2016 Chevrolet Tahoe brake problems
93 of the 257 complaints owners filed with NHTSA about the 2016 Chevrolet Tahoe name the brakes (NHTSA’s “Service Brakes” heading — the hydraulic brakes, ABS and brake assist). Filed under the same heading: 3 recalls, 1 NHTSA investigation. Every figure below is a document in a federal file, linked; none is a failure rate, and none is a verdict on any one car.
What owners filed about the brakes
Source: NHTSA complaint database9 of the 93 reports a crash · 0 a fire · 5 injuries. Self-reported, unverified.
Filed per year: 2016: 1 · 2018: 18 · 2019: 25 · 2020: 7 · 2021: 9 · 2022: 6 · 2023: 13 · 2024: 7 · 2025: 4 · 2026: 3
Half of the 53 owners who gave an odometer reading reported the brake problem between 42,000 and 68,000 miles. A median of reports, not the life of a part.
257 complaints in all about the 2016 Chevrolet Tahoe, 3 filed in 2026. The whole picture, every system →
Counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects, and scale with how many of these were sold; nothing here is a rate. NHTSA groups complaints coarsely, so “Service Brakes” means the same area of the vehicle, not one fault.
Across model years: Chevrolet Tahoe brake problems, every year on file →
In owners’ own words
Source: NHTSA complaint databaseFiled with NHTSA by the people who own these cars, about the brakes. Quoted as written, with anything identifying removed; unverified reports — what was said, not a finding that it was true.
Brakes failed 3 times, once pulling into parking space, I rolled down a step driveway into street across street and into neighbors yard and once when a tech from dealership was test driving it, he almost hit the building. The vehicle was in motion each incident
Brakes do not work when going at a slow pace. Have taken the car in 2x and they cannot fin anything wrong. Just took in for 3rd time and this time I drove in the car with them. They confirmed they brakes are not working properly
Brakes consistently soft pressure especially on downgrades. Came close to hitting parked cars at traffic lights. Brake was pressed almost to the floor before it stopped. I have taken it into dealership where they have changed pads fixed rotors but still very soft mushy brakes. Many complaints I AM reading about this 2016 Tahoe.
At slow speeds the vehicle does not brake. To get the vehicle to stop you have to tap them repeatedly very hard for it to acknowledge that you are braking
When driving at low speeds, both turning and driving straight, the brake pedal becomes so firm that it cannot be depressed. I AM unable to stop the vehicle without pumping the brakes. The dealership is charging $700 to replace the vacuum pump and is familiar with the issue
What is on file about the brakes
Source: NHTSA recalls, investigations and manufacturer communicationsRecalls filed under this heading
- 19V645000 HighSep 6, 2019 · 3,456,719 vehicles
- General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2015-2017 Cadillac Escalade, 2014-2018 Chevrolet Silverado, GMC Sierra, 2015-2018 Chevrolet Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Yukon vehicles. The amount of vacuum created by the vacuum pump may decrease over time.
- 18V578000 CriticalAug 30, 2018 · 42,280 vehicles
- General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2015-2016 Chevrolet Silverado 2500, 3500, 1500 Crew Cab Special Service, Tahoe Police Pursuit/Special Service, GMC Sierra 2500, and 3500 vehicles. The brake pedal pivot nut may loosen, causing the brake pedal to be loose or inoperative.
- 16V069000 CriticalFeb 5, 2016 · 430,771 vehicles
- General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2015-2016 Chevrolet Silverado 1500, 2500, and 3500 heavy duty trucks manufactured October 1, 2013, to February 1, 2016, 2015-2016 Chevrolet Tahoe Police Pursuit Vehicles (PPV) manufactured March 1, 2014, to February 1, 2016, and 2015-2016 GMC Sierra 2500 and 3500 heavy duty trucks manufactured October 29, 2013, to February 1, 2016. On the affected vehicles, the brake pedal pivot nut may loosen, causing the brake pedal to be loose or inoperative.
NHTSA investigation
- PE18012 Brake Vacuum Pump Failureopened Nov 20, 2018 · closed Apr 10, 2022
- On November 20, 2018, the Office of Defects Investigations (ODI) opened PE18-012 to investigate instances of sudden onset of a hard brake pedal that could result in extended stopping distance due to an issue with the brake assist vacuum pump in model year (MY) 2014 through 2016 GMC Sierra 1500 and Chevrolet Silverado 1500 series pickup trucks and MY 2015 through 2016 Cadillac Escalade, Chevrolet S…
Trouble codes named on this system
Codes a bulletin or an owner’s complaint about the 2016 Chevrolet Tahoe names on this model year; a code with a record of its own links it.
Common questions
Source: NHTSA complaint database, recalls and manufacturer communicationsAre brake problems common on the 2016 Chevrolet Tahoe?
They are documented: NHTSA holds 93 owner complaints naming the brakes on this model year (36% of everything owners filed about it), and 3 recalls, 1 NHTSA investigation are filed under the same heading. Whether it is a problem on one particular car is a diagnosis, not a count, and a count says nothing about how many were sold.
Is there a recall for the brakes on the 2016 Chevrolet Tahoe?
Yes — 3 campaigns are filed under this heading: 19V645000, 18V578000, 16V069000. A recall is matched by VIN; check yours at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
When do brake problems show up on the 2016 Chevrolet Tahoe?
Owners who gave an odometer reading reported it at a median of 52,500 miles; half of them between 42,000 and 68,000. That is when reports cluster, not the life of a part.
What does NHTSA's "Service Brakes" heading cover?
The hydraulic brakes, ABS and brake assist. Owners choose the heading when they file, so it says which area of the vehicle the complaint is about, not which part failed.