NHTSA Owner Complaint Log
This page lists owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2016 Chevrolet Tahoe. Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA and do not by themselves prove a defect or defect rate.
Data synced from NHTSA on May 4, 2026
Vehicles radio changes channels randomly and information system changes functions from radio to handsfree phone, to directional map, to radio again randomly
While driving at low speeds, the brake pedal became very difficult to engage and the car did not stop as intended. This affects the ability of the vehicle to stop in areas with frequent pedestrian traffic such as driveways and parking lots creating a substantial safety risk. The vehicle has not been to a repair shop or dealership to investigate further at this time. There are no warning lights or messages from the vehicle computer system. This issue sounds like an issue researched on the internet for Chevy vehicles, but this VIN is not covered by a prior recall. The symptoms seem to be the same as described in NHTSA Campaign Number 19V645000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic).
Brake Assist failure at low speed making vehicle extremely hard to stop. GM recall N182202780 does not cover all VIN numbers of the model years affected. GM states this VIN number is not covered yet the vehicle has the exact failure outlined in this recall.
While driving at low speeds, the brake pedal became very difficult to engage and the car did not stop as intended. This affects the ability of the vehicle to stop in areas with frequent pedestrian traffic such as driveways and parking lots creating a substantial safety risk. The "Service Brake Assist" message also appeared after this incident. I contacted my Chevrolet dealer who cannot schedule an appointment for at least 15 days. The car is currently at an independent mechanic who advised that this sounds like a familiar issue for Chevy vehicles, but this VIN is not covered by a prior recall. The issue seems to be the same as described in NHTSA Campaign Number 19V645000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic).
While driving in atleast in awd and I think it happened in 2wd. My abs light comes on with stabilitrack and trailer break. Once that happens driving feels weird like breaks are closing in. Turning is extremely difficult cause it feels like all this are breaking. Then once I stop the car it kicks forward after the car is off
WHILE DRIVING ONE EVENING I WAS UNABLE TO ACCELERATE TO MERGE INTO TRAFFIC ON THE HIGHWAY. THE VEHICLE WAS VERY HESITANT WITHOUT ANY WARNING AND I NEARLY HAD SOMEONE REAR END ME BECAUSE I COULDN'T GAIN SPEED QUICKLY. THE NEXT DAY I GOT A DIAGNOSTIC AND WAS GIVEN 2 CODES: P0741 AND P0872 - NEVER HAD A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COME ON OR ANY OTHER WARNING THAT I WAS HAVING AN ISSUE. I ALSO TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE SAME DEALERSHIP THAT I PURCHASED IT FROM AND THEY ALSO DID A DIAGNOSTIC AND GOT THE SAME 2 CODES ( tORQU CONVERTER FAULTY) SAID I NEEDED A NEW TRANSMISSION FOR $6800!!! I HAVE NOT EVEN HAD MY TRUCK FOR 3 YEARS AND BEING TOLD THIS IS OUTRAGOUS! I'M SEEING THIS SAME COMPLAINT LISTED OVER AND OVER SO WHAT CAN BE DONE TO HELP VEHICLE OWNERS LIKE ME?
Fuel started leaking from top side of fuel tank. Seems to only leak while vehicle is running. My wife and family where all in the tahoe when this occurred. Also tahoe would shut down while driving just out of nowhere. Total loss off power and control. After a couple minutes it would start right back up. My family and kids were also in the car when this has happened.
I noticed out of the blue that the Tahoe was down-shifting hard and making a slight whining noise. I brought the vehicle to Supreme Chevrolet in Gonzales for them to diagnose the problem. I was absolutely shocked when they told me that my transmission would need to be replaced. This 2017 Tahoe has only one owner and has not been used for towing, I bring the vehicle to the dealership for regular maintenance. the vehicle only has 127,612 miles. This problem is a huge safety concern because the vehicle could just stop and will not be drivable while driving. This is very dangerous! I have seen hundreds of complaints regarding this same problem on the same make, model, and year. Something needs to be done fast to ensure the safety of the driver and passengers.
