VehicleVerdict

2016 Chevrolet Tahoe problems

Verdict · NHTSA data

Worth extra scrutiny

The 2016 Chevrolet Tahoe sits mid-pack among Tahoe years: 346 NHTSA complaints against a model median of roughly 309, with 8 recalls and one closed investigation. Complainants reported 19 injuries in total across these filings.

Brakes leads the complaint categories with 92 reports (27% of the total). In government crash testing it earned 4 of 5 NCAP stars overall.

346

NHTSA complaints

8

Recalls

1

Investigations

25

Crash-involved

1

Fires reported

19

Injuries

0

Deaths

4

NCAP overall · of 5 stars

How does 2016 compare to other Tahoe years?

See all Tahoe years to avoid →

What are the most common 2016 Chevrolet Tahoe problems?

ComponentComplaintsShare
Brakes9227%
Transmission4714%
Other4513%
Electrical System3811%
Suspension195%
Steering195%
Engine185%
Fuel System144%
Driver Assistance134%
Body & Structure103%
Airbags93%
Lighting62%
Tires & Wheels51%
Visibility & Wipers41%
Seat Belts41%
Speed Control21%
Seats10%

Does the 2016 Chevrolet Tahoe have recalls?

8 NHTSA recall campaigns on file. Recall repairs are free at franchised dealers.

26V289000TransmissionMay 7, 2026 · 66 units

Defect

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.

Consequence

Front or rear wheel lockup increases the risk of a crash.

Remedy

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.

21V245000Seat BeltsApril 8, 2021 · 2,568 units

Defect

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.

Consequence

A broken pretensioner cable reduces the effectiveness of the driver's seat belt, increasing the risk of injury.

Remedy

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.

19V761000BrakesOctober 24, 2019 · 652,967 units

Defect

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.

Consequence

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.

Remedy

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.

19V645000BrakesSeptember 6, 2019 · 3,456,719 units

Defect

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.

Consequence

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.

Remedy

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.

18V291000Seat BeltsMay 3, 2018 · 23,004 units

Defect

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.

Consequence

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.

Remedy

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.

17V437000Seat BeltsJuly 10, 2017 · 40,683 units

Defect

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.

Consequence

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.

Remedy

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.

16V651000Seat BeltsSeptember 8, 2016 · 3,640,162 units

Defect

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.

Consequence

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.

Remedy

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.

16V256000SuspensionApril 28, 2016 · 3,738 units

Defect

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.

Consequence

Inadequate welds may allow the control arm to separate from the bushing, compromising steering and increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy

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.

Consumer complaints filed with NHTSA

Representative excerpts, cleaned of personal information. These are consumer statements, not verified defects.

I was driving down highway and saw a wall of cars and brake lights in the distance, so naturally my foot tried to push the brakes. The pedal was hard, and I panicked because my tahoe was not stopping at all! I continued to stomp on brake pedal all the way until my car actually hit 3 vehicles and…

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Brakes · April 21, 2023 · crash

WHILE TRAVELING ON THE PA TURNPIKE 3/31/16 APPRX.3:00 PM, I EXPERIENCED TOTAL TRANSMISSION FAILURE. ONLY AFTER SEEING SMOKE EMITTING FROM THE VEHICLE, WOULD THE HEAVY TRAFFIC ALLOW ME TO PULL TO THE SHOULDER. I PUT THE TRANS INTO PARK AND BACK INTO DRIVE, ALLOWING ME TO MOVE APPX 100 YARDS TO A…

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Transmission · March 31, 2016 · fire

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.

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Other · July 1, 2020 · crash

The stabilitrak notification comes on constantly. While we are driving/reversing and turn our steering wheel the whole car will shut down and the steering wheel jerks. It's happened multiple times. It takes forever for the car to turn back on.This is super dangerous and cause myself and my children…

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Electrical System · July 7, 2025

I WAS DRIVING A 2016 CHEVY TAHOE ON A RESIDENTIAL STREET. MY CAR LOST ALL CONTROL OF STEERING AND BRAKES. WHILE DRIVING THE CAR VEERED TO THE RIGHT AND HIT A CAR, CONTINUED ON HITTING 2 MORE PARKED CARS, DROVE THRU SOMEONE'S LARGE HEDGES, AND WAS SECONDS AWAY FROM DRIVING INTO SOMEONE'S HOUSE BUT…

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Steering · January 19, 2019 · crash

2016 Chevrolet Tahoe — common questions

Is the 2016 Chevrolet Tahoe reliable?

It is close to typical for the Tahoe: 346 NHTSA complaints, 8 recalls, and 1 investigation on file.

What are the most common 2016 Tahoe problems?

According to NHTSA complaint data, the leading problem areas are brakes (92 complaints), transmission (47 complaints), other (45 complaints).

Does the 2016 Chevrolet Tahoe have recalls?

Yes — NHTSA lists 8 recall campaigns affecting the 2016 Chevrolet Tahoe. Recall repairs are free at franchised dealers; check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to confirm the work was done.

Is the 2016 Chevrolet Tahoe under NHTSA investigation?

NHTSA opened one investigation into this model year; all are now closed.

Which Chevrolet Tahoe years should you avoid?

Based on complaint rates and open investigations, the Tahoe years to avoid are 2007, 2015, 2008, 1999, 2003, 2001, 2021, 2011, 2004, 2002, 1997, 2010, 2009, 2013, 2023, 2012, 2022, 2014, 2024. The cleanest record among Tahoe years belongs to 1988.

How safe is the 2016 Chevrolet Tahoe?

In NHTSA's NCAP crash testing, the 2016 Chevrolet Tahoe earned an overall rating of 4 out of 5 stars.

Related

Based on NHTSA ODI data through June 2026. Complaints are consumer-reported and unverified. Updated July 5, 2026.

Compiled by Sharon Ben-Moshe, Founder.