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Chevrolet Tahoe: Years to Avoid and Best Years (Engine & Transmission)
Chevrolet Tahoe problems by model year, from 3,507 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. For each year: the share of complaints about the engine, transmission or fuel system, how many there were, and the recalls.
Worst years to avoid: 2023 (79%, 168 drivetrain complaints), 2021 (75%, 303 drivetrain complaints) and 2019 (64%, 62 drivetrain complaints). 7 of the 14 Chevrolet Tahoe years we score have an elevated engine, transmission or fuel-system complaint share; 4 of them are at the very high level (60% or more), where every model year we track has a documented failure behind it.
Best years on this measure: 2010 (8%), 2011 (9%) and 2012 (13%). A low share means owners complained about other things more than the drivetrain, not that nothing ever fails.
The sharpest change between consecutive years is from 2016 (29%) to 2017 (45%), up 16 points. The complaint pattern shifts at that year, so check which year the car in front of you is.
By raw volume, the 2021 drew the most drivetrain complaints (303 of 1,086 across the scored years). Volume also tracks how many were sold and how long they have been on the road, which is why the share, not the count, sets the verdict.
Engine and transmission complaint share, 2010–2023
Share of relevant owner complaints about the engine, transmission or fuel system. 33% is elevated, 40% high, 60% very high. A dash means too few complaints to score.
Every Chevrolet Tahoe year
| Model year | Signal | Drivetrain share | Drivetrain complaints | All complaints | Rank (1 = worst) | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 Tahoe | no elevated signal | 8% | 16 | 319 | 14/14 | 4 |
| 2011 Tahoe | no elevated signal | 9% | 25 | 456 | 13/14 | 5 |
| 2012 Tahoe | no elevated signal | 13% | 15 | 180 | 12/14 | 3 |
| 2013 Tahoe | no elevated signal | 13% | 24 | 233 | 11/14 | 5 |
| 2014 Tahoe | no elevated signal | 14% | 11 | 93 | 10/14 | 3 |
| 2015 Tahoe | no elevated signal | 23% | 136 | 662 | 9/14 | 14 |
| 2016 Tahoe | no elevated signal | 29% | 70 | 257 | 8/14 | 8 |
| 2017 Tahoe | high | 45% | 73 | 173 | 6/14 | 4 |
| 2018 Tahoe | elevated | 39% | 39 | 104 | 7/14 | 3 |
| 2019 Tahoe | very high | 64% | 62 | 106 | 3/14 | 2 |
| 2020 Tahoe | high | 53% | 28 | 57 | 5/14 | 3 |
| 2021 Tahoe | very high | 75% | 303 | 454 | 2/14 | 16 |
| 2022 Tahoe | very high | 64% | 116 | 190 | 4/14 | 4 |
| 2023 Tahoe | very high | 79% | 168 | 223 | 1/14 | 5 |
What owners complain about most, all years
Categories as NHTSA files them, summed across the Chevrolet Tahoe years with data. A complaint can name more than one component, so the shares overlap. Red is engine, transmission or fuel.
Chevrolet Tahoe engine and transmission recalls: timeline
NHTSA lists 12 recall campaigns on the Chevrolet Tahoe involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 51 across the years we track. Each model-year page has the details. Whether a particular car still has a recall open depends on its VIN.
| Date | Campaign | Component | Model years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2014 | 14V152000 | power train: automatic transmission: cooling unit and lines | 2015 |
| Jun 2014 | 14V374000 | power train: transfer case (4-wheel drive) | 2015 |
| Dec 2016 | 16V868000 | engine and engine cooling: cooling system: fan | 2013 |
| Nov 2019 | 19V837000 | fuel system, gasoline: delivery: fuel pump | 2020 |
| Feb 2021 | 21V064000 | fuel system, gasoline: storage: tank assembly | 2021 |
| Sep 2021 | 21V739000 | fuel system, gasoline: delivery: fuel pump: control/drive module | 2021 |
| Jan 2022 | 22V036000 | power train: driveline: driveshaft | 2021 |
| Oct 2024 | 24V797000 | power train: automatic transmission: control module: software | 2021 |
| Apr 2025 | 25V274000 | engine and engine cooling: engine: hard parts internal/mechanical | 2021–2023 |
| Sep 2025 | 25V619000 | fuel system, diesel: storage: tank assembly | 2021–2023 |
| Feb 2026 | 26V085000 | power train: automatic transmission: control module: software | 2022 |
| May 2026 | 26V289000 | power train: transfer case (4-wheel drive) | 2016, 2017, 2019 |
39 other recalls (airbags, lighting, brakes and the rest)
| Date | Campaign | Component | Model years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 2010 | 10E043000 | equipment | 2010 |
| Jan 2011 | 11V007000 | suspension: rear: axle: spindle | 2011 |
| Jun 2011 | 11V339000 | steering: linkages | 2011 |
| Jan 2013 | 13V001000 | steering: column locking: anti-theft device | 2013 |
| Aug 2013 | 13V342000 | service brakes, hydraulic | 2014 |
| May 2014 | 14V246000 | steering: linkages: tie rod assembly | 2015 |
| Jun 2014 | 14V301000 | electrical system: software | 2015 |
