USED VEHICLE RESEARCH

2020 Chevrolet Tahoe

Is This A Good Car? organizes available NHTSA-derived research for the 2020 Chevrolet Tahoe. This page includes owner complaint records, safety recall campaigns, manufacturer communications, defect investigations, and information about the completeness of the available evidence.

DATA CONFIDENCE: Moderate

Owner complaints

55NHTSA records

Recall campaigns

3Year, make and model lookup

Manufacturer communications

0Matched NHTSA records

Investigations

0Matched NHTSA records

EVIDENCE AVAILABILITY — NOT VEHICLE RELIABILITY

DATA CONFIDENCE

Moderate

Data Confidence measures how much usable evidence CarIQ has for this vehicle. It does not measure how reliable the vehicle is.

Why this rating?
Owner complaint data
Available
Manufacturer communications
Available
Recall data
Available
Investigation data
Available
Production denominator
Unavailable
Complaint component completeness
100%
Mileage completeness
0%
Incident-date completeness
100%

DESCRIPTIVE ANALYTICS

DATA INSIGHTS

Derived from official NHTSA source records. These statistics are descriptive and are not a reliability score.

Complaint records analyzed
55
NHTSA complaints
Most reported component
Power Train
25% of categorized complaint records
Top-three component concentration
62%
Records mentioning at least one top-three component
Median reported incident mileage
Not available from current source
0 valid mileage observations
Recall campaigns
3
NHTSA recalls
Most recent recall report
February 25, 2021
NHTSA recalls
Manufacturer communications
0
NHTSA manufacturer communications
Most documented component
Not available
NHTSA manufacturer communications
Top-three communication concentration
Not available
Share of categorized manufacturer communications

SOURCE COMPLETENESS

DATA QUALITY

Complaint records analyzed
55
Component classification available
100%
Incident date available
100%
Mileage available
0%
Structured outcome fields available
100%

Completeness describes fields present in the retrieved complaint records. It is not a data-quality grade or a vehicle assessment.

Learn about CarIQ methodology

PRODUCTION-ADJUSTED DESCRIPTIVE METRIC

NORMALIZED COMPLAINT CONTEXT

Production-normalized complaint data is not currently available for this vehicle.

This metric compares the number of NHTSA owner complaint records retrieved by CarIQ with NHTSA-reported production volume for the corresponding vehicle population.

It is not a vehicle failure rate. Complaint reporting behavior, vehicle age, time on the road, production definitions, and other factors can affect the result.

Source: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Early Warning Reporting, Light Vehicle Production Data. Read the methodology.

OFFICIAL NHTSA OWNER COMPLAINT DATA

OWNER-REPORTED COMPLAINTS

TOTAL COMPLAINTS55

COMPONENT CATEGORIES

Power Train14 complaints
25%of categorized complaint records
Engine12 complaints
22%of categorized complaint records
Electrical System11 complaints
20%of categorized complaint records
Service Brakes6 complaints
11%of categorized complaint records
Steering6 complaints
11%of categorized complaint records
Air Bags4 complaints
7%of categorized complaint records
Unknown or Other4 complaints
7%of categorized complaint records
Fuel/propulsion System3 complaints
5%of categorized complaint records
Suspension2 complaints
4%of categorized complaint records
Tires2 complaints
4%of categorized complaint records
Vehicle Speed Control2 complaints
4%of categorized complaint records
Buckle1 complaint
2%of categorized complaint records
Chest Clip1 complaint
2%of categorized complaint records
Harness1 complaint
2%of categorized complaint records
Seats1 complaint
2%of categorized complaint records

A complaint may list more than one component and therefore contribute to multiple categories. Percentages show the share of categorized complaint records that mention each component—not the percentage of vehicles affected. Category percentages may overlap.

INCIDENT REPORTS BY YEAR

2020
3
2021
4
2022
5
2023
8
2024
9
2025
16
2026
10

Grouped from complaint records with a valid incident date.

RECENT OWNER COMPLAINTS

Engine

Owner-submitted NHTSA complaint · ODI 11754970
Read complaint narrative

The 6.2L L87 V8 engine in my 2020 Chevrolet Tahoe Premier RST suffered a catastrophic internal component failure while operating. The engine experienced a sudden, severe internal mechanical breakdown involving the crankshaft or connecting rod bearings, completely disabling the powertrain.This failure causes an immediate and dangerous loss of vehicle propulsion, creating a severe safety hazard on public roads.General Motors has already issued Safety Recall N252494001 (NHTSA Campaign 24V924000) for identical L87 engine bearing failures, but has arbitrarily limited the scope to 2021–2024 model years. My 2020 vehicle uses the exact same L87 engine family and has suffered the exact same catastrophic defect.I am filing this report to urge the NHTSA to expand its current Engineering Analysis (RQ26001) and force General Motors to expand the safety recall to include 2020 model year vehicles before more consumers experience sudden engine failure while driving."

