YearToAvoid

2020 Chevrolet Tahoe Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Best

Complaint Index

15/100

#18 most-complained of 21 Tahoe years

Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology

The 2020 Chevrolet Tahoe carries a complaint index of 15, the second-lowest of 21 model years, earning a Best verdict. It logged 55 complaints, 3 recalls, 4 crashes and 8 injuries, with engine and transmission issues leading the problem list.

Complaints
55
Recalls
3
Crashes / fires
4 / 0
Injuries / deaths
8 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
4 / 5 ★
EPA combined MPG
17
15 city / 22 hwy

Top 2020 Chevy Tahoe problems

NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Engine14 (25%)
  2. Transmission & Powertrain14 (25%)
  3. Electrical System11 (20%)
  4. Brakes6 (11%)
  5. Steering6 (11%)
  6. Other5 (9%)
  7. Airbags4 (7%)
  8. Suspension, Wheels & Tires4 (7%)
  9. Fuel System3 (5%)
  10. Structure & Body1 (2%)

What owners report

  • Steering wheel has locked up unexpectedly while turning, in one case leading to a crash into a wall.
  • Power steering has cut out with a dash warning light on, making the vehicle very hard to steer, then returned after the vehicle was restarted.
  • Airbag warning lights have flickered on and off intermittently, sometimes just seconds apart.
  • A tire has separated from the rim during a low-speed turn with no prior low-pressure warning, resulting in an accident.
  • The auxiliary battery has overheated and exploded during operation, damaging nearby components like the headlight and windshield washer reservoir.
  • The trailer brake system warning light has illuminated intermittently, especially at highway speeds.
2020 Chevrolet Tahoe complaints: complaints filed per month4Jun 2020Nov 2021Nov 2022Sep 2023Jul 2024Jun 2025Feb 2026Jul 2026
68 complaints filed with NHTSA from Jun 2020 to Aug 2026; peak Apr 2026 (4).

2020 Chevrolet Tahoe recalls

3 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 21V115000Feb 25, 2021Suspension, Wheels & Tires33,838 vehicles

    Tires

    General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2020 Buick Enclave, Cadillac XT4, XT5, Escalade, Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Suburban, Tahoe, Traverse, GMC Yukon, Yukon XL, 2018-2021 Chevrolet Express, GMC Savana, 2019-2020 Chevrolet Blazer, Silverado 1500, GMC Acadia, Sierra 1500, and certain Continental tires sold to the aftermarket for various model year 2018-2021 vehicles. The affected tires were cured for too long during production.

    Risk: Over cured tires may develop a break in the sidewall resulting in sudden air loss or a belt edge separation which could lead to a tread/belt loss. Either condition can cause a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.

    Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the tires, replacing them as necessary, free of charge. The recall began March 22, 2021. Owners may contact GMC customer service at 1-888-988-7267, Buick customer service at 1-866-608-8080, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020 or Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006. GM's number for this recall is N212329050.

  2. NHTSA 19V837000Nov 21, 2019Fuel System502 vehicles

    Fuel system, gasoline:delivery:fuel pump

    General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2020 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Camaro, Silverado 1500, Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Sierra 1500, Yukon, and Yukon XL vehicles. The fuel pump may be missing a pressure regulator, allowing for over-pressurization of the fuel system.

    Risk: Over-pressurization can crack the fuel pump and cause leaks, increasing the risk of a fire in the presence of an ignition source.

    Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel pump, free of charge. The recall began December 18, 2019. Owners may contact Cadillac customer service at 1-800-333-4223, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, or GMC customer service at 1-888-988-7267. GM's number for this recall is N192283991.

  3. 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.

2020 Chevrolet Tahoe fuel economy and fuel cost

City
15 MPG
Highway
22 MPG
Combined
17 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$3,800
15,000 mi/yr
Fuel
Gasoline or E85
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.

2020 compared with other Tahoe years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)0255075100’05’06’07’08’09’10’11’12’13’14’15’16’17’18’19’20’21’22’23’24’25
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2018Best10104318
2019Caution201052 !17
2020Best1555317
2021Avoid954531617
2022Caution70187416.5

All Chevrolet Tahoe years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2020 Chevrolet Tahoe reliable based on NHTSA data?
Yes, relative to other Tahoe years. It has a complaint index of 15, ranks 18th worst (meaning near the low-complaint end) out of 21 model years, and carries a Best verdict.
What are the most common problems with the 2020 Chevrolet Tahoe?
NHTSA complaints point to the engine and transmission & powertrain as the top problem areas, each accounting for 25% of complaints, followed by electrical system issues at 20%.
Does the 2020 Chevrolet Tahoe have any recalls?
NHTSA lists 3 recalls for the 2020 Tahoe, covering suspension/tires, the fuel system, and brakes (an EBCM reprogram), none of which are do-not-drive recalls.
How does the 2020 Tahoe compare to other model years?
The 2020 Tahoe's complaint index of 15 is far below years like 2007 (100), 2021 (95), and 2015 (90), which all carry Avoid verdicts.
Were there any crashes or injuries reported for the 2020 Tahoe?
NHTSA data shows 4 crashes and 8 injuries tied to 2020 Tahoe complaints, including steering and airbag-related incidents, with no reported fires or deaths.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.