NHTSA (USA)CriticalDo Not Drive
At a glance
What can fail
This page covers 8 recalls, 251 owner complaints and NHTSA crash-test ratings for the 2016 Chevrolet Tahoe.
4/5 Overall
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Rating
Brake complaints dominate the 2016 Tahoe's owner report profile, with service brakes drawing by far the most attention. Owners frequently describe the brake pedal going suddenly hard and nearly unresponsive, sometimes with the vehicle pulling or swerving unexpectedly during braking. Some report this happening at relatively low speeds in everyday driving situations. The powertrain is the second most-reported system, with owners describing sudden transmission failure, often without any prior warning signs, sometimes at highway speeds and higher mileage. A smaller cluster of electrical system complaints rounds out the picture. A recurring brake-related pattern involves the pedal losing normal travel and resistance abruptly, requiring the owner to stop and restart the vehicle before normal pedal feel returns.
251
Total Complaints
17
Crash-Related
1
Fire-Related
8
With Injuries
By System
The 2016 Chevrolet Tahoe has 8 recalls, the most serious involving braking and steering: a sensor fault can cause sudden unintended braking that pulls the vehicle sideways, and front upper control arm welds can fail and cause a loss of steering control.
A separate drivetrain recall affects four-wheel and all-wheel drive models, where a transfer case fault can lock the front or rear wheels unexpectedly. On the brake assist side, the vacuum pump can weaken over time, requiring more pedal force to stop the vehicle and extending stopping distances.
Three recalls cover the driver's seatbelt and restraint system. The pretensioner cable that tightens the belt in a crash can fatigue and break from repeated bending as the driver gets in and out, and a related recall addresses vehicles that may have received an incorrect replacement cable during a prior repair attempt. A broader restraint recall covers front airbags and seatbelt pretensioners that may fail to deploy in a crash, leaving the driver and front passenger without full protection. Note that the police pursuit and special-service trim is specifically called out in some of the seatbelt recalls, though several of these issues apply more broadly.
At a glance
What can fail
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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 →
A missing drivetrain component in the transfer case can cause the front and/or rear wheels to suddenly lock up without warning.
What the fix does
Dealers will inspect the transfer case and replace it if needed, at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
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.
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 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 front upper control arms may have weak welds near the bushing, which could fail during driving.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace both front upper control arms and realign the front end at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.