2021 Chevrolet Tahoe
This year had 30% to 100% more complaints than this model's typical year.
This verdict reflects complaint volume compared to this model's typical year. Recalls and safety issues below apply regardless of the verdict — always check them.
- Complaints
- 452
- Recalls
- 16
- Investigations
- 4
- Top problem
- Engine
Campaigns on file for 2021
Opened by NHTSA
37% of complaints
Complaints per year
2021: 452 complaints
View as data table
| Year | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 1988 | 1 |
| 1991 | 3 |
| 1992 | 6 |
| 1993 | 8 |
| 1994 | 19 |
| 1995 | 246 |
| 1996 | 283 |
| 1997 | 410 |
| 1998 | 263 |
| 1999 | 552 |
| 2000 | 282 |
| 2001 | 512 |
| 2002 | 449 |
| 2003 | 507 |
| 2004 | 467 |
| 2005 | 293 |
| 2006 | 114 |
| 2007 | 1,176 |
| 2008 | 528 |
| 2009 | 284 |
| 2010 | 314 |
| 2011 | 447 |
| 2012 | 178 |
| 2013 | 232 |
| 2014 | 90 |
| 2015 | 658 |
| 2016 | 256 |
| 2017 | 174 |
| 2018 | 103 |
| 2019 | 105 |
| 2020 | 57 |
| 2021 | 452 |
| 2022 | 189 |
| 2023 | 222 |
| 2024 | 67 |
| 2025 | 49 |
| 2026 | 25 |
Known problem areas
Percentages can add to more than 100% — a complaint can name more than one system.
Engine
37% · 167 reportsShow complaint excerpts
The engine in my 2021 Chevrolet Tahoe High Country equipped with the 6.2L V8 (L87) experienced a catastrophic failure.
NHTSA ODI report, 2026-07-26
Also filed under Fuel/propulsion system
Fuel/propulsion system
21% · 93 reportsPower train
19% · 87 reportsMost commonly citing automatic transmission.
Show complaint excerpts
I purchased my vehicle new in 2020. It presently has around 83,000 miles. From early on, it has occasionally hesitated, then jumped when putting the car in reverse. I spoke to the dealership years ago but they said it was nothing.
NHTSA ODI report, 2026-07-27
Electrical system
12% · 56 reportsMost commonly citing instrument cluster/panel.
Show complaint excerpts
The airbags failed to deploy in my 2021 Chevrolet Tahoe after being involved in an accident where another vehicle t-boned my vehicle on the passenger side front end to rear end causing severe damage and pushing my vehicle with great force.
NHTSA ODI report, 2024-01-20
Also filed under Air bags
Tl* the contact owns a 2021 Chevrolet Tahoe. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle idled and loss power. The contact detected a smoke odor and smoke came inside the vehicle from the rear seats.
NHTSA ODI report, 2021-04-19
Air bags
6% · 27 reportsMost commonly citing srs malfunction warning lamp/light.
Show complaint excerpts
I was having an airbag light randomly come up on my dash, and when I would start the vehicle it would state âService Restraints systemâ, this started this summer when the weather got hot outside.
NHTSA ODI report, 2026-07-11
Safety timeline
16 recalls · 4 investigations · oldest first
To check one car, enter its VIN on the NHTSA recall page. Check a VIN →
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2020-12-21Seats20V735000 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.
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.
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2021Complaint volume 452 complaints filed for this model year.
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2021-01-26Seat belts20V792000 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.
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.
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2021-01-29Seat belts20V811000 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...
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the suspect bolts, free of charge. The recall began January 29, 2021.
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2021-03-06Fuel system, gasoline21V064000 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.
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.
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2021-04-09Preliminary evaluationClosed 2023-08-24 Air Bag Malfunction
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2021-04-14Seat belts21V210000 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.
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.
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2021-04-21Seat belts21V190000 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.
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.
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2021-07-01Air bags, electrical system21V421000 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.
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.
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2021-07-13Steering21V455000 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.
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.
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2021-08-27Service brakes, hydraulic21V579000 General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2021 Chevrolet Tahoe and GMC Yukon vehicles.
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.
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2021-10-14Fuel system, gasoline21V739000 General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2021 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Yukon, and Yukon XL vehicles.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the fuel pump power control module, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on October 14, 2021.
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2022-03-14Power train22V036000 General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2021 GMC Yukon, Yukon XL, Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Suburban, and Chevrolet Tahoe vehicles.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the left and/or right rear driveshaft assemblies, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on March 14, 2022.
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2022-11-01Seat belts22V617000 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.
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.
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2022-12-15Exterior lighting22V827000 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.
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.
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2024-12-12Power train24V797000 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...
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.
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2025-01-16Preliminary evaluationClosed 2025-10-23 Loss of motive power due to engine failure
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2025-06-18Engine and engine cooling25V274000 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.
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.
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2025-10-23Engineering analysisOpen Loss of motive power due to engine failure
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2025-11-05Fuel system, diesel25V619000 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.
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.
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2026-01-16Recall queryOpen Loss of motive power due to engine failure post recall remedy
Buy-smart checklist
2021 Chevrolet Tahoe — pre-purchase inspection
Inspect
- Engine: 167 reports on file for this year.
- Fuel/propulsion system: 93 reports on file for this year.
- Power train: 87 reports on file for this year.
Verify these recalls were completed
- Recall 20V735000 · Seats
- Recall 20V792000 · Seat belts
- Recall 20V811000 · Seat belts
- Recall 21V064000 · Fuel system, gasoline
- Recall 21V210000 · Seat belts
- Recall 21V190000 · Seat belts
- Recall 21V421000 · Air bags, electrical system
- Recall 21V455000 · Steering
- Recall 21V579000 · Service brakes, hydraulic
- Recall 21V739000 · Fuel system, gasoline
- Recall 22V036000 · Power train
- Recall 22V617000 · Seat belts
- Recall 22V827000 · Exterior lighting
- Recall 24V797000 · Power train
- Recall 25V274000 · Engine and engine cooling
- Recall 25V619000 · Fuel system, diesel
Other years of this model
See all years ranked →FAQ
- Is the 2021 Chevrolet Tahoe reliable?
- Based on NHTSA complaint volume compared to this model's typical year, the 2021 Chevrolet Tahoe is rated "worse than typical".
- What are the most common problems with the 2021 Chevrolet Tahoe?
- The most-reported component is engine, accounting for 37% of complaints on file.
- How many recalls does the 2021 Chevrolet Tahoe have?
- 16 recalls on file for this model year.
Data updated 2026-10-09 · Complaints are unverified owner reports filed with NHTSA, not independently verified defects. Methodology.