Engine And Engine Cooling Problems of Chevrolet Tahoe - part 1

On may 2nd 2026 I was driving my 2021 Tahoe high country with the 6. 2 motor at 60 mph and started to slow down before my left hand turn. In the process of slowing down at about 40mph I heard a loud bang/thud noise. The car had completely shut down all motor related usage. I coasted into the shoulder on the side of the road the vehicle would not restart. I had my children and wife in the car. There were no check engine lights or any other warning signs on the dash prior to this happening. The Tahoe was running perfectly fine. Ended up needing the vehicle towed to the Chevrolet dealership. It was confirmed upon dealership inspection by the mechanic that an intake valve spring broke and locked up the engine. We currently are being denied coverage through our extended warranty with endurance to replace the engine.

See all problems of the 2021 Chevrolet Tahoe 🔎.

My 2017 Chevrolet Tahoe lt 4wd with a 5. 3l engine experienced sudden drivability issues related to confirmed afm lifter failure, including severe engine misfires (p0300), rough idle, shaking at stoplights, and significant loss of power while driving uphill and under load. The vehicle has approximately 140,000 miles and has been consistently maintained through Chevrolet dealerships. The condition has been diagnosed by premier Chevrolet of carlsbad. The engine experienced loss of power during operation, creating a potential safety concern when accelerating or driving in traffic conditions requiring consistent engine power. This issue appears related to widely documented afm lifter failures on gm 5. 3l engines.

See all problems of the 2017 Chevrolet Tahoe 🔎.

Engine stopped while driving 70 mph down the highway and the car shifted into neutral. Had to cost to side of the road. Took car into dealership and even though the car was certified safe drive and the engine had no issues 5 months ago, I was told the engine was now locking up. The engine failed despite using the higher viscosity oil that chevy recommended. These greedy cunts at chevy placed me and my family's lives in danger to save a buck; they knew that the engines would fail and instead of replacing the engines, they put thicker oil in the cars to hopefully get the cars past warranty.

See all problems of the 2023 Chevrolet Tahoe 🔎.

My 2022 Chevrolet Tahoe diesel unexpectedly lost power while driving. I was stopped, made a right turn, and accelerated to approximately 34–40 mph on a two-way street when the vehicle suddenly shook, shifted into neutral, and the engine shut off without warning. There were no warning lights, dashboard messages, or prior symptoms before the failure. I was driving with two young children secured in car seats at the time. This created a serious safety risk because the vehicle became disabled in the roadway, and I had limited control while traffic was present. The vehicle has not yet been diagnosed, and the exact failed component/system is unknown. The vehicle is available for inspection upon request. The incident has been reported to a dealer or service center, but the problem has not yet been confirmed or reproduced at this time.

See all problems of the 2022 Chevrolet Tahoe 🔎.

Urgent: engine failure following recent service – 2021 Chevrolet Tahoe to whom it may concern, I am writing to formally request assistance and an investigation regarding a serious engine failure involving my 2021 Chevrolet Tahoe. In July 2025, I paid out of pocket to have the lifters and camshaft replaced on this vehicle. More recently, while traveling, the vehicle broke down and was taken to uebelhor Chevrolet, where the valve body in the transmission was replaced. After picking the vehicle up from uebelhor Chevrolet, the vehicle broke down again approximately one hour later while in henderson, kentucky. At that time, the engine began smoking, running rough, and misfiring. I checked the oil level during the incident and found it to be extremely low on the dipstick (I have photographic evidence of this condition). The vehicle had to be towed to kate faupel Chevrolet for further inspection. I was then informed that the engine has a dropped lifter on cylinder #8 and possible camshaft damage. Given the following factors: recent out-of-pocket lifter and camshaft replacement (July 2025) immediate failure shortly after leaving a Chevrolet dealership extremely low oil level observed at the time of breakdown (with photo documentation) diagnosis consistent with potential oil starvation and internal engine damage I am requesting that general motors conduct a full review of this situation to determine responsibility. This raises serious concerns about a potential defect, improper prior repair, or a service-related issue that resulted in catastrophic engine damage. At this time, I am not authorizing repairs until liability is determined. I am requesting: a formal case review and investigation assistance with repair or full engine replacement guidance on how this situation will be resolved this incident created a significant safety concern, as the vehicle became disabled shortly after leaving a dealership during travel. Please contact me as soon as possible to discuss next steps.

