repaired · 2026 Q3
Storage: tank assembly
Risk. A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source increases the risk of a vehicle fire.
2021 Chevrolet TahoeProblems, recalls & complaints
NHTSA has logged 467 owner complaints about the 2021 Chevrolet Tahoe, most often about the engine. It is covered by 16 safety recalls, and for recall 24V-797 the manufacturer reports only 78% of affected cars repaired.
Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through November 8, 2026. Updated daily. Photo: Kevauto, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Complaints by system
Where the 2021 Chevrolet Tahoe has problems
467 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.
172Engine3 crash/fire/injury
96Fuel/propulsion system
90Power train2 crash/fire/injury
58Electrical system3 crash/fire/injury
27Air bags
26Fuel system, gasoline
21Forward collision avoidance
19Service brakes
17Engine and engine cooling
9215 other systems9 crash/fire/injury
| System | Complaints | Crash, fire or injury |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | 172 | 3 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 96 | 0 |
| Power train | 90 | 2 |
| Electrical system | 58 | 3 |
| Air bags | 27 | 2 |
| Fuel system, gasoline | 26 | 0 |
| Forward collision avoidance | 21 | 1 |
| Service brakes | 19 | 2 |
| Engine and engine cooling | 17 | 0 |
| 15 other systems | 92 | 9 |
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.
16 recalls
2021 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 · 2026 Q3
Engine: hard parts internal/mechanical
Risk. Engine failure increases the risk of a crash.
repaired · 2026 Q3
Control module: software
Risk. Rear wheel lock-up can increase the risk of a crash.
repaired · 2024 Q3
Lighting control module: software
Risk. Daytime Running Lights that do not deactivate as intended may cause a glare, reducing visibility and increasing the risk of a crash.
Show 12 more recalls
repaired · 2024 Q3
Seat belts: critical fasteners
Risk. A seat belt with a deformed rivet may not properly restrain an occupant, increasing the risk of injury during a crash.
repaired · 2023 Q4
Driveline: driveshaft
Risk. Driveshaft failure can cause a sudden loss of drive power, increasing the risk of a crash.
repaired · 2023 Q3
Fuel pump: control/drive module
Risk. An engine stall increases the risk of a crash.
repaired · 2022 Q2
Control module: software
Risk. Overall braking performance may be compromised, increasing the risk of a crash.
repaired · 2023 Q2
Steering: steering control module
Risk. Increased steering effort, particularly at lower speeds, increases the risk of a crash.
repaired · 2023 Q2
Air bags: SRS malfunction warning lamp/light
Risk. The air bag malfunction indicator light may fail to warn the driver of a problem with the air bag, increasing the risk of injury.
repaired · 2021 Q2
Seat belts: rear/other
Risk. A passenger in the second-row center will be unable to wear a seat belt, increasing the risk of injury in the event of a crash.
repaired · 2023 Q1
Seat belts
Risk. A damaged seat belt can break during a crash, increasing the risk of injury to the occupant.
repaired · 2022 Q4
Storage: tank assembly
Risk. A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source increases the risk of a fire.
repaired · 2022 Q4
Seat belts
Risk. If a seat belt assembly is not properly attached to the vehicle, the seat belt may not properly restrain an occupant in the event of a crash, increasing the…
repaired · 2022 Q4
Seat belts
Risk. If a seat-belt bracket is not secured, the seat belt may not properly restrain an occupant in the front-row center seat position, increasing the risk of injury…
repaired · 2022 Q3
Seats
Risk. If an occupied front seat has loose or missing attachment bolts, it may move during a crash, increasing the risk of injury to the seated occupant.
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 engine problems start?
42kmiles, median
Based on the odometer reading in 26 engine complaints. 92% were reported before 100,000 miles.
Only 22% of complaints for this model year include a mileage.
10under 30k miles24under 100k miles2100k miles or more
Owner-reported costs
What owners say repairs cost
Dollar amounts owners wrote in their complaints when describing a repair or a quote. These are not price estimates; a system is shown only when at least 8 owners mentioned a cost.
Engine
11 owners mentioned a cost$7,000median
Middle half: $5,246 – $9,189
If a problem is covered by a recall, the dealer fixes it for free. Some manufacturers also reimburse owners who paid for a repair before a recall was announced.
Best & worst years
2021 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
2021 Chevrolet Tahoe safety ratings
2021 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 (21.9% risk)
- Stability control: Standard
- Forward collision warning: Standard
- Lane departure warning: Optional
5 investigations
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal investigations that included the 2021 Chevrolet Tahoe, and the recalls they led to.
- Loss of motive power due to engine failureOpen
- Loss of motive power due to engine failure post recall remedyOpen
- Air Bag MalfunctionNo recall
- Loss of motive power due to engine failureLed to recall 25V-274
- Loss of motive power due to engine failure post recall remedyNo recall
In owners' words
What Tahoe owners report
Recent engine complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.
The engine lifters have failed twice in our 2021 Chevy Tahoe. The first time was at 13k miles and the second time happened at 100k miles. Both times the failures put my family in an unsafe situation and almost led to a multicar accident. This is a known issue that multiple people report online in…
Driving on the highway when all lights lit up on the dashboard. Car slowed down immediately following alert notifications. Towed to dealer. Was told I needed Camshaft and both banks of lifters all head bolts and head gaskets (W) [Other]: Camshaft actuator and bolt and chain tensioner
Vehicle is a 2021 Chevrolet Tahoe Premier with under 50,000 miles. The vehicle experienced a sudden and complete loss of reverse gear, accompanied by violent lurching, sputtering, and dangerous hesitation/stuttering while accelerating between gears at speed. A certified dealership inspection…
Own a 2021 Tahoe?
Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.