Power Train

Owner-submitted NHTSA complaint · ODI 11751999
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Transmission valve , vehicle shutter, and eventually complete loss of power and failure. Transmission had to be replaced as vehicle was out of warranty.

Power Train · Engine

Owner-submitted NHTSA complaint · ODI 11748142
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The dealership where I get my 2020 Chevy Tahoe service, stated that there is a recall for the water pump for the 2020 Chevy Tahoe, due to a manufactory defect, causing the water pump to leak. On XXX, mileage 62,777, I had to replace my water pump for that same reason, but my vehicle was not part of the recall; therefore, paying for a placement water pump myself. The dealership is Musson Patout Automotive Group/GMC, 214 West Hwy 90 Frontage Road, New Iberia, LA 70560, [XXX]. I am requesting that my vehicle be added to the recall list, due to this oversite. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Power Train

Owner-submitted NHTSA complaint · ODI 11747899
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My transmission failed, yes it is available for inspection. The failure occurred without warning. I was driving my truck on the highway, suddenly it began to hesitate and making a loud winding out noise. The truck was hesitate on going forward. Yes, I had the vehicle towed to Banks Chevy, I was told the torque converter blew metal shavings into the transmission and it was a common problem with these vehicles. No warning at all, I just had my oil changed at the dealership, it was running great, out of nowhere this happened.

Power Train · Vehicle Speed Control

Owner-submitted NHTSA complaint · ODI 11745868
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Chevrolet has a recall on some vehicles for a bad transmission valve body, but my vehicle isn’t a part of the recall and I’m having the exact same issues. Currently my only vehicle that I have to transport my 7 month old is a complete safety risk. My check engine light is on and the code its throwing is to replace transmission valve body assembly. My Tahoe is shifting very harshly when driving normally, it feels like it slams into gears causing the whole car to jerk. When sitting at a red light that turns green, Tahoe is slipping, barely wanting to move through an intersection with vehicles all around me. I’ve been advised to not drive my Tahoe at all because if I do I will certainly have severe drivetrain damage and rear wheel lock up. Like I said, Chevrolet already has a recall for this issue on some of their vehicles, but my specific Tahoe does not. This is my only vehicle for myself and my baby and I cannot drive it due to its safety issues.

Power Train · Service Brakes

Owner-submitted NHTSA complaint · ODI 11737487
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Tahoe transmission failed with 103,000 miles… took to Chevrolet they confirmed, took to a transmission specialist they confirmed failure but they said the computer was throwing weird codes and they believe this has a factor in transmission issue. On the way home the brake system alert went off and the car would not go above 35 miles an hour … I get this is a safety feature but it was dangerous in the location this occurred ans this car was not that old and does not have high miles to justify this type of issues

Service Brakes

Owner-submitted NHTSA complaint · ODI 11733810
Read complaint narrative

I own a 2020 Tahoe, 160,000 miles. While driving, the vehicle experienced a sudden loss of brake assist due to a failure of the vacuum brake pump. The brake pedal became extremely hard, and the vehicle would not slow or stop as expected, requiring me to put vehicle in neutral and frantically find a way to the shoulder to force a stop (pulling the emergency brake). This created a dangerous condition and significantly increased stopping distance, posing a serious safety risk to myself, and others on the road. There was little to no warning prior to the failure. This issue appears to be consistent with known complaints involving vacuum pump failure and loss of brake assist in similar vehicles. A failure of the braking assist system is NOT a normal wear condition and presents a critical safety hazard. I am reporting this incident due to the safety risk associated with sudden brake assist failure and the potential for accidents or injury. Vehicle issue has been confirmed by an independent service center. There was a warning light that appeared at the same time the brake stopped working leaving me no time to plan or know ahead not to drive.

Unknown or Other

Owner-submitted NHTSA complaint · ODI 11730381
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The air conditioning system fails to cool. My vehicle only has 47,000 miles on it currently and is well-kept. A professional garage inspected and advised that there was a leak in the refrigerant system. I contacted my local Chevrolet dealer Jeff Gordan Chevrolet where I purchased the vehicle new and they said the issue was not under warranty and that my warranties had expired. They would not repair the air conditioning system at no cost to me, the owner.

