2018 Chevrolet Tahoe Complaint Log

Unknown, vehicle starts to jerk when shifting gears. Jerks when breaking and when accelerating. Check engine light on. I see there is a prior recall for the same issue on same year as mine

Was driving approximately 45MPH and the truck just slowly powered down and "Engine Power Reduced" and eventually cut off and wouldn't crank back up. Got it towed to the Chevrolet dealership and was told the engine has to be replaced due to the bottom of the motor and the crankshaft in cylinder one. Was told it would be 17k to repair it.

Transmission failed at 94,000 miles Misfire 80,000miles AFM/DOD issues $10,000 in repair bills still not fixed

The contact owns a 2018 Chevrolet Tahoe. The contact stated that in 2024 the front windshield was damaged, and the windshield was replaced. The Insurance Company was notified and requested that an aftermarket windshield be placed on the vehicle. In May of 2025 the contact noticed that the Chevrolet Assist Camera behind the rearview mirror had failed. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who determined that since the windshield was not an OEM windshield replacement, the part caused the camera to fail. The camera was unable to be calibrated. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 82,000.

Roof racks have deteriorated due to sun exposure and have cracked where the contact the top and started leaking. The paint on the roof and hood had also failed. I had to have the top and hood repainted prior to having it ceramic coated. The roof racks leaking have damaged the headliner in the cargo area. I have tried to reseal them with a silicone sealant since removing them or replacing them is too expensive and would require removing the entire headliner to access the connecting bolts.

The contact owns a 2018 Chevrolet Tahoe. The contact stated that while attempting to start the vehicle, the brake pedal had to be depressed very hard to start the vehicle. The contact stated that while depressing the accelerator pedal, the vehicle failed to respond as intended. A dealer was contacted. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed and determined that the brake vacuum pump was not operating correctly and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact related the failure to a Special Coverage Adjustment: N182202780 (Brake Assist Decreased Due to Vacuum Loss); however, the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. The failure mileage was 72,000.

The contact owns a 2018 Chevrolet Tahoe. The contact stated that while starting the vehicle, the engine made abnormal rattling and knocking sounds. No warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who determined that the camshaft and valve train needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V274000 (Engine and Engine Cooling); however, the VIN was not included in the recall. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and advised the contact to file a complaint with the NHTSA Hotline. The failure mileage was approximately 90,000.

Transmission failure at 110,000 miles. No warning lights, no codes. The transmission was slipping during acceleration, random rpm bouncing at a steady speed, acting lost in gears, slow power up hills then takes off. Currently sitting at a chevy dealership.

The contact owns a 2018 Chevrolet Tahoe. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle began to shake excessively, prompting the contact to discontinue driving the vehicle. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who diagnosed a failure with the transmission. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure reoccurred. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 80,000. The VIN was not available.

Manufacturing problem, but not listed under recent GMC recall of April - May 2025 - 2018 Chevy Tahoe Problem: Transmission Issue - slippage

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?

For several months my check engine light has been flashing when I’m driving, especially on the highway. At times my vehicle feels sluggish. I press further own into the gas pedal and I am not getting adequate propulsion. It also feels like this when I’m going up a hill. I brought the vehicle to two independent service centers to get a diagnostic. One indicated getting misfire readings on two cylinders. The other indicated getting misfire readings in three cylinders. As you would imagine this is an extremely concerning safety risk.

Transmission is overheating and forcing the truck into limp mode

Complete Engine failure due to the camshaft being destroyed. Dealership said it was due to the lifters.

The contact owns a 2018 Chevrolet Tahoe. The contact stated that after parking the vehicle in a parking lot and returning to start the vehicle, the “Power Steering Assist Fault” message was displayed, and the vehicle was difficult to turn to the right or the left. The contact left the vehicle in the parking lot and after returning to the vehicle later and starting the vehicle, the vehicle had regained power steering assist functionality. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who diagnosed the vehicle and determined that the 12-Volt battery needed to be replaced. The contact was advised by the mechanic that due to the weak battery, the power steering assist failed to operate as designed. The vehicle was repaired. The contact stated that several weeks later the power steering assist failure recurred. The contact stated that the "Power Steering Assist Fault" message was displayed. The vehicle was taken to another independent mechanic. The vehicle had not been diagnosed or repaired. The contact researched online and related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V455000 (Steering); however, the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 84,000.

