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Owner complaints · Engine

2021 Chevrolet Tahoe engine problems

185 of the 453 complaints owners filed with NHTSA about the 2021 Chevrolet Tahoe name the engine (NHTSA’s “Engine” heading — the engine and its cooling system). Filed under the same heading: 385 manufacturer bulletins, 1 recall, 4 NHTSA investigations. 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.

185 complaints 41% of this model year’s 2 reports a crash 1 a fire typically at 61k miles

What owners filed about the engine

Source: NHTSA complaint database

185complaints name the engine

2 of the 185 reports a crash · 1 a fire · 0 injuries. Self-reported, unverified.

Filed per year: 2020: 2 · 2021: 11 · 2022: 7 · 2023: 13 · 2024: 13 · 2025: 82 · 2026: 57

61kmiles, typically

Half of the 41 owners who gave an odometer reading reported the engine problem between 17,000 and 85,000 miles. A median of reports, not the life of a part.

41%of this model year’s complaints

453 complaints in all about the 2021 Chevrolet Tahoe, 57 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 “Engine” means the same area of the vehicle, not one fault.

Across model years: Chevrolet Tahoe engine problems, every year on file →

In owners’ own words

Source: NHTSA complaint database

Filed with NHTSA by the people who own these cars, about the engine. Quoted as written, with anything identifying removed; unverified reports — what was said, not a finding that it was true.

GM has been building V8 engines with a known defect that is bending push rods and damaging lifters. These newer engines use a DFM system and that system is compounding this engine defect. GM has refused to replace all the lifters and is going forward with just fixing engines as they blow up which can happen at any time.

Engine Jan 11, 2022 NHTSA owner report

I have has this vehicle for just over a year, and in the time i have accumulated 8,600 miles. Suddenly, yesterday after normal I stopped for a red light. The start/stop function came on (normally) and then all of a sudden the vehicle restarted it self, but, it started running rough, and misfiring. when i moved it backfired several time.

Engine Nov 30, 2021 NHTSA owner report

Valve lifter damaged. Caused poor engine performance and lack of acceleration. Vehicle at dealer, who is very aware of this issue with GM V8 engines. Replacement parts on multi-week back-order. Check engine and other warning lights appear, as well as audible noises from engine compartment. Symptoms appeared on 10/8/21. 9,000 on vehicle

Engine Oct 11, 2021 NHTSA owner report

The contact owns a 2021 Chevrolet Tahoe. The contact stated while driving approximately 45-50 MPH, the vehicle stalled with the check engine warning light flashing. The vehicle was towed to the contact's residence. The vehicle was then towed to the local dealer but was not diagnosed or repaired.

Engine at 14,170 miles Sep 3, 2021 NHTSA owner report

The engine started knocking and running rough. My wife pulled the car over. She could tell from the sound it was not a minor issue. We had the 2021 Tahoe toed to Vaden Chevrolet in Beaufort, SC, where we purchased the vehicle. The dealer confirmed it was an engine problem. 8 lifters along with other associated parts need to be replace.

Engine Jul 17, 2021 NHTSA owner report

What is on file about the engine

Source: NHTSA recalls, investigations and manufacturer communications

Recall filed under this heading

25V274000 High
Apr 24, 2025 · 597,571 vehicles
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2021-2024 Cadillac Escalade and Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Silverado 1500, Suburban, and Tahoe, GMC Sierra 1500, Yukon, and Yukon XL vehicles equipped with a 6.2L V8 gas engine. The connecting rod and/or crankshaft engine components may have manufacturing defects that can lead to engine damage and engine failure.

NHTSA investigations

EA26005 Loss of motive power due to engine failure post recall remedy
opened Aug 20, 2026 · open
On January 16, 2026, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened Recall Query RQ26001. This investigation was opened to assess the remedy effectiveness of Recall 25V-274. ODI has received complaints alleging engine failure in vehicles after the recall remedy had been completed, whether that remedy involved an oil viscosity change or a complete engine replacement. General Motors (GM) issued R…
RQ26001 Loss of motive power due to engine failure post recall remedy
opened Jan 16, 2026 · closed Aug 20, 2026
On January 16, 2026, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened Recall Query RQ26001. This investigation was opened to assess the remedy effectiveness of Recall 25V-274. ODI has received complaints alleging engine failure in vehicles after the recall remedy had been completed, whether that remedy involved an oil viscosity change or a complete engine replacement. General Motors (GM) issued R…
EA25007 Loss of motive power due to engine failure
opened Oct 23, 2025 · open
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) has received 1,157 reports of engine bearing failure failures in the L87 6.2L engine produced by General Motors (GM). Of the 1,157 reports received, 173 are outside of the scope of recall 25V-274. These engines are installed in Model Years (MY) 2019–2024 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 and GMC Sierra 1500, and 2021-2024MY Chevrolet Suburban and Tahoe, GMC Yukon/Y…
PE25001 Loss of motive power due to engine failure
opened Jan 16, 2025 · closed Oct 23, 2025
On January 16, 2025, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened Preliminary Evaluation PE25001 after receiving complaints and field reports concerning engine failures in MY2019-2024 GM’s full-size truck and SUV T1XX platform equipped with the L87 6.2L V8 engine. These complainants alleged engine bearing failures resulting in knocking and growling noises from the engine’s bottom end and in so…

385 manufacturer bulletins filed under this heading

The 0 newest are listed; every one is on the model year’s page. Quote the document number at a service desk — it is a diagnosis the maker has already written down.

Trouble codes named on this system

P0300 P0106 P129F P12A6 P0506 P023F P0201 P0202

Codes a bulletin or an owner’s complaint about the 2021 Chevrolet Tahoe names on this model year; a code with a record of its own links it.

Other systems with a record on the 2021 Chevrolet Tahoe

Source: the same files

fuel system problems 117 complaints
transmission and drivetrain problems 88 complaints
electrical problems 56 complaints

From here

Every 2027 model on file, by price Compare two vehicles, trim vs trim See what a VIN was priced at See what owners reported

Common questions

Source: NHTSA complaint database, recalls and manufacturer communications

Are engine problems common on the 2021 Chevrolet Tahoe?

They are documented: NHTSA holds 185 owner complaints naming the engine on this model year (41% of everything owners filed about it), and 385 manufacturer bulletins, 1 recall, 4 NHTSA investigations 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 engine on the 2021 Chevrolet Tahoe?

Yes — one campaign is filed under this heading: 25V274000. A recall is matched by VIN; check yours at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

When do engine problems show up on the 2021 Chevrolet Tahoe?

Owners who gave an odometer reading reported it at a median of 61,000 miles; half of them between 17,000 and 85,000. That is when reports cluster, not the life of a part.

What does NHTSA's "Engine" heading cover?

The engine and its cooling system. Owners choose the heading when they file, so it says which area of the vehicle the complaint is about, not which part failed.