InsightArise CarsU.S. Owner Complaint Index
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2021 Chevrolet Tahoe problems, complaints & recalls

More Steady

NHTSA has received 443 owner complaints about the 2021 Chevrolet Tahoe, or 78.1 per year on the road — more complaints than typical for a vehicle of its age (complaint index 1.86, where 1.00 is the average of all tracked vehicles). Among the 85 model-year 2021 vehicles we track, it ranks #75 for fewest complaints per year. Against other Chevrolet models its rate is 70% higher; against other Full-size SUVs it is 126% higher.

Counts are normalized by time on the road, not by sales volume: a popular model generates more reports than a rare one, and complaints are not verified individually. How we count

Complaints filed between 2020-09-21 and 2026-09-01. Median delay from incident to filing: 10 days.

443Complaints
78.1Complaints per year on the road
1.86Complaint index vs. all tracked vehicles
16Recalls
2.7%Share involving a crash or fire
140Last 12 months

Analysis

The previous model year (2020) drew 8.2 complaints per year, fewer than this one. The following model year (2022) drew 39.4 per year, fewer than this one. In its first two years on the road the 2021 model collected 70 complaints, 14% higher than the average vehicle of the same model year.

The most common problem area is Engine (40.2% of complaints), followed by Fuel system (16.7%) and Transmission / powertrain (12.4%). Engine complaints are 1.8 times as common here as across all tracked vehicles. Within Engine reports, owners most often mention “engine”, “lifters”, “knocking”, “towed” and “check”. 12 reports (2.7%) describe a crash or fire; owners mention 9 injuries and 0 deaths.

Half of the reported incidents happened within 50 months of the model year's start; the busiest period was years three to five (49% of incidents). In the last 12 months 140 new complaints were filed, versus 144 in the 12 months before — a steady pace.

NHTSA lists 16 safety recalls for this model year. 84% of the complaints fall in component areas that a recall addresses. 5 NHTSA defect investigations cover this model year; the most recent is “Loss of motive power due to engine failure post recall remedy” (opened 2026-08-20, still open).

Complaint index

  • vs. all tracked vehicles1.86
  • vs. other Chevrolet models1.7
  • vs. other 2021 models2.04
  • vs. other Full-size SUVs2.26
  • Complaints in first 2 years on the road · vs. same-year average (70)1.14
  • #75 of 85 · 2021Rankings ›

1.00 means the same rate as the comparison group. 2.00 means twice as many complaints per year on the road.

Other model years

  • 201811.9 per year0.28
  • 201913.7 per year0.33
  • 20208.2 per year0.19
  • 202178.1 per year1.86
  • 202239.4 per year0.94
  • 202357.4 per year1.36
  • 202423.6 per year0.56
  • 202527.5 per year0.65

Chevrolet Tahoe problems, complaints & recalls by model year ›

What owners complain about

  • Engine178 · 40.2% · 1.81×
  • Fuel system74 · 16.7% · 3.88×
  • Transmission / powertrain55 · 12.4% · 1.07×
  • Electrical35 · 7.9% · 0.5×
  • Airbags & seat belts27 · 6.1% · 1.6×
  • Interior & equipment20 · 4.5% · 0.5×
  • Brakes14 · 3.2% · 0.53×
  • Lighting14 · 3.2% · 2.05×

vs. all vehicles: 1.00 = All-vehicle average

Engine · Common terms in reports

  • engine141
  • lifters37
  • knocking29
  • towed56
  • check48
  • valve lifter10

Fuel system · Common terms in reports

  • fuel pump52
  • module47
  • pump control23
  • towed40
  • pump power12
  • power control13

Transmission / powertrain · Common terms in reports

  • transmission33
  • valve body14
  • reverse14
  • gear13
  • shift11
  • diesel5

Problem areas: Engine · Transmission / powertrain · Electrical · Fuel system · Interior & equipment · Brakes · Airbags & seat belts

When complaints were filed

2020: 12 12 2020 2021: 29 29 2021 2022: 29 29 2022 2023: 50 50 2023 2024: 63 63 2024 2025: 161 161 2025 2026: 99 99 2026
  • Crashes reported: 9
  • Fires reported: 3
  • Injuries: 9
  • Deaths: 0

Vehicle age at incident

  • <1 yr12.6%
  • 1–2 yrs7.4%
  • 2–3 yrs11.7%
  • 3–5 yrs49.2%
  • 5+ yrs19.0%

Median age at incident: 50 months

What owners report

Excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA, trimmed for length. The ODI number is NHTSA's record identifier.