I am filing a safety complaint regarding my 2025 Chevrolet Tahoe premier for repeated brake assist/braking failures. Most recent incident: while driving, the check engine light came on. I turned the vehicle off for approximately 10 minutes and restarted it, but the check engine light remained on. Approximately 20 minutes later, multiple warnings appeared on the dash including: “brake assist failure press hard to brake,” “speed limited,” and “service esc. ” at that point, braking ability was severely reduced. I was close to my destination and approached a stop sign. I intended to roll through the stop sign because the brakes were not functioning normally, but another vehicle suddenly approached. I pressed the brake pedal with both feet. The brakes were stiff and hard to press. The vehicle still did not stop properly and came to a stop in the middle of the road past the stop sign. After arriving at my destination, the vehicle sat for approximately 1–2 hours. When restarted, the brakes appeared normal again, but the check engine light remained on. In the mychevrolet diagnostics app, it then showed warnings for engine and transmission system, transmission system, and four wheel drive system. While driving to the dealership afterward, the vehicle also began shaking. This same issue previously occurred on April 16, 2026. I was driving on the interstate when the brakes lost assist and the dash displayed “service esc,” “brake assist failure press hard to brake,” and “speed limited. ” after reaching my destination, I was told by someone at the dealership to turn the vehicle off for 10 minutes to see if that would fix things, so I turned the vehicle off for about 10 minutes. When restarted, all warning lights were gone and braking returned to normal. I still drove the vehicle to the dealership that same day for service. This is a repeated, intermittent brake failure / brake assist failure creating a serious safety hazard and near collision risk.

See all problems of the 2025 Chevrolet Tahoe 🔎.

Vehicle is prompting a “decreased acceleration “ warning, will not shift past 3rd gear, and will not shift into reverse.

The car has cut off three time while at stoplights. I can get it restarted but the dealership cannot duplicate it even though there are codes in the system. Also the automatic braking will randomly stop when it shouldn’t and it is a hard braking.

Vehicle lost all power while driving on interstate, there were no warning messages displayed. The initial recall was performed on vehicle.

Well traveling motor started making a slight ticking noise, about a mile down the road started squealing like a belt issue, pulled over on the side of the road popped hood and heard the squeal better before it shut down. There was no check engine light or any indication there was an issue prior to this happening.

Vehicle power loss, some shaking with no warning lights on dashboard. Dealer confirmed it was engine failure.

2023 Tahoe z71 had recently been put in the shop, and evaluated for engine failure recall. Dealership/gm deemed it failed test for replacement, we were given 0w40 oil and sent back out, this last weekend we had catastrophic engine failure while operating at 50+mph.

The engine randomly shut off while driving down the interstate and wouldn’t start back up. The car had the recall “remedy” done to it. Inspection and thicker oil. The only warning I got was to restart the engine after it shut off. My safety was compromised by breaking down on a main interstate coming through memphis with no emergency lane to pull over in.

Engine has developed a miss and has check engine code p0300 random misfires. There are subcodes pending of p0011 and p0016 indicating crank and cam misalignment. This has all the classic signs for a failing engine. I am taking this truck in for the gm picoscope test, the oil was changed to 0w40 mobile one supercar oil approx. 2,800 miles ago when the truck was under powertrain warranty. I will preform a blackstone oil test to determine if there is abnormal engine wear. My truck is not in the VIN. Recall range.

