2020 Chevrolet Tahoe Problems

What owners report

Owners of the 2020 Chevrolet Tahoe most often describe transmission problems, such as harsh or slipping shifts, RPM rising without speed gain, and loss of drive. Power steering problems and sudden power loss or stalling are also reported, and engine complaints include lifter noise and internal engine failures, sometimes described as coming on with no warning lights. Where mileage is given in the complaints described here, it ranges from about 8,000 to just over 100,000 miles, and most complaints do not list mileage.

1. 1
   Transmission and drivetrain

   Transmission shifting, slipping or loss of drive

   • 11 complaints (19%)
   • typically at 5.4 yrs old
   • filed 2024–2026

   Owners describe harsh or slipping shifts, engine RPM rising while the vehicle gains little speed, and a feeling of neutral or hesitation after shifting into gear. Some report transmission failures, with metal debris found in the fluid or torque converter, and a complaint describes a transmission valve body problem on a vehicle that was not part of a recall. According to complaints, dealers confirmed some failures, and some owners were told a transmission replacement was needed, sometimes after the warranty had ended. Most of these complaints do not list mileage, but where it is stated, failures are described at about 100,000 miles or slightly above.

   What to check: Ask the dealer for transmission repair and recall history, including whether the transmission valve body recall was checked against this vehicle, and look for harsh shifts or RPM rising without speed on a test drive. Ask whether the transmission fluid was inspected for metal debris or a dark, gritty condition, since complaints describe both.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “We are concerned that the transmission recall should be including ALL 2020 Tahoe’s. We were driving at 55 MPH and our RPM suddenly excelled and the vehicle felt like it was in neutral. This happened several times in a short distance. When we arrived home and tried to put in reverse it hesitated to move and then finally engaged. Getting it into dealership this week.”

   NHTSA complaint #11640103, filed 2025-02

   “I was driving with my kids on the expressway about 55mph , when all of a sudden the truck went to 30's mph stayed on the 1st gear and did not want to go further from there, and another vehicle almost struck me from the back but was able to swerve me the check engine light also popped out of nowhere. The truck kept staying there on 1st gear, So i had call someone to come pick it up where I was at. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11586931, filed 2024-05
2. 2
   Steering

   Power steering loss, stiffness or locking

   • 8 complaints (14%)
   • median 25,500 mi at 2.5 yrs old (2 state mileage, few)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2020–2026

   Owners describe power steering going out, or the wheel feeling firm or hard to turn, sometimes with a warning light and sometimes without. Some report a steering assist error, lost power to the steering and brakes at low speed, and creaking or groaning from the rack and pinion. Complaints say dealers were sometimes unable to reproduce the problem, and that an electronic rack and pinion was found to need replacement. Another complaint ties a steering wheel that locked during a turn to a crash. Where mileage is given, these complaints fall between about 8,000 and 43,000 miles, and most do not list mileage.

   What to check: On a test drive, check that the power steering assist feels steady at low speed and that no steering or brake warning appears on the dash. Ask whether any electronic steering or rack and pinion repairs were done, since complaints describe intermittent problems that dealers could not reproduce.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Stopped at a traffic light my power steering warning light on the dash came on. After that I had no power steering, and the vehicle is very difficult to steer. I drove back to my location turn the vehicle off and who won out about an hour later started and the power steering was working. Upon looking the issue up online I found that other models of my Tahoe have had a recall but no particular model has not.”

   NHTSA complaint #11436172, filed 2021-10

   “My engine light keeps coming on randomly. When this occurs, the dashboard lights blinks and I get a steering assist error message. Once this happens it is really hard for me to steer AND I lose acceleration as well. Imagine losing acceleration in the middle of an intersection. Also, I noticed my temperature gauge moves up & down as well. I have taken it to the dealership each time it happens and they are saying they haven't been able to replicate the issue. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11468147, filed 2022-06
3. 3
   Engine

   Sudden power loss, stalling or shaking

   • 15 complaints (26%)
   • median 20,000 mi at 3.0 yrs old (1 states mileage, few)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2022–2026

   Owners describe jerking, shaking, or hesitation, with loss of acceleration or stalling while driving, and some say there was no warning light beforehand. Some complaints tie these symptoms to fuel injectors, fuel rails or connector harnesses found failed or corroded, and another complaint reports a high pressure fuel pump malfunction. Dealers sometimes could not reproduce the symptom, and a complaint describes the vehicle shutting down while it was being driven. Mileage is listed in few of these complaints, and the text that does mention it cites about 52,000 miles.