My car was acting like it didn’t want to go. I felt the car trying to change gears but it was unable to. Almost caused an accident and I had my two children in the car. No check engine light came on until 2 days later after it began causing problems. I have researched this issue and it is a recurrent problem with Chevrolet Tahoes 2016. My husband had the same problem with his 2016 GMC sierra and had to have his transmission replaced at 118,000 miles. Seems like a recurrent problem with GMCs and CHEVROLET vehicles. It’s very dangerous.
Purchased the car new for a local dealer in Surprise, Arizona. Over time the brake pedal has become spongy, soft and pulsating. This happens mostly at slow speeds like backing out of the driveway or garage. Did a search of the NHTSA web site and see that there was a recall on my model year vehicle to replace or reprogram the vacuum pump. However I never received a recall notice. I am now afraid to drive the car because I am concerned over a complete brake failure. I do know that during one of my normal service maintenance appointments I was approached by the service advisor about his concern over a suspected brake issue. He wanted to replace my entire brake system, master cylinder, vacuum pump, etc for a cost of about $1,500 as I recall. I declined the repair as I was not aware of that the problem I was experiencing was including in the recall. Again I never received any notice of a recall of the vacuum pump for the brakes but clearly I am experiencing the symptoms as was described in the recall notice on your website.
The contact owns a 2016 Chevrolet Tahoe. The contact stated upon starting the vehicle, the message "Trailer Brake System" was displayed, and an alarm sounded. The contact stated that the failure also occurred while driving. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it diagnosed that the trailer brake system module needed to be replaced. The dealer informed the contact that he would be charged a repair fee. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 85,000. The VIN was unavailable.
While braking the engine will try to accelerate. not like normal downshift acceleration. sometimes while my speed is below 5 mph the engine will accelerate to the point that i have to apply extra brake pedal pressure to keep from hitting the car in front of me.
While traveling a major highway (70 mph) over the holiday weekend, I experienced a loss of engine power. The RPM's went up to 5 while I decreased speed. I had gone from 75 MPH down to 35 while trying to maintain speed up a hill. I pulled over to the break down lane to let traffic pass and when it was safe, I tried to engage the vehicle to speed. It would slip gears and continue to lose momentum. The check engine light came on so I pulled it into a rest area and called for a tow. When the tow truck arrived and I needed to turn the car on to put it in neutral, the check engine light had turned off. After having it towed and a mechanic diagnose the issue, it was found that the transmission was blown. The transmission fluid is black and contains metal slivers. I had just had my transmission fluid checked during a tune-up. The fluid was changed at 70,000 miles. I have 113,000 miles on it now. The only warning I got just prior was a vibration similar to needing a front end alignment. There were no other warnings. Like I said, the fluid was checked a month prior to this incident.
Vehicle is not even 10 years old and has only 105,000 miles and the transmission failed while I was on the highway. Needed a complete rebuild.
I bought this vehicle brand new crossed over into the 133,000 range and the transmission just goes out and upon reading up on this it’s happening a lot with the 2016 Chevy Tahoe the ball was dropped on a recall regarding this vehicle it’s funny how it’s happening a lot to people
Brakes barely stop at low speed
Steering assist warning message came up on dash and then transmission failed … had transmission fixed and steering assist warning is still there … checked into it and it’s the stabil track system that supposedly there is a recall for but my vin number doesn’t show it as a recall but other vehicle’s matching mine does
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 then the guardrail! My brakes did not work , because if they did then I would have easily prevented this accident!!
Driver side seat belt female part broke inside. Can not insert & clip in male part.
