2018 Chevrolet Tahoe
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Engine is the leading concern among 104 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 22nd highest complaint count among 26 Tahoe model years with reports.
Of the 2018 reports, 6 involved a crash. 5 people were injured and 1 person died.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
Service brakes, hydraulic, power assist, vacuumOct 1, 2020
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2018 Cadillac Escalade, Chevrolet Silverado 1500 and Tahoe, GMC Sierra 1500 and Yukon vehicles equipped with either a 5.3L or 6.2L V8 engine. The output of the mechanical vacuum pump can decrease over time, decreasing the amount of vacuum/power brake assist.
A decrease in brake assist can increase the brake pedal effort and distance required to stop the vehicle, 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 November 11, 2020. Owners may contact GM customer service at 1-866-522-9559, Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006 or Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-630-2438. GM's number for this recall is N202300860.
Campaign 20V603000 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
Representative owner complaints: electrical system
13 reports, newest first. Show all
Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Aug 18, 2026
Vehicle was driven the day before the incident occurred. The morning of the incident, the vehicle was parked, off and not running. A notification sent to my phone indicating a critical battery low 11.1V reading. Vehicle would not start. Vehicles battery and alternator charging system was tested and passed. All systems are good. Vehicle continues to give critical low voltage over night while the vehicle is off and not running.
Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Service brakes, Jul 14, 2025
The Body Control Module does not work. A new BCM was installed in my car in April 2025. Since then I am having multiple issues, but the safety related issue is with the trailer braking system. It is available for inspection upon request. The dealership is unwilling to try another BCM without it costing me $600 for labor. If I am unable to use my brakes, then I put myself and others on the road at risk. The problem started with a Tire Monitor System. I was told I needed a BCM to fix the problem so the car would not throw codes. Now, I am being told the problems with the brakes are not comiing from the BCM. THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH MY car until I took it to this dealership for a new key faub and a tire pressure monitor error. The Body Control Module in a 2018 Chevy Tahoe Premier does play a role in controlling the sunroof. More specifically, the sunroof system is supplied power through a fuse located in the driver-side fuse box which is connected to the BCM. The sunroof switches communicate with the BCM via a serial data circuit, and the BCM then commands the sunroof to open or close. Therefore, the BCM acts a central hub in the electrical system of the vehicle and communicates with the sunroof control module to operate it. I learned this from two other dealerships. One dealership in West Virginia and another dealership in Texas told me this information about the BCM controlling the sunroof and many other electrical parts of the 2018 Chevy Tahoe Premier. To make it simple, the BCM was replaced. The vehicle is now having serious issues. I consider an unintended activation of the braking on the wheel which causes the vehicle to pull to one side puts me at risk of a crash. Is this yet another failed sensor or part due to the negligence of the service department at Smith Buick when replacing the BCM and programming a key faub?
Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Service brakes, Jan 29, 2024
My vehicle started announcing service trailer brake system when i purchased my vehicle about 5k miles in i took it to the dealer they couldn't find anything wrong now that message started to get worse not only is it a safety concern due to the annoying beeping. Sound on the dashboard indicating something is wrong. It makes me take my eyes off the road it Constantly distracts me every time it goes off. Also, feel every time that message appears. My truck slows down. As well, a safety concern when pulling a trailer. The brake system could fail on the trailer due to trailer brake assist malfunctioning.
Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Engine, May 26, 2023
I was sold a vehicle from a dealer in Arizona that online says they only sell to government or law enforcement
Electrical system, Feb 9, 2023
Purchased brand new Chevy 2018 Tahoe in April 2019. Overall good car never had any issues until 02/08/23 as I was driving a got a service alert "Trailer Brake System", It was so random since we have not hauled anything for that to even become a problem. The next day 2/09/23 the car was not drivable it wouldn't turn on it kept giving me the same alert "Trailer Brake System". I called the dealership and they said it's a defect and have to take the Tahoe in for service since only they can find the defected harness and now I have to pay out of pocket for something that I did nothing wrong, something that is manufacture defect and completely unsafe to drive.
Electrical system, Jan 29, 2023
Trailer brake system warning, I can’t drive, because it buzz me off! Never used trailer.
Steering, Electrical system, Feb 22, 2022
Steering Wheel hard to turn and locks for a short period when making turns going low speeds. (turning into parking spot or reversing out of parking spot) When steering in reverse, front dashboard shut down and returned in 1 second with a restart. Left in middle of road trying to back into driveway. Car parked and started, car windshield wipers were activated while in garage, radio station was reset & wouldn't allow to be changed, and car gave action required notifications on dashboard (power open & close driver window & passenger window) Park Assist Off light shows after steering issues. Tire Sensors reset Compass recalibrated
Electrical system, Oct 4, 2021
Entire vehicle loses electrical power. The vehicle does not shut off, however. Lights, dash, display etc. Possibly a grounding issue. Problem has not been looked at yet, but has occurred twice in the last week. No warning lights available. Occasional park assist failure occurs, may or may not be related.