The contact owns a 2023 Chevrolet Tahoe. The contact stated that the vehicle was previously repaired under NHTSA campaign number: 25v274000 (engine and engine cooling). The oil was changed at the local dealer. After 24 hours, the engine was blown after driving approximately 50 miles. No warning lights were illuminated. While accelerating from a stoplight, there was an abnormal squealing noise from the drivebelt. The vehicle was taken back to the local dealer, and the contact was informed that the flywheel was hitting the camshaft and changing the oil had disturbed the function of the vehicle. The vehicle was not fully diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 14,945.

Engine failure while driving to [xxx] from [xxx] . Mobile mechanic indicated a likely spun bearing. Less than 24,000 miles. Was stranded in [xxx] and delivered vehicle to local Chevrolet dealership same day as incident. It’s been over a month with no repair eta. Incurred significant travel and accommodation costs, with receipts available, due to the disruption. Gm had thus far refused to confirm any reimbursement of expenses. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

On April 10th, while traveling approximately 7 hours from home on a very busy highway in [xxx] , my 2023 Chevrolet Tahoe (6. 2l engine) suffered a complete and catastrophic engine failure, requiring a full engine replacement. The vehicle had to be towed and I was left stranded with no transportation. Prior to this failure, I had brought the vehicle to an authorized gm dealership for a recall inspection specifically related to the 6. 2l engine on September 9, 2025 with 36,162 miles. The dealership technician inspected the vehicle and informed me that my engine was not defective and cleared it. Shortly after that inspection, the engine suffered a total failure at 46,6xx miles on the vehicle. I am currently leasing this vehicle at approximately $1,100 per month and have been without the vehicle for an extended period while it sits awaiting repair. Gm customer care has been contracted and has indicated they cannot move forward with a buyback claim because the bbb is not taking my case because the vehicle is older then 2 years old which I know is a false legal claim. This is a serious safety concern, a catastrophic engine failure at highway speed poses significant risk to vehicle occupants and others on the road which appears consistent with other reported failures. I am aware that NHTSA has opened recall query rq26001 investigating the adequacy of gm's remedy under recall 25v-274. My experience is consistent with the 36+ complaints that triggered this investigation, engine failure occurring after an authorized dealer performed the recall inspection and cleared the vehicle. I am requesting this complaint be added to the rq26001 investigation file. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

As I was driving down the tollway in dallas going 75 miles an hour, my engine completely shut down and went into neutral in rush hour traffic. I had to slowly get over from being in the left lane as my car was slowing and slowing. I was able to get over on the side of the tollway as cars zoomed past me. By the grace of god, I didn't get hit. Once it was towed, the service department confirmed that it is my engine that shut down and the entire engine needs to be replaced. Now the problem is they cannot find an engine or parts to fix it. No warning came on at all before this happened. Very dangerous situation.

Suspension system failed- had to replaced, car difficult to control when operating. Repaired by dealer- country Chevrolet, benton ky- owner paid for repair. [xxx] engine failure- knocking and difficult to drive on returning trip from louisville ky to benton, ky. Taken to dealer on 4. 6. 2026 - made it without being towed- extremely slow- traffic hazard- Tahoe has lots of road miles- always repaired and serviced by dealer. There were no warning lights, symbols or indicators that there was a problem. Dealer still determining the extent of the damage. [xxx] benton ky information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