   1 related service bulletin

   What to check: Ask whether the fuel injectors, fuel rails and connector harnesses were inspected for corrosion or damage, and scan for stored engine codes before buying. Ask about the engine shudder service bulletin, which describes replacing a camshaft actuator magnet to address engine shudder.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I was driving in traffic with 8 kids from my football team on a busy street and my truck start jerking and wouldn’t accelerate much. I was going 35 mph and the truck just slows down in the middle of driving. Then as I pulled over thick white smoke comes from the tail pipe. Thank god it was a Sunday and the busy street wasn’t as busy and I was able to pull over safely because this happen while I was driving. I got the truck to autozone and they gave me a misfire code in cylinder 1. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11693292, filed 2025-10

   “I got in my vehicle and turned it on. Once on, it asked me to roll down my passenger side window and roll it back up. I thought that was odd, but did so. My vehicle had completely reset. The clocks were not correct and none of our controls were set. I reset everything, but thought that was weird. A few days later, my husband and son were coming home from a 5-hour trip and as they were turning into our driveway, thank God they were home, the vehicle completely turned off and shut down. The brakes locked up and they came to a complete stop. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11767621, filed 2026-09
4. 4
   Engine

   Lifter noise and internal engine failures

   • 10 complaints (18%)
   • typically at 6.1 yrs old
   • filed 2025–2026

   Owners describe lifter ticking noise, and a complaint describes lifters failing in both banks and damaging the camshaft, with no reason given for the failure. Others report internal failures such as bearing damage, a broken piston, or an engine that seized, sometimes with no warning lights beforehand. Complaints describe long repair waits for a replacement engine and limited help from the manufacturer. Mileage is not listed in most of these complaints, but where it appears, failures are described between under 40,000 and about 75,000 miles.

   What to check: Ask whether any engine warranty, campaign or bearing repair work was completed, and listen for lifter ticking during a cold start and at idle. Ask for engine service records, since complaints describe internal engine damage that appeared without warning lights.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “this year vehicle is also part of the engine problem GM is experiencing with the V8 Engines. I purchased this vehicle in January 2024. With less than 40k miles on it. I drove it for approx 2 months and the entire engine seized up. I was told by the Chevy Dealership that GM is aware of the engine problems on these V8 Engines and did not issue a recall. It took GM over 9 weeks to send me a new engine. In which 6 weeks they had me rent a vehicle and then finally allowed the dealership to give me a rental from their lot. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11638463, filed 2025-01

   “Zero warnings. Driving one day and the vehicle started shaking and running very hard even when just in idle. Dealership has determined engine failure, due to piston one failing and braking off into engine. Car has had routine oil changes and maintenance. Has not been inspected by manufacturer. GM is not assisting.”

   NHTSA complaint #11654228, filed 2025-04
5. 5
   Air bags

   Airbags not deploying in crashes, or SRS light

   Mentioned in 4 of 53 sampled complaints

   Owners describe airbags that did not deploy in crashes, including a frontal collision where the airbag bracket was reported bent or broken. Another complaint describes a safety restraint system light that switched on and off, and says a software update was performed after being suggested as a possible fix. Where mileage is listed, these complaints fall between about 8,000 and 16,000 miles, and some do not list mileage.

   What to check: Ask whether any airbag software update was applied and documented, and have the system scanned for stored airbag fault codes before buying. Check that the airbag and safety restraint warning lights stay off after the engine starts, since complaints describe that light switching on and off.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “In August 2021 I got a system light for a Saftey Restraint System, aka airbag issue. This system was going on and off sometimes as little as 5 seconds apart and then sometimes would go off for a bit then back on. I live on an Island and there is no dealer here I had to buy somewhere else. There is a mechanic here that does work on vehicles and per the dealership, I bought the car from I was told if the mechanic there can do a software update which is what he thought the problem was, then I should do that. I took this advice and did it. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11439528, filed 2021-11

   “The contact stated they rented a 2020 Chevrolet Tahoe. The contact stated that while coming to a stop to make a u-turn the steering wheel suddenly locked. The vehicle continued to accelerate forward crashing into a wall on a driveway of a home nearby. The vehicle's air bags did not deploy. The vehicle was towed and had not been deemed totaled as of yet. A police report was filed. The contact received injuries to the head and knees. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11339175, filed 2020-07, 8,000 miles

Buying note. A buyer considering a 2020 Tahoe could ask for transmission and engine service records, including whether the transmission valve body recall was checked and whether any lifter or bearing repairs were done. On a test drive, pay attention to shifting, steering assist, and any power loss or warning light during acceleration, since these are the themes owners describe most often.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 53 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.