Chevrolet›Tahoe›2016›Overview/chevrolet/tahoe/2016/base/
2WD platform

2016 Chevrolet Tahoe

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2016 Tahoe.

Body SUVTransmission Automatic 6-spd

The 2016 Chevrolet Tahoe is a 2WD-platform SUV paired with an automatic six-speed transmission, carrying EPA ratings of 16 city/23 highway/18 combined mpg and an oil-change spec of 8.5 quarts of 0W-20. In the model's 1991-2026 complaint record, the 2016 Tahoe drew 253 owner complaints and 10 recalls, with service brakes standing out as the top reported problem. That complaint volume is well below the 1,176-complaint peak registered by the 2007 model, positioning the 2016 year as a less troubled entry in the Tahoe's documented history.

Model year202620252024202320222021202020192016

Quick specs

Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.

Engine oil capacity8.5 qtOEM · verified
Engine oil type0W-20OEM · verified
EPA fuel economy16/23/18 mpgEPA · verified

Fitment & sizes

Replacement part sizes and factory part numbers — battery, bulbs, filters and belts.

From the factory this vehicle uses a BCI 48 · 660 CCA battery, OE oil filter 12731742. Each part links to every other vehicle that shares it, so a part you already stock may fit more of your fleet than you'd expect.

Battery groupBCI 48 · 660 CCAOEM · verified
Tire size265/65R18OEM · verified
Wheel / rim8.5; OPTIONAL: 9.0, 9.5 inOEM · verified

OE service part numbers OEM · verified

Engine oil filter12731742
Engine air filter22845992
Spark plug12622441
Battery88864542 alt 88866124
Front wiper blades84613732
Serpentine belt12643517 alt 12658178
Thermostat12620318 alt 12674639
Cabin air filter23281440

Diagrams

Power distribution wiring8 sheets

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

TransmissionAutomatic 6-spd

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length203.9 in
Overall width80.3 in
Overall height74.4 in
Wheelbase116.1 in
Curb weight5545 lb
Track (front / rear)68.1 / 68.1 in
Weight distribution (front / rear)52/48

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined16 / 23 / 18 mpg
DrivetrainRear-Wheel Drive
Recommended fuelRegular Gasoline

Performance & power Independent road tests

0–60 mph, quarter-mile, horsepower and torque from independent road tests.

Independent road tests for the Tahoe of this era, listed by trim and engine — this page spans more than one engine, so no single horsepower figure is shown.

5.7–7.9 sec0–60 mph (tested)quickest 5.70 sec — 2018 Premier RST Performance Package
YearTrim / engine0–60¼ mileHPDrivetrain
2015LT 5.3L V86.70 sec15.10 sec355 hpRWD
2015LTZ 5.3L V86.70 sec15.20 sec355 hp4x4
2015LTZ 5.3L V87.10 sec15.60 sec355 hp4x4
2017LT Z71 Midnight Edition 5.3L V87.00 sec15.50 sec355 hp4x4
2017Premier 5.3L V87.20 sec15.50 sec355 hp4x4
2018Premier RST Performance Package 6.2L V85.70 sec14.10 sec420 hp4x4
2018Premier RST Performance Package 6.2L V85.80 sec14.20 sec420 hp4x4
2018LT Z71 5.3L V87.90 sec16.20 sec355 hp4x4

Service quick specs OEM factory data

Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.

This engine holds 8.5 qt of 0W-20 engine oil, Synthetic · 75W-90 · GL-5 · 75W-85 in the differential, DOT 3 brake fluid. Torque the oil drain plug to 18.0 ft-lbs. The firing order is 1-2-7-8-4-5-6-3. Note the cylinder-head bolts finish on a torque angle (torque-to-yield) — they stretch permanently and should be replaced, not reused, during any head service.

Lubricants & capacities

Automatic Transmission FluidDEXRON(R)-VI Automatic Transmission Fluid.
Automatic Transmission Fluid Capacity6.0
Brake FluidDOT 3
Differential Gear OilSynthetic · 75W-90 · GL-5 · 75W-85
Engine CoolantDex Cool
Engine Coolant Capacity17.4 qt
Engine Oil0W-20
Engine Oil Capacity8.5 qt

Engine torques

Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts17
Engine Oil Pan Drain Plug18.0 ft-lbs
Oil Pump to Cylinder BLock Bolts/Studs18.0 ft-lbs

Chassis torques

Driveshaft Flange to Transmission18.0 ft-lbs
Steering Track (Rod End) BoltsInner: 74.0; Outer: 44.0 ft-lbs
Front Wheel HubInstall a new nut and torque to 188.0 ft-lbs

Ignition

Cylinder Firing Order1-8-7-2-6-5-4-3
Cylinder Firing Order1-8-7-2-6-5-4-3
Cylinder Firing Order1-2-7-8-4-5-6-3
Spark Plug ManufacturerAc Delco
Spark Plug Gap.037 - .043 in
Spark Plug Torque11 ft-lbs
Spark Plug ManufacturerAc Delco
Spark Plug Gap.037 - .043 in

Battery & A/C

Standard BCI Group Number48
Standard BCI Cranking Performance660 cca
Optional BCI Group Number48
Optional BCI Cranking Performance730 cca

Service checks

Pressure Test20 psi
Radiator Cap Pressure Relief15 psi
Thermostat Opening Temperature188-206 °F
Key ON Engine OFF (KOEO)46-84

Brakes

Brake Caliper Bolt to Carrier TorqueFront: 77; Rear: 40 /; Front: 74; Rear: 38
Brake Caliper Carrier to Hub Bolt TorqueFront: 169; Rear: 150 /; Front: 170; Rear: 148
ABS Sensor Torque7.5 / NS
Minimum Pad ThicknessFront: 0.080; Rear: 0.080 in
Variation from Parallelism Thickness VariationJD9: .0007; J95: .001
Maximum Rotor Runout.002

Multi-step torque procedures OEM · verified

Camshaft Sprocket and/or Gear Bolt(s) — tightening sequence 1 stages
148.0 ft. lbs., Step 2: 9048 ft. lbs
Connecting Rod (Large End) Bearings — tightening sequence 1 stages
115.0 ft. lbs., Step 2: 8515 ft. lbs
Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 4 stages

Prep Do not reuse old bolts.

