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: service brakes
92 reports, newest first. Show all
Service brakes, Dec 8, 2018
I AM EXPERIENCING LOSS OF BRAKE BOOSTER FUNCTION AT LOW SPEEDS. I HAVE READ ABOUT THE VACUUM PUMP AND THE CONDITIONS MATCH EXACTLY
Service brakes, Nov 29, 2018
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 CHEVROLET TAHOE. WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND TRAVELED TO THE FLOORBOARD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO RICK HENDRIX CHEVROLET (LOCATED AT 5665 AIRPORT-PULLING RD, NAPLES, FL 34109, (239) 301-3621) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE BRAKE BOOSTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,250.
Service brakes, Nov 28, 2018
WHEN DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS AFTER I DEPRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL A FEW TIMES, THE BRAKE PEDAL GETS VERY STIFF AND IS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE.
Service brakes, Nov 26, 2018
ENGINE HAS BEEN MAKING A CLICKING SOUND FOR THE LAST YEAR. WE TOOK IT IN AND THEY WERE UNABLE TO PINPOINT THE PROBLEM. WITHIN THE LAST COUPLE MONTHS THE BRAKES SEEM MUSHY WHEN PRESSED AT LOW SPEEDS, SUCH AS DRIVING INTO THE GARAGE OR A PARKING SPACE. WE HAVE TO PUSH THE BREAK PEDAL DOWN TO THE FLOOR FOR THE VEHICLE TO STOP. WE ALMOST RAN INTO THE WALL IN THE GARAGE BECAUSE THE VEHICLE WOULDN'T STOP WHEN THE BRAKES WERE PRESSED. WE TOOK IT IN AND THEY INFORMED US THAT THERE WAS A LEAK IN THE BRAKE VACUUM PUMP. MOSTLY LIKELY THIS IS WHY THE ENGINE HAS BEEN MAKING A TICKING SOUND, BECAUSE OF THE LEAK.
Service brakes, Nov 26, 2018
BRAKES FAILED TO ENGAGE ON THE VEHICLE WHEN PRESSURE APPLIED. OCCURRED MULTIPLE TIMES. GM FAILS TO ACKNOWLEDGE THIS AS A KNOWN AND WIDESPREAD ISSUE, YET WITH A SIMPLE GOOGLE SEARCH, YOU CAN SEE IT HAS AFFECTED NUMEROUS PEOPLE AND VEHICLES. SOUNDS LIKE A RECALL SHOULD HAVE BEEN ISSUED BY NOW BUT YET THERE ARE NONE.
Service brakes, Nov 24, 2018
I HAVE EXPERIENCED "HARD BRAKING" OF MY VEHICLE. WHILE TRAVELING AT VERY SLOW SPEEDS, WHEN I BRAKE - THE BRAKE PEDAL DOES NOT GO DOWN IN ITS NORMAL FASHION. I MUST APPLY THE BRAKES VERY HARD, AND THE VEHICLE FEELS LIKE ITS NOT GOING TO STOP. I HAD RECENTLY READ ABOUT THIS PROBLEM AND DOCUMENT THIS HAPPENED TO ME ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. IT HAPPENED AS RECENTLY AS YESTERDAY.
Wheels, Service brakes, Nov 6, 2018
MY 2016 CHEVY TAHOE SHOOK SO BAD AT 69-74, MPH MY HUSBAND WAS SCARED TO RIDE WITH ME. TOOK TO DEALER THEY KEPT SUV FOR 4 DAYS AND SAID IT WAS THE TIRES. I PUT NEW TIRES ON BUT IT STILL RIDES ROUGH. NOW I HEAR IT'S BECAUSE I HAVE 22 IN WHEELS THAT MAKES IT RIDE ROUGH. SINCE THE TIRES HAVE BEEN CHANGED ABOUT 2 MONTHS NOW IVE BEEN HAVING SLOW SPEED BRAKE PROBLEMS. I'VE ALMOST HIT SEVERAL CARS IN A PARKING LOT AT DIFFERENT TIMES BECAUSE THE BRAKE WANT STOP. I'VE EVEN ALMOST HIT MY HUSBANDS NEW TRUCK IN OUR DRIVEWAY. TOOK IT TO MECHANIC, PUT ON MACHINE AND NOW SAID IT'S A VAC. PUMP ISSUE. I'VE HAD MANY TAHOE AND THIS ONE IS MAKING ME WANT TO GET AWAY FROM CHEVY.
Service brakes, Sep 27, 2018
BRAKES FAILED 3 TIMES, ONCE PULLING INTO PARKING SPACE, I ROLLED DOWN A STEP DRIVEWAY INTO STREET ACROSS STREET AND INTO NEIGHBORS YARD AND ONCE WHEN A TECH FROM DEALERSHIP WAS TEST DRIVING IT, HE ALMOST HIT THE BUILDING.THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION EACH INCIDENT.
