What are the most common problems with the 2016 Chevrolet Tahoe?

Brakes lead with 92 complaints, followed by the power train with 47. The full picture is in the problems section above.

Does the 2016 Chevrolet Tahoe have recalls?

Yes. The by-year count shows 10 recalls for this model year. See the Recalls section for the list.

Is the 2016 Chevrolet Tahoe reliable?

Owners filed 257 complaints with NHTSA. That count is not adjusted for sales, so read it alongside the problem groups and the recall section.

What is the gas mileage of the 2016 Chevrolet Tahoe?

See the fuel economy section of this page for the EPA figures.

Is 2016 the best year for the Chevrolet Tahoe?

Use the by-year comparison on this page to see how 2016 stacks up against other years.

2016 Chevrolet Tahoe Problems, Recalls and MPG

NHTSA has 257 owner complaints on file for the 2016 Chevrolet Tahoe^[1]. Brakes top the list with 92 complaints^[2].

257owner complaints^[1]

10recalls^[3]

18–19MPG combined (EPA)^[4]

4★NHTSA overall rating^[5]

Problems
Recalls
Fuel economy
Safety
Engine and size
By year
Verdict
FAQ

Most reported problems

Here are the complaint groups owners raised, biggest first.

Brakes. 92 complaints^[2]. Owners describe a brake pedal that turns stiff and hard to press at low speeds, which makes stopping take longer than it should. Some stories mention a vacuum pump and a dealer repair bill.
Power Train. 47 complaints^[6]. In the stories we read, owners describe rough or jerky shifting, the truck dropping into neutral while driving, and a transmission that quit on the highway. One owner tells of a parked Tahoe that rolled away.
Unknown Or Other. 45 complaints^[7]. These reports do not fit a single component group.
Electrical System. 31 complaints^[8]. Owners describe a front camera warning on the dash, a car that would not start, screens that went blank, and doors that locked on their own.
Steering. 20 complaints^[9]. Owners describe shaking and vibration at highway speed, a pull to one side, and tire swaps that did not cure it.
Suspension. 19 complaints^[10].
Engine. 19 complaints^[11].
Fuel/Propulsion System. 14 complaints^[12].

These are unverified owner reports, and one complaint can name more than one component.

Recalls

Newest first. Each recall covers only certain vehicles, so not every 2016 Tahoe is necessarily included.

Power Train › Transfer Case (4-Wheel Drive) (26V289), May 2026. About 66 vehicles are potentially affected across every model and year the recall names. The recall names these risks: a crash. Dealers do the repair free of charge.^[13]
Seat Belts › Front (21V245), April 2021. About 2,568 vehicles are potentially affected across every model and year the recall names. The recall names these risks: injury. Dealers do the repair free of charge.^[14]
Service Brakes (19V761), October 2019. About 652,967 vehicles are potentially affected across every model and year the recall names. The recall names these risks: a crash, reduced braking. Dealers do the repair free of charge.^[15]
Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Power Assist › Vacuum (19V645), September 2019. About 3,456,719 vehicles are potentially affected across every model and year the recall names. The recall names these risks: a crash, reduced braking. Dealers do the repair free of charge.^[16]
Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Pedals And Linkages (18V578), August 2018. About 42,280 vehicles are potentially affected across every model and year the recall names. The recall names these risks: a crash, reduced braking. Dealers do the repair free of charge.^[17]
Seat Belts › Front (18V291), May 2018. About 23,004 vehicles are potentially affected across every model and year the recall names. The recall names these risks: a crash, injury. Dealers do the repair free of charge.^[18]
Seat Belts › Pretensioner (17V437), July 2017. About 40,683 vehicles are potentially affected across every model and year the recall names. The recall names these risks: a crash, injury, an air bag that may not work as intended. Dealers do the repair free of charge.^[19]
Seat Belts › Pretensioner (16V651), September 2016. About 3,640,162 vehicles are potentially affected across every model and year the recall names. The recall names these risks: a crash, injury, an air bag that may not work as intended. Dealers do the repair free of charge.^[20]
Suspension › Front › Control Arm (16V256), April 2016. About 3,738 vehicles are potentially affected across every model and year the recall names. The recall names these risks: a crash, steering problems, parts separating. Dealers do the repair free of charge.^[21]
Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Pedals And Linkages (16V069), February 2016. About 430,771 vehicles are potentially affected across every model and year the recall names. The recall names these risks: a crash, reduced braking. Dealers do the repair free of charge.^[22]

Fuel economy

EPA ratings depend on the engine and drive. Annual fuel cost uses EPA's current fuel price assumptions, not prices when the car was new.