NHTSA complaints are reports submitted by vehicle owners and other consumers. Complaint counts do not represent the percentage of vehicles affected and do not by themselves establish that a safety defect exists.

A higher complaint count can partly reflect how many vehicles were sold, vehicle age, and other factors. CarIQ does not yet normalize complaint counts by vehicles sold.

Data provided by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). This site is not endorsed by NHTSA.

OFFICIAL NHTSA MANUFACTURER COMMUNICATION DATA

MANUFACTURER COMMUNICATIONS

TOTAL COMMUNICATIONS0

No NHTSA manufacturer communication records were returned for this year, make, and model.

Manufacturer communications include service bulletins and other technical information submitted by manufacturers to NHTSA. The existence or number of communications does not establish how often a condition occurs or whether an individual vehicle will experience it.

Some manufacturers may issue more detailed service documentation than others, so communication counts should not be used alone to compare vehicle reliability.

Source: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration manufacturer communications

NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION

NHTSA DEFECT INVESTIGATIONS

TOTAL INVESTIGATION RECORDS0

No applicable NHTSA defect investigation records were returned for this year, make, and model.

NHTSA investigations evaluate potential motor-vehicle safety defects. The existence of an investigation does not by itself establish that a safety defect exists, and the absence of an investigation does not establish that a vehicle is problem-free.

Open and closed describe NHTSA's process status, not a CarIQ reliability judgment.

View official NHTSA investigation data ↗

DESCRIPTIVE SOURCE OVERLAP

CROSS-SOURCE VEHICLE DATA

CarIQ compares categories appearing across independent NHTSA datasets. Overlap can help identify areas with more available documentation, but it does not establish defect frequency or prove that an individual vehicle will experience a problem.

ComponentOwner complaintsManufacturer communicationsRecall campaignsNHTSA investigationsOfficial sources containing records
Tires20102 of 4
Power Train140001 of 4
Engine120001 of 4
Electrical System110001 of 4
Service Brakes60001 of 4
Steering60001 of 4
Air Bags40001 of 4
Unknown or Other40001 of 4
Fuel/propulsion System30001 of 4
Suspension20001 of 4

Displayed first by the number of source categories containing the component, then by owner complaint count, then alphabetically. This is a presentation rule, not a vehicle ranking. Complaint reports, manufacturer communications, recalls, and investigations describe different events and are never added into a combined total.

complaint
Available
communication
Available
recall
Available
investigation
Available
production
Unavailable

OFFICIAL NHTSA SAFETY RECALL DATA

SAFETY RECALLS

3 recall campaigns found

01TIRESCampaign 21V115000February 25, 2021

Summary

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2020 Buick Enclave, Cadillac XT4, XT5, Escalade, Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Suburban, Tahoe, Traverse, GMC Yukon, Yukon XL, 2018-2021 Chevrolet Express, GMC Savana, 2019-2020 Chevrolet Blazer, Silverado 1500, GMC Acadia, Sierra 1500, and certain Continental tires sold to the aftermarket for various model year 2018-2021 vehicles. The affected tires were cured for too long during production.

Safety Consequence

Over cured tires may develop a break in the sidewall resulting in sudden air loss or a belt edge separation which could lead to a tread/belt loss. Either condition can cause a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy

GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the tires, replacing them as necessary, free of charge. The recall began March 22, 2021. Owners may contact GMC customer service at 1-888-988-7267, Buick customer service at 1-866-608-8080, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020 or Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006. GM's number for this recall is N212329050.

Additional Notes

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.

02FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMPCampaign 19V837000November 21, 2019

Summary

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2020 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Camaro, Silverado 1500, Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Sierra 1500, Yukon, and Yukon XL vehicles. The fuel pump may be missing a pressure regulator, allowing for over-pressurization of the fuel system.

Safety Consequence

Over-pressurization can crack the fuel pump and cause leaks, increasing the risk of a fire in the presence of an ignition source.

Remedy

GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel pump, free of charge. The recall began December 18, 2019. Owners may contact Cadillac customer service at 1-800-333-4223, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, or GMC customer service at 1-888-988-7267. GM's number for this recall is N192283991.

Additional Notes

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.

03SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP:WHEEL SPEED SENSOR/TONE RINGCampaign 19V761000October 24, 2019

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.

Safety Consequence

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.

Additional Notes

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.

Recall results shown here are based on year, make, and model. A specific vehicle may or may not be affected. Check the vehicle's VIN with NHTSA to confirm open recalls before purchasing. Data provided by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

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