2021 Chevrolet Tahoe Engine
Owner-reported problems and safety issues filed with NHTSA. Review common failures, severity levels, and complaint trends over time.
Complaint Timeline
Chronological view of owner reports
The contact owns a 2021 Chevrolet Tahoe. The contact stated that while his wife was driving out of the driveway and driving approximately 20 MPH, the driver became aware of an abnormal flapping sound that became louder as the vehicle accelerated. Additionally, the contact stated while his wife was driving approximately 60-65 MPH on another occasion, the check engine warning light illuminated. The driver pulled over to the side of the road. The vehicle was towed to the residence, where a mobile independent mechanic diagnosed the vehicle with a misfire in cylinder #8. The mechanic determined that both sides of the engine lifters, the gaskets, and other unknown parts needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired due to the cost. The dealer and the manufacturer were not contacted. The vehicle warranty company was contacted and informed the contact that the vehicle was not covered under warranty. The failure mileage was approximately 93,000.
My 2021 Chevrolet Tahoe engine seized while I was driving on the highway. All I heard was a loud clunk then there was a sudden power loss while I was driving before I could even get to the side of the road. I had to pay, out of pocket, to get a tow because the vehicle failed to crank or start. I had the vehicle towed to the Chevy dealership in Paramus, NJ just to find that this is a known recalled issued with the 5.3L, V8 engines which is the engine my vehicle has. There seem to be problems specifically regarding defective connecting rods or the crankshaft but for some strange reason my vehicle's vin number is not included in this recall although it is the same year, same vehicle, same engine and same problem. My vehicle should be included in the recall so it can be repaired for free at the chevy dealership in Paramus, NJ as I use this vehicle to transport children and that is very unsafe to have this defect and not fix it for free when it is not the fault of the driver.
While driving home late at night, the vehicle experienced a sudden mechanical failure in the engine. I was traveling approximately 2 miles per hour while slowing to stop at a stop sign when there was a loud “clunk,” followed by an abrupt stop of the vehicle. Immediately after this occurred, multiple dashboard warning lights illuminated, and a knocking sound began coming from the engine. The vehicle is currently not operating normally and is available for inspection upon request. This incident occurred late at night while I was driving with my two young children in the vehicle. The sudden and unexpected stop put us at risk of being rear-ended or stranded in an unsafe location. The loss of normal vehicle operation created a dangerous situation, especially given the time of night, location, and the presence of my children. There were no warning lights, messages, or noticeable symptoms prior to the incident. All warning lights illuminated only after the loud clunk and abrupt stop occurred. The knocking sound from the engine began immediately following the failure. I now am in a rental car that costs $700 a week that my insurance doesn’t cover.
While driving normally, the vehicle developed engine performance issues and was diagnosed with a catastrophic camshaft failure at approximately 85,000 miles. The vehicle has received regular oil changes with full documentation and has not been abused or neglected. A licensed mechanic confirmed that the camshaft was severely worn and damaged, consistent with AFM/DFM lifter failure, which is a known issue on GM V8 engines. This failure caused significant internal engine damage requiring major repair. The failed camshaft has been retained as physical evidence. A camshaft should not fail prematurely under proper maintenance. This appears to be a manufacturing or design defect, not normal wear and tear, and presents a potential safety concern due to sudden loss of engine power.
2021 Chevy Tahoe RST. Bad lifter valve, warranty not wanting to cover replacement for new one.
The vehicle stalled while driving down the road and started making a loud ticking noise, the engine light went on. It was brough to the dealership where they did an engine rebuild. They replaced 16 lifters and camshaft, a pulley belt and gaskets. The vehicle was picked up, however, a month later the oil low add oil light came on and the oil tank was more than 2.5 quarts low indicating extreme burning of oil. The vehicle is shuttering on acceleration of low RPMs. Brought it back to the dealership and awaiting further instruction. It caused a major safety concern because it has the potential to stall due to a motor defect on a major highway, putting my family and possibly others at risk of harm or death.
2021 Tahoe with l87 engine lifters failed at 2000 miles ,was fixed by dealer then at 82,000 miles same failure only now engine failed, I was driving home when it failed almost got in an accident lost power engine codes were blinking , took to dealer been there since October 20th still at dealership
Having to replace the radiator due to it leaking around a plastic connection to metal. Was told by the dealership this has an updated part from GM due to it being a known issue.
