2021 Chevrolet TAHOE

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Avoid This Year

Quick Summary

The 2021 Chevrolet TAHOE has 587 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 7.3x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is engine problems (28% of all complaints), specifically: brand new 2021 tahoe 1367 miles catastrophically lost power without notice while in a busy intersection with mother and son. onstar emergency services did not work. unable to place car in neutral to move out of busy intersection. police called, vehicle towed. could not start, jumping not successful. ⚠️ 4 fire reports filed.

4 fire reports 10 crash reports 12 injuries

587

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

7.3x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

ENGINE

163 complaints

28%

• BRAND NEW 2021 TAHOE 1367 MILES CATASTROPHICALLY LOST POWER WITHOUT NOTICE WHILE IN A BUSY INTERSECTION WITH MOTHER AND SON. ONSTAR EMERGENCY SERVICES DID NOT WORK. UNABLE TO PLACE CAR IN NEUTRAL TO MOVE OUT OF BUSY INTERSECTION. POLICE CALLED, VEHICLE TOWED. COULD NOT START, JUMPING NOT SUCCESSFUL
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2021 CHEVROLET TAHOE. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A NOTIFICATION FROM ONSTAR THAT THE ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION HAD FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO BEAVER CHEVROLET (3494 PHILIPS HWY, JACKSONVILLE, FL
• MY WIFE WAS DRIVING OUR NEW TAHOE (5,101 MILES) DOWN A NEIGHBORHOOD STREET, STOPPED AT A STOP SIGN AND HIT GAS TO PROCEED INTO A TURN AND ENGINE COMPLETELY TURNED OFF. SHE WAS ABLE TO GLIDE TO A STOP IN FRONT OF A HOUSE, BUT IS TERRIFIED WHAT MAY HAVE HAPPENED IF SHE WAS TRAVELING FAR FROM HOME OR

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 1 fire reports💥 2 crashes

“BRAND NEW 2021 TAHOE 1367 MILES CATASTROPHICALLY LOST POWER WITHOUT NOTICE WHILE IN A BUSY INTERSECTION WITH MOTHER AND SON. ONSTAR EMERGENCY SERVICES DID NOT WORK. UNABLE TO PLACE CAR IN NEUTRAL TO MOVE OUT OF BUSY INTERSECTION. POLICE CALLED, VEHICLE TOWED. COULD NOT START, JUMPING NOT SUCCESSFUL”

— NHTSA complaint filing

FUEL SYSTEM

109 complaints

19%

• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2021 CHEVROLET TAHOE. WHILE PARKED, THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO START THE VEHICLE HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START. THERE WAS NO WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO SERRA CHEVROLET SAGINAW (4200 BAY RD, SAGINAW, MI 48603) TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFOR
• May 6, on vacation, sudden engine failure, valve lifter and lifter rod. GM told dealer only to replace lifters on one side, Cyl 5 was problem. May 24 car ready, pickup and 68 miles later same problem while on I95 in SC. Did not trust engine and drove in right lane. GM played Russian roulette with ou
• We have owned this 2021 Chevrolet Tahoe for a little less than a year. Since acquiring this vehicle, there have been multiple safety recalls and we have had to get the vehicle serviced 3 times due to electrical issues. Now for the major safety issue, was out of town waiting at a red light in a tur

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2021 CHEVROLET TAHOE. WHILE PARKED, THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO START THE VEHICLE HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START. THERE WAS NO WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO SERRA CHEVROLET SAGINAW (4200 BAY RD, SAGINAW, MI 48603) TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFOR”

— NHTSA complaint filing

TRANSMISSION

77 complaints

13%

• BRAND NEW 2021 TAHOE 1367 MILES CATASTROPHICALLY LOST POWER WITHOUT NOTICE WHILE IN A BUSY INTERSECTION WITH MOTHER AND SON. ONSTAR EMERGENCY SERVICES DID NOT WORK. UNABLE TO PLACE CAR IN NEUTRAL TO MOVE OUT OF BUSY INTERSECTION. POLICE CALLED, VEHICLE TOWED. COULD NOT START, JUMPING NOT SUCCESSFUL
• MY WIFE WAS DRIVING OUR NEW TAHOE (5,101 MILES) DOWN A NEIGHBORHOOD STREET, STOPPED AT A STOP SIGN AND HIT GAS TO PROCEED INTO A TURN AND ENGINE COMPLETELY TURNED OFF. SHE WAS ABLE TO GLIDE TO A STOP IN FRONT OF A HOUSE, BUT IS TERRIFIED WHAT MAY HAVE HAPPENED IF SHE WAS TRAVELING FAR FROM HOME OR
• May 6, on vacation, sudden engine failure, valve lifter and lifter rod. GM told dealer only to replace lifters on one side, Cyl 5 was problem. May 24 car ready, pickup and 68 miles later same problem while on I95 in SC. Did not trust engine and drove in right lane. GM played Russian roulette with ou

