2018 Chevrolet Tahoe Engine Problems

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 going out, and with that causing happening causing the Fluid to Smell Burnt and Full. The auto shop test Drove and made It 30 Feet and Would Not Move. Transmission Is Failing and Causing the Concern.

NHTSA ID

11753184

Incident

Jul 18, 2026

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.

NHTSA ID

11737962

Incident

Mar 26, 2026

Was driving approximately 45MPH and the truck just slowly powered down and "Engine Power Reduced" and eventually cut off and wouldn't crank back up. Got it towed to the Chevrolet dealership and was told the engine has to be replaced due to the bottom of the motor and the crankshaft in cylinder one. Was told it would be 17k to repair it.

NHTSA ID

11726485

Incident

Feb 1, 2026

Transmission failed at 94,000 miles Misfire 80,000miles AFM/DOD issues $10,000 in repair bills still not fixed

NHTSA ID

11723987

Incident

Dec 5, 2025

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 ID

11718209

Incident

Feb 1, 2026

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. It also feels like this when I’m going up a hill. I brought the vehicle to two independent service centers to get a diagnostic. One indicated getting misfire readings on two cylinders. The other indicated getting misfire readings in three cylinders. As you would imagine this is an extremely concerning safety risk.

NHTSA ID

11712159

Incident

Apr 1, 2025

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 mileage was approximately 90,000.

NHTSA ID

11669195

Incident

Jun 1, 2025

Mileage

90,000 mi

Complete Engine failure due to the camshaft being destroyed. Dealership said it was due to the lifters.

NHTSA ID

11664806

Incident

Mar 1, 2025

Manufacturing problem, but not listed under recent GMC recall of April - May 2025 - 2018 Chevy Tahoe Problem: Transmission Issue - slippage

NHTSA ID

11659247

Incident

Apr 28, 2025

Transmission suddenly locked up while driving. Took to dealership and was advised it was a chronic issue with my vehicle. Once inspected by dealer, was advised that engine lifters also went out. My car was just out of warranty with 55k miles. Dealer did not want to honor warranty and charged me 15k in repairs. I reached out to Chevy and they provided me with some assistance by knocking off 3k. I did not get any warning lights indicating that there’s an issue with the engine or transmission. It happened suddenly. I feel that there is an engineering issue with the transmission and engine. The mechanic checked in my vehicle and said to me that this was a persistent issue with Tahoes like mines. I feel cheated by Chevrolet.

NHTSA ID

11651866

Incident

Sep 5, 2024

The contact owns a 2018 Chevrolet Tahoe. The contact stated while driving 35 MPH, the vehicle inadvertently lost motive power. The contact was able to pull over to the shoulder of the roadway, where the vehicle was restarted. The ABS and check engine warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, who diagnosed a failure with the crankshaft push rods, resulting in damages to the engine. The contact was informed that the crankshaft and the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 83,000.

NHTSA ID

11644019

Incident

Dec 26, 2024

Mileage

83,000 mi

Vehicle stopped accelerating while coming up to speed from an on ramp to the interstate while traveling from Indiana to Florida. Vehicle was towed to the nearest Chevy dealership where we were told the engine had blow and would need replaced. Vehicle has been sitting on the same dealership in Florida since early July. My families lives were put at risk as we were traveling at a low rate of speed on the interstate. As well as, sitting on the side of the interstate in a remote area waiting for a tow truck and cab. The dealer has confirmed what happened via inspection. There were not warning lamps until we lost the engine.

NHTSA ID

11637745

Incident

Jul 1, 2024

4100 Miles - Asked service dept. at dealership to check for noise coming from underside of vehicle. No service was completed. 4800 Miles - Asked service dept. at dealership to check again for noise on suspension. Service indicated it was a parking brake cable that was rubbing. 9800 Miles - Asked service dept. at dealership to check fluttering noise coming from engine. No service was completed. 15,000 Miles - Asked service dept. at dealership to check again for rattling noise coming from engine. Service indicated fluttering heard was exhaust pulsing through the manifold. No service was completed. 21,000 Miles- Service Dept at dealership provided multi point inspection and given clear inspection. No service was completed even though I stated there was still engine noises. 24,000- Asked service dept. at dealership to check hard shifting from transmission and poor performance. In addition, mentioned the noises again. No service was completed, service stated it was due to colder temperatures. 25,000- Asked service dept. at dealership to check hard shifting from transmission and poor performance. In addition, mentioned the noises again. Engine cooler lines were replaced. Scanned and verified clutch learn values all normal. Activated TCC and disabled TCC and found normal operation. No service completed. Now, after warranty has expired, service at dealership is telling me my camshaft and lifters need to be replaced, struts are leaking, transmission needs attention and should be flushed, and that I should NOT be driving my vehicle due to safety concerns. Although, I had taken the vehicle in multiple times during warranty period with complaints about these very items, no service was ever completed to correct them. Since then, I have read multiple articles documenting GM issues with L87 6.2L engines and transmissions. I'm filing a formal complaint with GM, as these issues should have been communicated to consumers or fixed through recalls.

