Chevrolet · Tahoe · 2018
2018 Chevrolet Tahoe: problems & reliability
NHTSA has logged 105 owner complaints and 3 safety recalls for the 2018 Chevrolet Tahoe. The most-reported problem area is the engine (19% of complaints), followed by transmission & powertrain and brakes. Make sure every open recall has been fixed by a dealer before you buy.
Common 2018 Chevrolet Tahoe problems
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Engine problems
20 owner complaints to NHTSA (19% of all complaints for this model year) involve the engine. One owner reported: “During a road trip, we came to a stop and upon stepping on gas to proceed on the road and it wouldn't go. The engine revved and "pulled" until we were able to move. We took it to a dealership as well as private mechanic and was told it is…”
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Transmission & powertrain problems
20 owner complaints to NHTSA (19% of all complaints for this model year) involve the transmission & powertrain, including 1 crash. One owner reported: “05/15/23 - AFM Lifter failure - Complete Top End Rebuild under extended warranty purchased when i bought the Tahoe - Preowned certified. Cost $2,000.00 Out Of Pocket ( Days Chevrolet Repaired 86,350 miles) 09/06/23 - Transmission failed -…”
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Brakes problems
19 owner complaints to NHTSA (18% of all complaints for this model year) involve the brakes, including 2 crashes, 1 injury. One owner reported: “Over the last 6 months the brake pedal is hard to push after the truck sits over night. The vacuum bleeds out indicating a vacuum leak in the system. Gm and the dealer said this model and year not covered under current recall.”
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Electrical system problems
13 owner complaints to NHTSA (12% of all complaints for this model year) involve the electrical system. One owner reported: “Vehicle was driven the day before the incident occurred. The morning of the incident, the vehicle was parked, off and not running. A notification sent to my phone indicating a critical battery low 11.1V reading. Vehicle would not start…”
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Steering problems
11 owner complaints to NHTSA (10% of all complaints for this model year) involve the steering. One owner reported: “The contact owns a 2018 Chevrolet Tahoe. The contact stated that after parking the vehicle in a parking lot and returning to start the vehicle, the “Power Steering Assist Fault” message was displayed, and the vehicle was difficult to turn…”
Owner complaints by area
| Area | Complaints | Share | Chart |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 20 | 19% | |
| Transmission & powertrain | 20 | 19% | |
| Brakes | 19 | 18% | |
| Electrical system | 13 | 12% | |
| Steering | 11 | 10% | |
| Fuel system | 8 | 8% | |
| Forward collision avoidance | 4 | 4% | |
| Body & structure | 3 | 3% |
105 complaints filed with NHTSA in total, reporting 6 crashes, 5 injuries, 1 death. A complaint can involve more than one area.
2018 Chevrolet Tahoe recalls
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Service brakes, hydraulic › Power assist › Vacuum
Risk: A decrease in brake assist can increase the brake pedal effort and distance required to stop the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the Electronic Brake Control Module, free of charge. The recall began November 11, 2020. Owners may contact GM customer service at 1-866-522-9559, Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006 or Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-630-2438. GM's number for this recall is N202300860.
Full recall summary
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2018 Cadillac Escalade, Chevrolet Silverado 1500 and Tahoe, GMC Sierra 1500 and Yukon vehicles equipped with either a 5.3L or 6.2L V8 engine. The output of the mechanical vacuum pump can decrease over time, decreasing the amount of vacuum/power brake assist.
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Service brakes, hydraulic › Antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip › Wheel speed sensor/tone ring
Risk: Unintended activation of the driveline-protection system will cause unintended braking on the wheel on the opposite side of the failed sensor, causing the vehicle to pull to one side unexpectedly, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the EBCM, free of charge. The recall began December 11, 2019. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-630-2438 or GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is N192261050.
Full recall summary
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2015-2020 Chevrolet Suburban, Tahoe, and GMC Yukon, and 2014-2018 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 and GMC Sierra 1500 vehicles equipped with a 5.3-liter engine, a 3.08-ratio rear axle and four-wheel drive. If a wheel-speed sensor fails, while the vehicle is traveling between 41 and 60 mph in four-wheel or automatic mode, the Electronic-Brake Control Module (EBCM) software may activate the driveline-protection system.
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Service brakes, hydraulic › Power assist › Vacuum
Risk: As the vacuum level drops, the brake assist decreases, increasing braking effort, extending the distance required to stop the vehicle, thereby increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the Electronic Brake Control Module, free of charge. The recall began October 8, 2019. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-630-2438, Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006 or GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is N192268490.
Full recall summary
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.
Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer. To check whether a specific car’s recalls have been repaired, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
2018 Chevrolet Tahoe crash-test ratings
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings for the 2018 Chevrolet Tahoe SUV RWD. Ratings can differ between body styles and drivetrains (2 versions tested or listed).
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Specifications
- Drivetrains
- RWD, 4WD
- Body styles
- SUV
Other Chevrolet Tahoe years
About this data
Problems, complaint counts, recalls and crash-test ratings come from the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) public databases, last checked 2026-11-03. Complaints are reports from owners and have not all been verified by NHTSA.
How we score reliability: every model year starts at 100. Points come off for the number of owner complaints (on a log scale, up to 40 points), for each safety recall (2 points each, up to 15) and for complaints involving crashes, fires, injuries or deaths (up to 15). Popular vehicles get more complaints simply because more are on the road, so compare scores between similar vehicles. More about our method.
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