4100 Miles - Asked service dept. at dealership to check for noise coming from underside of vehicle. No service was completed. 4800 Miles - Asked service dept. at dealership to check again for noise on suspension. Service indicated it was a parking brake cable that was rubbing. 9800 Miles - Asked service dept. at dealership to check fluttering noise coming from engine. No service was completed. 15,000 Miles - Asked service dept. at dealership to check again for rattling noise coming from engine. Service indicated fluttering heard was exhaust pulsing through the manifold. No service was completed. 21,000 Miles- Service Dept at dealership provided multi point inspection and given clear inspection. No service was completed even though I stated there was still engine noises. 24,000- Asked service dept. at dealership to check hard shifting from transmission and poor performance. In addition, mentioned the noises again. No service was completed, service stated it was due to colder temperatures. 25,000- Asked service dept. at dealership to check hard shifting from transmission and poor performance. In addition, mentioned the noises again. Engine cooler lines were replaced. Scanned and verified clutch learn values all normal. Activated TCC and disabled TCC and found normal operation. No service completed. Now, after warranty has expired, service at dealership is telling me my camshaft and lifters need to be replaced, struts are leaking, transmission needs attention and should be flushed, and that I should NOT be driving my vehicle due to safety concerns. Although, I had taken the vehicle in multiple times during warranty period with complaints about these very items, no service was ever completed to correct them. Since then, I have read multiple articles documenting GM issues with L87 6.2L engines and transmissions. I'm filing a formal complaint with GM, as these issues should have been communicated to consumers or fixed through recalls.

The contact owns a 2018 Chevrolet Tahoe. The contact stated while driving 35 MPH, the vehicle inadvertently lost motive power. The contact was able to pull over to the shoulder of the roadway, where the vehicle was restarted. The ABS and check engine warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, who diagnosed a failure with the crankshaft push rods, resulting in damages to the engine. The contact was informed that the crankshaft and the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 83,000.

I can smell gas inside my cabin and also when parked in garage. Mechanic said my fuel injector seals are leaking and this is a known issue . The safety bulletin 18-NA-137 November 2019. This is a SAFETY ISSUE and needs to be addressed for the safety of myself and others. Please issue recall immediately so I can get fixed.

Like every other GM vehicle from 2014 to 2021, the tongue converter has failed and ruined the crappy transmission.

Transmission suddenly locked up while driving. Took to dealership and was advised it was a chronic issue with my vehicle. Once inspected by dealer, was advised that engine lifters also went out. My car was just out of warranty with 55k miles. Dealer did not want to honor warranty and charged me 15k in repairs. I reached out to Chevy and they provided me with some assistance by knocking off 3k. I did not get any warning lights indicating that there’s an issue with the engine or transmission. It happened suddenly. I feel that there is an engineering issue with the transmission and engine. The mechanic checked in my vehicle and said to me that this was a persistent issue with Tahoes like mines. I feel cheated by Chevrolet.

The contact owns a 2018 Chevrolet Tahoe. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the brake pedal was depressed with the brake warning light illuminated. The vehicle was able to restart; however, the failure recurred. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the vacuum pump had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 92,104.

Brakes failed pedal went to the floor when getting off the interstate. Kept pressing pedal and came back but vehicle pulls to the left hard when Brake pedal is also very hard to press. Very unsafe afraid to drive the vehicle. Dealer has recalls for same model vehicle show under my vin . Vehicle is available for inspection at anytime.

