NHTSA (USA)CriticalDo Not Drive
At a glance
What can fail
This page covers 4 recalls and NHTSA crash-test ratings for the 2018 Chevrolet Tahoe.
The 2011 to 2018 Chevrolet Tahoe received a four-star overall rating from NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program for US-market vehicles. The Tahoe earned five stars in frontal crash, side crash, and side pole crash tests. It received three stars in rollover testing. NHTSA applies these ratings across model years until a significant redesign occurs, so this rating covers the entire 2011 to 2018 range.
4/5 Overall
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Rating
The 2018 Chevrolet Tahoe has 4 recalls, the most serious involving the transfer case and braking system, where wheel lockup or sudden unexpected braking can pull the vehicle sharply to one side and raise the risk of a crash.
The transfer case recall affects four-wheel and all-wheel drive models: a fault in the system can cause either the front or rear wheels to lock up without warning, removing the driver's ability to steer through the problem. A separate braking recall, limited to vehicles with the 5.3-liter engine, 3.08-ratio rear axle, and four-wheel drive, involves a driveline-protection sensor that can trigger unintended braking on one side of the vehicle, causing it to pull hard in that direction without the driver pressing the brake pedal.
On the brake assist side, two recalls address the same underlying issue: the mechanical vacuum pump that powers the brake booster can lose output over time, leaving the driver with noticeably heavier pedal effort and a longer stopping distance than expected. This affects Tahoes equipped with either the 5.3-liter or 6.2-liter V8 engine. Prior repair attempts did not fully resolve the issue for all affected vehicles, which is why separate campaigns exist covering overlapping model years.
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.
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 mechanical vacuum pump's output decreases over time, reducing the vacuum supply that helps power the brakes.
What the fix does
Dealers will reprogram the Electronic Brake Control Module at no charge.
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.