2021 Chevrolet Tahoe: fire, smoke or burning smell

Filed Mar 11, 2026 · Engine · 51,000 miles · CA

The contact owns a 2021 Chevrolet Tahoe. The contact stated that the engine was consuming an excessive amount of oil, and there was an abnormal knocking sound coming from the engine. Additionally, the vehicle hesitated and failed to accelerate as needed, with blue smoke coming from the exhaust pipes. The check engine warning light was intermittently illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who determined that there were metal shavings in the engine oil and that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 51,000.

Filed Jun 17, 2025 · Engine · 85,000 miles · OK

The contact owned a 2021 Chevrolet Tahoe. The contact stated while driving approximately 60 MPH, the check engine warning light illuminated, and the vehicle started losing motive power. The contact stated there was an abnormal ticking sound coming from the engine compartment. The contact stated that the vehicle slowed to approximately 10 MPH with black smoke coming from the exhaust pipe. The contact was able to drive the vehicle to a dealer. The dealer diagnosed the vehicle and determined that the engine connecting rods had failed and needed to be replaced. The contact researched online and related the failure to the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 25V274000 (Engine and Engine Cooling); however, the VIN was not included in the recall. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was informed of the failure and referred the contact to the federal safety agency Hotline to report the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 85,000.

Filed May 1, 2025 · Engine, Fuel system · CA

On May 14, 2023 I was on a trip driving the Tahoe (midnight blue Tahoe in the pictures) about 60 mph, on highway 41 (middle of nowhere, no cell reception) south of kettleman city, CA when, without any warning or symptoms of any problem whatsoever, the engine lost propulsion and died. I was able to coast onto the shoulder and tried starting it. It started again and I continued driving and about 35 minutes later I stopped at a red light on Highway 41 in Lemoore, CA. Again the Tahoe engine died without warning and would not restart. When I tried starting it I could smell a burning smell. The engine cranked but wouldn’t start, and then the check engine light came on. I was at a stoplight on a major highway and was unable to move the vehicle, and was scared to sit in it, so I put on the vehicle hazard lights, got out of the car and ran to the side of the road for safety. Luckily I did not have my children with me. I called 911 and a police officer came and parked behind my vehicle with his lights on so hopefully no other vehicles would hit it. A tow truck was immediately dispatched as high priority by the police. I had it towed to Hedricks Chevrolet dealership in Clovis, California, who informed me there was metal parts in the oil and that the engine was destroyed and had to be replaced. It took several months to get the engine replaced and in the meantime, I bought a new 2023 Cadillac Escalade so I would have a vehicle to drive. The Cadillac Escalade ended up having an extremely similar problem (and I will file a separate report for that vehicle). A few months later when the Tahoe replacement engine was installed I picked up the Tahoe from the dealership and sold it to Carmax.

Filed May 1, 2025 · Engine · 66,000 miles · TN

The contact owns a 2021 Chevrolet Tahoe. The contact stated while driving 70 MPH, the check engine warning light and other unknown warning lights illuminated. The message "Loss of Oil Pressure" was displayed, and the vehicle made an abnormally loud banging sound. The contact was able to continue driving at slow speeds with the hazard lights engaged. The contact drove to the dealer, where he was employed. The dealer diagnosed that the engine lifters had failed. The vehicle was then towed to the Chevrolet dealer, where it was diagnosed that the lifters had failed. The dealer provided an estimated fee for the repair. The vehicle was towed to Redline Performance LLC, where it was diagnosed that there were metal shavings in the oil pump, camshaft, and in other unknown parts, along with the lifters failure. The mechanic replaced the lifters, the connecting rod, the camshaft, the oil pump, and other unknown parts; however, the failure recurred after picking up and driving the vehicle to the residence. Additionally, there was smoke coming from the engine. The vehicle was towed to Stan McNabb Chevrolet Columbia (101 S James Campbell Blvd, Columbia, TN 38401), who informed the contact that the vehicle would not be diagnosed by the dealer. The contact became aware that the VIN was included in the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 25V274000 (Engine and Engine Cooling), which the contact related to the failure; however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 66,000. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

Filed Apr 11, 2022 · Electrical, Transmission · GA

The vehicle was manufactured with a push button transmission gear selector. If there is an electrical issue(ie. dead battery, electrical short, engine failure, etc) you cannot shift transmission gears. If I pull into my garage, notice a burning smell coming from engine area, possibly an electrical short, I cannot put vehicle in neutral to push out of garage in case it does erupt into a fire and not burn down my house. Recently my dead battery caused the tow company to lift the back end and pull it our of garage. General Motors did not install an override to put transmission in neutral in an emergency. The transmission will only shift if the engine is running. Imagine driving on a road or stopped at a traffic light and the engine stalls, will not restart, good Samaritans offer to push you off the road, but can't shift to neutral. Dealerships have a hydraulic lift they place under rear tires to move vehicle around service area. As a retired law enforcement officer, many times we had to move vehicles out of the way until wrecker serviced arrived. I feel this is definitely something that has to be addressed and corrected before major damage occurs or lives are endangered.

Filed Feb 4, 2022 · Engine · 10,000 miles · CA · fire

The contact owns a 2021 Chevrolet Tahoe. The contact stated that stated while the vehicle was parked and unoccupied caught fire without warning. The contact noticed there was smoke and flames emerging from the vehicle, and it burnt to the ground. There were no reported injuries. The contact's belongings purse and wallet were destroyed in the fire. The fire department extinguished the fire. A police report was not filed. The contact called the local dealer but the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted but, no further assistance was provided. The vehicle was towed to a salvage investigation lot by the insurance company. The approximate failure mileage 10,000.

Filed May 29, 2021 · Fuel system, Transmission · FL

May 6, on vacation, sudden engine failure, valve lifter and lifter rod. GM told dealer only to replace lifters on one side, Cyl 5 was problem. May 24 car ready, pickup and 68 miles later same problem while on I95 in SC. Did not trust engine and drove in right lane. GM played Russian roulette with our safety and that of other people on road. Sudden engine failure can result quickly in accidents with possible casualties at highway speeds. After pulling of I95, called GM Road assistance. Towed to dealer. They were of no help. Family member from CHS , SC send trailer to bring us all the way home in New Smyrna Beach Fl. While on phone with GM Road assistance we idled the engine to keep cell phone charged. Suddenly engine stopped and on restart heavy smoke came from tail pipe. May 25 car delivered to dealer in NSB where we bought car. May 27 they informed us same lifter/rod problem occurred on other side. Look at Chevroletforum.com and you will see 2021 6.2 engine having these problems within 8000 miles. Have been in contact with GM customer Assistance Center since May 14. We do no longer trust this engine. GM already decided to redesign the lifters as they are aware of the problem. NO recall has been issued yet. Consider this a serious highway safety issue. Do not consider the car a lemon, but yes the engine sure is.

Filed Apr 19, 2021 · Electrical · 2,502 miles · MD · fire

Tl* the contact owns a 2021 chevrolet tahoe. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle idled and loss power. The contact detected a smoke odor and smoke came inside the vehicle from the rear seats. The service ESC, traction control, forward collision, and engine warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was towed to lindsay chevrolet (15605 jefferson davis hwy, woodbridge, va 22191) and diagnosed that the sensors were faulty and had the engine coil replacement. The contact received the vehicle back from the dealer and was driving in the dealer's lot when the failure recurred. The dealer informed the contact after diagnosis that the modular system needed replacing. The vehicle was still at the dealer and not yet repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and informed the contact that they would contact the dealer to see what the diagnostic was and what was repaired. The failure mileage was 2,502.