2016 Chevrolet Tahoe Brake Problems

92 owners have reported brakes problems with the 2016 Chevrolet Tahoe to NHTSA — 36% of all 256 complaints for this model year. The typical failure happened around 50,000 miles. That ranks #8 of 32 Tahoe model years for brake complaints (a typical year has 19). 2 related recalls have been issued.

92complaints
50ktypical miles
2related recalls
9crashes
0fires
5injuries

Which parts fail

  • Power assist › Vacuum
    1
  • Antilock › ABS warning light
    1
  • Antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip › ABS warning light
    1

Components named in complaints (service brakes, ABS, rotors and pads, parking brake).

Mileage when the problem started

  • Under 25k
    48%
  • 25k–50k
    2038%
  • 50k–75k
    2140%
  • 75k–100k
    59%
  • 100k–150k
    24%
  • 150k+
    12%

Owner reports

Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2016 Chevrolet Tahoe owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).

The contact owns a 2016 Chevrolet Tahoe. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds and depressing the brake pedal, the pedal was soft and was almost depressed to the floorboard. The contact stated that the failure was intermittent but was a recurring failure. The contact stated that the ABS/ESC warning lights were illuminated. The contact stated that the warning lights then started flashing. The contact had taken the vehicle to a local dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that the Electronic Brake Control module needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The contact researched online and related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 19V645000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic); however, the vehicle had been repaired by the previous owner. The contact had to pay out of pocket for the repairs. …

102,000 miles · Jun 2025

The contact owns a 2016 Chevrolet Tahoe. The contact stated that while driving at slow speeds, the brake pedal went to the floorboard while depressed. While driving 10-15 MPH, the brakes operated as designed. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic and the brakes were replaced; however, the failure persisted. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer and the contact was informed that the VIN was not under recall for the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The contact referenced the NHTSA Campaign Number: 19V645000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic) as a possible cause for the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 75,000.

75,000 miles · Sep 2022

The contact owns a 2016 Chevrolet Tahoe. The contact stated that while driving at various low speeds and needing to apply the brake pedal, the brake pedal was difficult to depress. The contact then stated that the failure was reoccurring and that excessive force was required to depress the brake pedal. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, however, the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact was then made aware of NHTSA Campaign Number: 19V645000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic) however, the local dealer confirmed that the VIN was not included in the recall. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 80,000.

80,000 miles · Aug 2022

The contact owns a 2016 Chevrolet Tahoe. The contact stated that while depressing the brake pedal, the vehicle would not immediately stop, and the stopping distance was extended. The contact indicated that on several occasions the brake pedal was firm and hard when pressed. On other occasions the pedal would extend to the floor. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and serviced under the NHTSA campaign number: 19V761000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic, Service Brakes, Electronic Stability Control) however, the failure persisted. The contact also indicated that the transmission was faulty. After taking the vehicle to the dealer no trouble code was found. No further information was available. The failure mileage was 26,000.

26,000 miles · Sep 2017

The contact owns a 2016 Chevrolet Tahoe. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle, the stabili-trak, ABS and traction control warning lights remained illuminated, and the vehicle would not immediately stop while depressing the brake pedal. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who diagnosed the vehicle and determined that the ABS module and ABS pump were faulty and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer and local dealer were not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 150,000.

Antilock › ABS warning light · 150,000 miles · Mar 2024

The contact owns a 2016 Chevrolet Tahoe. The contact stated that on numerous occasions while the brake pedal was depressed, added pressure was needed on the brake pedal to stop the vehicle. The contact stated that after shifting to park, the brake pedal returned to normal operation. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. Neither the dealer nor the manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 75,000.

75,000 miles · Feb 2023

I was driving down highway and saw a wall of cars and brake lights in the distance, so naturally my foot tried to push the brakes. The pedal was hard, and I panicked because my tahoe was not stopping at all! I continued to stomp on brake pedal all the way until my car actually hit 3 vehicles and then the guardrail! My brakes did not work , because if they did then I would have easily prevented this accident!!

Apr 2023 · crash

Brakes do not work when driving in slow speeds. I could not stop my 2016 Tahoe in a shopping center parking lot. Pedal was stiff and non responsive. I had the same issue parking in my garage. Vehicle did not stop and went into the wall!!

Mar 2022 · crash

I bought this 2016 Tahoe in January of 2023. I was very excited to purchase my first Tahoe and sunk my savings into paying for it. A couple weeks after I purchased it, I got a service trailer break message that came up on my screen. I have had several different mechanics look at it, but still, it hasn't been fixed. This message pops up probably 60 times while I am driving, and continuously. It flashes across my screen, and when I dismiss it, it will go away for a second and then pop up again. This dinging message continues while I'm driving it. I feel that it is a safety hazard as I am very distracted by it when I am driving the car. I don't have any other choice, as I spent all my money I had for a car on purchasing this car, and don't have another car to drive, so I have to drive this one. I would really like for GM to issue a recall for this, and tell technicians how to fix this. …

Jan 2023

I bought my Tahoe from Dan Vaden Chevrolet in Savannah, GA with approx 58k miles. At around 88k miles I noticed the transmission hesitated when putting into reverse or drive from the park position. I had my transmission fluid changed at 70k and 100k miles. Now, at 112k miles, it has significantly gotten worse with shuddering between gears 1-3 and jerking when in reverse. Major hesitation when accelerating at any speed and high pitched whining noises that randomly happen, even after putting it in park and turning it off. Also, my ABS and Stabilitrak lights will illuminate and then go off every few days. As well as another random icon that randomly comes and goes. This Tahoe is now unsafe to drive but it's the only transportation I have. I already missed a radiator replacement recall by 1,500 miles and had to pay for that out of pocket. …

Dec 2024

Related recalls

Service brakes

NHTSA recall 19V-761 · Oct 24, 2019 · 652,967 vehicles

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.

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.

Service brakes, hydraulic › Power assist › Vacuum

NHTSA recall 19V-645 · Sep 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.

Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the Electronic Brake Control Module, free of charge. The recall began October 8, 2019.

NHTSA investigations

Brake Vacuum Pump Failure

NHTSA investigation PE18012 · opened Nov 20, 2018 · closed Apr 10, 2022 · led to recall 19V-645

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 Suburban, Chevrolet…

Brake complaints in other Tahoe years

’95’96’97’98’99’00’01’02’03’04’05’06’07’08’09’10’11’12’13’14’15’16’17’18’19’20’21’22’23’24’25’2650781137724913627218211386251310811146661969244197621122012102
Brake complaints per model year, Chevrolet Tahoe.

Frequently asked questions

How common are brake problems on the 2016 Chevrolet Tahoe?

NHTSA has 92 complaints about the brakes of the 2016 Chevrolet Tahoe, 36% of the model year's 256 complaints. The component named most often is power assist › vacuum (1 mentions).

Is there a recall for 2016 Chevrolet Tahoe brake problems?

Yes — NHTSA recall 19V-761 (service brakes, Oct 24, 2019); NHTSA recall 19V-645 (vacuum, Sep 6, 2019). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.

At what mileage do 2016 Chevrolet Tahoe brake problems start?

Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 50,000 miles, and 8% before 25,000 miles.

Is it dangerous?

Owners linked 9 crashes, 0 fires and 5 injuries to brakes problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.

Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.