repaired · 2026 Q3
Power train: transfer case (4-wheel drive)
Do not driveNewRisk. Front or rear wheel lockup increases the risk of a crash.
2016 Chevrolet TahoeProblems, recalls & complaints
NHTSA has logged 256 owner complaints about the 2016 Chevrolet Tahoe, most often about the service brakes. It is covered by 8 safety recalls, and for recall 21V-245 the manufacturer reports only 49% of affected cars repaired.
Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through August 28, 2026. Updated daily. Photo: RL GNZLZ from Chile, CC BY-SA 2.0.
Complaints by system
Where the 2016 Chevrolet Tahoe has problems
256 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.
85Service brakes9 crash/fire/injury
47Power train2 crash/fire/injury
31Electrical system
20Steering3 crash/fire/injury
19Suspension1 crash/fire/injury
19Engine
14Fuel/propulsion system
11Structure
10Air bags
5116 other systems4 crash/fire/injury
| System | Complaints | Crash, fire or injury |
|---|---|---|
| Service brakes | 85 | 9 |
| Power train | 47 | 2 |
| Electrical system | 31 | 0 |
| Steering | 20 | 3 |
| Suspension | 19 | 1 |
| Engine | 19 | 0 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 14 | 0 |
| Structure | 11 | 3 |
| Air bags | 10 | 5 |
| 16 other systems | 51 | 4 |
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.
8 recalls
2016 Chevrolet Tahoe recalls and how many were fixed
Each ring shows the share of affected cars repaired, from the manufacturer’s latest quarterly report to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
repaired · 2023 Q4
Seat belts: front
Risk. A broken pretensioner cable reduces the effectiveness of the driver's seat belt, increasing the risk of injury.
repaired · 2021 Q2
Electronic stability control (ESC)
Risk. Unintended activation of the driveline-protection system will cause unintended braking on the wheel on the opposite side of the failed sensor, causing the…
repaired · 2021 Q1
Power assist: vacuum
Risk. As the vacuum level drops, the brake assist decreases, increasing braking effort, extending the distance required to stop the vehicle, thereby increasing the…
Show 4 more recalls
repaired · 2019 Q3
Seat belts: front
Risk. 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.
repaired · 2018 Q4
Air bags: frontal
Risk. 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…
repaired · 2018 Q2
Air bags: frontal
Risk. 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…
repaired · 2018 Q2
Front: control arm
Do not driveRisk. Inadequate welds may allow the control arm to separate from the bushing, compromising steering and increasing the risk of a crash.
Recalls apply to specific cars. To see whether a recall is still open on yours, enter the 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with Chevrolet.
Mileage at failure
When do service brakes problems start?
50kmiles, median
Based on the odometer reading in 46 service brakes complaints. 98% were reported before 100,000 miles.
6under 30k miles45under 100k miles1100k miles or more
Best & worst years
2016 vs. every other Tahoe year
Bars show complaints per model year. Colors show the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the Tahoe median. How we score
'94'95'96'97'98'99'00'01'02'03'04'05'06'07'08'09'10'11'12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19'20'21'22'23'24'25'26
- Avoid
- Caution
- Solid
- Best
- Not rated
NHTSA crash tests
2016 Chevrolet Tahoe safety ratings
2016 Chevrolet Tahoe SUV 4WD in NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program. Photos are from NHTSA's crash tests.
★★★★★Overall rating
Frontal crash★★★★★
Side barrier★★★★★
Side pole★★★★★
- Rollover: 3 stars (22.2% risk)
- Stability control: Standard
- Forward collision warning: Optional
- Lane departure warning: Optional
1 investigation
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal investigations that included the 2016 Chevrolet Tahoe, and the recalls they led to.
- Brake Vacuum Pump FailureLed to recall 19V-645
In owners' words
What Tahoe owners report
Recent service brakes complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.
I have been having issues with the brakes on my 2016 Chevy Tahoe for as long as I can remember. When going very slow, such as in a parking lot or pulling into a parking space, my car feels like I am driving on ice when I brake. I am not sure if I am actually going to stop or hit a car/person. The…
Hello, I has problems driving my car like by brakes braking out of nowhere. There was even a couple times I felt like the car swerved, even though I did not do anything to the steering wheel. Then I found out I had a recall that said not to drive the car because it was dangerous so I parked it in…
At first it started with my brakes. I was at DQ and all of a sudden the brake peddle was hard and would barely go down. I then put my car in park. Now I have all new brakes, rotors, etc. Then now the car after 139,000 miles and only owning it for 3 years has this hesitation to go. It stumbles and…
Own a 2016 Tahoe?
Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.