2021 Chevrolet Tahoe Brake Software Recall (21V579)
General Motors, LLC · 2 vehicles · Reported July 29, 2021
General Motors, LLC is recalling 2 2021 Chevrolet Tahoe; 2021 GMC Yukon vehicles. Dealer service technicians may have calibrated the brake system incorrectly, affecting Electronic Stability Control (ESC) , traction control, Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS), and braking while towing a trailer. Overall braking performance may be compromised, increasing the risk of a crash. Dealers will make the repair free of charge.
Recall 21V579 at a glance
| NHTSA campaign number | 21V579000 |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer recall number | N212340970 |
| Date reported to NHTSA | July 29, 2021 |
| Manufacturer | General Motors, LLC |
| Vehicles | 2021 Chevrolet Tahoe; 2021 GMC Yukon |
| Units affected | 2 |
| Component | Service Brakes, Hydraulic > Power Assist > Electric > Control Module > Software |
| Safety risk | Overall braking performance may be compromised, increasing the risk of a crash. |
| Fix | Available at dealers |
What is wrong with the 2021 Chevrolet Tahoe in recall 21V579?
Dealer service technicians may have calibrated the brake system incorrectly, affecting Electronic Stability Control (ESC) , traction control, Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS), and braking while towing a trailer.
General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2021 Chevrolet Tahoe and GMC Yukon vehicles. Dealer service technicians may have calibrated the brake system incorrectly, affecting Electronic Stability Control (ESC) , traction control, Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS), and braking while towing a trailer.
Is it safe to drive a 2021 Tahoe with recall 21V579?
NHTSA has not told owners to stop driving, but the risk is real: Overall braking performance may be compromised, increasing the risk of a crash.
NHTSA describes the risk this way: Overall braking performance may be compromised, increasing the risk of a crash.
NHTSA has not issued a do-not-drive or park-outside warning for this recall. Still, get the repair done as soon as it is available, and stop driving if you notice symptoms related to the software.
Which vehicles are included in recall 21V579?
Recall 21V579 covers 2 vehicles: 2021 Chevrolet Tahoe; 2021 GMC Yukon.
NHTSA lists 2 vehicles in this campaign. Not every vehicle of these models and years is included, so check your VIN.
| Model years | Make | Model |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Chevrolet | Tahoe |
| 2021 | GMC | Yukon |
What is the fix for the Tahoe brake software recall?
Yes. Dealers will recalibrate the brake system control module, free of charge.
Dealers will recalibrate the brake system control module, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on August 27, 2021. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1202; GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is N212340970.
When was recall 21V579 announced?
General Motors, LLC reported recall 21V579 to NHTSA on July 29, 2021.
| Date | What happened |
|---|---|
| July 29, 2021 | General Motors, LLC filed the defect report with NHTSA; NHTSA assigned campaign 21V579000. |
| August 27, 2021 | Owner notification letters mailed (per NHTSA). |
This recall was filed 63 months ago. If your Tahoe was built in that window, the VIN check below is the way to confirm it is included.
How do I check if my Tahoe is part of recall 21V579?
Enter your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. If recall 21V579 is open on your Tahoe, it will be listed there.
The fastest check is NHTSA’s VIN lookup. Type in the 17 characters from your registration or insurance card. Because only some 2021 Tahoe vehicles are included, the VIN check is the only reliable way to know. A brand-new recall may take several days to show up.
What should Tahoe owners do about recall 21V579?
Check your VIN, schedule the free recall repair, and keep a repair order for every dealer visit.
- Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to confirm recall 21V579000 applies to your Tahoe.
- Call a Chevrolet dealer and schedule the recall repair. Ask how long the repair takes and whether parts are in stock.
- Get a repair order for every visit, even if the dealer only inspects the vehicle. Read it before you leave and make sure your complaint is written the way you described it.
- Write down when symptoms involving the software happen: date, mileage, speed, weather and what you felt or heard. Photos and short videos help.
- Count the days the vehicle is at the dealer. Days out of service add up toward California's 30-day presumption.
- If the recall repair does not fix it, or the vehicle keeps going back for the same issue, talk to a lemon law attorney.
What are Tahoe owners reporting to NHTSA?
Owners have filed 784 complaints with NHTSA about these vehicles since 2020, 31 of them about the brakes.
Since recall 21V579 was reported on July 29, 2021, owners have filed 28 complaints with NHTSA about the brakes on these vehicles. 3 of them (11%) describe the same problem happening more than once or coming back after a repair attempt.
How we counted: we matched NHTSA owner complaints for the model years in this recall that list the brakes and were received on or after July 29, 2021, then flagged narratives that describe a repeat failure or a problem returning after a dealer repair, recall service or software update. Data from NHTSA, accessed October 1, 2026. Complaints are unverified owner reports and may involve a related brakes issue rather than this exact defect; automated text matching can miss or misread some reports.
NHTSA’s public complaint database lists 784 owner complaints filed since 2020 for the vehicles in this recall, and 31 of them involve the brakes. Complaints are reports from owners and have not been verified by NHTSA, but a high count for the same component is a sign the problem is widespread.
