KnownCarProblemsHome › Chevrolet › Tahoe › 2016
2016 Chevrolet Tahoe Problems and Recalls
Owners filed 256 complaints with NHTSA about the 2016 Chevrolet Tahoe, most often about the brakes (36% of complaints, typically around 50,000 miles). It is 14th of 27 Tahoe model years by number of complaints and has 8 recalls.
⚠ Safety advisory2 recalls for this car came with a do-not-drive warning. See below and check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Most common 2016 Chevrolet Tahoe problems
Brakes
92 complaints · 36%Half of these problems showed up before 50,000 miles. Parts named most often: power assist, antilock, antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip.
Engine has been making a clicking sound for the last year. We took it in and they were unable to pinpoint the problem. Within the last couple months the brakes seem mushy when pressed at low speeds, such as driving into the garage or a parking space. We have to push the break pedal down to the floor for the vehicle to…
In several instances the 2016 Tahoe ltz will not stop if you are going slow like in a drive thru or picking up kids from school I have had the Tahoe in for the reprogramming of the vacuum pump but it still does it noticed it the other day when backing the boat in the water I have had it to the dealership a couple of…
Transmission
47 complaints · 18%Half of these problems showed up before 55,000 miles.
While driving down a city street, transmission slips and/or does not catch on acceleration. Jerking motion as it searches to catch gears. Faint burning smell.
Tahoe feels like it wants to shift gears when it's not going above 25mph. It's happened on city streets. It happens as soon as the Tahoe is put into gear. It does not happen all of the time though. It goes away after I drive it for a couple of miles. It has not happened on the highway. Other times it feels like…
Other or unspecified
45 complaints · 18%Half of these problems showed up before 45,500 miles.
I purchased a brand new 2016 chevy Tahoe last year. It has approx 47,000 miles on it this far. The air conditioner began blowing hot air. I have place two cans of refrigerate in the system in less than one week. I can not identify any leaks. I spoke with the dealership and they have voiced I would have to pay for…
My sunroof is leaking by the driver side visor and above the driver side window when it rains and the sunroof makes a loud whistling noise when I go over 60 MPH.
Electrical
31 complaints · 12%Half of these problems showed up before 58,500 miles. Parts named most often: integrated trailer brake control, instrument panel.
The car was parked. We got in & shut the doors. When I tried to start the car, the doors locked automatically. I could not open the doors or roll down the windows. It was well over 100 degrees in the car. We were trapped in the car. While on the phone with 911, I was able to get the car to release the door locks and…
Since I have bought this vehicle in 2016 I have had nothing but continuous problems with it. 1.2016 Tahoe w/ 96,000 miles began riding extremely rough any speed. So much bounce and jarring that the car is unsafe to drive on any rough road. Took it to the dealer, the magnetic ride control shocks and struts failed and…
Steering
20 complaints · 8%Half of these problems showed up before 32,000 miles.
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 was stopped when I…
Tahoe has been in the shop 9 times in one year, "service 4WD", "slow to 3mph to shift to 4WD low" and "service stabilink". Vehicle has tried to pull to the right while driving at highway speed, almost causing loss of control. Gmc has replace several shorts in electrical system ( while never finding cause).
Suspension
19 complaints · 7%Half of these problems showed up before 33,000 miles.
The contact owns a 2016 Chevrolet Tahoe. While driving 70 MPH, the suspension was unstable and the steering wheel made a clicking noise when turning left to right. In addition, there was an abnormal noise that had progressed within months of owning the vehicle while driving at a high rate of speed. The dealer…
The contact owns a 2016 Chevrolet Tahoe. While driving low speeds, the contact heard an abnormal popping noise. The failure occurred without warning. The vehicle was taken to hertrich Chevrolet buick gmc (7677 ocean gateway, easton, md) where it was diagnosed that the upper ball joints were faulty and the upper…
Engine
19 complaints · 7%Half of these problems showed up before 27,000 miles.
While driving in the summer, my wife informed me that the vehicle had stalled and almost died--shortly after, the AC was not working. I left work and came to her--found that the compressor belt had shredded off. Took the vehicle to dealer and they replaced compressor. A month later, my wife was driving home on the…
The contact owns a 2016 Chevrolet Tahoe. While driving 20 MPH, the vehicle stalled without warning. The contact stated that the failure previously occurred. The vehicle was towed to courtesy Chevrolet (1233 e camelback rd, phoenix, az 85014, ([phone]) where it was diagnosed that high temperature weather caused the…
Fuel system
14 complaints · 6%Half of these problems showed up before 23,000 miles.
While driving in the summer, my wife informed me that the vehicle had stalled and almost died--shortly after, the AC was not working. I left work and came to her--found that the compressor belt had shredded off. Took the vehicle to dealer and they replaced compressor. A month later, my wife was driving home on the…
The contact owns a 2016 Chevrolet Tahoe. While driving 20 MPH, the vehicle stalled without warning. The contact stated that the failure previously occurred. The vehicle was towed to courtesy Chevrolet (1233 e camelback rd, phoenix, az 85014, ([phone]) where it was diagnosed that high temperature weather caused the…
Complaints are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
2016 Chevrolet Tahoe recalls
Transmission: transfer case (4-wheel drive)
Risk: Front or rear wheel lockup increases the risk of a crash.
Fix: 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.
Full defect summary
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.
Seat belts: front
Risk: A broken pretensioner cable reduces the effectiveness of the driver's seat belt, increasing the risk of injury.
Fix: 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.
Full defect summary
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.
Brakes: service brakes
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 vehicle to pull to one side unexpectedly, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: 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.
Full defect summary
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.
Brakes: 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 risk of a crash.
Fix: 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.
Full defect summary
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.
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.
Fix: 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.
Full defect summary
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.
Seat belts: pretensioner
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 driver and front passenger.
Fix: 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.
Full defect summary
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.
Seat belts: pretensioner
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 driver and front passenger.
Fix: 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.
Full defect summary
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.
Suspension: control arm
Risk: Inadequate welds may allow the control arm to separate from the bushing, compromising steering and increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: 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.
Full defect summary
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.
Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which recalls are still open on your car.
NHTSA defect investigations
Brake vacuum pump failure
Summary
On november 20, 2018, the office of defects investigations (odi) opened pe18-012 to investigate instances of sudden onset of a hard brake pedal that could result in extended stopping distance due to an issue with the brake assist vacuum pump in model year (my) 2014 through 2016 gmc sierra 1500 and chevrolet silverado 1500 series pickup trucks and my 2015 through 2016 cadillac escalade, chevrolet suburban, chevrolet tahoe, and gmc yukon suvs.if the brake assist vacuum pump fails to operate as intended, the amount of brake power assist supplied to the driver can be significantly reduced, extending the subject vehicle stopping distance. Gm stated that the root cause of pump failures was due to
Questions about the 2016 Chevrolet Tahoe
- What are the most common problems with the 2016 Chevrolet Tahoe?
- By NHTSA owner complaints: brakes (92 complaints, typically around 50,000 miles); transmission (47 complaints, typically around 55,000 miles); other or unspecified (45 complaints, typically around 45,500 miles).
- How many recalls does the 2016 Chevrolet Tahoe have?
- 8 recalls listed by NHTSA, the latest from May 7, 2026 (transmission). Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which ones are still open on your car.
- Is the 2016 a bad year for the Chevrolet Tahoe?
- It is 14th of 27 Tahoe model years by number of complaints, with 256 complaints. Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, so popular years collect more of them, and the newest years have had less time to.