I’ve had my struts repaired and they still squeak and the truck bounced all over the road. There is a defect with the struts
After lifters on engine failed on original engine at approximately 47K miles, engine was rebuilt. Received Tahoe back with 47,791 miles on odometer. Brand new Chevrolet lifters failed prior to odometer reaching 48,903, bending rods and requiring that the engine that was just rebuilt to be replaced or rebuilt again. While driving engine loss oil pressure with red light warning coming on telling to immediately turn off engine. Engine may have ceased while car was in motion, putting driver and passenger(s), if any, in immediate and imminent danger. it was almost 7 months to rebuild engine last time due to GMAC parts being unavailable. Brand new parts failed at roughly 1K miles, there may be a quality control and/or design issue with lifters.
GM has a known problem with the sensors for the side detection system that are placed outside in the rear of the vehicle. Tires splash water and salt directly on the sensors causing them to short out. This short not only causes the side detection to misreport whether a vehicle is in your blind spot, it also manifests itself with lift gate malfunctions and various other messages displayed on the DIC like Service Park Assist System or Service Trailer Brake. My Tahoe has had all these issues. To date GM has not recalled my Tahoe or any other GM vehicle with this problem. The dealership quoted me $1,700 for the fix and are having trouble sourcing the new sensors since apparently I am not the only one affected. Howabout your agency looking into this and suggesting to GM to man up on this and cover the repair through a recall and a reimbursement for those who paid out of pocket.
The contact owns a 2016 Chevrolet Tahoe. The contact stated that on numerous occasions while the brake pedal was depressed, added pressure was needed on the brake pedal to stop the vehicle. The contact stated that after shifting to park, the brake pedal returned to normal operation. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. Neither the dealer nor the manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 75,000.
At 34, 716 right front strut needed to be replaced. At 40,719 both rear air shocks needed to be replaced. Suspension was loose and made steering difficult on surfaces that were not flat and smooth.
I bought this 2016 Tahoe in January of 2023. I was very excited to purchase my first Tahoe and sunk my savings into paying for it. A couple weeks after I purchased it, I got a service trailer break message that came up on my screen. I have had several different mechanics look at it, but still, it hasn't been fixed. This message pops up probably 60 times while I am driving, and continuously. It flashes across my screen, and when I dismiss it, it will go away for a second and then pop up again. This dinging message continues while I'm driving it. I feel that it is a safety hazard as I am very distracted by it when I am driving the car. I don't have any other choice, as I spent all my money I had for a car on purchasing this car, and don't have another car to drive, so I have to drive this one. I would really like for GM to issue a recall for this, and tell technicians how to fix this. The technicians I have seen tried replacing the battery and a corroded wire. We've replaced the switch, but still this message returns. I am very frustrated by this, as I traded my old car in for this one, because I was having car trouble. I wanted to trade to avoid car problems, but just got a car with more problems. I am going insane with this message and not having a fix for it.
Hello to whom it may concern, I purchased a certified pre-owned 2016 Chevy Tahoe in November of 2019 from a Woodland Ca dealership. Over the last six years, I have put only 31k miles on the truck. In 2022 I have put in a new transmission at 120K and now not even a year later I’m getting a warning message popping up on the dashboard service Trailer brake system. I have NOT towed anything in the last two years since my move. However, on January 4th of this year 2023 when the warning started, I thought it was just that I accidentally hit the trailer switch. I hit the switch again and the warning went away. However, the warning is increasing in the number of times it’s coming on. I took it to a mechanic and discovered they said that a wire needed to be replaced. When I went to YouTube, I noticed that there were several videos on the same issue. This unexcitable that a company as big as GMC wouldn’t take care of the part that results in the warning. My vehicle is not safe to drive in that condition. Thank you Kelvin Kimball 1924 Kane Ave Sacramento, Ca. 95835 (707) 332-6818
Hello, I purchased my truck last year in December and I told them the problems I was having with the truck when I got. They act like they fixed it but it’s still doing the same thing. I’ve put struts on it and control arms 3 times and it still is giving me problems. My suspension and driver assist warnings always pop up. When I get up to 85 mph, they truck shakes really bad and the speed won’t go over 85 mph. When I got brakes, the trucks pulls to the left and right which I know that could mean a line up but even after I line it up, it still does the same thing. I feel like it’s a defect with the suspension and driver assist systems with those model trucks. I love my truck and really don’t want to get rid of it. I’ve taken my truck to my dealership several times and I don’t want my warranty to run out before I can get my truck fixed. Can you help at all???