- 2021 Chevrolet Tahoe: 453 complaints in total, 20 about the brakes
- 2021 GMC Yukon: 331 complaints in total, 11 about the brakes
Here is what some owners told NHTSA, in their own words (excerpts, unverified):
The contact owns a 2021 Chevrolet Tahoe. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the brake pedal was depressed; however, the brakes failed to function as intended. In addition, the contact noticed a grinding sound and several unknown warning lights illuminated.
2021 Chevrolet Tahoe owner, AR, NHTSA complaint 11638886, filed January 27, 2025
On a few occasions the emergency / parking brake auto releases when parked on a slight incline while the engine is running and transmission is in park.
2021 Chevrolet Tahoe owner, TX, NHTSA complaint 11641747, filed February 10, 2025
I have had the break pads and rotors replaced and in the shot over 6 times with them still not fully functioning correctly. I finally gave up on them and still expected to pay again.
2021 Chevrolet Tahoe owner, IN, NHTSA complaint 11674328, filed July 17, 2025
Can recall 21V579 make my Tahoe a lemon in California?
Not by itself. A recall repair that fails, or repeat dealer visits for the same defect, can support a California lemon law claim.
Owners often ask whether this software recall means their Tahoe qualifies as a lemon. Not by itself. Song-Beverly looks at whether a defect covered by the warranty substantially impairs use, value or safety and was not fixed after a reasonable number of repair attempts (Civ. Code 1793.2(d)).
Brake defects are safety defects. California's lemon law presumption can apply after two repair attempts for a defect likely to cause death or serious injury, when the manufacturer has been notified directly.
The recall repair is available at dealers. If it works, great. If the same symptom comes back, the recall visit is one repair attempt and the next visit is another.
Civil Code 1793.22(b) sets out a presumption that applies in the first 18 months or 18,000 miles: two or more repair attempts for a defect likely to cause death or serious bodily injury, four or more attempts for the same defect, or more than 30 total days out of service for repairs. Written notice to the manufacturer is required in some cases. Owners outside that window can still have a claim.
An owner who prevails in a lemon law case can recover reasonable attorney fees and costs from the manufacturer (Civ. Code 1794(d)). You pay nothing, win or lose. We are paid only if you win, and the manufacturer pays our fees, including in settlements. If a case is lost, our firm covers the costs.
In our cases, a recall repair visit counts as a repair attempt, and it's strongest when the owner complained about the problem before the recall came out. A recall shows the defect is real and that enough owners reported it for the manufacturer to issue a fix.
A software update can count as a repair attempt, especially if you complained about the problem or the update keeps being repeated. I've seen dealers do the same software update five or six times with no fix.
The biggest mistake I see is waiting too long. The mileage offset starts at your first repair visit for the problem, so the sooner you take it in, the better. If the problem comes and goes, take it in when it happens. You can't go back to that date later.
If you get a recall notice, call a lemon law attorney right away. You may have taken the car in for the same problem before and forgotten, or there may be other recalls related to it.
Jacob Shayesteh, Esq. (SBN 362320), Founder and Managing Attorney. Quotes lightly edited for clarity. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
Has your Tahoe been back to the dealer for this problem?
Call 877-536-6620Other Chevrolet Tahoe recalls
Frequently asked questions about recall 21V579
Did the recall 21V579 fix work?
Since recall 21V579 was reported on July 29, 2021, owners have filed 28 complaints with NHTSA about the brakes on these vehicles. 3 of them (11%) describe the same problem happening more than once or coming back after a repair attempt. If your vehicle still has the problem after the recall repair, go back to the dealer, get a repair order, and talk to a lemon law attorney.
Is the 21V579000 recall repair free?
Yes. Safety recall repairs are done free of charge at authorized dealers.
How do I know if my Tahoe is part of recall 21V579000?
Enter your 17-character VIN in NHTSA's recall lookup at nhtsa.gov/recalls, or call a dealer. The VIN is on your registration, insurance card and the lower corner of the windshield.
Does a recall mean my car is a lemon?
Not on its own. A lemon law claim depends on whether a covered defect keeps coming back or keeps the vehicle out of service. A recall repair that fails, or repeat visits for the same problem, can support a claim.
What should I keep for a possible lemon law claim?
Keep every repair order, the recall owner letter, your purchase or lease contract, and notes on dates, mileage and symptoms. Make sure each dealer visit is written up, even when the dealer says it cannot find a problem.
Does the recall fixing my car mean I have no case?
Not necessarily. Even if the recall repair fixed it, you may still have a case, and a car that's a year or more old can still qualify.
Do used cars qualify for California lemon law?
We take certified pre-owned, demo and dealer vehicles. Since the California Supreme Court's Rodriguez decision in 2024, ordinary used cars generally do not qualify.
How long does a recall lemon law case take?
Recall-related cases typically resolve in one to three months from your first call. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
What does a lemon law attorney cost?
You pay nothing, win or lose. We are paid only if you win, and the manufacturer pays our fees, including in settlements. If a case is lost, our firm covers the costs.
Sources
- NHTSA recall record 21V579000 (recall report and owner letters are posted there)
- NHTSA complaints and recalls data, accessed October 1, 2026
- California Civil Code 1793.2 and 1793.22
Attorney advertising. America’s Lemon Lawyer is a trade name of Wynn Law Group, APC. Responsible attorney: Jacob Shayesteh, Esq. (SBN 362320). This page is general information, not legal advice. America’s Lemon Lawyer is not affiliated with NHTSA or Chevrolet, GMC. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.