The component at issue is the engine, which suffered a sudden and catastrophic failure due to unknown causes. At no time prior to this incident were there any warnings, symptoms, or indications of an underlying mechanical defect that would have allowed for preventative action. While operating the vehicle on the highway with my family present, multiple warning indicators activated simultaneously, including a blinking check engine light, traction control light, esc warning, and a forward collision warning. Immediately thereafter, the vehicle experienced a rapid and significant loss of power accompanied by a loud and persistent engine knocking noise, rendering the vehicle unsafe to operate and placing the occupants at risk. It is important to emphasize that traction control and esc systems are not causally related to an engine misfire condition, further supporting that this event was abrupt and not part of a progressive or diagnosable issue. A diagnostic scan performed at that time identified a misfire in cylinder 1. Upon delivery of the vehicle to the dealership for inspection, it was determined that the engine had suffered complete internal failure and was deemed “blown. ” this finding confirms the occurrence of a catastrophic mechanical breakdown. Based on the sudden onset, absence of prior warning, and severity of the failure, there is no reasonable basis to attribute this condition to normal wear and tear, operator misuse, or neglect. Rather, the facts support the conclusion that this was the result of a latent defect or internal mechanical failure beyond the operator’s control. Accordingly, this matter should be addressed under applicable warranty coverage or consumer protection standards.

During highway driving, alert on dashboard stated “electrical system failing enter idle mode”. Tahoe slowed down and then engine began knocking right as it shut off resulting in needing to coast to the shoulder of the highway safely since engine was off. Towed to dealership and then they came back saying needed a new battery, new alternator belt, pulley and water compartment. After those installed, additional call was made indicating the engine needed a full replacement as it keeps overheating despite no sensor alerts and codes are being tripped. Here we are asked to pay 16k for new engine install and unable to fix.

Passed a truck in 2023 chevy Tahoe on a two lane highway and the Tahoe would not accelerate. It switched into neutral and would not run. This was a major safety issue. There was a semi truck behind me that could have run over me and my family. Luckily there was wide open area next to the road that I coast into. Truck was towed to a dealership out of state while we were on vacation.

The contact owns a 2021 Chevrolet Tahoe. The contact stated that while driving approximately 45 mph, the check engine warning light illuminated, and the message “reduced acceleration - drive safely” was displayed. The vehicle then started shaking abnormally. The contact pulled into a nearby parking lot, turned off the vehicle, and waited for a while before restarting the vehicle. After restarting the vehicle, the warning lights remained illuminated, and the vehicle continued to shake abnormally. The vehicle was taken to auto zone, where a certified mechanic diagnosed the vehicle and determined that there was a bent rod inside the engine. The vehicle was not repaired. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who confirmed the diagnostic result and that the failure was causing additional damage to the crankshaft. The dealer determined that there was a misfire in the engine and that the valve lifter was malfunctioning. The contact was informed that the lifter and the camshaft needed to be replaced, and the engine needed to be repaired. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact researched and became aware of NHTSA campaign number: 25v274000 (engine and engine cooling); however, the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was informed of the failure and confirmed that the VIN was not included in the recall. The contact was referred to the dealer to inquire about a goodwill repair for which the contact could be reimbursed if the VIN was later added to the recall. The manufacturer referred the contact to the NHTSA hotline to report the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 100,000.

My wife just picked up our 4 year old from daycare. She just merged onto I-81n and the vehicle shut off on her at highway speed during rush hour! a message on the dashboard said "please restart vehicle". She managed to pull the Tahoe off onto the shoulder, but couldn't get it started. She remained in the vehicle with my daughter and called 911 to request a state police vehicle park behind her so that she wouldn't be hit by any passing traffic. I (her husband) met her on the side of the highway and we tried starting it with a battery booster pack to no avail. We called a tow truck and had the car towed to the dealership that we purchased the vehicle from. They confirmed that the motor was indeed locked up and needs to be replaced. This vehicle already underwent the 6. 2l recall test and "passed". It was running the 'remedy' 0w-40 oil. This is completely unacceptable.

We were driving down the highway at around 77 miles per hour. I noticed that the vehicle chimed as though I initially got into it and needed to start the engine. I saw the dashboard asking me to start the engine. I attempted to start it while we were coasting to a stop, but it wouldn't start. I was able to barely get out of the lane of travel and avoid a collision. I tried to turn off the vehicle and turn it back on but it would not start. It would not even turn over. The vehicle eventually cannibalized the battery because it would never shut off.

