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
257 reports, newest first.
Service brakes, Mar 17, 2022
When I apply the brake it goes to the floor, I have to pump my brake pedal. Once the Tahoe slows to a stop it rolls forward as the brake is still engaged and pressed to the floor. When backing up in reverse the brakes grind when using a downhill grade. Lastly the brake assist light has illuminated on the control panel.
Service brakes, Mar 15, 2022, crash
Brakes do not work when driving in slow speeds. I could not stop my 2016 Tahoe in a shopping center parking lot. Pedal was stiff and non responsive. I had the same issue parking in my garage. Vehicle did not stop and went into the wall!!
Other or unspecified, Jan 2, 2022
The DIC shows “CAL” and will not allow direction of travel. The navigation system will not re-calibrate after many efforts to do so with instructions from manufacturer.
Power train, Structure, Service brakes, Dec 29, 2021
-body- hood paint defect (aluminum oxidation) -brakes- vehicles doesn't stop and brakes get hard to push, and they also feel like they are skipping. -power train- brakes and transmission shifts hard from time to time. -electronics- DVD and rear inverter 110 a/c plug power went out, and cell phone charger doesn't work. -seats- get stuck and won't go up or down at times. Forward and side collision warning - will alert when nothing is there.
Service brakes, Dec 21, 2021
When driving at low speed (parking lots i.e.) brakes don’t work properly and the brake assist message pops up on dash, it only happens at very low speed
Suspension, Dec 14, 2021
2016 Tahoe with 57,000 miles. All 4 of the shocks are locked up. The truck bumps very hard with no give making control at high speeds dangerous. This problem is known to Chevrolet if you look at the reviews but nothing is done to recall or fix. Instead they expect the customer to discover it and pay $4,000 to replace. I discovered because of bad situation on the highway. Are they going to wait until someone is killed? Chevrolet should not only replace them in recall but should pay all customer back for their costs.
Service brakes, Nov 29, 2021
Slow speed braking problems brakes don’t work good at slow speeds
Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Nov 27, 2021
I was driving on the 405 freeway, passing through Orange,, County, CA. While adjusting the sound level of the radio, part of the Infotainment system, the volume jumped to maximum level. These automobiles have superior sound systems and the sound was at a painful level. Nothing that I could touch had any effect on the sound level. Also in the car was my wife and a young granddaughter who started crying. So I had to exit the freeway and find a parking place where I could stop the engine and allow the Infotainment system reset and I could then select a normal volume. This could have been the cause of an accident because all of my attention was turned to the electronics. Freezes and non operation of the other features of these electronics has also occurred which causes the driver to turn his attention to getting things working again. What is severely needed is a way to easily reset the electronics by the driver. This could be a simple button on the steering wheel or a combination of buttons that would safely reset the system back to normal while driving.
Visibility/wiper, Oct 28, 2021
The contact owns a 2016 Chevrolet Tahoe. The contact stated that while the wipers were in operation, the wipers were seized without warning. The contact pulled over to the side of the road during the failure and waited for approximately 5 minutes before the wipers started to operate as intended. The contact took the vehicle to the dealer however, the mechanic was unable to duplicate the failure or diagnose the vehicle. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and opened a case. The approximate failure mileage was 44,000.
Service brakes, Oct 24, 2021
Braking causes vehicle to accelerate
Service brakes, Oct 9, 2021
First sign of problem was Thursday night, 10/7/2021. When on an incline there is no brake vacuum assist, takes both feet and all the force I can apply to stop vehicle going very slow. On flat surface it feels different than normal, when applying brakes there is a feeling of rough resistance but the brakes do work almost as normal. I see there is a recall for brake assist pump that is fixed by software update. I have only owned this vehicle since July of this year. I have checked the NHTSA data base and it shows no non-repaired recalls. I do not know how to confirm if a recall notice was actually sent out on this vehicle. This is not a random occurrence, it started Thursday and has not stopped. I am afraid to drive this vehicle for fear of dying.
Suspension, Sep 8, 2021
This vehicle is less than 5 years old, has less than 63K miles, and the front struts are blown and leaking oil and rear shock is locked up. This makes the vehicle dangerous to drive and difficult to control on bumpy roads.
Power train, Aug 25, 2021
The transmission is defective. Bucks, jumps, and hard shifts decelerating or accelerating. I drive for cancer treatments with my kids and grandchildren. Monday we were almost unable to make it home. Inability to accelerate to merge onto interstate. So hard and loud we thought the transmission was going to fall out in the tunnel. After researching I noticed Gm has a pending class action lawsuit for the issue. Dealership kept telling me it was the spark plug wires and plugs. Replaced twice to no avail. I noticed there are issues reported for the Tahoe and the traverse. Even though these two vehicles are not listed in the lawsuit; the Tahoe 4wd has the same v8 engine as the Sierra, Escalade, and Silverado. This is a major safety issue . Regardless of a legal loophole of design vs defect or materials.