The contact owns a 2021 Chevrolet Tahoe. The contact stated that while his wife was attempting to start the vehicle, the engine failed to turn over as intended. No warning light was illuminated. Upon further inspection, the contact stated that there was an abnormal sound coming from the vehicle. The contact used an OBD-2 diagnostic scanner and retrieved DTC: P129F and U18A2. The vehicle was towed to a local dealer, where it remained for further investigation. The contact related the failure to an unknown recall; however, the VIN was not under recall. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 82,000.
While starting from a stop the engine stuttered and resulted in a major loss of power. Luckily this occurred pulling out of our driveway on to a quiet neighborhood street. Several warning lights and messages went off including the engine and transmission system warning, “service ESC”, “Service Traction Control”, and the emission system warning. After driving it to the dealership at 30mph since the shaking and banging noise was so bad, the dealer diagnosed it as a cylinder 6 caused by a failed lifter and lifter rod. Resulting repair involved lifters and rods in that same bank at a $3500 repair. The vehicle was just over 4 years old with 79,250 miles.Repair invoice available upon request.
We have experienced a loss in power that is accompanied with an audible engine knocking sound. The loss of power affected our ability to safely merge into the highway.
Traction control light came on and the vehicle felt like it was going to die/low idle. I took to dealership on 9/13/22 (5months after getting vehicle) and the codes P03000 00 which is an engine misfire, P050D 00 which is cold start rough idle and it was noted by service tech that engine making a clunk and ticking noise. There was a misfire on cylinder 6. They removed the valve cover and the intake valve rocker arm was not moving at all and when the rocker arm was removed they noticed the push rod was also bent. They verified the DFM lifter was collapsed.
The contact owns a 2021 Chevrolet Tahoe. The contact stated that while his wife was driving at undisclosed speeds, there was an abnormal ticking sound coming from the vehicle. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed, and determined that the cylinder #1 left side lifters and push rod had collapsed. The lifters and push rod assembly were replaced. The contact stated that on a separate occasion, while driving at undisclosed speeds, there was an abnormal ticking sound coming from the vehicle, and the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed, and determined that cylinder #4 lifters had detached, and the push rod was bent. The vehicle was repaired. The contact stated that the engine was consuming an excessive amount of engine oil. The contact related the failure to TSB: 15-06-01-002A. The dealer and manufacturer were not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 12,400.
The contact owns a 2021 Chevrolet Tahoe. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle made an abnormal ticking and knocking sound. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact was able to drive to the nearby dealer, where the vehicle was diagnosed based on the abnormal sounds. The dealer determined that the failure was related to NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V274000 (Engine and Engine Cooling); however, the VIN was not included. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact was referred to the manufacturer for assistance. The manufacturer was contacted and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 187,000.
Leaving the stoplight, all the sudden the dash read service ECM in the motor started clanking. Took it to the dealership where they told me the cam and lifters were bad and said we might as well get a new motor $17,000. And not approved by extended warranty, crooks.
Engine starting banging loudly and misfiring. There was a loss of power and engine codes. Brought to the dealer and they said cylinder #4 was misfiring due to a stuck lifter, bent push rod and destoyed cam. Total cost of repair was $9200. Vehicle is less than 4 years old an has 75,000 miles on it.
The contact owns a 2021 Chevrolet Tahoe. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle jerked and failed to accelerate as intended while depressing the accelerator pedal. The contact was able to pull over to the side of the road before the vehicle stalled. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was towed to a dealer; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The vehicle was then towed to the residence. The vehicle was again towed to the dealer, where it was diagnosed, and determined that an engine valve had failed, and the lifter lock pin spring had failed, which caused the engine to misfire and engine failure. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle remained at the dealer unrepaired due to the cost. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V274000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING); however, the VIN was not included. The contact stated that the first year the vehicle was purchased the vehicle failed to restart, and several attempts were needed to start the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to the dealer. The contact stated that an unknown electrical system repair was performed. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was unknown.
