2017 Chevrolet Tahoe Reliability Data: Problems & Recalls
Caution The 2017 Chevrolet Tahoe has a complaint index of 30 and ranks 15th of 21 model years, earning a Caution verdict. That rating is capped because of a Do Not Drive recall, even though its complaint index alone is relatively low. Transmission & Powertrain problems are the top complaint area, at 31% of complaints.
Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology
YearToAvoid Scorecard
- Complaint Index
- 30/100
- #15 of 21 Tahoe years
- Verdict
- Caution
- vs. other years of this model
- Complaints
- 173
- unique NHTSA reports
- Recalls
- 4
- 1 Do Not Drive
- Crashes
- 3
- reported in complaints
- Fires
- 1
- Injuries
- 5
- Top issue
- Transmission & Powertrain
- NHTSA overall rating
- 4 / 5 ★
- EPA combined MPG
- 18.5
- 16 city / 22.5 hwy
- Injuries / deaths
- 5 / 0
Top 2017 Chevy Tahoe problems
Share of this year’s NHTSA 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%)
A complaint can list more than one component, so shares add up to more than 100%. Shares are % of complaints.
What owners report
- Owners describe torque converter shudder and steering wheel or console vibration at highway speeds around 72 mph and above, with dealers replacing torque converters and still not resolving it.
- Some drivers report difficulty stopping the vehicle, needing to floor the brake pedal even at low speeds like backing into a driveway or garage.
- Airbag deployment during a crash caused severe burns to the arms, hands, and wrists for one owner.
- A rear-end collision led to airbags filling the cabin with smoke, forcing the driver to exit quickly and causing a knee injury.
- One owner reported a persistent engine vibration and stalling sensation at idle or below 500 RPM, especially during cold starts.
- Another owner described a fuel smell entering the cabin along with a check engine light, causing nausea and dizziness while driving.
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?
- NHTSA data gives the 2017 Tahoe a complaint index of 30, ranking it 15th out of 21 model years, with a Caution verdict. Its verdict is capped at Caution because of a Do Not Drive recall rather than complaint volume alone.
- What problems does the 2017 Chevrolet Tahoe have?
- Transmission & Powertrain complaints make up 31% of all complaints, followed by Brakes at 25% and Engine issues at 17%. Owners most often report transmission shudder, brake pedal effort issues, and engine vibration at idle.
- Does the 2017 Chevrolet Tahoe have a recall?
- NHTSA lists four recall campaigns for the 2017 Tahoe, including a Do Not Drive recall for certain 4WD/AWD models, two brake-related recalls involving the Electronic Brake Control Module, and a Takata airbag recall.
- How does the 2017 Tahoe compare to other Tahoe years?
- The 2017 Tahoe's complaint index of 30 is better than years like 2007 (100), 2015 (90), and 2021 (95), which all carry Avoid verdicts, but worse than 2014, 2018, and 2020, which rate Best.
- What mileage do 2017 Tahoe transmission problems show up at?
- NHTSA complaint data shows a median mileage of 100,300 miles at failure for Transmission & Powertrain complaints on the 2017 Tahoe.