFE IN DANGER JUST BECAUSE THE ISSUE CANNOT BE REPRODUCED WITH THE TRANSMISSION. I WAS ALSO TOLD THE SUSPENSION AND STEERING WAS FIXED, BUT I IMMEDIATELY NOTICED THE ISSUE PULLING OUT OF THE DEALERSHIP.THIS IS ANOTHER SAFETY CONCERN. I WAS TOLD THE NAVIGATION WAS FIXED, BUT THE NAVIGATION AND VOLUME PROBLEMS ARE HAPPENING MORE OFTEN THE LONGER I DRIVE THE VEHICLE. YET ANOTHER SAFETY CONCERN. I CALLED GM CUSTOMER SUPPORT AND CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP.
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Nov 8, 2016
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 CHEVROLET TAHOE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AN ERROR MESSAGE APPEARED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL, WHICH INDICATED THERE WAS A CAMERA MALFUNCTION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THIS WAS THE SAFETY CAMERA THAT CONTROLLED THE AUTO DIMMING OF THE HEADLIGHTS AND ALSO INFORMED THE CONTACT WHEN THEY WERE TOO CLOSE TO ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE TO REPLACE THE FAILED PART. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VIN WAS INVALID. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 11,000.
Electrical system, Jan 28, 2016
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 CHEVROLET TAHOE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER THE IGNITION KEY WAS TURNED TO THE ON POSITION, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1,400. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
Electrical system, Jan 14, 2016
MY 2016 CHEVROLET TAHOE LTZ DISPLAYED "SERVICE FRONT CAMERA" WHEN I GOT INTO THE VEHICLE BUT DIDN'T EVEN START IT YET. ( SEE PIC) . I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP THEY LOOKED AT IT AND TOLD ME YES ITS A KNOWN ISSUE BUT GM HAS NO REPAIR PROCEDURE YET FOR IT.THE VEHICLE HAS 89 MILES ON IT, HAVE ONLY HAD THE VEHICLE FOR A COUPLE OF DAYS. THE WINDSHIELD IS PERFECTLY CLEAN AND NO OBSTRUCTIONS OF THE FRONT CAMERA. THE DEALERSHIP SAID I WILL HAVE TO LIVE WITH IT UNTIL THEY HAVE A FIX FOR IT. THE PROBLEM IS THAT THE FRONT CAMERA RUNS MOST OF THE HIGHLY TOUTED SAFTEY FEATURES SUCH AS THE, FCA FORWARD COLLISION ALERT, LANE DEVIATION ALERT, EBS EMERGENCY BRAKING SYSTEM, AND ON AND ON...... SO NOW THE $70K+ VEHICLE THAT WAS HYPED UP TO BE SOOO SAFE FOR MY FAMILY NOW HAS MOST OF THE SAFTEY FEATURES NON -FUNCTIONING AND GM KNEW ABOUT THIS AND STILL CONTINUES TO SELL THE VEHICLE AND WONT REPAIR. THERE ARE ALSO MANY OTHER ELECTRICAL ISSUES WITH THIS VEHICLE, BUT WILL NOTIFY IN DIFFERENT REPORT. THIS IS TERRIBLE FOR A VEHICLE OF THIS CALIBER. IM A LOYAL AND DEDICATED PAST TAHOE OWNER BUT THIS ONE MAY BE GOING BACK. IM APPALLED THAT GM IS LETTING VEHICLES CONTINUE TO BE SOLD WITH KNOWN SAFTEY ISSUES ESPECIALLY SINCE THEY JUST GOT CAUGHT WITH THE WHOLE IGNITION SWITCH FIASCO.