I am submitting this complaint to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) regarding a sudden engine failure in my 2021 Chevrolet Tahoe equipped with a 6.2L V8 engine, which posed a serious safety risk. I was driving on the highway at approximately 65 mph with cruise control engaged. Suddenly, the vehicle lost all power, disengaging the cruise control, and the check engine light began flashing rapidly. I managed to exit the highway safely. While stopped at a traffic light, preparing to turn into a nearby repair shop, the car started shaking violently from side to side, making it difficult to control. I took the vehicle to a Firestone shop and a local Chevrolet dealer, both of which diagnosed massive engine failure and indicated that the engine will most likely need to be replaced. The symptoms I experienced—sudden loss of power at highway speeds, flashing check engine light, and violent shaking—are in line with issues reported in other GM 6.2L engines that have been recalled.  For whatever reason, my 2021 Tahoe, which falls in the middle of the affected model years for these recalls (e.g., GM recall N252494001 for 2021-2024 vehicles with 6.2L V8 engines due to defects in connecting rods and crankshafts leading to engine damage and loss of propulsion), is not included under the broader GM 6.2L engine recall,  although I experienced very similar issues. The biggest safety concern was the engine essentially losing power at highway speeds, which could have led to a crash. I urge NHTSA to investigate and expand coverage if necessary to ensure public safety.
My 2021 Tahoe High Country began to make unrecognizable sounds and the orange engine light started blinking. I immediately pulled over and turned the vehicle off. I was made aware that numerous 2021-2024 V8 6.2L engines are affected. I am waiting for my VIN to be selected in some sort of lottery format to qualify for a fix. I was told by a Chevy Service Technician that it can take 2 weeks or 2 years for GM to find a “remedy”. Unacceptable and very expensive to rent a vehicle for work until GM decides to “remedy” my situation. I truly hope they provide me with a solution soon.
Lifter failure and camshaft failure. Found metal in engine oil that has caused bearing failure and engine damage. While driving the Tahoe on [XXX] I experience a jolt on the front right side. Then warning messages regarding the Traction Control and to Service the ESC appeared. As I cleared those messages my engine light was blinking and several other dash lights were lit up. There was a knocking sound. I contacted the dealership (Coyle Chevrolet in Clarksville, IN) and they sent a tow truck to bring it in. They assumed it would be in the recall but it is not. I am without a vehicle and the engine is backordered. It's not right that GM is picking which engines they are going to include in the recall when they know there is a manufacturing issue. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
The contact owns a 2021 Chevrolet Tahoe. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle lost power and shut off unexpectedly. The contact stated that several attempts were needed to restart the vehicle to continue driving. The check engine warning light was illuminated during the failure. The vehicle made an abnormal ticking sound while idling. The vehicle was taken to the dealer but was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and confirmed that the VIN was not under recall. The manufacturer referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. The failure mileage was 24,971.
I was driving down I-635 (Dallas) at 70mph on Friday 7/25 when my Tahoe started shaking, knocking and had complete engine failure. I managed to regain control and slow to the service road. Thankfully the car next to me was paying attention & swerved to avoid me, but honked at me the entire time. The vehicle was towed and we are being told we need to replace the engine for $14,500. As I’ve researched, the 6.2L is recalled for this exact issue. The 5.3L has no current recall but I’m clearly experiencing the same engine failure and being told I’m responsible for it. I had no prior warnings & have regularly maintained this vehicle. Any chance others have complained about the 5.3L as well & our Tahoe’s should be included in this recall?
The contact owns a 2021 Chevrolet Tahoe. The contact stated that while driving approximately 70 MPH the vehicle stalled. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer who diagnosed the vehicle and determined that the engine had seized and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The contact was informed that the VIN was included in the NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V274000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING). The contact indicated that the vehicle had experienced the failure listed in the recall. The failure mileage was 47,000. The VIN was invalid.
Driving car, suddenly when accelerating engine light started flashing, car was shaking and making knocking noise
[XXX] # [XXX] VIN = [XXX] MAKE ; Chevrolet Tahoe 2021 RE : I received a recall affects certain 2021-2024 models equipped with the 6.2L V8 L87 engine. The defect involves the connecting rod and/or crankshaft engine components, potentially leading to engine damage or failure. On March 2025, My Tohoe completely stopped while I was driving. My SUV was towed to Bomnin Chevrolet in Manassas Virginia. They diagnois was crank shaft damage leading to engine failure. My SUV was in the dealership for 2 weeks while the engine was replaced. I spent a total of $ 15,027.20 to fix my car for that problem. I called GM recall about this problem. I was informed that the recall was for only certain vehicles. Not my SUV. I am concerned that my SUV was affected by faulty crank chaft. I had to replace the engine. Thanks, [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
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The 2021 Chevrolet Tahoe has 73 Engine complaints on file. Review the timeline above for detailed owner experiences.