NHTSA ID

11636801

Incident

Jan 1, 2025

The repeated failure of the fuel pumps, despite replacement three times, poses a significant safety concern as the vehicle may not start immediately, potentially leading to issues while on the road. This delay in starting could result in the vehicle not running properly, potentially shutting off unexpectedly, which poses a danger to the safety of the driver and others on the road. Additionally, the uncertainty surrounding the effects of using E85 fuel, despite the vehicle being sold as flex fuel, raises concerns about the long-term viability of the motor and overall vehicle performance. It's imperative to address this issue promptly to ensure the safety of all road users and preserve the longevity of the vehicle's components.

NHTSA ID

11578251

Incident

Dec 26, 2023

AC stopped blowing cold air due to a broken condenser weld issue commonly found in previous recalls 2014-2017

NHTSA ID

11558655

Incident

Dec 1, 2023

I was sold a vehicle from a dealer in Arizona that online says they only sell to government or law enforcement

NHTSA ID

11523949

Incident

Jul 22, 2022

The contact owns a 2018 Chevrolet Tahoe. The contact stated that while driving approximately 65 MPH, the vehicle decelerated and abruptly slowed down and lost motive power. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic who informed the contact that the SMR lifter and the engine failed. The contact called the local dealer who informed her that the parts were back ordered but the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but provided no additional assistance. The approximate failure mileage was 104,163.

NHTSA ID

11493707

Incident

Nov 13, 2022

Mileage

104,163 mi

A lifter collapsed, which in turn damaged the lobes of a piston, which then damaged the camshaft...generating a repair bill of $7,100 per the dealer. The vehicle only has 69,200 miles on it. When the lifter failed, the car shuddered at stops, lost some power and made a noticeable clanking noise. When pulling out from stops, or into traffic, the car hesitated somewhat before accelerating. This creates a very dangerous situation. Also, if more lifters or the camshaft seized up at higher speeds, a driver could experience a potentially fatal situation from an uncontrollable vehicle or a fire. Research shows that Chevy/GM knew about the lifter problem on 5.3 ltr engines with their AFM system for years and sold them anyway. They apparently have never solved the problem, and it still exists today. Several class action lawsuits have been lodged against them for the lifter failure problem. Aside from the serious potential safety issues, an expensive vehicle like my Tahoe should not be expected to incur a $7,100 repair bill when it's only 4 years old and has less then 70,000 miles on it. That's ridiculous. My wife and I are both retired. We will be tapping our retirement account to pay for this shoddy Chevy product and will worry that it just might occur again, after the fix. From a safety standpoint, a stall, loss of power, or engine seizure at speed will tax our quick response reflexes. The known lifter problem is a legitimate safety situation and needs to be addressed before someone is seriously injured or killed...if they haven't already. Thank you for listening.

NHTSA ID

11489374

Incident

Oct 4, 2022

The contact owns a 2018 Chevrolet Tahoe. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the vehicle stalled with the check engine warning light illuminated on the instrument panel. Recently, the contact had the vehicle towed to a dealer where they diagnosed the vehicle with engine failure. The contact was notified of the diagnosis and the dealer recommended that the engine be replaced. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and the contact was provided a case number. The vehicle was not repaired and remained in the possession of the dealer. The failure mileage was 22,949.

NHTSA ID

11463863

Incident

Apr 30, 2022

Mileage

22,949 mi

Transmission issues on 2018 Chevy Tahoe. The vehicle stopped on the Hwy. Dealership says the transmission needs to be replaced. Is uncertain why the transmission has gone out on the vehicle since it’s only 4 years old. Error message came on my vehicle and I called the dealership. From my research it appears Chevrolet is continuing to have problems with the transmission on its Tahoes. This is unexceptionable. The consumer has to pay the price not the manufacturer. Please assist.

NHTSA ID

11462462

Incident

Apr 19, 2022

WHEN ACCELERATING IT SOUNDS LIKE MY VEHICLE IS STUCK IN BRAKE DEGRADING OR IS MAKING THAT DISTINGUISHING NOISE. MY VEHICLE IS IN THE SHOP FOR THE SECOND TIME TO FIX THE SAME ISSUE OF PARK ASSIST, SIDE DETECTION AND FRONT CAMERA SERVICE. WHEN EXPRESSING MY CONCERN FOR THIS PROBLEM OF THE SOUND THE DEALERSHIP SAID LET'S FIX THE SERVICE ISSUES FIRST AS EVERYTHING IS ELECTRONIC. I HOPE MY VEHICLE IS SAFE TO DRIVE.

NHTSA ID

11339970

Incident

Jun 13, 2020

Mileage

41,500 mi