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2016 Chevrolet Tahoe problems: engine and transmission complaints and recalls
No elevated drivetrain complaint concentration in the available NHTSA records for the 2016 Chevrolet Tahoe. Engine, transmission and fuel system account for 29% of relevant complaints.
Better than 72% of the 1,790 model years we track (2010–2023).
Excludes 19 airbag, lighting and seat-belt recall complaints that would otherwise mask the signal (unadjusted: 27%).
Does the 2016 Chevrolet Tahoe have engine or transmission problems?
Not as a pattern, going by owner complaints. 70 of 238 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2016 Chevrolet Tahoe concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (29%). For comparison, the 2015 scores 23% and the 2017 scores 45%. This describes the model year, not any one car: a well-maintained or already-repaired example can be fine, and a clean model year can still have a bad car in it.
Complaints by component
The years either side
Manufacturers fix things mid-generation. A bad year next to a clean one is common; the fix usually arrived in between.
How the 2016 compares with other Chevrolet Tahoe years
Of the 14 Chevrolet Tahoe years with enough complaints to score, the 2016 is the 7th-best on engine and transmission share (29%). The worst is the 2023 (79%), the best the 2010 (8%). By volume, the 2016 drew 257 complaints (70 drivetrain), against 662 for the 2015 and 173 for the 2017.
Chevrolet Tahoe years to avoid and best years →
2010 Tahoe problems · 2011 Tahoe problems · 2012 Tahoe problems · 2013 Tahoe problems · 2014 Tahoe problems · 2015 Tahoe problems · 2016 · 2017 Tahoe problems · 2018 Tahoe problems · 2019 Tahoe problems · 2020 Tahoe problems · 2021 Tahoe problems · 2022 Tahoe problems · 2023 Tahoe problems
The rest of the picture on the 2016 Chevrolet Tahoe
- The mileage where it happens. When owners of the 2016 Chevrolet Tahoe said the problem showed up, and the range most of them fell in.
- Up to 15 owner reports, with the ones about your car's own engine first.
- What to ask the seller and what to check on the test drive, for this car.
- Two cars side by side, if you are deciding between them.
What one owner reported
One of 70 drivetrain complaints. The full report shows up to 15, with quotes about the engine in the car you are looking at first.
2016 Chevrolet Tahoe powertrain recalls
Yes. NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign on the 2016 Chevrolet Tahoe involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 8 in total. A recall is the manufacturer admitting a defect and paying to fix it; whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN, which the full report checks. The owner complaints above are a separate record and often point at problems that never became a recall.
General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2026 Cadillac Escalade and Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Silverado 1500, Suburban, and Tahoe, and GMC Sierra 1500, Yukon, and Yukon XL vehicles with four-wheel (4WD) or all-wheel drive (AWD), and certain 2015-2020 Suburban, Escalade, Escalade ESV, Yukon, Yukon XL, and Tahoe vehicles. A component missing from the drivetrain transfer case may cause the front and/or rear wheels…
Risk: Front or rear wheel lockup increases the risk of a crash.
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,…
7 other recalls on this model year (airbags, lighting, brakes and the rest)
Source: NHTSA recall campaigns filed against this year, make and model. Checked October 3, 2026.
Checking one particular 2016 Chevrolet Tahoe? This page is about the model year. Accidents, title brands and odometer records belong to the individual car, and that is what a vehicle history report covers.
Get a history report from EpicVIN Before you pay: EpicVIN’s $1 offer is a 3-day trial (up to 5 reports) that renews at $49.99 a month unless you cancel. Other plans are listed under “View all our packages” at checkout. We may earn a commission if you buy through this link. It does not change what this page reports.Questions people ask about the 2016 Chevrolet Tahoe
Does the 2016 Chevrolet Tahoe have engine or transmission problems?
Not as a pattern, going by owner complaints. 70 of 238 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2016 Chevrolet Tahoe concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (29%). It describes the model year, not any one car, so an inspection still matters.
What is the most common problem with the 2016 Chevrolet Tahoe?
Going by NHTSA owner complaints, the most common problem filed against the 2016 Chevrolet Tahoe is service brakes: 93 of 257 complaints (36%) name it, followed by power train (47) and electrical system (31). A complaint can name more than one component, so these overlap. Engine, transmission and fuel-system complaints together make up 29% of the relevant total.
Is the 2016 Chevrolet Tahoe reliable?
On the engine and transmission, nothing stands out: 29% of relevant complaints filed with NHTSA concern the drivetrain, below the 33% line where we call a signal elevated. That is better than 72% of the 1,790 model years we track. Among the 14 Chevrolet Tahoe years we score, it ranks 7th-best. Complaint data describes the model year, not one car, and it says nothing about trim, paint or electronics outside the drivetrain; an independent inspection still decides it.
Are there engine or transmission recalls on the 2016 Chevrolet Tahoe?
Yes. NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign on the 2016 Chevrolet Tahoe involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 8 in total: 26V289000 (power train: transfer case (4-wheel drive)). Whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN.
Which Chevrolet Tahoe years are better?
Among the Chevrolet Tahoe years we track, the 2010 (8%), the 2011 (9%) and the 2012 (13%) have a lower engine and transmission complaint share than the 2016 (29%). Manufacturers fix things mid-generation, so the year before or after can be a different car. Every year side by side: https://thelanecheck.com/cars/chevrolet-tahoe
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Check a VINExperimental model-level information. This is not a vehicle inspection, vehicle-history report, financial advice or purchase recommendation. It describes patterns across a model year, not the condition of any individual vehicle.