First occasion the car drove fine with no indication of an issue. Then once the car was turned off then on, the dash showed no lights or gauges and indicated that the steering assist is not working and the wheel was impossible to turn (almost like a limp mode but not driveable). Disconnected the battery to try and clear the issue and car drove home fine. Was told it could be a bad battery so replaced the battery and it worked fine for about a month. Then again with no indication did it again and this time it cleared itself after about 30 minutes. Dealer said there was a short in the negative battery ground cable and an open circuit in the rack and pinion mechanism but that the rack and pinion part was not available and they weren’t sure when it would be (probably due to excessive failures). Replaced the negative battery ground part and everything was fine for about 3 months until today when the car did the same thing again. We will have to keep looking for the unavailable part or I will basically have a $30k paper weight. Very concerned at the possibility that the steering will go out while I am driving as others have mentioned in previous posts. Seems as though something tragic will have to happen before they issue a recall of a part that appears to be a common failure.

Vehicle stopped accelerating while coming up to speed from an on ramp to the interstate while traveling from Indiana to Florida. Vehicle was towed to the nearest Chevy dealership where we were told the engine had blow and would need replaced. Vehicle has been sitting on the same dealership in Florida since early July. My families lives were put at risk as we were traveling at a low rate of speed on the interstate. As well as, sitting on the side of the interstate in a remote area waiting for a tow truck and cab. The dealer has confirmed what happened via inspection. There were not warning lamps until we lost the engine.

My 1.5 year old daughter is able to press the button on the chest clip and release the chest clip by herself. The button barely requires any pressure to be applied before releasing. She is unbuckling herself frequently.

When I started car I got service messages for side detection system, tire monitor system, safety restraint system, front camera system, trailer break system and theft deterrent system. Each one gave option to dismiss. When I would dismiss the messages would come back. When I was driving, all the things on dash, mph, oil, battery etc all stayed on zero. Super dangerous and I could have died!!!!!!. No blinker sound

7-21-23 Unit stalled 3 times today. The last time was while driving. Check engine light on. 1-29-24 Today I was responding to an emergency backup for an officer that was fighting two subjects. The subjects were fleeing from a stolen vehicle and it was dispatched that these subjects were armed. I never made it to this call because my vehicle #10688 would not accelerate past 23mph and then shut off leaving me stranded in the roadway. While waiting for a tow truck I was able to get the vehicle started again and was able to drive at only 36mph to try to get to the scene and assist the officer. I ultimately was able to make it to the police station. I wrote up the vehicle and left the keys in the training building.

The repeated failure of the fuel pumps, despite replacement three times, poses a significant safety concern as the vehicle may not start immediately, potentially leading to issues while on the road. This delay in starting could result in the vehicle not running properly, potentially shutting off unexpectedly, which poses a danger to the safety of the driver and others on the road. Additionally, the uncertainty surrounding the effects of using E85 fuel, despite the vehicle being sold as flex fuel, raises concerns about the long-term viability of the motor and overall vehicle performance. It's imperative to address this issue promptly to ensure the safety of all road users and preserve the longevity of the vehicle's components.

12-11-23 Vehicle was not accelerating when pressing gas pedal then began violently shaking and shut off in middle of roadway.

AC stopped blowing cold air due to a broken condenser weld issue commonly found in previous recalls 2014-2017

Caliper became stuck which produced smoke coming from tire. Had the caliper replaced. Then months later my forward collision system activated because a car in front of me stopped abruptly. After the car automatically braked to slow my car down, the brake never released and became stuck and the ABS light came on. Replace the abs sensor and two days later the brake engaged on its own while doing 60 mph on the highway. Now whenever the hill assist, collision warning, or anything else is activated, the brake engages and gets stuck. In addition, at times on the highway my brake will engage on its own.

9-19-23 Vehicle stalled and started sputtering when turned on.