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 1 fire reports💥 1 crashes

— NHTSA complaint filing

ELECTRICAL

55 complaints

• BRAND NEW VEHICLE BOUGHT TWO WEEKS AGO. I AM GETTING A SERVICE SAFETY RESTRAINT SYSTEM MESSAGE INTERMITTENTLY.
• BRAND NEW 2021 TAHOE 1367 MILES CATASTROPHICALLY LOST POWER WITHOUT NOTICE WHILE IN A BUSY INTERSECTION WITH MOTHER AND SON. ONSTAR EMERGENCY SERVICES DID NOT WORK. UNABLE TO PLACE CAR IN NEUTRAL TO MOVE OUT OF BUSY INTERSECTION. POLICE CALLED, VEHICLE TOWED. COULD NOT START, JUMPING NOT SUCCESSFUL
• VEHICLE WILL NOT START. ONLY 6900 MILES. BATTERY FINE, LIGHTS AND RADIO WORK, WINDOWS AND TAILGATE WORK. CAR TURNS OVER, BUT JUST WON'T START. READ MANUAL, DID EVERYTHING SUGGESTED. CLEARLY AN ELECTRONIC ERROR. AND, BECAUSE VEHICLE COULD NOT BE STARTED, IT COULD NOT BE PUT IN NEUTRAL. TOW

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 2 fire reports💥 1 crashes

“BRAND NEW VEHICLE BOUGHT TWO WEEKS AGO. I AM GETTING A SERVICE SAFETY RESTRAINT SYSTEM MESSAGE INTERMITTENTLY.”

— NHTSA complaint filing

OTHER

38 complaints

• I'VE BEEN RECEIVING THIS MESSAGE "SERVICE SAFETY RESTRAINT SYSTEM" SINCE OCTOBER 26, 2020. SURPRISED THAT I KEEP RECEIVING THIS MESSAGE AND I'VE HAD THIS VEHICLE FOR 3 WEEKS BRAND NEW. UNSURE AS TO WHAT IS CAUSING THE PROBLEM AND CURRENTLY SEEKING RESOLUTION OF THIS.
• 2021 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN, 79 MILES ON ODOMETER WHEN DRIVEN OFF LOT ON 02/22/21. VEHICLE FRAME AND SUSPENSION PARTS, AS WELL AS, CONTROL, STEERING, AND POWERTRAIN PARTS HAVE SIGNIFICANT CORROSION OCCURRING. VEHICLE WAS MANUFACTURED AND INSPECTED 11/2020. VEHICLE WAS VISUALLY INSPECTED BY OWNER. CU
• VEHICLE WILL NOT START. ONLY 6900 MILES. BATTERY FINE, LIGHTS AND RADIO WORK, WINDOWS AND TAILGATE WORK. CAR TURNS OVER, BUT JUST WON'T START. READ MANUAL, DID EVERYTHING SUGGESTED. CLEARLY AN ELECTRONIC ERROR. AND, BECAUSE VEHICLE COULD NOT BE STARTED, IT COULD NOT BE PUT IN NEUTRAL. TOW

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 2 crashes

“I'VE BEEN RECEIVING THIS MESSAGE "SERVICE SAFETY RESTRAINT SYSTEM" SINCE OCTOBER 26, 2020. SURPRISED THAT I KEEP RECEIVING THIS MESSAGE AND I'VE HAD THIS VEHICLE FOR 3 WEEKS BRAND NEW. UNSURE AS TO WHAT IS CAUSING THE PROBLEM AND CURRENTLY SEEKING RESOLUTION OF THIS.”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

ENGINE(~50K mi)

$500

FUEL SYSTEM(~50K mi)

$500

TRANSMISSION(~50K mi)

$500

ELECTRICAL(~50K mi)

$500

OTHER(~50K mi)

$500

Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 587 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
ENGINE: BRAND NEW 2021 TAHOE 1367 MILES CATASTROPHICALLY LOST POWER WITHOUT NOTICE WHILE IN A BUSY INTERSECTION WITH MOTHER AND SON. ONSTAR EMERGENCY SERVICES DID NOT WORK. UNABLE TO PLACE CAR IN NEUTRAL TO MOVE OUT OF BUSY INTERSECTION. POLICE CALLED, VEHICLE TOWED. COULD NOT START, JUMPING NOT SUCCESSFUL
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
FUEL SYSTEM: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2021 CHEVROLET TAHOE. WHILE PARKED, THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO START THE VEHICLE HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START. THERE WAS NO WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO SERRA CHEVROLET SAGINAW (4200 BAY RD, SAGINAW, MI 48603) TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFOR
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
TRANSMISSION: BRAND NEW 2021 TAHOE 1367 MILES CATASTROPHICALLY LOST POWER WITHOUT NOTICE WHILE IN A BUSY INTERSECTION WITH MOTHER AND SON. ONSTAR EMERGENCY SERVICES DID NOT WORK. UNABLE TO PLACE CAR IN NEUTRAL TO MOVE OUT OF BUSY INTERSECTION. POLICE CALLED, VEHICLE TOWED. COULD NOT START, JUMPING NOT SUCCESSFUL
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ELECTRICAL: BRAND NEW VEHICLE BOUGHT TWO WEEKS AGO. I AM GETTING A SERVICE SAFETY RESTRAINT SYSTEM MESSAGE INTERMITTENTLY.
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)