Service brakes, Hydraulic, Power train, Electronic stability control (ESC), Aug 10, 2021
The contact owns a 2016 Chevrolet Tahoe. The contact stated that while depressing the brake pedal, the vehicle would not immediately stop, and the stopping distance was extended. The contact indicated that on several occasions the brake pedal was firm and hard when pressed. On other occasions the pedal would extend to the floor. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and serviced under the NHTSA campaign number: 19V761000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic, Service Brakes, Electronic Stability Control) however, the failure persisted. The contact also indicated that the transmission was faulty. After taking the vehicle to the dealer no trouble code was found. No further information was available. The failure mileage was 26,000.
Other or unspecified, Jun 4, 2021, crash
2016 CHEVROLET TAHOE. CONSUMER STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SWAY AND WAS UNASTABLE. THE CONSUMER STATED WHILE TOWING A TRAILER, THE VEHICLE BEGAN SWAYING UNCONTROLLABLY AND FLIPPED ON IT'S SIDE. THE TRAILER WAS TOTALED.
Tires, May 13, 2021
BUBBLE IN TIRE, FILLED WITH AIR NO LEAKS BUBBLE BACK THE NEXT DAY.
Power train, May 4, 2021
AN ISSUE RECENTLY STARTED OCCURRING WHERE IT WILL STALL MOMENTARILY AND NOT MOVE WHILE IN GEAR. THE ENGINE WILL REV, BUT IS NOT TRANSFERRED TO THE WHEELS. IT HAS PROGRESSIVELY GOTTEN WORSE IN THE LAST FEW DAYS. ON 5/4/21, THE VEHICLE STALLED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD AND WOULD NOT MOVE.
Power train, Other or unspecified, Apr 28, 2021
TAHOE FEELS LIKE IT WANTS TO SHIFT GEARS WHEN IT'S NOT GOING ABOVE 25MPH. IT'S HAPPENED ON CITY STREETS. IT HAPPENS AS SOON AS THE TAHOE IS PUT INTO GEAR. IT DOES NOT HAPPEN ALL OF THE TIME THOUGH. IT GOES AWAY AFTER I DRIVE IT FOR A COUPLE OF MILES. IT HAS NOT HAPPENED ON THE HIGHWAY. OTHER TIMES IT FEELS LIKE THERE'S NO POWER TO THE ENGINE EVEN WHEN ITS IN MOTION. AT FIRST I THOUGHT IT WAS THE BRAKES BECAUSE IT FEELS LIKE ITS STUTTERING, LIKE ITS MISFIRING, BUT I'VE HAD THE BRAKES CHECKED AND THEY'RE FINE. THERE'S ALSO A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT THAT THE MECHANICS I'VE TAKEN IT TO CAN'T DECIPHER WHY ITS ON. I CAN'T REMEMBER THE FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED, BUT IT HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES, AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE MILEAGE ON THE ODOMETER WAS WHEN IT FIRST HAPPENED. I'VE HAD THE TAHOE FOR 4 YEARS NOW.
Service brakes, Apr 14, 2021
BRAKES HARD TO PUSH AND MAKE A GRINDING NOISE WHEN GOING AT SLOWER SPEEDS. LIKE IN PARKING LOTS, RED LIGHTS OR AT A DRIVE THRU. IT SOUNDS LIKE WHEN THE ANTILOCK BREAKING SYSTEM KICKS IN. THIS IS CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO TAKE A FARTHER DISTANCE TO STOP.
Power train, Apr 11, 2021
I FIRST NOTICED THE VEHICLE DID NOT WANT TO GO A COUPLE TIMES AFTER BEING AT A RED LIGHT. ACTED AS IF IT WAS IN NEUTRAL AND THEN WOULD ABRUPTLY SHIFT. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON. HAVE JUST OVER 83,000 MILES ON IT AND WAS VERY GOOD AT GETTING IT MAINTENANCED. I HAD THE OIL CHANGED 3 DAYS BEFORE AND AT THAT TIME I MENTIONED ABOUT WHAT WAS GOING ON BUT THEY WOULD HAVE TO HAVE THE VEHICLE FOR MUCH LONGER TO CHECK IT OUT AND I COULD NOT WAIT. 3 DAYS LATER WHILE IN DRIVE THE RPMS WERE REVING UP WHILE IN MOTION ON THE STREET BUT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE FORWARD. I HAD IT TOWED TO A MECHANIC AND WAS TOLD THE TRANSMISSION WAS BLOWN. THE VEHICLE DID NOT HAVE THAT MANY MILES ON IT FOR THIS TO HAPPEN I FEEL.
