The Lemon Index2016 Chevrolet Tahoe.
The 2016 Chevrolet Tahoe is about average by owner complaints: 109 complaints in its first 3 years and a Lemon Index of 106, where 100 is the average car. Owners complain most about brakes, it has 8 recalls, and it gets 18 to 19 mpg combined. The best Chevrolet Tahoe year is 2012.
Before you buy. What matters most for this car.
Fixes owners look up most.
From 100 YouTube videos about the 2015–2020 Chevy Tahoe, 29.6M views. The 2016 is the same generation.
- Heat, A/C & blend door807K views
2015-2017 Chevy Tahoe A/C Does Not Work watch this FIRST before you spend MONEY!⚙️Homie Hektor⚙️ · 300K views · 6 videos - Infotainment, battery & electrical599K views
2014 - 2019 GMC Sierra Yukon XL Chevy Silverado Suburban Tahoe GM Trucks 5.3L V8 Starter ReplacementDan the Fix it Man · 189K views · 5 videos - Gauges, lights & wiring521K views
Head light bulb change 2015-2020 Yukon, Tahoe, Suburban, Sierra, Silverado, Escalade GMC, ChevyDanny Johnson’s Garage · 474K views · 2 videos - Cooling system499K views
Thermostat Replacement Yukon, Tahoe, Sierra, Silverado, Escalade GMC, Chevy 2014-2020 P0128Danny Johnson’s Garage · 375K views · 2 videos
Show 4 more
- Driveshaft, axles & 4x4390K views
2015 CHEVROLET TAHOE LTZ 4X4 BLACK GM FACTORY 22"S $71,095 MSRP CALL 855.507.8520Wilson County Chevrolet Buick GMC · 119K views · 4 videos - Transmission & shifter217K views
Customer States: Needs Transmission | 2016 Chevrolet Tahoe 5.3Rainman Ray's Repairs · 217K views - No-start: theft light, key & ignition161K views
![[*][*]2018 TAHOE - NO START - NO CRANK[*][*]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/Gl_rWDO8tM0/mqdefault.jpg)
[*][*]2018 TAHOE - NO START - NO CRANK[*][*]Plus 8 Precision · 161K views - Steering & suspension100K views
2015 - 2019 Chevy Tahoe LTZ Service Suspension light/ Service Stabilatrac. Watch this.Iroc lsx · 100K views
Before you buy, watch
Common Problems Yukon, Tahoe, Suburban and how to fix them 2015-2020Danny Johnson’s Garage · 247K views
Everything wrong with my Yukon over 3 years. 2015-2020 Common Problems Yukon, Tahoe, Suburban GMCDanny Johnson’s Garage · 202K views
OWNER REVIEWS! CHEVROLET TAHOE 2015 - 2020 TOP PROBLEMS RELIABILITY PROBLEMS MAINTENANCEMufassi · 95K viewsViews show how many people looked up each fix, not how often it breaks. Videos belong to their creators; we link to them.
How serious. Out of 256 owner complaints, owners reported:
Every Chevrolet Tahoe year. 2016 is highlighted. Lower is better.
What owners complain about most. From owner complaints to the government.
Share of this year's owner complaints filed with NHTSA, not the share of cars that break. One complaint can name more than one area.
When owners reported problems. From owner complaints to the government.
Most owners who filed a complaint with NHTSA had 25K to 65K miles on the car (131 complaints listed the miles). This shows when people who had a problem reported it, not the odds that your car will have it.
- brakes complaints mostly came at 40K–62K miles
- transmission & drivetrain complaints mostly came at 10K–98K miles
Recalls 8
- transmission & drivetrain 2026
A component missing from the drivetrain transfer case may cause the front and/or rear wheels to lock up without warning to the driver.
- seat belts 2021
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 sep…
- brakes 2019
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.
Show all 8 recalls
- brakes 2019
The amount of vacuum created by the vacuum pump may decrease over time.
- seat belts 2018
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 sep…
- airbags 2017
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.
- airbags 2016
In the affected vehicles, certain driving conditions may cause the air bag sensing and diagnostic module (SDM) software to activate a diagnostic test.
- suspension 2016
The front upper control arms may have inadequate welds near the control arm bushing.
Recall repairs are free at any dealer. A recall only matters if it's still open on that exact car, so check its VIN.
Government investigations
- ClosedBrake vacuum pump failure2018–2022
NHTSA looks into a problem when enough owners report it. Many end in a recall.
Safety
Crash test details
| Version | Overall | Front | Side | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chevrolet Tahoe SUV 4WD | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★☆☆ |
| Chevrolet Tahoe SUV RWD | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★☆☆ |
Fuel cost and engines
About $3400–3550 a year in fuel (EPA estimate). Engines: 5.3L 8-cyl.
In owners' words
Brake failure/ hard brake required to stop vehicle. Vacuum pump failed.
2016 Chevrolet Tahoe owner · NHTSA complaint 11205824
More owner reports
Lost power to brakes - difficulty stopping at low speeds - nearly hit car in front of me - car felt like it would not stop
NHTSA complaint 11217683
Left front vibration, shake at all speeds when pulling a trailer. Can be reproduced by placing two 60# sand bags in rear cargo area
NHTSA complaint 10855678
Quick answers
Is the 2016 Chevrolet Tahoe reliable?
About average by government complaints. It drew about the average number of complaints filed with NHTSA in its first 3 years, per car sold (Lemon Index 106; 100 is average, lower is better). The best Chevrolet Tahoe year by this measure is 2012.
What are the most common 2016 Chevrolet Tahoe problems?
In owner complaints to the government, the parts named most are brakes (39%), steering (11%) and suspension (10%). That is the share of complaints, not the share of cars that break.
How many recalls does the 2016 Chevrolet Tahoe have?
8 safety recalls (latest: transmission & drivetrain). Recall repairs are free at any dealer; check a specific car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What gas mileage does the 2016 Chevrolet Tahoe get?
18 to 19 mpg combined, depending on the engine (EPA estimate).
Is the 2016 Chevrolet Tahoe safe?
NHTSA gave it 4 out of 5 stars overall in its best tested version. Ratings differ by body style, and the full table is on the advanced page.
At what mileage do 2016 Chevrolet Tahoe problems start?
Half of the owners who gave a mileage reported the problem between 25,100 and 65,000 miles. The middle report was at 48,000 miles, from 131 complaints.
Does the 2016 Chevrolet Tahoe have transmission problems?
Transmission and drivetrain issues make up 8% of its owner complaints.
How much does the 2016 Chevrolet Tahoe cost in fuel a year?
About $3400 to $3550 a year, by the EPA's current estimate.
What engines does the 2016 Chevrolet Tahoe have?
5.3L 8-cyl.
What Chevrolet Tahoe year is better than the 2016?
By owner complaints per car sold, the best recent years are 2012, 2010 and 2020.
Lemon Index = safety complaints filed with the U.S. government (NHTSA) in a car's first 3 years, per car sold, against the average car of the same model year. 100 is average; lower is better. A complaint is an owner's report, not a confirmed defect. How it works