159.0 ft. lbs.59 ft. lbs
290 degrees90 degrees
3Short bolts 40 degrees40 degrees
4Long bolts60 degrees

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the engine oil and filter every 7,500 mi; spark plugs every 97,500 mi.

Every 7,500 miAccelerator Pedal (inspect) · Body Latches, Locks & Hinges (lubricate) · Brake Shift Interlock Solenoid (inspect) · Brake System (inspect) · Engine Coolant System (inspect fluid level) · Engine Oil (inspect fluid level)
Every 22,500 miCabin Air Filter (replace)
Every 45,000 miBrake Hydraulic System (drain, refill & bleed) · Engine Air Filter Element (replace) · Fuel Evaporative Emission Control System (inspect)
Every 97,500 miSpark Plug Wires (inspect) · Spark Plugs (replace) · Transfer Case Assembly (drain & refill)
At 150,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect)

Reliability & federal safety record

Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.

The 2016 Chevrolet Tahoe recorded 253 complaints, 10 recalls, and one investigation, which marks a clear decline from the 2015 peak of 661 complaints, 16 recalls, and one investigation. Compared with the following year, 2016 still shows higher complaint and recall counts than 2017’s 170 complaints, 4 recalls, and zero investigations, indicating that the downward trend continued after 2016. Across the broader federal record, complaint volumes rose sharply in the mid‑2000s, peaked again in 2007 and 2015, and have generally trended downward since the 2015 spike, with 2016 sitting on the descending side of that arc. The data do not specify any root causes for the complaints or recalls, so no specific known issue can be asserted. Overall, the 2016 model offers improved reliability over the troubled 2015 year but remains less favorable than the lower‑complaint years that followed, making it a reasonable but not optimal choice for a used purchase.

10
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
1769
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
1
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
253
Owner complaints
17 involved a crash · 1 a fire
NHTSA crash-test rating federal NCAP · out of 5 stars
Overall★★★★★
Frontal★★★★★
Side★★★★★
Rollover★★★★★
Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent
’91’92’93’94’95’96’97’98’99’00’01’02’03’04’05’06’07’08’09’10’11’12’13’14’15’16’17’18’19’20’21’22’23’24’25’26

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 253 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Service Brakes65
Power Train29
Unknown Or Other28
Engine10
Electrical System9
Suspension8
Fuel/Propulsion System7
Structure6

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 2 of 8 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

18V291000Seat Belts:FrontReported 03/05/2018

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2015-2016 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 and Tahoe Police Pursuit and Special-Service vehicles. The flexible steel cable connecting the driver's seat belt to the outboard side of… Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the pretensioner cable and seat side-shield, free of charge. The recall began June 19, 2018. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer…

19V645000Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Power Assist:VacuumReported 06/09/2019

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2015-2017 Cadillac Escalade, 2014-2018 Chevrolet Silverado, GMC Sierra, 2015-2018 Chevrolet Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Yukon vehicles. The amount of vacuum created by the vacuum… Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the Electronic Brake Control Module, free of charge. The recall began October 8, 2019. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer…

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 1769 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
PIT5509M2026-05-14Unknown Or OtherThis PI provides diagnostic tips for diagnosing electric trailer brakes issues.
PIT6247B2026-05-04Unknown Or OtherThis Preliminary information communicates direction to find information at…
PIT3271Q2026-04-01Unknown Or OtherThis preliminary information communicates information about how to determine if a wheel…
PIP61042026-03-09Unknown Or OtherThis Preliminary information communicates the steps on how to save a GDS2 Session Log and…
PIP4902V2026-03-09Unknown Or OtherThis preliminary information advises a dealer on how to email GDS2 session logs into…

Common OBD-II trouble codes

The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.

P0420
Catalyst system efficiency below threshold — Bank 1
P0300
Random / multiple cylinder misfire detected
P0171
System too lean — Bank 1
P0455
Evaporative emission system leak detected — large leak
P0128
Coolant thermostat below regulating temperature
P0442
Evaporative emission system leak detected — small leak

VIN tools

Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.

VIN
Decode a VIN to confirm the transmission and build data for a specific Tahoe. OEM
Build data
Plant, GVWR class, engine and body data for any 17-character VIN.
Recalls
Check open recall campaigns against a specific vehicle by VIN.

Vehicles with shared specs

Find every vehicle that shares this one's battery, bulbs, oil capacity, platform or parts.

Group 48 batteryVehicles taking 8.5 qt2WD-platform vehiclesEngine oil filter 12731742Engine air filter 22845992Spark plug 12622441Battery 88864542

Fuse box & wiring diagrams

Interactive fuse-box and wiring references for this vehicle, searchable by circuit.

Wiring diagrams

Reference guides

Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.

Vehicle recalls & TSBsOBD-II trouble codesTorque specificationsMaintenance schedulesFluid capacities & specs

Frequently asked

How much oil does the 2016 Tahoe take?

8.5 qt of 0W-20, per the factory manual.

Does the 2016 Tahoe have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 10 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.

What gas mileage does the Tahoe get?

EPA figures are 16 city / 23 highway / 18 combined mpg.