Problem Lookup › Chevrolet › Tahoe › 2018
Car problem report
2018 Chevrolet Tahoe problems, recalls and owner complaints
What the 2018 Chevrolet Tahoe has been recalled for and what owners report, from official government data. Updated October 25, 2026.
- 3safety recalls
- 105owner complaints
- 6crash reports
- 0fire reports
- 5injuries reported
105 complaints, against an average of 200 for the other 14 Chevrolet Tahoe model years.
Every Chevrolet Tahoe model year with its number of owner complaints. Pick a year to compare.
What goes wrong with the 2018 Chevrolet Tahoe?
The components named most often in the 105 owner complaints. One complaint can name several, so the shares can add up to more than 100%.
What symptoms do 2018 Chevrolet Tahoe owners describe?
Found by reading the text of all 105 owner complaints. Tap a symptom for the answer, a real owner quote and any related recall.
- Why is the check engine light on in my 2018 Chevrolet Tahoe?9 owners · 8.6%
- Why does my 2018 Chevrolet Tahoe stall, lose power or shut off while driving?8 owners · 7.6%
- Why does my 2018 Chevrolet Tahoe idle rough, misfire or hesitate?7 owners · 6.7%
- Has the 2018 Chevrolet Tahoe had transmission failures?4 owners · 3.8%
Has the 2018 Chevrolet Tahoe been recalled?
3 U.S. safety recalls. Repairs are free at a franchised dealer; some are done over the air.
Service Brakes, Hydraulic: Power Assist: Vacuum 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.
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.
Fix: 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.
Service Brakes, Hydraulic: Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip: Wheel Speed Sensor/Tone Ring 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.
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.
Fix: 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.
Service Brakes, Hydraulic: Power Assist: Vacuum 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.
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.
Fix: 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.
What do 2018 Chevrolet Tahoe owners report?
12 of the 105 complaints, the most recent for the most-reported components, as the owners wrote them. NHTSA removes names and VINs; long reports are trimmed. CarHooq has not verified individual claims.
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 - Warranty paid except $2,000.00 (94,000 Miles) 02/02/26 - Broken Driver Side Motor Mount Replaced $350.00 (159,000 Miles) 02/28/26 - Rear end Failure 03/20/26 - AFM Lifter Failure Again - Been in the shop since then. No warranty/ Pay out of Pocket (160,010 Miles)
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. Vehicles battery and alternator charging system was tested and passed. All systems are good. Vehicle continues to give critical low voltage over night while the vehicle is off and not running.
Out of nowhere without any warning light all of a sudden couldn’t back up when geared into reverse to reverse. Turned the vehicle off and back on, then was able to reverse. Left parking lot and was on the road and vehicle started loosing speed, then put into park with hazard lights. When attempting to get off the road for safety reasons tried putting into drive and the car then drove in reverse. Local Fire department came and called in the local police dept for assistance and pushed vehicle off to the side and tow company came and took to the auto shop with information today of the…
Transmission failure at 127,000 miles. Multiple flairs in transmission resulting in total rebuild
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.
The contact owns a 2018 Chevrolet Tahoe. The contact stated that in 2024 the front windshield was damaged, and the windshield was replaced. The Insurance Company was notified and requested that an aftermarket windshield be placed on the vehicle. In May of 2025 the contact noticed that the Chevrolet Assist Camera behind the rearview mirror had failed. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who determined that since the windshield was not an OEM windshield replacement, the part caused the camera to fail. The camera was unable to be calibrated. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not…
The contact owns a 2018 Chevrolet Tahoe. The contact stated that while attempting to start the vehicle, the brake pedal had to be depressed very hard to start the vehicle. The contact stated that while depressing the accelerator pedal, the vehicle failed to respond as intended. A dealer was contacted. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed and determined that the brake vacuum pump was not operating correctly and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact related the failure to a Special Coverage Adjustment: N182202780 (Brake Assist Decreased Due to…
The Body Control Module does not work. A new BCM was installed in my car in April 2025. Since then I am having multiple issues, but the safety related issue is with the trailer braking system. It is available for inspection upon request. The dealership is unwilling to try another BCM without it costing me $600 for labor. If I am unable to use my brakes, then I put myself and others on the road at risk. The problem started with a Tire Monitor System. I was told I needed a BCM to fix the problem so the car would not throw codes. Now, I am being told the problems with the brakes are not comiing…
The contact owns a 2018 Chevrolet Tahoe. The contact stated that while starting the vehicle, the engine made abnormal rattling and knocking sounds. No warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who determined that the camshaft and valve train needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V274000 (Engine and Engine Cooling); however, the VIN was not included in the recall. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and advised the contact to file a complaint with the NHTSA Hotline. The failure…
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 to the right or the left. The contact left the vehicle in the parking lot and after returning to the vehicle later and starting the vehicle, the vehicle had regained power steering assist functionality. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who diagnosed the vehicle and determined that the 12-Volt battery needed to be replaced. The contact was…
I can smell gas inside my cabin and also when parked in garage. Mechanic said my fuel injector seals are leaking and this is a known issue . The safety bulletin 18-NA-137 November 2019. This is a SAFETY ISSUE and needs to be addressed for the safety of myself and others. Please issue recall immediately so I can get fixed.
