2017 Chevrolet Tahoe — Known Issues & Recalls

Your 2017 Tahoe's electrical system has completely lost power twice while you were driving, which put you and your family at serious risk — especially the second time when the car shut off mid-turn on a highway onramp. After the power loss, the car restarts on its own after about 5 minutes, but all settings reset (clock, radio, etc.). A mechanic found multiple error codes related to the remote start system, and you've learned of at least one other 2017 Suburban owner experiencing the same sudden power loss. The issue may involve the remote start antenna or a broader electrical system failure, and it will likely require a dealer diagnostic scan and possible replacement of electrical components or software updates.

You purchased a 2017 Chevrolet Tahoe and were told the odometer showed 36,688 miles at sale, but a Carfax report revealed the last recorded reading was 109,967 miles from March 2025—a significant discrepancy suggesting possible odometer fraud. The dealer agreed to void the trade-in deal when you reported the issue. You may want to have a mechanic inspect the vehicle to verify its true mileage and condition.

Your car's touchscreen and computer system are not working properly. Phone calls are dropping when you try to use hands-free calling, and the information display isn't functioning correctly. The dealer will likely need to diagnose the infotainment system and may need to update or replace the head unit or its software.

Exhaust fumes and carbon monoxide are leaking into your cabin, causing headaches. You've already replaced both exhaust manifold gaskets, both exhaust manifolds, and the donut seals connecting to the Y-pipe, but the problem persists. The issue likely involves a remaining leak somewhere in the exhaust system between the engine and the cabin, which will need to be located and sealed.

Your 2017 Tahoe has experienced multiple engine and cooling system issues since purchase. Most recently, you're back at the dealership with engine ticking sounds, a misfire in cylinder 4, emissions problems, and transmission issues detected through your vehicle's diagnostic system. These repairs have included engine replacement, AC condenser replacement, thermostat replacement, and cooling line repairs over the past few years. Addressing these issues will likely require diagnostic testing and may involve spark plug replacement, fuel injector service, or transmission fluid work.

Your 2017 Tahoe was subject to a 2019 recall for vacuum pump failure that affects braking. The dealership reprogrammed your engine computer as part of the recall fix, but in 2025 the vacuum pump completely failed while you were driving on the interstate, leaving you without brakes and creating a dangerous situation. The pump had broken into pieces inside and required full replacement. The dealership declined to help because your vehicle is now out of warranty, even though the original recall was supposed to address this issue.

Your brake pedal occasionally becomes very hard to press when you're moving slowly, making it difficult to stop your vehicle. This has happened multiple times and has caused near-collisions, including one incident where you couldn't stop in time and hit your garage. Even though your brakes are new and work well otherwise, this hardening issue could be a sign of a problem with your brake booster or brake system pressure.

At 92,000 miles, your engine's lifters failed and required replacement along with gaskets and head bolts. After driving another 12,000 miles, the lifters failed again in the same way. This appears to be a known issue affecting the 5.3L engine, particularly in cylinder 1, though GM has not issued a recall or acknowledged responsibility. The repair will likely involve replacing the failed lifters and associated engine seals.

Your 2017 Tahoe has experienced failure of the engine lifters, which are now being repaired in the shop. You've already replaced the transmission in 2024 and are frustrated by the need for multiple major repairs on a vehicle with a high purchase price. Fixing the lifters will require removing engine components to access and replace the failed lifters.

Your brake pedal feels hard when you press it, and your vehicle isn't stopping as quickly as it should—even though this vehicle was previously fixed under a brake recall. A mechanic diagnosed that the vacuum pump (which helps your brakes work) needs to be replaced. The issue happened at around 84,500 miles, after the original recall repair was completed.

Your Tahoe is experiencing a recurring electrical problem where the charging system runs too high, causing the battery gauge to max out after 20+ minutes of driving. This triggers multiple warning lights (ABS, traction control, StabiliTrak, battery light) and causes the car to suddenly lose all power while driving, leaving you stuck inside with no ability to unlock doors or signal for help—the car won't restart for about a minute. This has happened repeatedly despite replacing the alternator twice, and it's now occurring daily, making the vehicle unsafe to drive.

While driving on the highway at 70 MPH, your Tahoe suddenly lost all engine power with no warning lights appearing. You had to pull over and get the vehicle towed to a mechanic, who found that the transmission had failed and needed to be replaced. This happened at 128,000 miles.

Your transmission suddenly failed while driving in traffic at 102,000 miles, causing jerking and noise that made it unsafe to control the vehicle. You paid $1,800 for towing and $6,000 for transmission replacement out of pocket after missing the warranty claim window. Six weeks later, engine lifters failed due to the active fuel management system, requiring a $12,000 repair you cannot afford, leaving your vehicle undrivable for nearly a year. The fix would involve replacing the transmission and engine lifter components, which may require GM warranty coverage investigation or extended repair assistance.

Your power steering suddenly stopped working while you were driving at low speed (under 20 mph) and crossing multiple lanes of traffic, with no warning signs beforehand. You were able to safely pull into a parking lot, but this unexpected loss of steering control created a dangerous situation, especially with children in the vehicle. The repair will likely involve diagnosing the power steering system (pump, hoses, or fluid) and replacing any failed components.

Your infotainment touchscreen randomly registers touches and commands that you didn't make — like changing the radio station, menu options, or dashboard displays — while you're driving. These phantom inputs happen without warning, can't be stopped by restarting the vehicle, and force you to take your attention off the road to try to fix it. The touchscreen may also freeze completely or become unresponsive. This is likely a hardware failure of the touchscreen digitizer and may require replacement of the infotainment unit or display panel.

Your 2017 Tahoe occasionally loses power when you press the gas pedal, and the engine revs up without accelerating. At the same time, your brakes may engage on their own while you're trying to accelerate, and your check engine and stability control warning lights turn on. You may also notice your windshield wipers and door locks activating by themselves. Restarting the vehicle temporarily fixes the problem, but it returns. The dealer found a faulty fuel injector (#6), but even after replacement, the issue came back. This may require a full electrical system diagnostic and potential replacement of additional fuel system components or engine control modules.

Your engine is misfiring, which you might notice as rough running or hesitation while driving. Your check engine light is on, and a mechanic found that your camshaft has failed, causing misfires in cylinders #4 and #8. The issue appeared at 120,000 miles. Fixing this will likely require replacing the camshaft and potentially the spark plugs in the affected cylinders.

Your transmission jerks and hesitates when downshifting to stop, and your check engine light comes on and off without a clear pattern. You may also notice rough idling, the transmission running hot, and your dashboard lights dimming at times. The dealership has been unable to resolve these issues after five visits, so the problem likely requires transmission fluid service, a transmission filter replacement, or deeper transmission diagnostics to identify the root cause.

Your 2017 Chevy Tahoe has experienced ongoing suspension problems that affect how the vehicle handles and responds to steering. Additionally, the transmission has failed twice on this vehicle, which are significant issues affecting drivability. Both the suspension and transmission systems will likely need professional inspection and repair or replacement.

Your air conditioning system has stopped working. You mention that NHTSA issued a statement about this issue, but GM is not covering the repair under warranty for your vehicle. Getting your AC working again will likely require a diagnostic inspection of the cooling system and replacement of any faulty components.