I had an accident in this vehicle where the airbags deployed upon impact (as they were designed). However, once airbags deployed, my vehicle was filled with smoke (from the airbags) and all of my windows were covered and I couldn't see out. Panic set in as I tried to get out of the vehicle and my door would not open. After several moments I thought about the door locks, they were engaged of course. Once I realized and hit unlock, the door opened. This isn't an issue as far as parts being a defect or anything like that, but today I heard of a Texas DPS Trooper being in an accident in his Tahoe. His took a front impact as well, and the person trying to help him couldn't get him out of the vehicle. It made me wonder if his locks were engaged too, and him being more severely injured may not have thought about the door locks. This could be a potential safety risk, especially if the vehicle is on fire. What if vehicle manufacturers were able to install a safety mechanism that would automatically release the door locks if an impact was detected, or air bags were deployed? Just merely a suggestion as none of the parts on my car failed, they all did their job, but not being able to get out of your car is terrifying. I'm not sure if I am in the right place to pass on this suggestion, so if not, please advise where I might leave one. Thank you.

As we are doing a three hour drive our vehicle keeps distracting me from driving. Trailer brake system message pops up in the dash board constantly. Like the whole system electric turns off while driving. Few times it turnoff completely while me still driving my vehicle.

A/C condenser replacement. GM previously admitted problems with 2014-2017 AC condenser in certain model years of trucks and suv. The recalls should be extended to later years. I recently replaced AC condenser on 2018 employer owned Tahoe with typical crack and weld areas. Today, having same part replaced on my personally owned 2018 Chevy Tahoe. GM obviously has a defective part thousands nationwide are complaining about. The is obviously a defect GM should recall and replace at their expense.

On 7/27/2023, the transmission in my 2018 Chevy Tahoe failed. There was no warning, noise or lights I dicating a problem. I was trying to excelerate after turning at a stop light. There was a slight hesitation when shifting so I let off the gas. When I tried again, it didn’t do anything and I began losing speed. I had to have the vehicle towed to the dealership. Upon their inspection the tech determined internal failure inside transmission. I was told I was 3,000 miles out of warranty.

The Trailer Brake System Service light and ding constantly go off while doing standard driving without any type of towing involved. I have never used a trailer on the vehicle; however, the ding and service light are a distraction and cannot be turned off.

The contact owns a 2018 Chevrolet Tahoe. The contact stated that while parked on a slight incline and shifting into reverse, the vehicle started driving down the driveway with the brake pedal depressed. The contact stated that the vehicle drove approximately 15-feet in reverse. The contact stated once on a flat service, the vehicle suddenly stopped. During the failure, the message "driving assist" was displayed. The failure had occurred on another occasion. The cause of failure was not yet determined. The local dealer was notified of the failure. The manufacturer was not yet contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 54,000.

Power steering went out with kids in the car when vehicle only had 76000 miles. There was a special coverage for 2018 models that my vin was not a part of. Had it been this wouldn't have happened to my family. I was without a vehicle for over 2 weeks since dealership had to reach out to GM to find the part. Apparently, this is big issue for other models and years which explains the part shortage. A few months prior there was a service power steering on my dash, and I couldn't turn my steering wheel. Took it to dealership and they brushed it off as computer issue. Again, I feel if my vehicle was part of the special coverage, I wouldn't have experienced this issue or had to pay over $2000 to repair it.

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.

Just driving down the freeway and my sunroof just shattered. We were not driving under anything for something to be thrown or fall on the sunroof and nothing was thrown up from the road.

Trailer brake system warning, I can’t drive, because it buzz me off! Never used trailer.

The contact owns a 2018 Chevrolet Tahoe. The contact stated that while driving approximately 65 MPH, the vehicle decelerated and abruptly slowed down and lost motive power. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic who informed the contact that the SMR lifter and the engine failed. The contact called the local dealer who informed her that the parts were back ordered but the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but provided no additional assistance. The approximate failure mileage was 104,163.

While driving home, the the FAC, forward automatic crash, indicator light came on, I applied the brakes and watched to my dismay as my vehicle slowed down but would not stop. I applied steady hard pressure until impact with another vehicle in front of me. The FAB, forward automatic braking system never kicked in. I will contact the dealer concerning the above issue.