Version	City / highway / combined MPG	Annual fuel cost
Tahoe C1500 2WD, 5.3L 8-cyl, Automatic 6-spd, Gasoline or E85, Rear-Wheel Drive^[23]	16 / 23 / 18	$3,700
Tahoe C1500 2WD, 5.3L 8-cyl, Automatic 6-spd, Regular, Rear-Wheel Drive^[4]	16 / 23 / 19	$3,550
Tahoe K1500 4WD, 5.3L 8-cyl, Automatic 6-spd, Gasoline or E85, 4-Wheel Drive^[24]	16 / 22 / 18	$3,700
Tahoe K1500 4WD, 5.3L 8-cyl, Automatic 6-spd, Regular, 4-Wheel Drive^[25]	16 / 22 / 18	$3,700

Safety ratings

Version	Overall	Frontal	Side	Rollover	Rollover risk
SUV 4WD^[5]	4	5	5	3	22.2%
SUV RWD^[26]	4	5	5	3	22.9%

Engine and size

These are Canadian-market specifications from Transport Canada, so US models can differ slightly.

Version	Length	Width	Height	Wheelbase	Curb weight
TAHOE 4DR SUV AWD^[27]	204 in	80 in	74 in	116 in	5,545 lb
TAHOE 4DR SUV RWD^[28]	204 in	80 in	74 in	116 in	5,309 lb

How 2016 compares with other years

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA for each Tahoe model year. The 2016 is highlighted^[3].

Show the numbers

Model year	Complaints	Recalls
1995	246	6
1996	283	3
1997	410	0
1998	263	2
1999	552	1
2000	282	6
2001	512	5
2002	449	3
2003	507	4
2004	467	2
2005	293	5
2006	114	3
2007	1,177	4
2008	586	4
2009	306	5
2010	319	4
2011	457	6
2012	180	4
2013	234	5
2014	93	4
2015	663	16
2016	257	10
2017	174	4
2018	105	3
2019	107	2
2020	57	3
2021	459	16
2022	195	4
2023	231	5
2024	69	3
2025	50	1
2026	27	3

NHTSA's counts for the Tahoe show 257 complaints and 10 recalls for 2016^[3]. Among the 33 model years listed, 15 have fewer complaints than 2016 and 17 have more^[3]. The fewest complaints are for 2027 (0) and the most are for 2007 (1,177)^[3]. These counts are not adjusted for sales, so treat them as a rough guide. The chart above shows every year.

Should you buy a used 2016 Tahoe?

The 2016 Tahoe has a real complaint record, with 257 reports on file^[1]. Brakes and the power train account for the largest groups^[2]^[6]. The counts are not adjusted for how many trucks were sold, so they show where owners spoke up and not how often a part fails. The page also lists 10 recalls for this year^[3]. Check the recall section and test drive any used Tahoe with the brake pedal and shifting in mind.

Frequently asked questions

What are the most common problems with the 2016 Chevrolet Tahoe?: Brakes lead with 92 complaints, followed by the power train with 47^[2]^[6]. The full picture is in the problems section above.
Does the 2016 Chevrolet Tahoe have recalls?: Yes. The by-year count shows 10 recalls for this model year^[3]. See the Recalls section for the list.
Is the 2016 Chevrolet Tahoe reliable?: Owners filed 257 complaints with NHTSA^[1]. That count is not adjusted for sales, so read it alongside the problem groups and the recall section.
What is the gas mileage of the 2016 Chevrolet Tahoe?: See the fuel economy section of this page for the EPA figures.
Is 2016 the best year for the Chevrolet Tahoe?: Use the by-year comparison on this page to see how 2016 stacks up against other years^[3].

Keep exploring

Other model years of the Chevrolet Tahoe

2004 467 complaints, 2 recalls
2007 1,177 complaints, 4 recalls
2015 663 complaints, 16 recalls
2016 this page
2017 174 complaints, 4 recalls
2018 105 complaints, 3 recalls
2025 50 complaints, 1 recall

Compare all model years of the Chevrolet Tahoe

Other Chevrolet models from 2016

2016 Chevrolet Colorado 712 complaints, 4 recalls
2016 Chevrolet Cruze 250 complaints, 4 recalls
2016 Chevrolet Equinox 399 complaints, 1 recall
2016 Chevrolet Malibu 865 complaints, 10 recalls
2016 Chevrolet Silverado 802 complaints, 14 recalls
2016 Chevrolet Traverse 292 complaints, 5 recalls

All Chevrolet models

Similar cars from 2016: suvs

2016 Tesla Model X 450 complaints, 12 recalls
2016 Toyota Land Cruiser 4 complaints, 3 recalls
2016 Volvo XC90 198 complaints, 8 recalls
2016 BMW X5 74 complaints, 5 recalls
2016 Buick Enclave 141 complaints, 4 recalls
2016 Cadillac Escalade 104 complaints, 4 recalls