Electrical system, Oct 22, 2020
PASSENGER WINDOW WHEN ROLLED UP IT ROLLS DOWN AUTOMATICALLY. BUTTON HAS TO BE HELD IN THE UPWARD POSITION FOR WINDOW TO STAY UP. HAS ALREADY BEEN SERVICED BY DEALERSHIP.
Electrical system, Nov 9, 2019
ON OR AROUND OCTOBER 16 2019 I WAS DRIVING MY 2018 CHEVY TAHOE WHEN THE RADIO STOP PLAYING. I PULLED OVER IN A HOTEL PARKING LOT TURN THE VEHICLE OFF OPEN THE DOOR AND THEN STARTED THE VEHICLE BACK UP. THE RADIO DID NOT WORK. I WENT TO MCDONALD'S TO HAVE BREAKFAST IT WAS ABOUT 30 MINUETS BEFORE I GOT BACK IN THE TRUCK STARTED IT UP AND THE RADIO STATED TO PLAY. I THOUGHT IT WAS STRANGE SO I CONTINUE TO DRIVE 2 DAYS LATER MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON SO I TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALER TO SEE WHAT WAS WRONG. THEY TOLD ME THAT THEY CLEAR THE CODE AND NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE SO I THEN GOT AN OIL CHANGE SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS ALREADY IN THE SHOP. ON NOVEMBER 2, AT AROUND 3:20 MY CAR RPM WAS ON 5 AND THE SPEED LIMIT WAS ONLY 23MPH. THEN THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME BACK ON. I CALL THE DEALER AND EXPLAIN THE SITUATION AND THE TOLD ME TO BRING IT BACK IN THE NEXT DAY. WHEN I STARTED THE VEHICLE AND PUT IT IN DRIVE THE VEHICLE MADE A HUGE THRUST AS IF I WAS HIT FROM BEHIND. IT'S BEEN A WEEK NOW AND MY VEHICLE IS STILL IN THE SHOP.
Electrical system, May 2, 2019
I WAS UNLOADING GROCERIES FROM THE BACK OF THE CAR. THE TAILGATE SENSOR UNDER THE CAR SENSED MY FEET AND BEGAN TO CLOSE. THE TAILGATE CONTINUED TO CLOSE ON ME, NOT STOPPING AFTER COMING INTO CONTACT WITH ME AS I QUICKLY DUCKED OUT OF THE WAY.
Electrical system, Dec 7, 2018
ON THE EVENING OF NOVEMBER 27TH, MY CAR WITH 10,200 MILES HAD MULTIPLE ISSUES MAKING IT UNDRIVABLE. I ATTEMPTED TO PULL MY CAR OUT OF A PARKING SPACE. WHEN I PUT THE CAR IN DRIVE, I FELT A HARD THRUST. THE THRUST WAS SO HARD THAT I FELT LIKE A CAR HIT ME. I ATTEMPTED TO PUT THE CAR IN REVERSE; HOWEVER, IT WOULD NOT REVERSE WHEN I STEPPED ON THE GAS PEDAL. WHEN I PUT THE CAR IN DRIVE, IT BARELY MOVED. AS IT MOVED, I FELT THE POWER STEERING LOCK, AND I COULD NOT MOVE THE STEERING WHEEL. I TURNED THE CAR OFF AND ON THREE TIMES AND ENCOUNTERED THE SAME ISSUES. AT THIS POINT, I WAS STUCK IN THE MIDDLE OF A PARKING LOT IN A ODD PLACE WHERE CARS HAD TO GO AROUND ME. WHEN THE TOW TRUCK ARRIVED TO MOVE THE CAR, THE DRIVER ENCOUNTERED THE SAME ISSUES. HE POINTED OUT THERE WERE NO RPMS ON THE CAR. THE TOW TRUCK DRIVER HAD TO TOW THE CAR FROM BEHIND, AS I WAS STUCK IN AN ODD POSITION AT THE EDGE OF THE PARKING LOT. AFTER TWO WEEKS, MY CAR REMAINS AT THE DEALERSHIP. THE DEALERSHIP STATES IT'S A COMPLEX ELECTRICAL ISSUE. THEY ARE WAITING TO FIND OUT IF GM CAN FIX IT OR WORSE....THEY WILL JUST GIVE IT BACK. I AM BEGGING TO HAVE THIS INVESTIGATED AS I WOULD HAVE FOR ANYONE OR MYSELF TO ENCOUNTER THIS FAILURE WHILE DRIVING.
Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Oct 26, 2018
BACK UP CAMERA HAS ZERO VISIBILITY WHILE BACKING UP DURING NIGHT IN DARK AREA WITH RAIN CONDITION. THE REAR BACK UP LIGHTS DO NO ILLUMINATE ENOUGH LIGHT TO GUIDE THE VEHICLE. THE CAMERA IMAGE IS TOO GRAINY, DISTORTED AND PIXELATED.