2021 Chevrolet Tahoe Reliability Report

Sudden power loss and no-start conditions dominate, often traced to the fuel pump control module, with repeat failures on the same vehicle. Warning lights for stability control, traction control, and forward collision flash at once, and some trucks refuse to go over 62 mph. The instrument cluster or center screen goes black, sometimes at highway speed, and repeated dealer visits and software updates do not always cure it. One crash report with 3 injuries cites airbags that did not deploy, and one vehicle filled with smoke from the rear seats.

The vehicle stalls or loses power without warning, from parking-lot speeds up to 70 mph, and often will not restart. Dealers almost always diagnose a failed fuel pump power control module. Failures cluster around 35,000 to 38,000 miles, and several owners report the module failing again after replacement. Many link the failure to an existing fuel system recall but find their VIN excluded. A dead vehicle can stay stuck in Park, which complicates towing. One owner reports a cracked high-pressure fuel pump leaking gasoline, with fuel odor in the cabin.

The Service Safety Restraint System warning and airbag light come on repeatedly, sometimes every few minutes, and dealers say the airbags may not deploy while it is lit. The usual diagnosis is a wiring harness or connector under the driver's seat that is too short or damaged by seat movement. Repairs often do not hold, a bulletin fix failed for at least one owner, and parts can be back-ordered for weeks. Some trucks show the warning within days of purchase. One crash report describes airbags that did not deploy after heavy frontal damage.

Front brakes squeal loudly at low speed, a pattern reported across police versions and fleets, and repeated pad and rotor replacements do not stop it. More serious reports describe the pedal sinking to the floor, brakes failing at low speed, or warning lights followed by lost braking. One owner was told the master cylinder needed replacing a third time. Automatic emergency braking reportedly failed to engage in a crash with an injury at 3,400 miles. The parking brake sometimes releases on an incline with the engine running.

Power steering assist cuts out, making the wheel hard or impossible to turn, sometimes at low speed or after a dead battery. A Service Steering Column Lock message appears repeatedly, and one owner reports losing steering control when it showed. Several owners match their symptoms to a steering recall but find their VIN excluded. Grinding or groaning in turns, worse when cold, also appears and overlaps with rear differential noise. One crash report with an injury describes a wheel separating at about 20 mph after the axle broke.

The driver's side headlight adjuster breaks, and the beam drops toward the ground, leaving poor visibility at night. It cannot be readjusted, so the fix is a full headlight assembly, which means removing the grille or front bumper. Failures show up between about 13,540 and 60,000 miles and can recur after a warranty replacement. Owners report no recall coverage and costly out-of-pocket repairs. A separate report notes the low-mounted headlight knob can be bumped off by the driver's knee.

Most reports concern a third-row seat belt buckle recall. Dealers told owners not to use the third row until repaired, while parts stayed unavailable, possibly for a year, and no loaners were offered. Separately, a recurring Service Safety Restraint System light is traced to the driver's seat. One crash report with an injury describes a front passenger belt that did not lock in a rear-end collision. Another owner reports a child tangled in a roof-mounted belt that would not release.