My vehicle started announcing service trailer brake system when i purchased my vehicle about 5k miles in i took it to the dealer they couldn't find anything wrong now that message started to get worse not only is it a safety concern due to the annoying beeping. Sound on the dashboard indicating something is wrong. It makes me take my eyes off the road it Constantly distracts me every time it goes off. Also, feel every time that message appears. My truck slows down. As well, a safety concern when pulling a trailer. The brake system could fail on the trailer due to trailer brake assist…
2018 Chevrolet Tahoe: questions owners ask
Is the 2018 Chevrolet Tahoe reliable?
NHTSA data alone cannot rate reliability, but it shows what owners reported. Owners filed 105 complaints with NHTSA about the 2018 Chevrolet Tahoe; the most common categories were engine (20, 19%), power train (20, 19%), service brakes (19, 18.1%). There are 3 safety recalls. 6 complaints mention a crash, 5 injuries were reported.
What are the most common problems with the 2018 Chevrolet Tahoe?
Across 105 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the categories mentioned most often are engine (19% of complaints), power train (19% of complaints), service brakes (18.1% of complaints), electrical system (12.4% of complaints), steering (10.5% of complaints). One complaint can name several components.
Does the 2018 Chevrolet Tahoe have any recalls?
Yes. NHTSA lists 3 recalls for the 2018 Chevrolet Tahoe; the most recent (campaign 20V603000, 2020-10-01) concerns Service Brakes, Hydraulic: Power Assist: Vacuum. Recall repairs are free at a franchised dealer; check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Why is the check engine light on in my 2018 Chevrolet Tahoe?
9 of the 105 owner complaints NHTSA has on file for the 2018 Chevrolet Tahoe (8.6%) describe the check engine light coming on. One owner wrote: "Unknown, vehicle starts to jerk when shifting gears. Jerks when breaking and when accelerating. Check engine light on. I see there is a prior recall for the same issue on same year as mine" (NHTSA complaint 11718209, February 2026). If it happens to your car, check your VIN for open recalls at nhtsa.gov/recalls and report the problem to NHTSA; complaints are what trigger investigations.
Why does my 2018 Chevrolet Tahoe stall, lose power or shut off while driving?
8 of the 105 owner complaints NHTSA has on file for the 2018 Chevrolet Tahoe (7.6%) describe the engine stalling, losing power or shutting off while driving. One owner wrote: "As we are doing a three hour drive our vehicle keeps distracting me from driving. Trailer brake system message pops up in the dash board constantly. Like the whole system electric turns off while driving." (NHTSA complaint 11538203, August 2023). If it happens to your car, check your VIN for open recalls at nhtsa.gov/recalls and report the problem to NHTSA; complaints are what trigger investigations.
Why does my 2018 Chevrolet Tahoe idle rough, misfire or hesitate?
7 of the 105 owner complaints NHTSA has on file for the 2018 Chevrolet Tahoe (6.7%) describe rough idling, misfires or hesitation when accelerating. One owner wrote: "For several months my check engine light has been flashing when I’m driving, especially on the highway. At times my vehicle feels sluggish. I press further own into the gas pedal and I am not getting adequate propulsion." (NHTSA complaint 11712159, January 2026). If it happens to your car, check your VIN for open recalls at nhtsa.gov/recalls and report the problem to NHTSA; complaints are what trigger investigations.
Has the 2018 Chevrolet Tahoe had transmission failures?
4 of the 105 owner complaints NHTSA has on file for the 2018 Chevrolet Tahoe (3.8%) describe transmission failure, slipping or a replaced transmission. One owner wrote: "05/15/23 - AFM Lifter failure - Complete Top End Rebuild under extended warranty purchased when i bought the Tahoe - Preowned certified." (NHTSA complaint 11760315, August 2026). If it happens to your car, check your VIN for open recalls at nhtsa.gov/recalls and report the problem to NHTSA; complaints are what trigger investigations.
Check your own Tahoe
Counts are a starting point, not a verdict: popular models collect more complaints because more of them are on the road, and NHTSA does not verify individual reports. To see whether a recall is still open on your car, enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls (U.S.) or your registration at check-vehicle-recalls.service.gov.uk (UK). Had a safety problem? Report it to NHTSA; complaints are what trigger investigations and recalls.
Data: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation recall and complaint databases (public domain), retrieved October 25, 2026. Model year 2018 only.