Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (automatic and manual transmissions, CVT, axles, driveshaft, 4WD/AWD).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2021 Chevrolet Tahoe owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
2 ISSUES - 1) vehicle repaired 5 times for "transmission" problem by replacing wiring harnesses. On 5th attempt, the GM factory part or the technician caused the Tahoe to catch fire. Worst part is that it happened 1 hour after test driving and parking the car at their dealership, thankfully, I would normally have driven it home and it would have destroyed my home too. GM investigated and was unable to determine cause. 2) each time the "transmission" error occurred the GM car went into what they call the "limp" mode. The car immediately loses speed control and drifts to about 35 mph until you have control of the accelerator. I was on an interstate going +70 mph to pass a semi and immediately after passing the car went into Limp Mode, the semi nearly rear ended me and then passed me blowing his horn and cursing me. …
The contact owns a 2021 Chevrolet Tahoe. The contact stated that while attempting to start the vehicle, the vehicle failed to start as intended. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact attempted to start the vehicle several times, however the vehicle failed to start. The contact stated that the vehicle was parked in an underground parking lot. The contact stated that four tow trucks attempted to tow the vehicle; however, the transmission had to be disconnected from underneath the vehicle to remove the vehicle from the underground parking garage. The vehicle was then towed to the dealer where it was diagnosed with a failed fuel pump power control module. The contact was informed that the fuel pump power control module needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. …
The contact owns a 2021 Chevrolet Tahoe. The contact stated that the vehicle displayed "Reduced Power," and the rear wheels started to lock-up. The contact was able to keep control of the vehicle and continued driving. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who completed the repair under NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V797000 (Power Train). The contact stated that after the recall repair, while leaving the dealer and driving approximately 10 MPH, the vehicle veered off to the right and ended up partially in the next lane. The contact stated that the vehicle unintendedly shifted into neutral, and the message to "Press Start Again" was displayed. The contact was able to restart the vehicle and parked the vehicle in a nearby parking lot. The contact restarted the vehicle and drove back to the dealer. The failure recurred twice while returning to the dealer. …
The contact owns a 2021 Chevrolet Tahoe. The contact stated that while driving and attempting to slow down to approximately 35 MPH, there was an abnormal clunking sound coming from the vehicle. The contact believed that the sound was caused by ice buildup on the mud flap, but shortly afterwards, the engine revved unexpectedly, with the check engine warning light illuminated, and the message "Reduce Acceleration - Drive with Care" was displayed. The vehicle started to coast unintendedly. The contact stated the vehicle returned to normal operation after a short while. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer to be diagnosed. The mechanics pushed the vehicle out of the parking spot before inspecting the vehicle. The vehicle was diagnosed with transmission valve body failure. The contact was informed that the transmission valve body needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. …
The contact owns a 2021 Chevrolet Tahoe. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds uphill, the vehicle made a loud clunking sound while downshifting. While driving 70 MPH on one occasion, and while driving 20 MPH on another occasion, the vehicle made a loud clunking sound while downshifting and lost motive power, prompting the driver to pull over to the side of the road. The message "Reduced Acceleration - Drive with Care" was displayed, and the check engine warning light illuminated following the failure. The vehicle was restarted but the warning light remained illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that the transmission control valve body and a separator plate or spacer needed to be replaced. The contact associated the failure with TSB: 22-NA-258; however, the VIN was not included. The vehicle was being repaired. …
The contact owns a 2021 Chevrolet Tahoe. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the accelerator pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended. The vehicle lost motive power, and the transmission slammed into gear, and it felt like the vehicle was rear-ended. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed with transmission valve body failure. The contact was informed that the transmission valve body needed to be replaced. The contact was later informed that the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was being repaired. The contact stated that the failure was a known failure with the vehicle. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure, and a case was filed. The contact was advised to contact the NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 62,000.
The contact owns a 2021 Chevrolet Tahoe. The contact stated that while her husband was driving at an undisclosed speed, several unknown warning lights illuminated, and the engine made knocking sounds. The message "Service Transmission" was displayed. The contact's husband pulled over and turned off the vehicle. The vehicle failed to restart immediately. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who replaced the camshaft retainer, valve tensioner kit, gaskets, seals, lifters, engine bolts, rods, and pipes; however, the "Service Transmission" message displayed again while driving. The dealer was made aware of the failure, but the vehicle was not yet diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure but informed the contact that there was no recall associated with the VIN. The failure mileage was approximately 89,678.
The contact owns a 2021 Chevrolet Tahoe. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle stalled without warning. The contact stated that the transmission independently moved into park (P) and the gear shifter would not move after several attempts. The vehicle was towed to a dealer who informed the contact that they could not repair the vehicle because they did not have the adequate tool to unlock the transmission. Upon receiving the tool days later, the dealer diagnosed that water had leaked into the fuel tank, which led to the failure. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and advised the contact that they would follow up. The contact was still awaiting a call back from the manufacturer. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 27,000.
The contact owns a 2021 Chevrolet Tahoe. The contact stated that while driving approximately 65 MPH with the adaptive cruise control activated, the vehicle stalled and lost motive power. The contact indicated that after the adaptive cruise control reduced the speed due to a nearby vehicle instead of resuming the intended speed, the vehicle lost motive power in the middle of the busy highway and would not restart. The tow truck was called to the scene and discovered that the transmission could not be shifted into neutral(N). The vehicle had to be dragged onto the flatbed of the tow truck. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 14,608.
The contact owns a 2021 Chevrolet Tahoe. The contact stated that while his wife was driving 45 MPH, the vehicle hesitated. In addition, while attempting to shift the into drive, the gear shifter failed to respond as needed. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact stated that the dealer was contacted. The vehicle was towed to a dealer where it was diagnosed and determined that the valve body assembly needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The VIN was not included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V797000 (POWER TRAIN). The manufacturer was notified of the failure but offered no assistance. The manufacturer referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. The failure mileage was 68,000.
Related recalls
Power train › Automatic transmission › Fluid/lubricant › Valves/valve body
General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2020-2022 Chevrolet Silverado 1500, 2500, 3500, GMC Sierra 1500, 2500, 3500, 2021 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Tahoe, Suburban, GMC Yukon, and Yukon XL vehicles equipped with diesel engines. The transmission control valve may fail and cause the rear wheels to lock-up.
Remedy: Dealers will install new transmission control module software, free of charge. GM will provide a special coverage program to cover the repair of transmissions that are identified by the remedy software as containing a…
Power train › Driveline › Driveshaft
General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2021 GMC Yukon, Yukon XL, Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Suburban, and Chevrolet Tahoe vehicles. The rear wheel driveshaft assemblies may have internal components that were not heat-treated properly, possibly resulting in driveshaft failure.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the left and/or right rear driveshaft assemblies, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on March 14, 2022.
Transmission complaints in other Tahoe years
Frequently asked questions
How common are transmission problems on the 2021 Chevrolet Tahoe?
NHTSA has 90 complaints about the transmission & drivetrain of the 2021 Chevrolet Tahoe, 20% of the model year's 459 complaints. The component named most often is automatic transmission (1 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2021 Chevrolet Tahoe transmission problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 24V-797 (valves/valve body, Oct 24, 2024); NHTSA recall 22V-036 (driveshaft, Jan 27, 2022). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 2021 Chevrolet Tahoe transmission problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 62,000 miles, and 20% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 1 crash, 1 fire and 0 injuries to transmission & drivetrain 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.