All suvs we cover

Facts and sources

NHTSA has 257 owner complaints on file for the 2016 Chevrolet Tahoe (17 mention a crash, 1 a fire, 13 injuries, 0 deaths reported). NHTSA vehicle records
92 complaints name the brakes component group (9 crashes, 0 fires, 5 injuries, median mileage at failure 51,250). NHTSA vehicle records
Owner complaints and recalls for every Chevrolet Tahoe model year (chart above). NHTSA recall database
EPA rating for Tahoe C1500 2WD, 5.3L 8-cyl, Automatic 6-spd, Regular, Rear-Wheel Drive: 16 city / 23 highway / 19 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $3,550. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings, SUV 4WD: overall 4 stars, frontal 5 stars, side 5 stars, rollover 3 stars; rollover risk 22.2%. NHTSA vehicle records
47 complaints name the power train component group (1 crashes, 1 fires, 0 injuries, median mileage at failure 55,000). NHTSA vehicle records
45 complaints name the unknown or other component group (2 crashes, 0 fires, 1 injuries, median mileage at failure 45,500). NHTSA vehicle records
31 complaints name the electrical system component group (0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, median mileage at failure 58,500). NHTSA vehicle records
20 complaints name the steering component group (2 crashes, 0 fires, 2 injuries, median mileage at failure 32,000). NHTSA vehicle records
19 complaints name the suspension component group (0 crashes, 0 fires, 1 injuries, median mileage at failure 33,000). NHTSA vehicle records
19 complaints name the engine component group (0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, median mileage at failure 27,000). NHTSA vehicle records
14 complaints name the fuel/propulsion system component group (0 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, median mileage at failure 23,000). NHTSA vehicle records
Recall 26V289, filed May 7, 2026: Power Train › Transfer Case (4-Wheel Drive). NHTSA recall database
Recall 21V245, filed April 8, 2021: Seat Belts › Front. NHTSA recall database
Recall 19V761, filed October 24, 2019: Service Brakes. NHTSA recall database
Recall 19V645, filed September 6, 2019: Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Power Assist › Vacuum. NHTSA recall database
Recall 18V578, filed August 30, 2018: Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Pedals And Linkages. NHTSA recall database
Recall 18V291, filed May 3, 2018: Seat Belts › Front. NHTSA recall database
Recall 17V437, filed July 10, 2017: Seat Belts › Pretensioner. NHTSA recall database
Recall 16V651, filed September 8, 2016: Seat Belts › Pretensioner. NHTSA recall database
Recall 16V256, filed April 28, 2016: Suspension › Front › Control Arm. NHTSA recall database
Recall 16V069, filed February 5, 2016: Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Pedals And Linkages. NHTSA recall database
EPA rating for Tahoe C1500 2WD, 5.3L 8-cyl, Automatic 6-spd, Gasoline or E85, Rear-Wheel Drive: 16 city / 23 highway / 18 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $3,700. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
EPA rating for Tahoe K1500 4WD, 5.3L 8-cyl, Automatic 6-spd, Gasoline or E85, 4-Wheel Drive: 16 city / 22 highway / 18 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $3,700. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
EPA rating for Tahoe K1500 4WD, 5.3L 8-cyl, Automatic 6-spd, Regular, 4-Wheel Drive: 16 city / 22 highway / 18 combined MPG; EPA estimated annual fuel cost $3,700. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings, SUV RWD: overall 4 stars, frontal 5 stars, side 5 stars, rollover 3 stars; rollover risk 22.9%. NHTSA vehicle records
Transport Canada specifications via NHTSA vPIC, TAHOE 4DR SUV AWD: length 204 in, width 80 in, height 74 in, wheelbase 116 in, curb weight 5,545 lb (converted from centimeters and kilograms). vpic.nhtsa.dot.gov
Transport Canada specifications via NHTSA vPIC, TAHOE 4DR SUV RWD: length 204 in, width 80 in, height 74 in, wheelbase 116 in, curb weight 5,309 lb (converted from centimeters and kilograms). vpic.nhtsa.dot.gov

Complaints submitted to NHTSA by owners; unverified reports, one complaint can name several components. Complaint counts are not normalized by sales; compare years of the same model, not different models. EPA annual fuel cost uses EPA's current fuel price assumptions, not the price when the car was new. Horsepower is the rating listed for EPA test vehicles. Dimensions are Canadian-market specifications and can differ slightly from US models.

2016 Chevrolet Tahoe: problems, recalls and fuel economy