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 an engine problem and running $3k or more to have it fixed. We have small children and consider this a safety hazard. Unfortunately, this is the only vehicle we have to commute.

See all problems of the 2018 Chevrolet Tahoe 🔎.

Motor is not included in the 6. 2 recall for some reason. It is consistently burning through 3 qts of oil every 2-3k miles. This is a major concern considering I travel a lot. I want to know why this specific motor isn’t covered in the recall considering it is having the same issues as the current recall. This has been an ongoing issue and I have been waiting for a recall notice. Gm dealership says there is no recall and won’t ever be one.

1) the engine failed and lost propulsion while driving. It is currently at the dealership where I purchased the vehicle new, so it may be available for inspection upon request. 2) my safety was put at risk because the vehicle lost propulsion while driving. This is a dangerous situation in general. In my case I was able to pull over safely and have it towed to the dealership. 3) the problem is that the engine failed. This can be confirmed by the dealership. 4) this 6. 2l engine was part of the n252494001 recall for specifically the issue of engine failure and loss of propulsion, so it had been inspected by the dealership recently. I brought the vehicle into the dealership for this recall several months ago. Per the recall, they told me that the engine would need to be replaced if it didn't pass the inspection. They performed a pico test, informed me that it passed the test, and changed the oil to 0w-40. It has not been inspected by gm, the police, insurance representatives or others at this time. 5) there were no warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure.

The contact owns a 2026 Chevrolet Tahoe. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the engine seized. No warning lights were illuminated. The contact stated that while attempting to restart the vehicle, the vehicle failed to start. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, where it was diagnosed with engine and radiator failure. The contact was informed that the engine and the radiator needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact was informed that the repair was under warranty, but the parts were unavailable. The contact stated that the failure had occurred three months after purchasing the vehicle. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure, and a case was filed. The failure mileage was approximately 3,900.

I am writing to formally file a safety complaint regarding a catastrophic engine failure in my 2026 Chevrolet Tahoe equipped with a 6. 2l engine. The vehicle had approximately 9,640 miles at the time of failure. On March 21, 2026, while driving on a highway, the engine failed suddenly and without warning, creating an unsafe and potentially dangerous situation. The vehicle lost power and had to be towed from the highway to colussy Chevrolet for inspection and repair. On March 22, 2026, the dealership confirmed that the engine required full replacement and stated that a new engine had been ordered, with an expected arrival date of March 30. I specifically requested that a new engine be installed, given the extremely low mileage and severity of the failure. Approximately one week later, I followed up and was told the engine was still scheduled to arrive on March 30. However, on March 30, I was informed that the order status had changed to “under evaluation,” and the service manager indicated that the replacement engine would likely be a remanufactured unit instead of a new one. On April 1, 2026, I contacted general motors customer support to escalate the issue and reiterated my request for a new engine, as well as requested a loaner vehicle due to the loss of use of my vehicle. A representative opened case #92297395 and advised that the issue had been referred to the parts delay department, with a promised follow-up within 24 hours. On April 2, 2026, the dealership informed me there was no change in status and that while they intended to provide a loaner vehicle, none were available. As of April 6, 2026, I have not received a loaner vehicle or any follow-up regarding availability. On April 6, 2026, I received a call from a general motors customer assistance representative stating that there are ongoing delays related to both the engine and radiator, with no estimated timeline for repair completion.

I had the recall for the momentary rear wheel lock-up completed on 2025-05-04. While I was driving March 2026 my Tahoe went into limp mode and I had to have it towed because it wouldn’t reverse it was towed a day after this happened to lynch Chevrolet. It has sat there ever since with no fix in site. I had to get a rental vehicle that gm is paying for but they have stipulations to what they pay for and the vehicle they gave is not comparable or better than my car. Not only is this an inconvenience but they are doing the bare minimum to help with their mistakes.