My 2016 Tahoe just shut off on me and my daughter inside of the tunnel with heavy traffic. When I placed the gear in drive the vehicle roll back instead of moving forward. I was afraid because the traffic was steady moving. The emergency wrecker pushed my Tahoe to safety out of the tunnel. I had it towed to my mechanic he said it’s the transmission . The engine light came on afterwards. The dealer refused the acknowledgment of the vehicle. I purchased as is. I purchase the vehicle 11-09-2022 it shut off 12-20-2022
Brakes failed to work at low speed. Traveling in stop and go traffic on I-40 and the brake pedal became hard as a rock and was pulsing. Had to pull over and coast to a stop. Performed a test on the median of the highway and again the brakes failed to work. We were towed to the repair shop. Awaiting the repair diagnosis and cost.
Frequent vacuum brake failure. The brake pedal goes all the way to the floor.
My 6 yr old chevy Tahoe felt like it was hesitating when driving. I called my local garage and dropped it off. They informed me after inspection that the lifters have failed and now cylinders are in deactivation made. The fix is a new Engine. 10-14k dollars. They informed me this is a known issue in this model. I called chevy customer service. I Took Tahoe to a chevy dealer. They confirmed the diagnosis. I have no recall, no engine light on and am told driving it will cause more serious damage and eventually will not run. Chevy is unresponsive to my pleas for financial assistance and I am left without a driveable car.
The contact owns a 2016 Chevrolet Tahoe. The contact stated that while driving at slow speeds, the brake pedal went to the floorboard while depressed. While driving 10–15 MPH, the brakes operated as designed. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic and the brakes were replaced; however, the failure persisted. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer and the contact was informed that the VIN was not under recall for the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The contact referenced the NHTSA Campaign Number: 19V645000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic) as a possible cause for the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 75,000.
The stabilitrak light comes on and the whole vehicle shuts off, this happens while driving and turning, the entire vehicle loses power. I have had it inspected at the dealer, they said it’s normal. This is a continuous problem. When it shuts off I have no stealing breaks or anything. This put my life, my children’s life and fellow travelers lives at risk. Something is wrong with this yrs vehicle and I don’t know what it is.
The contact owns a 2016 Chevrolet Tahoe. The contact stated that while driving at various low speeds and needing to apply the brake pedal, the brake pedal was difficult to depress. The contact then stated that the failure was reoccurring and that excessive force was required to depress the brake pedal. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, however, the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact was then made aware of NHTSA Campaign Number: 19V645000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic) however, the local dealer confirmed that the VIN was not included in the recall. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 80,000.
The transmission malfunctioned and left me unable to move forward (uphill) in a high traffic area. I had to turn on the hazard lights, allow the vehicle to roll backwards (in traffic) to a parking lot. Very dangerous. The vehicle would not engage the transmission and was just revving without gear engagement. I had to get the vehicle towed and I am now looking at an expensive repair bill. GM is aware that they have transmission issues on 2015-16 Tahoe models but they choose not to do anything about it. Very frustrating.
The fuel supply hose/line from the fuel tank to the vehicle connection rubbed through, due to a loose fit where it attaches to the tank, causing a fuel leak. There were no indicator/warning lights, though a hard start/extended cranking time occurred on occasion. Raw fuel could be smelled with a very slight drip, which could only be seen on clean concrete. Vehicle had only 54,000 miles on it and driven very lightly, but does drive on dirt/gravel roads.
The break pedal pivot nut loosened to the point where it fell off and the break pedal became inoperative.
