2018 Chevrolet Tahoe
Gas Midsize / large SUV
The 2018 Chevrolet Tahoe is sold in the U.S. as a gas midsize or large SUV with 6 EPA-rated configurations. The most efficient version, the Tahoe C1500 2WD, is EPA-rated at 19 mpg combined. NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns for this model year, which gives it a Safety Signal grade of C. Owners have filed 103 complaints, most often about unknown or other. NHTSA crash-tested it at 4 stars overall.
Specs & fuel economy (EPA)
| Configuration | Powertrain | Drive | Engine / motor | City | Hwy | Comb | Annual fuel* |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tahoe C1500 2WD | Gas | RWD | 5.3L 8-cyl | 16 | 23 | 19 | $3,300 |
| Tahoe C1500 2WD | Gas | RWD | 5.3L 8-cyl | 16 | 23 | 19 | $3,300 |
| Tahoe K1500 4WD | Gas | 4WD | 5.3L 8-cyl | 16 | 22 | 18 | $3,450 |
| Tahoe K1500 4WD | Gas | 4WD | 5.3L 8-cyl | 16 | 22 | 18 | $3,450 |
| Tahoe C1500 2WD | Gas | RWD | 6.2L 8-cyl | 14 | 23 | 17 | $4,550 |
| Tahoe K1500 4WD | Gas | 4WD | 6.2L 8-cyl | 14 | 22 | 17 | $4,550 |
*EPA estimate at 15,000 miles/year and EPA reference fuel/electricity prices. Source: fueleconomy.gov vehicle records.
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Recalls (3)
Service Brakes, Hydraulic
highProblem: 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.
Electronic Stability Control (Esc)
highProblem: 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
highProblem: 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.
Owner complaints
103 complaints filed
6 involved a crash, 0 a fire, 5 injuries, 1 deaths reported by owners.
Filed by year — 2017: 1 · 2018: 7 · 2019: 6 · 2020: 14 · 2021: 4 · 2022: 14 · 2023: 13 · 2024: 12 · 2025: 14 · 2026: 18
Most-cited components
- Unknown Or Other — 26
- Engine — 20
- Power Train — 20
- Service Brakes — 16
- Electrical System — 13
Complaint counts are raw owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects, and scale with how many were sold. Use them to spot patterns, not to rank.
Crash ratings
| Configuration | Overall | Frontal | Side | Rollover | Rollover risk |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SUV 4WD | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★☆☆ | 22% |
| SUV RWD | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★☆☆ | 23% |
NHTSA New Car Assessment Program.
Other Tahoe model years
2026 Tahoe
3 recalls · 24 complaints
A2025 Tahoe
1 recalls · 46 complaints
C2024 Tahoe
3 recalls · 64 complaints
D2023 Tahoe
5 recalls · 212 complaints
C2022 Tahoe
4 recalls · 184 complaints
F2021 Tahoe
16 recalls · 445 complaints
D2020 Tahoe
3 recalls · 55 complaints
C2019 Tahoe
2 recalls · 105 complaints
D2017 Tahoe
4 recalls · 173 complaints
F2016 Tahoe
10 recalls · 257 complaints
Sources & method
Safety Signal starts every model-year at 100 and subtracts points per open NHTSA recall campaign by severity: critical 15 (fire risk, park-outside or do-not-drive advisories), high 8 (brakes, steering, airbags, loss of drive power, structure, battery), moderate 6, minor 3 (software, labels, lighting fixed by an update). Floor 35. A ≥ 90, B ≥ 80, C ≥ 70, D ≥ 60, otherwise F. Complaint counts and NHTSA crash ratings are shown separately and are not blended into the grade.
EPA figures come from fueleconomy.gov vehicle records (ids 39004, 39006, 39017, 39019, 39099, 39016). Recalls, complaints, investigations and crash ratings come from NHTSA's public flat files, refreshed weekly.