2015 Chevrolet Tahoe · symptom sheet
Brake pedal goes hard or the booster or vacuum pump fails
- 98owner reports
- 72,250median miles
- $700median quote
- 6involved a crash
Newest report May 13, 2026 · checked Sep 29, 2026
98 of the 196 reports of brake wear on the 2015 Tahoe describe brake booster failure.
Part of Brakes grind, pulse or wear early (196 reports) · also: brake failure
Tick what matches of 98 reports
Brake booster failure on other Tahoe years
Report counts are for each model year on its own, so a newer car has had less time to collect them. Model years with too few reports of it for a sheet: 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2026.
What this problem usually is
This is the narrower sheet inside brakes for reports about a hard pedal or a failed power assist. The pedal stops feeling normal: it turns stiff, takes far more force, and the car needs a longer distance to stop.
What got replaced
Owners who name the part that was replaced mention the vacuum pump (63 reports), the brake booster (18 reports) and the master cylinder (5 reports).
Recalls and investigations
2 recalls on the brakes cover the 2015 model year. A recall on the same system isn't always the same failure, so read the defect text.
If a wheel-speed sensor fails, while the vehicle is traveling between 41 and 60 mph in four-wheel or automatic mode, the Electronic-Brake Control Module (EBCM) software may activate the driveline-protection system.
The amount of vacuum created by the vacuum pump may decrease over time.
All 14 recalls on the 2015 Chevrolet Tahoe, with the owner complaints on each recalled system
NHTSA investigations into the brakes on the Tahoe
Brake vacuum pump failure. Closed apr 10, 2022, led to recall 19V-645.
Brake line corrosion failure. Closed apr 8, 2015.
Unwanted low-speed abs activation. Closed sep 13, 2005, led to recall 05V-379.
What owners paid
12 of the 98 reports quote a price. Each dot is one quote. The middle half runs $600 to $1,000.
When it happens
The middle half of failures fell between 58,000 and 90,000 miles, from the 80 reports that gave a mileage.
Is this a known problem?
The manufacturer has sent NHTSA 2 service bulletins or notices for the 2015 Chevrolet Tahoe that deal with this problem. Newest first.
Federal rules make a manufacturer send NHTSA a copy of any notice about a defect that goes to more than one dealer or owner. Most of these are service bulletins, the repair instructions manufacturers send to dealers. NHTSA generally leaves safety recall bulletins out of this file, and recalls are listed separately.
N182202780 Special Coverage Adjustment. In some circumstances, some 2014-2017 model year Cadillac Escalade, Chevrolet Silverado, Chevrolet Suburban, Chevrolet Tahoe, GMC Sierra, and GMC Yukon vehicles may have a condition where customers may experience increased brake ...
This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician on the steps to diagnose and repair vehicles that may have issues were the customer will need increased effort to depress the brake pedal.
What owners wrote
“Vacuum pump related to the braking system is failing. This has been a repaired recall. The Vac umm pump is failing again. It is my understanding this is a common issue with Chevrolet and GMC and is causing accidents.”
Filed Jan 5, 2023
“Loss of braking effort. Also described as a hard pedal, requiring increased effort to slow the vehicle.”
Filed Nov 11, 2022
“Brake pedal becomes very difficult to press and has nearly caused an accident on numerous occasions. Recall has been issued for other year models of Tahoes as well, but not 2015 yet.”
Filed Apr 2, 2022
“On 10-9-2021 was driving slowly 5-10 MPH in a parking lot and pressed brake and the brake pedal was very hard to press down. Had to really press it hard to stop the 2015 Tahoe LTZ. Had the Tahoe towed to Firestone and they said it was the vacuum pump. Wanted to make sure there was not a recall on the vacuum pump.”
Filed Oct 9, 2021
Should you keep driving it?
This page can't tell you that. 6 of 98 reports involved a crash and 1 people were hurt. Owners who file are the ones who had a bad experience, and nobody checks their reports. If the problem affects steering, braking, power or a fire risk, treat it as a safety fault and have it inspected before a long or high-speed drive.
File your own report with NHTSA. Complaint counts are how a problem gets an investigation. How reports land on this sheet.
Guide Paid for this repair before a recall covered it? How recall reimbursement works
Other problems on this car
- A/C blows warm or the compressor fails 66 reports
- Suspension noise, struts or alignment 52 reports
- Engine stalls or loses power while driving 40 reports
- Infotainment, screen or backup camera fails 40 reports
- Power steering cuts out or goes heavy 36 reports
- Traction control or StabiliTrak light comes on 27 reports
- Fuel smells, leaks, or the gauge reads wrong 26 reports