Lifters in engine failed, bent rods, 3 of 8 cylinders scratched; engine need to be rebuilt. Engine failed at 47K miles. AC Condenser cracked at 47K miles. Engine failure is safety issue. Known issue at Chevrolet where already extended warranty from original manufacturer's warranty. Engine could have ceased while driving putting driver and passenger(s), if any, in immediate and imminent danger.
The vehicle electrical system malfunctions. The vehicle stalls when the turn signal lever is shifted. When the steering wheel is turn to the right or left the vehicle stalls. Upon acceleration, particularly on the highway, and when the turn signal lever is shifted, the vehicle's gauges go haywire. The engine light comes on, the gauges move rapidly back and forth, a "Stabalink" error appears, the doors lock and unlock. My family and I have been put in unsafe conditions because of the electrical issues with this vehicle. We have been traveling on the highway when the vehicle stalled out. We have turned into intersections when the vehicle has stalled in oncoming traffic. The vehicle has accelerated and decelerated spontaneously causing us to loose control. The issue started approximately one year ago. Approximately three months ago, we took the vehicle to a Chevrolet Service Center in Woodbridge, VA to have it inspected. We were advised they could not locate the problem and the vehicle was returned to us without any repairs. The problems with the vehicle have started to occur more frequently. We have stopped driving the vehicle because of concerns for our. One week ago we dropped the vehicle to a Chevrolet Service Center in Baltimore, Maryland, which is over 50 miles from our home to have it inspected. The vehicle currently remains at the service center.
Accident occurred on 05/22/2022. The airbag did not deploy. Me and my 3 passengers were injured. The vehicle was not inspected. Allstate insurance auctioned the vehicle before it could get inspected. No warning lights prior to accident.
On 18 Apr 2022, my 2016 Chevrolet Tahoe LTZ was found to have a gas leak around the fuel tank area when the car was taken to the Chevrolet Service Center for an oil change. On that day, there was both a strong fuel smell and presence of a pool of raw gas. There were no warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure. Additionally, I was not notified by GM/Chevrolet that this could be an issue. After inspection and diagnosis, the service technician found a "rubbed spot" on the the feed pipe and replaced it. He noted that he "made sure the new pipe is secured on tank as designed to prevent future occurrence". This vehicle is used as primary transport for my family. The fact that it leaked gas while I was driving put my family's safety at risk. I also believe that other owners and their families could be at risk. After researching the problem, I have found several posts from other owners and a service bulletin that describes the issue and the service procedures to fix it. I believe there should be a recall for this well-known major safety issue. I have emailed GM/Chevrolet's customer service department and provide them with details of my complaints and supporting documentation also attached in this compliant form. The items are: 1. My service invoice 799356 dated 20 Apr 2022. 2. Picture of the pin hole on the defective fuel feed pipe removed from my vehicle. 3. Service Bulletin 17-NA-304, dated February 2020 which provides guidance to professional technicians on the issue(s) and service procedures to fix it. The first edition of this bulletin was released in September 2017 which is after I purchased my 2016 Tahoe. 4. Several forum posts from other Chevrolet Tahoe and Suburban owners who have experienced the same major safety issue.
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!!
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.
Near collision with pedestrian in crosswalks on left turns and near collision with pedestrians crossing multi lane roads who entering from a landscaped center island. I have repeatedly experienced this situation even though I am acutely aware of the view obstruction created by the large A-pillar, air bag and drivers side mirror. It has become evident from the incidents in my neighborhood that trucks and SUV's are involved in the fatalities at crosswalks and multi lane roadways. An recent fatality occurred on December 10 2022 in Poway at the intersection of Midland and Edgmoore Rd. 35yr old women killed in crosswalk by driver making left turn. The January 24th 2022 fatality happened on Community Rd. in Poway 92064. It would appear your forms are incident focused and not geared to identify safety hazards that have not been considered. Please contact me to discus this safety issue if you have seen an unexplained increase in pedestrian traffic fatalities that involve trucks and suv's. Thank You,
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.
Slow speed braking problems brakes don’t work good at slow speeds
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
Braking causes vehicle to accelerate
-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.
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.