2017 Chevrolet Tahoe Problems, Recalls & Reliability
Verdict
GoodComplaint Index
27/100
#12 most-complained of 16 Tahoe years
The 2017 Chevrolet Tahoe has a Complaint Index of 27 and ranks 12th worst out of 16 model years, earning a "Good" verdict relative to other Tahoe years. It has 173 complaints, 4 recalls (1 do-not-drive), and its top problem area is Transmission & Powertrain at 31% of complaints.
- Complaints
- 173
- Recalls
- 4
- incl. Do Not Drive
- Crashes / fires
- 3 / 1
- Injuries / deaths
- 5 / 0
- NHTSA overall rating
- 4 / 5 ★
- EPA combined MPG
- 18.5
- 16 city / 22.5 hwy
Top 2017 Chevrolet Tahoe problems
NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Transmission & Powertrain53 (31%)
- Brakes44 (25%)
- Engine30 (17%)
- Other25 (14%)
- Electrical System20 (12%)
- Fuel System11 (6%)
- Airbags10 (6%)
- Structure & Body8 (5%)
- Suspension, Wheels & Tires7 (4%)
- Collision Avoidance & Cameras5 (3%)
What owners report
- Owners report the steering wheel, center console, and seats shaking or shuddering while driving straight on the highway between 72 and 90 mph, sometimes tied to a torque converter issue.
- Owners describe difficulty stopping the vehicle, needing to floor the brake pedal even at low speeds like backing into a parking spot or driveway.
- Some owners report airbag deployment during rear-end or side crashes causing smoke filling the cabin or severe burns to arms and hands.
- Owners report a fuel smell entering the cabin along with nausea, dizziness, and drowsiness, traced to fuel venting into the cabin compartment.
- Owners describe water pooling between the roof and the rear hatch, dripping down the back windshield for hours.
- Some owners report an engine vibration at idle or below 500 RPM, with the engine feeling like it will shut off and struggling to start cold.
2017 Chevrolet Tahoe recalls
4 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.
- NHTSA 26V289000May 7, 2026Transmission & Powertrain66 vehiclesDo Not Drive
Power train:transfer case (4-wheel drive)
General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2026 Cadillac Escalade and Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Silverado 1500, Suburban, and Tahoe, and GMC Sierra 1500, Yukon, and Yukon XL vehicles with four-wheel (4WD) or all-wheel drive (AWD), and certain 2015-2020 Suburban, Escalade, Escalade ESV, Yukon, Yukon XL, and Tahoe vehicles. A component missing from the drivetrain transfer case may cause the front and/or rear wheels to lock up without warning to the driver.
Risk: Front or rear wheel lockup increases the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicle until the remedy is completed. Dealers will inspect and, if necessary, replace the transfer case assembly, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 18, 2026. Owners may contact GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020 or Cadillac customer service at 1-800-333-4223. GM's number for this recall is N262557620. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on May 7, 2026.
- NHTSA 19V761000Oct 24, 2019Brakes652,967 vehicles
Service brakes
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.
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.
- NHTSA 19V645000Sep 6, 2019Brakes3,456,719 vehicles
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.
Remedy: 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.
2017 Chevrolet Tahoe fuel economy and fuel cost
- City
- 16 MPG
- Highway
- 22.5 MPG
- Combined
- 18.5 MPG
- Annual fuel cost (EPA)
- $3,500
- 15,000 mi/yr
- Fuel
- Regular
- Current regular gas
- $4.32/gal
- national avg.
EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.
2017 compared with other Tahoe years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2017 Chevrolet Tahoe reliable?
- Relative to other Tahoe model years, the 2017 is rated "Good," with a Complaint Index of 27 and a rank of 12th worst out of 16 years tracked.
- What are the most common problems with the 2017 Chevrolet Tahoe?
- NHTSA complaints show Transmission & Powertrain issues lead at 31% of complaints (53 complaints, median mileage 100,300), followed by Brakes at 25% (44 complaints, median mileage 49,936) and Engine at 17% (30 complaints).
- Does the 2017 Chevrolet Tahoe have any recalls?
- NHTSA lists 4 recalls for the 2017 Tahoe, including one do-not-drive recall involving the transmission and four-wheel drive system, plus recalls for brakes and airbags.
- How does the 2017 Tahoe compare to other bad years like 2015 or 2021?
- The 2017 Tahoe's Complaint Index of 27 is much lower than the 2015 model (93, "Avoid") and the 2021 model (100, "Avoid"), making 2017 a comparatively better choice among Tahoe years.
- What is the fuel economy of the 2017 Chevrolet Tahoe?
- The EPA rates the 2017 Tahoe at 18.5 mpg combined (16 mpg city, 22.5 mpg highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $3,500.