2016 Chevrolet Tahoe · transmission
2016 Chevrolet Tahoe Powertrain Recall: What Owners Should Know
Official NHTSA recall 26V289000 affects 2016 Chevrolet Tahoe powertrain components. Learn severity, the factory remedy, and replacement options for used vs reman transmissions.
What is this recall about?
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.
How serious is it?
Severity score: **45/100** (population, component class, and safety language from the federal defect report).
**Consequence:** Front or rear wheel lockup increases the risk of a crash.
Official fix
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.
[View campaign 26V289000 on NHTSA](https://www.nhtsa.gov/recalls)
What owners should do
1. Confirm whether your vehicle received the factory remedy (dealer service history or VIN lookup at [NHTSA.gov/recalls](https://www.nhtsa.gov/recalls)). 2. Do not assume a high-mileage donor transmission was repaired before removal. 3. Compare **remanufactured** options that include updated components vs **used** units from unknown recall history.
Replacement options
When the recall affects powertrain components, remanufactured transmissions are often the safer value choice because they are rebuilt with current parts — not pulled from a donor that may pre-date the factory fix.
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Frequently asked questions
Does this recall mean every transmission on this platform is defective?
No. The recall applies to vehicles that may not have received the factory remedy. A used transmission from a high-mileage donor may never have been repaired under the campaign.
Is remanufactured safer than used when a recall is open?
Remanufactured assemblies are rebuilt to current specifications and are not dependent on an unknown donor repair history — a common consideration when an open powertrain recall affects the platform.
Should I remove my transmission before contacting support?
Document symptoms, save scan results, and contact support with installation details before removal so the issue can be reviewed accurately.
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_Reported from the official NHTSA recall record; reviewed before publication._