Segment peers · 2021 · Full-size SUVs

ModelsComplaintsComplaints per year on the roadComplaint index
2021 Ford Expedition23040.50.96
2021 Chevrolet Tahoe44378.11.86

Safety recalls (16)

FUEL SYSTEM, DIESEL:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY Campaign 25V619000 · 2025-09-18

Summary: General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2021 Cadillac Escalade, 2021, 2023-2024 Chevrolet Tahoe, and 2022 and 2024 GMC Yukon vehicles equipped with a 6-cylinder diesel engine. The original fuel tank may have been replaced with an incorrect fuel tank, which can allow fuel to leak in a rollover crash.

Risk: A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source increases the risk of a vehicle fire.

Remedy: Dealers will inspect for the correct fuel tank and replace it, if necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 5, 2025. Owners may contact Cadillac customer service at 1-800-333-4223, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, or GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is N252512770. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on September 18, 2025.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:HARD PARTS INTERNAL/MECHANICAL Campaign 25V274000 · 2025-04-24

Summary: General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2021-2024 Cadillac Escalade and Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Silverado 1500, Suburban, and Tahoe, GMC Sierra 1500, Yukon, and Yukon XL vehicles equipped with a 6.2L V8 gas engine. The connecting rod and/or crankshaft engine components may have manufacturing defects that can lead to engine damage and engine failure.

Risk: Engine failure increases the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Dealers will inspect the engine, and as necessary, repair or replace the engine. For vehicles that pass inspection, dealers will add higher viscosity oil, install 6 oil fill cap, replace the oil filter, and update the owner's manual. Repairs will be performed free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 18, 2025. Owners may contact Cadillac customer service at 1-800-333-4223, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, or GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is N252494000.

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:CONTROL MODULE:SOFTWARE Campaign 24V797000 · 2024-10-24

Summary: General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2020-2022 Chevrolet Silverado 1500, 2500, 3500, GMC Sierra 1500, 2500, 3500, 2021 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Tahoe, Suburban, GMC Yukon, and Yukon XL vehicles equipped with diesel engines. The transmission control valve may fail and cause the rear wheels to lock-up.

Risk: Rear wheel lock-up can increase the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Dealers will install new transmission control module software, free of charge. GM will provide a special coverage program to cover the repair of transmissions that are identified by the remedy software as containing a defective control valve. Owner notification letters were mailed December 12, 2024. Owners may contact GM customer service at 1-888-988-7267, Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006, GMC customer service at GMC 1-800-462-8782 or Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is N242454440.

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:LIGHTING CONTROL MODULE:SOFTWARE Campaign 22V827000 · 2022-11-03 · Over-the-air fix

Summary: General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2021 Yukon, Yukon XL, Chevrolet Tahoe, Chevrolet Suburban, Cadillac Escalade, and Cadillac Escalade ESV vehicles. The daytime running lights (DRLs) may not deactivate when the headlights are on. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."

Risk: Daytime Running Lights that do not deactivate as intended may cause a glare, reducing visibility and increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Dealers will provide an over-the-air (OTA) update for the Body Control Module software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 15, 2022. Owners may contact GM customer service at 1-888-988-7267, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, or Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006. GM's number for this recall is N222382220.

SEAT BELTS:CRITICAL FASTENERS Campaign 22V617000 · 2022-08-11

Summary: General Motors, LLC (M) is recalling certain 2021-2022 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Yukon, and Yukon XL vehicles equipped with third-row seats. The rivet that retains the buckle to the mounting bracket in the left or right side third-row seat belt buckle assembly may have been improperly formed.

Risk: A seat belt with a deformed rivet may not properly restrain an occupant, increasing the risk of injury during a crash.