| Jul 2014 | 14V451000 | air bags: side/window | 2015 |
| Oct 2014 | 14V614000 | electrical system | 2013–2014 |
| Nov 2014 | 14V719000 | steering: electric power assist system | 2015 |
| Dec 2014 | 14V827000 | electrical system: ignition | 2011–2012 |
| Oct 2015 | 15V640000 | electrical system: ignition | 2015 |
| Apr 2016 | 16V256000 | suspension: front: control arm | 2016 |
| Sep 2016 | 16V651000 | air bags: frontal | 2015–2017 |
| Jul 2017 | 17V437000 | air bags: frontal | 2015–2016 |
| May 2018 | 18V291000 | seat belts: front | 2015–2016 |
| Sep 2018 | 18V586000 | steering: electric power assist system | 2015 |
| Sep 2019 | 19V645000 | service brakes, hydraulic: power assist: vacuum | 2015–2018 |
| Oct 2019 | 19V761000 | service brakes, hydraulic: antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip: wheel speed sensor/tone ring | 2015–2020 |
| Oct 2020 | 20V603000 | service brakes, hydraulic: power assist: vacuum | 2018 |
| Nov 2020 | 20V735000 | seats | 2021 |
| Dec 2020 | 20V792000 | seat belts | 2021 |
| Dec 2020 | 20V811000 | seat belts | 2021 |
| Feb 2021 | 21V050000 | air bags: frontal: passenger side: inflator module | 2010–2011 |
| Feb 2021 | 21V051000 | air bags: frontal: passenger side: inflator module | 2012 |
| Feb 2021 | 21V053000 | air bags: frontal: passenger side: inflator module | 2010–2013 |
| Feb 2021 | 21V054000 | air bags: frontal: passenger side: inflator module | 2010–2014 |
| Feb 2021 | 21V115000 | tires | 2020 |
| Mar 2021 | 21V190000 | seat belts | 2021 |
| Mar 2021 | 21V210000 | seat belts: rear/other | 2021 |
| Apr 2021 | 21V245000 | seat belts: front | 2015–2016 |
| Jun 2021 | 21V421000 | air bags: srs malfunction warning lamp/light | 2021 |
| Jun 2021 | 21V455000 | steering: steering control module | 2021 |
| Jul 2021 | 21V579000 | service brakes, hydraulic: power assist: electric: control module: software | 2021 |
| Aug 2022 | 22V617000 | seat belts: critical fasteners | 2021–2022 |
| Nov 2022 | 22V827000 | exterior lighting: lighting control module: software | 2021 |
| Dec 2022 | 22V903000 | exterior lighting: lighting control module: software | 2022–2023 |
| Sep 2023 | 23V642000 | suspension: rear | 2023 |
| Sep 2024 | 24V674000 | service brakes, hydraulic: brake fluid low warning: lamp | 2023 |
What the free pages leave out on the Chevrolet Tahoe
- The mileage where it happens, for the model year you are looking at.
- What the repair costs, to price into your offer.
- Cleaner alternatives: similar cars with a better record.
- Up to 15 owner reports, with the ones about your car's own engine first.
- What to ask the seller and what to check on the test drive.
- Open recalls on the actual car, by VIN.
Questions people ask about the Chevrolet Tahoe
What are the worst years for the Chevrolet Tahoe?
On engine and transmission complaints, the worst Chevrolet Tahoe years are the 2023 (79% of relevant complaints, very high), the 2021 (75% of relevant complaints, very high) and the 2019 (64% of relevant complaints, very high). 7 of 14 scored years are elevated in all.
What are the best years for the Chevrolet Tahoe?
On engine and transmission complaints, the best Chevrolet Tahoe years are the 2010 (8%), the 2011 (9%) and the 2012 (13%). That describes the model year; any one car still needs an inspection.
Does the Chevrolet Tahoe have engine problems?
In some years. Across the 14 scored years, 1,086 of 2,883 relevant NHTSA complaints (38%) concern the engine, transmission or fuel system; the largest drivetrain category is engine. The years with an elevated share are 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023.
Is the Chevrolet Tahoe reliable?
On the engine and transmission it depends on the year: 7 of 14 Chevrolet Tahoe years we score have an elevated complaint share and 7 do not. Pooled across those years, 38% of relevant complaints are about the drivetrain, against a 33% line for an elevated signal. Complaint data does not measure overall reliability, so pick the year first, then inspect the car.
Are there transmission or engine recalls on the Chevrolet Tahoe?
Yes. NHTSA lists 12 recall campaigns involving the engine, transmission or fuel system across the Chevrolet Tahoe years we track, out of 51 in total: 25V619000 (Sep 2025, 2021–2023), 26V085000 (Feb 2026, 2022), 26V289000 (May 2026, 2016–2019), and earlier ones. Whether a car still has one open depends on its VIN.
Have the VIN?Paste it and get the full report for that car. First report free, then a 30-day pass covers a whole car search.
Check a VINExperimental model-level information. This is not a vehicle inspection, vehicle-history report, financial advice or purchase recommendation. It describes patterns across model years, not the condition of any individual vehicle. Model years with fewer than 25 complaints are not scored.