2016 Chevrolet Tahoe: Recalls, Problems & MPG
Here are the deets on the 2016 Chevrolet Tahoe: 8 recalls, 256 owner complaints and up to 19 mpg combined.
Recalls
8 vehicle recalls from the manufacturer. Repairs are free. Check your VIN to see if one is still open on your car.
Suspension Vehicle recall #16V256000 · 2016 · 3,738 vehicles
What's wrong: The front upper control arms May have inadequate welds near the control arm bushing.
Why it matters: Inadequate welds May allow the control arm to separate from the bushing, compromising steering and increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Gm will notify owners, and dealers will replace the left and right front upper control arms and realign the vehicle, free of charge. The recall began on May 18, 2016. Until the repairs have been made, owners are advised not to drive their vehicles.
Seat belts, Airbags Vehicle recall #16V651000 · 2016 · 3,640,162 vehicles
What's wrong: In the affected vehicles, certain driving conditions May cause the air bag sensing and diagnostic module (sdm) software to activate a diagnostic test. During this test, deployment of the frontal air bags and the seat belt pretensioners would not occur in the event of a crash.
Why it matters: A failure of the front air bags or seat belt pretensioners to deploy in the event of a crash necessitating deployment increases the risk of injury to the driver and front passenger.
The fix: Gm will notify owners, and dealers will reflash the sdm software. Vehicles that have had a previous air bag deployment will have the sdm replaced. These repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began on October 13, 2016.
Seat belts, Airbags Vehicle recall #17V437000 · 2017 · 40,683 vehicles
What's wrong: While being previously remedied for recall 16v-651, the affected vehicles May not have received the complete software update necessary to remedy the recall condition. Without the update, certain driving conditions May cause the air bag sensing and diagnostic module (sdm) software to activate a diagnostic test. During this test, deployment of the frontal air bags and the seat belt pretensioners would not occur in the…
Why it matters: A failure of the front air bags or seat belt pretensioners to deploy in the event of a crash necessitating deployment increases the risk of injury to the driver and front passenger.
The fix: Gm will notify owners, and dealers will reflash the sdm software. Vehicles that have had a previous air bag deployment will have the sdm replaced. These repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began on August 4, 2017.
Seat belts Vehicle recall #18V291000 · 2018 · 23,004 vehicles
What's wrong: The flexible steel cable connecting the driver's seat belt to the outboard side of the seat May be repeatedly bent over the seat side shield as the driver enters and exits the vehicle causing the cable to fatigue and separate.
Why it matters: If the pretensioner cable becomes fatigued or breaks, the driver May not be properly restrained in the event of a crash, increasing their risk of injury.
The fix: Gm will notify owners, and dealers will replace the pretensioner cable and seat side-shield, free of charge. The recall began June 19, 2018.
Brakes (hydraulic) Vehicle recall #19V645000 · 2019 · 3,456,719 vehicles
What's wrong: The amount of vacuum created by the vacuum pump May decrease over time.
Why it matters: As the vacuum level drops, the brake assist decreases, increasing braking effort, extending the distance required to stop the vehicle, thereby increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Gm will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the electronic brake control module, free of charge. The recall began October 8, 2019.
Brakes, Brakes (hydraulic) Vehicle recall #19V761000 · 2019 · 652,967 vehicles
What's wrong: 3-liter engine, a 3.08-ratio rear axle and four-wheel drive. If a wheel-speed sensor fails, while the vehicle is traveling between 41 and 60 mph in four-wheel or automatic mode, the electronic-brake control module (ebcm) software May activate the driveline-protection system.
Why it matters: Unintended activation of the driveline-protection system will cause unintended braking on the wheel on the opposite side of the failed sensor, causing the vehicle to pull to one side unexpectedly, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Gm will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the ebcm, free of charge. The recall began December 11, 2019.
Seat belts Vehicle recall #21V245000 · 2021 · 2,568 vehicles
What's wrong: The flexible steel cable connecting the driver's seat belt to the outboard side of the seat May be repeatedly bent over the seat side shield as the driver enters and exits the vehicle causing the cable to fatigue and separate.
Why it matters: A broken pretensioner cable reduces the effectiveness of the driver's seat belt, increasing the risk of injury.
The fix: Gm will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver seat belt lap pretensioner, free of charge. The recall began on May 5, 2021.
Transmission & drivetrain Vehicle recall #26V289000 · 2026 · 66 vehicles
What's wrong: A component missing from the drivetrain transfer case May cause the front and/or rear wheels to lock up without warning to the driver.
Why it matters: Front or rear wheel lockup increases the risk of a crash.
The fix: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicle until the remedy is completed. Dealers will inspect and, if necessary, replace the transfer case assembly, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 18, 2026.
Most-reported problems
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component. One complaint can list several components. 1 mention a fire, 13 injuries and 0 deaths were reported.
What owners describe
- Brakes (85): the most common themes are brake failure / soft pedal (24), warning light on (7).
- Transmission & drivetrain (47): the most common themes are hard / delayed shifting (23), warning light on (11), stalls / loses power (7).
- Other / unknown (45): the most common themes are leaks (8), noise or vibration (5).
- Electrical (31): the most common themes are electrical failure (7).
The 2016 Chevrolet Tahoe has 256 owner complaints, ranking #18 of 36 Tahoe model years for complaints (about average; the typical year has 279). Complaints peaked in 2019 (47 filed that year). The typical problem showed up when the car was about 4 years old, at a median of 48,000 miles. Neighboring years: 2015 (658 complaints, 14 recalls), 2017 (174 complaints, 4 recalls).
Engines & fuel economy (EPA)
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | City | Hwy | Comb. | Fuel |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5.3 L 8-cyl | Automatic 6-spd | Rear-Wheel Drive | 16 | 23 | 19 | Regular |
| 5.3 L 8-cyl | Automatic 6-spd | Rear-Wheel Drive | 16 | 23 | 18 | Gasoline or E85 |
| 5.3 L 8-cyl | Automatic 6-spd | 4-Wheel Drive | 16 | 22 | 18 | Gasoline or E85 |
| 5.3 L 8-cyl | Automatic 6-spd | 4-Wheel Drive | 16 | 22 | 18 | Regular |
Want the full repair deets? Get the factory manual.
Recall and complaint data tells you what goes wrong. A service manual tells you how to fix it: torque specs, wiring diagrams, fluid capacities and step-by-step procedures for the 2016 Chevrolet Tahoe.
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FAQ
Does the 2016 Chevrolet Tahoe have any recalls?
Yes. NHTSA lists 8 vehicle recalls for the 2016 Chevrolet Tahoe. Recall repairs are free at any dealer, no matter how old the car is. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What are the most common 2016 Chevrolet Tahoe problems?
Owners have filed 256 complaints with NHTSA. The most-reported areas are brakes (85), transmission & drivetrain (47), other / unknown (45).
What gas mileage does the 2016 Chevrolet Tahoe get?
EPA ratings run up to 19 mpg combined (5.3 L, Automatic 6-spd), across 4 engine and transmission combos.
Where can I get a 2016 Chevrolet Tahoe repair manual?
eManualOnline sells downloadable manuals, Mitchell 1 DIY and ALLDATAdiy sell online access to factory repair data, and Haynes sells printed guides and online access. Pick a download if you want to keep it, or a subscription for wiring diagrams and TSBs.