Remedy: Dealers will inspect the rivet head formation on both the left and right side third-row seat belt buckle assemblies and replace seat belt buckle assemblies, as necessary, free of charge. Interim owner notification letters informing owners of the safety risk were mailed September 28, 2022. Owner notification letters were mailed on November 1, 2022. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020; Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006; and GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is N222372380.

POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DRIVESHAFT Campaign 22V036000 · 2022-01-27

Summary: General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2021 GMC Yukon, Yukon XL, Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Suburban, and Chevrolet Tahoe vehicles. The rear wheel driveshaft assemblies may have internal components that were not heat-treated properly, possibly resulting in driveshaft failure.

Risk: Driveshaft failure can cause a sudden loss of drive power, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Dealers will replace the left and/or right rear driveshaft assemblies, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on March 14, 2022. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020; Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006 or GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is N212351030.

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP:CONTROL/DRIVE MODULE Campaign 21V739000 · 2021-09-23

Summary: General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2021 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Yukon, and Yukon XL vehicles. The fuel pump power control module may cause the fuel pump to fail or operate intermittently, which can interrupt fuel flow to the engine, and cause an unexpected engine stall.

Risk: An engine stall increases the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Dealers will replace the fuel pump power control module, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on October 14, 2021. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020; Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006; or GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is N212332040.

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:POWER ASSIST:ELECTRIC:CONTROL MODULE:SOFTWARE Campaign 21V579000 · 2021-07-29

Summary: General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2021 Chevrolet Tahoe and GMC Yukon vehicles. Dealer service technicians may have calibrated the brake system incorrectly, affecting Electronic Stability Control (ESC) , traction control, Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS), and braking while towing a trailer.

Risk: Overall braking performance may be compromised, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Dealers will recalibrate the brake system control module, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on August 27, 2021. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1202; GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is N212340970.

STEERING:STEERING CONTROL MODULE Campaign 21V455000 · 2021-06-17 · Over-the-air fix

Summary: General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2021 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Suburban, Chevrolet Tahoe, GMC Yukon, and Yukon XL vehicles. A software issue may cause a loss of power steering assist at startup or while driving.

Risk: Increased steering effort, particularly at lower speeds, increases the risk of a crash.

Remedy: The power steering module software will be updated by a dealer, or through an over-the-air (OTA) update, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 13, 2021. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020; Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006; or GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is N212333900.

AIR BAGS:SRS MALFUNCTION WARNING LAMP/LIGHT Campaign 21V421000 · 2021-06-10 · Over-the-air fix

Summary: General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2021 Buick Envision, Cadillac CT4, CT5, Escalade, Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Tahoe, Corvette, Suburban, GMC Yukon, Yukon XL vehicles. The communications gateway module incorrectly processes a loss of communication with the sensing diagnostic module (SDM), causing the air bag malfunction indicator light to inconsistently illuminate.

Risk: The air bag malfunction indicator light may fail to warn the driver of a problem with the air bag, increasing the risk of injury.

Remedy: The communications gateway module software will be updated by a dealer, or through an over-the-air (OTA) update, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on July 1, 2021. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300, Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, or GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is N212338110.

SEAT BELTS:REAR/OTHER Campaign 21V210000 · 2021-03-25

Summary: General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2021 Chevrolet Tahoe vehicles. The second-row center seat belt latch may be trapped beneath the trim bezel and therefore inaccessible. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 208. "Occupant Crash Protection."

Risk: A passenger in the second-row center will be unable to wear a seat belt, increasing the risk of injury in the event of a crash.

Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will remove the trim bezel, correctly position the seat belt latch plate, and reinstall the trim bezel, free of charge. The recall began April 14, 2021. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is N212329320.

SEAT BELTS Campaign 21V190000 · 2021-03-18

Summary: General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2021 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, GMC Yukon, Yukon XL, Chevrolet Suburban, and Tahoe vehicles with third-row seating. The third-row outboard seat belts may have been entrapped or misrouted behind the outboard seat-folding mechanism, which could result in damaged seat belts.

Risk: A damaged seat belt can break during a crash, increasing the risk of injury to the occupant.

Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the third-row outboard seat belts, replacing any damaged seat belts, and rerouting them if necessary, free of charge. The recall began on April 21, 2021. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782, and Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006. GM's number for this recall is N202313000.

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY Campaign 21V064000 · 2021-02-11

Summary: General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2021 Chevrolet Tahoe and GMC Yukon vehicles. The fuel tank assemblies may be missing adhesive between two layers of the fuel tank shell which may result in a fuel leak.

Risk: A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source increases the risk of a fire.

Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel tank, free of charge. The recall began March 6, 2021. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, and GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is N212327720.

SEAT BELTS Campaign 20V811000 · 2020-12-23

Summary: General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2020 Chevrolet Bolt EV and 2021 GMC Canyon and Sierra 1500, 2500 and 3500, Yukon, Yukon XL, Cadillac Escalade and Escalade ESV and Chevrolet Blazer, Camaro, Colorado, Equinox, Silverado 1500, 2500 and 3500, Suburban and Tahoe vehicles. Incorrect bolts may have been used at one or more fastening locations to secure the seat belts to the vehicle. If an incorrect bolt was used, the seat belt may not be properly attached to the vehicle.

Risk: If a seat belt assembly is not properly attached to the vehicle, the seat belt may not properly restrain an occupant in the event of a crash, increasing the risk of injury.

Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the suspect bolts, free of charge. The recall began January 29, 2021. Owners may contact GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8785, Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006, or Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is N202322230.

SEAT BELTS Campaign 20V792000 · 2020-12-17

Summary: General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2019-2021 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 and GMC Sierra 1500, 2021 Chevrolet Suburban and Tahoe and GMC Yukon XL and 2020-2021 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 and 3500 and GMC Sierra 2500 and 3500 vehicles. The seat belt brackets may not be secured to the seat frame in the front-row center seating position.

Risk: If a seat-belt bracket is not secured, the seat belt may not properly restrain an occupant in the front-row center seat position, increasing the risk of injury in a crash.

Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect left-side and right-side front-row center seat-belt bracket attachments and reassemble it correctly as necessary, free of charge. The recall began January 26, 2021. Owners may contact GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is N202314670.

SEATS Campaign 20V735000 · 2020-11-25

Summary: General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2021 Chevrolet Suburban and Tahoe and GMC Yukon and Yukon XL vehicles. During general assembly, a repair involved removal of one or both front seats. The attachment bolts for the front seats may not have been properly reinstalled after the repair was completed.

Risk: If an occupied front seat has loose or missing attachment bolts, it may move during a crash, increasing the risk of injury to the seated occupant.

Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the seat attachments for both front seats and install attachment bolts as needed, free of charge. The recall began December 21, 2020. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, and GMC customer service at 1-888-988-7267. GM's number for this recall is N202312720.

How to check whether your car has an open recall ›

Investigations

Frequently asked questions

How many complaints were filed for the 2021 Chevrolet Tahoe?

443 complaints were filed with NHTSA for the 2021 Chevrolet Tahoe, or about 78.1 per year on the road.

What is the most common problem reported for the 2021 Chevrolet Tahoe?

The most common category is Engine, accounting for 40.2% of complaints.

Does the 2021 Chevrolet Tahoe have any recalls?

NHTSA lists 16 safety recall(s) for this model year. 5 NHTSA defect investigations cover this model year; the most recent is “Loss of motive power due to engine failure post recall remedy” (opened 2026-08-20, still open).

Is the 2021 Chevrolet Tahoe still generating complaints?

In the last 12 months 140 new complaints were filed, versus 144 in the 12 months before — a steady pace.

How does the 2021 Chevrolet Tahoe compare with similar vehicles?

NHTSA has received 443 owner complaints about the 2021 Chevrolet Tahoe, or 78.1 per year on the road — more complaints than typical for a vehicle of its age (complaint index 1.86, where 1.00 is the average of all tracked vehicles). Among the 85 model-year 2021 vehicles we track, it ranks #75 for fewest complaints per year. Against other Chevrolet models its rate is 70% higher; against other Full-size SUVs it is 126% higher.