Service brakes, Sep 20, 2018
BRAKES CONSISTENTLY SOFT PRESSURE ESPECIALLY ON DOWNGRADES. CAME CLOSE TO HITTING PARKED CARS AT TRAFFIC LIGHTS. BRAKE WAS PRESSED ALMOST TO THE FLOOR BEFORE IT STOPPED. I HAVE TAKEN IT INTO DEALERSHIP WHERE THEY HAVE CHANGED PADS FIXED ROTORS BUT STILL VERY SOFT MUSHY BRAKES. MANY COMPLAINTS I AM READING ABOUT THIS 2016 TAHOE. WHEN PARKED PRESSING BRAKE 3 TIMES IS WHEN IT FINALLY FEELS LIKE IT IS IN CORRECT POSITION. I OWED 2008 SUBURBAN FOR 10 YEARS AND HAD NO PROBLEMS WITH THE BRAKING SYSTEM.
Service brakes, Sep 20, 2018
BRAKES DO NOT WORK WHEN GOING AT A SLOW PACE. HAVE TAKEN THE CAR IN 2X AND THEY CANNOT FIN ANYTHING WRONG. JUST TOOK IN FOR 3RD TIME AND THIS TIME I DROVE IN THE CAR WITH THEM. THEY CONFIRMED THEY BRAKES ARE NOT WORKING PROPERLY.
Service brakes, Sep 13, 2018
AT SLOW SPEEDS THE VEHICLE DOES NOT BRAKE. TO GET THE VEHICLE TO STOP YOU HAVE TO TAP THEM REPEATEDLY VERY HARD FOR IT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT YOU ARE BRAKING.
Service brakes, Jul 20, 2018
WHEN DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS, BOTH TURNING AND DRIVING STRAIGHT, THE BRAKE PEDAL BECOMES SO FIRM THAT IT CANNOT BE DEPRESSED. I AM UNABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE WITHOUT PUMPING THE BRAKES. THE DEALERSHIP IS CHARGING $700 TO REPLACE THE VACUUM PUMP AND IS FAMILIAR WITH THE ISSUE.
Service brakes, Jul 16, 2018
WHILE DRIVING AT SLOW SPEEDS OR IDLING, MY BRAKE PEDAL BECOMES STIFF AND HARD TO PUSH, MAKING IT VERY DIFFICULT TO STOP. THIS HAS HAPPENED MOSTLY WHEN I AM PULLING IN TO A PARKING SPOT. THERE WAS NO EMERGENCY ALERT SHOWING.
Service brakes, Jun 14, 2018, crash
WAS INVOLVED IN A AUTO ACCIDENT IN SEPT 2017 IN WHICH I REAR ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE.I WAS TRAVELING SOUTHBOUND ON GREENMOUNT ROAD IN SHILOH IL. COMING TO A STOP AT A STOPLIGHT AT ABOUT 30 MPH, I WAS TRYING TO KILL A SPIDER SO MY EYES WERE OFF THE ROAD BUT WHEN THE COLLISION ALERT ALARM SOUNDED I IMMEDIETLY HIT THE BRAKES WHICH WERE HARD MAKING BRAKING DIFFICULT THERE IS NO WAY AN IMPACT SHOULD HAVE HAPPENDED. WHEN THE COLLISION ALERT ALARM SOUNDS THE BRAKE PEDALS BECAME HARD MAKING THE STOPPING OF THE CHEVY TAHOE IMPOSSIBLE SO I COULD NOT AVOID REAR ENDING OF THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME. NOW WHILE DRIVING THE TAHOE WITHOUT THE COLLISION ALERT ACTIVATED THE SUV STOPS LIKE NORMAL, ONLY WHEN THE COLLISION ALERT IS ACTIVATED DOES THE HARD BRAKE PEDALS OCCUR WHICH TO ME IS THE OPPOSITE EFFECT.
Service brakes, May 22, 2018
LOSS OF BRAKE POWER AT LOW SPEEDS. TOOK A LONG DISTANCE, LONGER THAN NORMAL FOR THE VEHICLE TO FINALLY STOP. ALMOST HIT NUMEROUS CARS. I HAD TO APPLY THE PARKING BRAKE IN ORDER TO AVOID HITTING A FAMILY IN THE PARKING LOT AT DISNEYLAND, IN ANAHEIM, CA AND OTHER CARS. HAD THE TAHOE TOWED TO OUR DEALERSHIP, WHERE THEY REPLACED THE VACUUM PUMP ASSEMBLY.
Service brakes, Mar 12, 2018
BRAKES GOT HARD WHEN DRIVING ONTO EXPRESSWAY TAHOE HAS ONLY 42000 MILES AND HEARD THERES BEEN ALOT OF ISSUES WITH THE VACUUM PUMP WHAT I HAVE READ.THERE NEEDS TO BE A RECALL
Exterior lighting, Electronic stability control (ESC), Service brakes, Nov 29, 2016
AS I WAS DRIVING THE ERROR LIGHT CAME ON STATING THERE WAS A CAMERA MALFUNCTION. THIS IS A SAFETY CAMERA/SYSTEM ON THE FRONT OF THE TRUCK, WHICH CONTROLS THE STABILITY CONTROL, SPEED, BRAKING SYSTEM, ELECTRONIC BIND SPOT DETECTION, ETC. *TR