Since March of 2025 I have identified a critical safety defect with my vehicle. When driving and without warning, the vehicle unexpectedly shifts to neutral, experiences a loss of propulsion, and the engine shuts off. This has occurred multiple times in which I narrowly escaped collisions with other vehicles or objects. If this would occur at a high rate of speed, it would certainly result in serious accident including possible fatality. I have experienced three near-accident scenarios when I had children in the vehicle. I have worked with classic Chevrolet in sugar land, texas who has made six attempts at repair. They have each time found a different component attribute to an error code and replaced that part. After each visit they tell me that the car is fixed and safe to drive. They have never been able to provide a clear explanation as to why I am experience this reoccurring issue, but attribute it to a different part each time. Within 5 days to 2 months, the incident repeats. I have recent video of the incident that I can share. Chevrolet customer care has been minimized my concern and informs me that their service staff has found the vehicle to be fully operational and safe to operate. I have spent over $6,000 in failed repairs. I do not feel safe operating this vehicle. That list of repairs includes: March 7, 2025 - battery replacement March 28, 2025 - DC/DC power converter April 22, 2025 - ecm updates January 8, 2026 - •throttle body replacement •serpentine belt replacement •engine air filter replacement •transmission fluid flush •coolant fluid flush •fuel injection cleaning •hydrogen carbon cleaning service January 23, 2026 - power control module (recall) January 30, 2026 - rear differential system replacement March 10, 2026 - • replacement of the high-pressure fuel pump • replacement of the DC power supply converter • hydrogen carbon cleaning service I can share all invoices. Chevy is not taking this matter seriously. Please support.

On March 14,2026 I was driving 80 mph on the interstate and the vehicle shifted to neutral and shutoff. Shortly before that the vehicle revved to 4000 rpm and you could feel rhythmic vibrations. The vehicle was towed to a chevy dealership and diagnosed as loss of propulsion needing a new engine. Tahoe had 104,000 miles at failure.

While driving down [xxx] the car started making a weird noise as we slowed down for an upcoming light. The light changed and as we started to drive again the check engine light came on and I lost power steering. I was trying to navigate the car off towards the shoulder but the car was hard to maneuver, but was able to move into the right lane. I had to drive the car slowly as to not stop the engine propulsion and stalling. But had no luck once we reached the intersection on [xxx] and [xxx] . At this point the car just died. Nothing was working. Hazard lights didn’t even work at one point. This situation left me and my family in the middle of traffic on a busy highway road. The only thing we had in our favor was the car stoped right at a red light so traffic would have to slow down every so often to the stoplight. We had to have the car towed off the road at around midnight and they took it to the dealership. The engine had a complete failure (found out after the dealership took apart the engine). The email stated: a further oil sample confirmed excessive metal throughout the engine at this point we proceeded with disassembly to identify the source of the failure. After removing the oil pan and inspecting internal components, we found internal engine damage. Specifically, the connecting rod bearing on cylinder 5 had failed, causing significant scoring to the crankshaft, camshaft, and related engine components. The engine has experienced a major internal failure due to the failed rod bearing, resulting in internal damage. Because of the severity of this condition, internal components are not serviceable individually. So the engine replacement would be required. This car is only 3. 5 months old, and other than a safety switch that was a manufacture issue we had to have fixed there were no other warnings my engine was going to die and leave me in the middle of the road. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

The vehicle shifted itself into neutral and shut off while driving. It happened twice in three days. The first time I was pulling into the driveway so I was able to put it in park and restart the car safely. The second time I was in the middle of traffic in tampa and it shifted into neutral and shut off in the middle of the road. Luckily no cars hit me but again I had to apply the break , restart the car and put it back in drive. This was very scary and I had my kids with me. Earlier in the day I had been driving on 75 and if it had happened then it could have been a bad wreck. It shows there are no current recalls on my vehicle. No warning lights or messages appeared. Vehicle was purchased less than 30 days ago. I will contact the dealership to verify there are no open recalls just in case but again when I checked I found none.