Service brakes, Mar 30, 2021
WHILE APPLYING BRAKE PEDAL PRESSURE AT SLOW SPEEDS (UNDER 15 MPH), AND WHILE IN REVERSE GEAR, MY 2016 CHEVROLET TAHOE LS FAILS TO STOP. THE BRAKE PEDAL ALSO APPEARS TO LOSE POWER ASSIST AND WILL NOT DEPRESS EVEN UNDER EXTREME FOOT PRESSURE APPLICATIONS. THIS RESULTS IN THE VEHICLE CONTINUING TO ROLL UNCONTROLLABLY. THE CONDITION ALSO OCCURS WHEN IN DRIVE (ALBEIT NOT AS FREQUENTLY AS WHILE IN REVERSE) AND ALSO AT SLOW SPEED. VEHICLE WAS BROUGHT IN TO ATLANTIC CHEVROLET (NY) FOR A RECALL BUT THE CONDITION WAS NOT RECTIFIED. THIS CONDITION OCCURS INTERMITTENTLY BUT IS EXTREMELY PRECARIOUS IN PROXIMITY TO PEDESTRIANS AND OTHER VEHICULAR TRAFFIC. RECALL # N192268490 NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 19V645 AND 20V603
Steering, Electrical system, Mar 16, 2021
WHEN I START TAHOE SERVICE STABILITRAK, SERVICE POWER STEERING, STEERING ASSIST REDUCED DRIVE WITH CAUTION, AND PARK ASSIST OFF ALL FLASH ON DASH. BRAKE LIGHT, ABS LIGHT, AND STABILTRAK LIGHT ARE ALL ON. THERE IS NO POWER STEERING WHILE DRIVING.TAHOE HAS BEEN AT DEALERSHIP FOR A WEEK NOW. THEY HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO FIND THE SOURCE OF THE PROBLEM.TAHOE ONLY HAS 60,000 MILES ON IT.
Air bags, Mar 4, 2021
VEHICLE SHOWED "SERVICE AIR BAG" MESSAGE ON DASH DISPLAY COMES ON EVERY TIME VEHICLE IS STARTED. TOOK VEHICLE TO NICK MAYER GM IN LEWISBURG,TN AND AFTER DIAGNOSIS IT WAS DETERMINED TO NEED A PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG SYSTEM REPLACED AT A COST OF 1380.00 VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED NEW FROM THIS DEALERSHIP BY ME AS THE ONLY OWNER AND HAS 34000 ACTUAL MILES THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION AT THE FIRST WARNING ON A CITY STREET,.DEALERSHIP TOLD ME THAT WITH THIS CONDITION COMPLETE AIR BAG SYSTEM IS NON FUNTIONAL CAN YOU HELP ME GET THIS FIXED??
Seat belts, Feb 15, 2021
THE RIGHT CENTER ROW SEAT BELT RETRACTS SLOWLY AND NOT ALL THE WAY LEAVING IT LOOSE HANGING. NO TWISTS ARE FOUND IN THE BELT ITSELF CAUSING AN OBSTRUCTION TO RETRACTING.
Service brakes, Feb 4, 2021
ON JANUARY 29, 2021, MY 2016 TAHOE LT, WITH 69,676 MILES, EXPERIENCED A "BRAKE VACUUM ASSIST PUMP FAILURE". THE VEHICLE WAS ON A FLAT SURFACE (DRIVEWAY), IN REVERSE, MOVING VERY SLOWLY BACKWARD, WHEN I ENGAGED THE FOOT BRAKE PEDAL IT WAS HARD AND WOULD NOT STOP THE VEHICLE IMMEDIATELY, THE VEHICLE EVENTUALLY STOPPED AFTER AN ABNORMAL DISTANCE (WITHOUT WARNING THE BRAKES FAILED TO ENGAGE). ONCE I STOPPED, I TURNED OFF THE IGNITION, WAITED A FEW MINUTES, THEN STARTED THE IGNITION AND NO WARNING SENSORS/ LIGHTS WERE DISPLAYED. I THEN PLACED THE VEHICLE IN DRIVE TO CHECK THE BRAKES. I MOVED FORWARD SLOWLY, WHEN I PUSHED THE FOOT BRAKE PEDAL IT WAS ONCE AGAIN HARD CAUSING ME TO PUMP THE BRAKES WHICH CAUSED THE BRAKE PEDAL TO BECOME FLUTTERING AND THE PEDAL WAS PUSHED TO THE FLOOR, THE VEHICLE EVENTUALLY STOPPED AFTER AN ABNORMAL DISTANCE (WITHOUT WARNING THE BRAKES FAILED TO ENGAGE). BECAUSE OF THE SEVERE SAFETY RISK, I HAD NO CHOICE BUT TO REPLACE THE 'BRAKE VACUUM ASSIST PUMP' ON FEBRUARY 2, 2022, AT MY COST.