A lifter collapsed, which in turn damaged the lobes of a piston, which then damaged the camshaft...generating a repair bill of $7,100 per the dealer. The vehicle only has 69,200 miles on it. When the lifter failed, the car shuddered at stops, lost some power and made a noticeable clanking noise. When pulling out from stops, or into traffic, the car hesitated somewhat before accelerating. This creates a very dangerous situation. Also, if more lifters or the camshaft seized up at higher speeds, a driver could experience a potentially fatal situation from an uncontrollable vehicle or a fire. Research shows that Chevy/GM knew about the lifter problem on 5.3 ltr engines with their AFM system for years and sold them anyway. They apparently have never solved the problem, and it still exists today. Several class action lawsuits have been lodged against them for the lifter failure problem. Aside from the serious potential safety issues, an expensive vehicle like my Tahoe should not be expected to incur a $7,100 repair bill when it's only 4 years old and has less then 70,000 miles on it. That's ridiculous. My wife and I are both retired. We will be tapping our retirement account to pay for this shoddy Chevy product and will worry that it just might occur again, after the fix. From a safety standpoint, a stall, loss of power, or engine seizure at speed will tax our quick response reflexes. The known lifter problem is a legitimate safety situation and needs to be addressed before someone is seriously injured or killed...if they haven't already. Thank you for listening.

On July 29, 2022 my Tahoe broke down on me while driving home from work. It started to lose speed while on a busy highway during rush hour. I started losing speed and I kept giving it gas and it wouldn’t go. I kept trying to get speed to try and get off the highway to avoid getting into an accident or put someone else in danger. Somehow I managed to get off into a shopping center. I had come up to a stop sign and couldn’t even get the Tahoe to stop while there was a lot of traffic in the shopping center as well. I eventually got it to a safe spot and called a tow truck. I live almost an hour from home. The shop the Tahoe was towed too said the torque converter was contaminated with metal shavings that was caused by parts on the Tahoe grinding together and therefore contaminating the torque converter and then it ruined my transmission. I was also told this is a common thing they are seeing with Chevy Tahoes, but yet no recalls have been issued and I think something needs to be down about it. It put my life in danger as well as other drivers around me! And I couldn’t afford to fix it so I lost my vehicle and all the hard work and money I put into paying my vehicle since 2018! I also found a lawsuit regarding this issue too.

I was sold a vehicle from a dealer in Arizona that online says they only sell to government or law enforcement

When applying the brakes the SUV will pull hard to the left or at times to the right. I get a screen message that reads " trailer brake system failure". The SUV has never trailed anything. Also dont know if these are tied together but I'm also experiencing a dragging battery during this time. When the trailer brake says failure goes away the battery issue goes away. I've done some research and have found a GM service call "N192261050" which seems to indicate the same issue/concern.

I have a 2018 Chevrolet Tahoe. Today, while I was pulling out of the Sam's Club parking lot I heard a huge thud, the car jerked forward and completely stopped. The drive line / drive shaft had broken clean off. I'm awaiting official diagnosis from Riverton Chevrolet's service dept., but it was a very scary situation. I'm thankful that I was not rear ended or hurt. I see that welding issues are part of a NHTSA safety issue on later model Chevy Tahoe vehicles. I'm wondering if my 2018 is a victim of a similar problem. I do not drive at high speeds or go off-roading. I get my car serviced regularly. This could have been catastrophic if I'd been on the freeway. Repair invoice pending.

My wife was driving everything was working fine until a message came on the dash "steering stopped Drive with care" she was mid way in a turn to get on highway when this happened if I wasn't in vehicle to grab the wheel my wife would have ended up in a wall or worst case in the canal next to 95 with my 4 year old in the car. The vehicle is currently at a chevorlet dealer in Greenacres Florida and they say the electric steering gear has stopped working.. this seams like a very unsafe system as when it stops the steering wheel is very stiff more than a old car with no power steering. I think this needs to be investigated yesterday as someone could die from this if it hasn't happened already. As of right now I no longer feel that this is a safe vehicle for my wife to be driving