NHTSA (USA)High Risk
At a glance
What can fail
The steel cable connecting your driver's seat belt may bend repeatedly as you enter and exit, causing it to wear out and separate.
This page covers 9 recalls, 655 owner complaints and NHTSA crash-test ratings for the 2015 Chevrolet Tahoe.
4/5 Overall
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Rating
Brakes are the dominant complaint theme for the 2015 Tahoe, accounting for the largest share of owner reports by a wide margin. Owners frequently describe the brake pedal going hard or resisting normal depression, often accompanied by a "Service Brake System" warning light on the dash. Some report the brakes feeling unresponsive or requiring significantly more pedal effort to slow the vehicle, and in several cases owners say the warning appeared while driving at highway speeds or on hills. The electrical system draws the second-highest complaint volume, with owners reporting various warning lights cycling on unexpectedly and intermittent system faults. Steering complaints form a third notable cluster, owners describe sudden, temporary loss of power steering, typically paired with a "Power Steering: Drive with Care" alert and a noticeably heavy steering wheel, with the condition sometimes resolving on its own before a repair could be completed.
655
Total Complaints
29
Crash-Related
2
Fire-Related
15
With Injuries
By System
The 2015 Chevrolet Tahoe has 9 recalls, the most serious involving unexpected braking that can pull the vehicle sharply to one side, and a separate ignition defect where the key can snap back to the accessory position and cut engine, steering, and braking power while driving.
Several recalls affect occupant restraints. Front airbags and seatbelt pretensioners may fail to deploy in a crash, leaving the driver and front passenger without full protection. A separate concern affects Police Pursuit and Special-Service models specifically: the driver's seatbelt cable can fatigue and break from repeated flexing as the driver enters and exits, and some vehicles that received a prior repair for this issue may have gotten an incorrect replacement cable that also fails to hold properly.
On the steering and braking side, the electric power steering assist can cut out and then snap back suddenly, making the vehicle difficult to control at low speeds. The vacuum pump that helps power the brake booster can weaken over time, requiring more pedal effort and extending stopping distances. There is also a roof rail airbag concern: bags on certain vehicles can be punctured by roof carrier hardware during deployment, reducing their ability to protect occupants in a side impact.
At a glance
What can fail
The steel cable connecting your driver's seat belt may bend repeatedly as you enter and exit, causing it to wear out and separate.
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Driver Assistance
Ratings from NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program (NCAP). Based on 2 tested variants; worst-case ratings shown.
Complaints are owner-reported and reflect individual experiences, not confirmed defects. They are distinct from recalls. Data sourced from the national vehicle safety complaint database. See trending complaints →
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the driver seat belt lap pretensioner at no cost.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
A wheel-speed sensor may fail, causing the brake control computer to incorrectly activate the driveline-protection system while driving 41–60 mph in four-wheel or automatic mode.
What the fix does
Dealers will reprogram the brake control computer at no cost to prevent the system from activating incorrectly.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The vacuum pump produces less vacuum over time, which can reduce braking system performance.
What the fix does
Dealers will reprogram the Electronic Brake Control Module at no cost to restore proper braking function.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The electric power steering system may temporarily lose assist, then suddenly regain it while driving.
What the fix does
Dealers will update the steering system's software at no cost to restore normal operation.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The flexible steel cable connecting the driver's seat belt to the seat may bend repeatedly as you enter and exit the vehicle, causing it to fatigue and separate.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the pretensioner cable and seat side-shield at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The air bag control software may not have received a complete update from a previous recall. Under certain driving conditions, this software may run a diagnostic test that disables frontal air bags and seat belt pretensioners during a crash.
What the fix does
Dealers will update the air bag control software. If your vehicle previously deployed air bags, the control module will be replaced instead. Repairs are free.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
Under certain driving conditions, the air bag control module's software may run a self-test that disables the front air bags and seat belt pretensioners, preventing them from deploying in a crash.
What the fix does
Dealers will update the air bag control module software. If your air bags have previously deployed, the module will be replaced. Repairs are free of charge.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The ignition lock actuator may bind, making the key difficult to turn or causing the ignition to stick in the Start position.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the ignition lock housing at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The roof rail air bags lack reinforcement where they contact the hardware that attaches the roof carrier, which could cause improper bag deployment in a side crash.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the roof carrier attaching hardware at no cost to reinforce the air bag contact points.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.