43,732 Chevy Tahoes, Suburbans, GMC Yukons, and Cadillac Escalades are being recalled for a transmission defect that can lock up the rear wheels while driving. Owner notification letters start going out today, March 30.
This isn't the first time. GM already recalled these transmissions in 2024. The fix didn't hold.
The defect
A control valve inside the 10-speed automatic transmission wears out prematurely. As it degrades, hydraulic pressure drops gradually. Drivers typically notice harsh or erratic shifting first. In rare cases, the rear wheels lock up completely while the vehicle is in motion.
All affected vehicles are 2022 models built between May and July of that year. The breakdown, per NHTSA recall 26V-085: 17,178 Chevy Tahoes, 7,616 Chevy Suburbans, plus GMC Yukon and Cadillac Escalade variants totaling 43,732 units, according to GM Authority.
Why "again" matters
GM first flagged this exact valve problem in 2024 under a recall covering 461,839 trucks and SUVs, per Carscoops. Dealers were instructed to update the transmission control module software. Some of those "repaired" vehicles still have the defect.
The updated fix takes a different approach. Instead of recalibrating the valve's behavior, the new software actively monitors valve wear over time and predicts a potential lockup approximately 10,000 miles before it could happen, per TFLTruck. If the system detects degradation, it alerts the driver before the wheels lock.
That's a meaningful improvement over the 2024 approach, which was reactive rather than predictive. Whether it catches every failure mode is a different question. GM's 10-speed automatic has been the subject of multiple recall campaigns over the past three years, each targeting slightly different build windows and failure patterns.
Silverado 1500 and Sierra 1500 owners from the 2020 through 2022 model years should pay attention too. GM is re-examining trucks that were serviced under the original 2024 campaign. If your pickup went through the earlier recall, it may need the updated software as well.
The used buyer problem
The Chevy Tahoe and Silverado are two of the highest-volume vehicles on the used market. The Silverado was the second best-selling vehicle in the US in 2025. These aren't rare models sitting in specialty lots. They're on every dealer lot in the country.
NHTSA's 2025 annual report puts the industry-wide recall completion rate at 45%. More than half of recalled vehicles never get repaired. For a re-recalled vehicle, where the first fix already failed, the odds of the repair actually being completed drop even further.
There's no federal law requiring a dealer to disclose open recalls when selling a used vehicle. A 2022 Tahoe sitting on a lot right now could carry this exact defect with no mention in the listing. The dealer isn't required to fix it before selling. They're not even required to tell you about it.
At typical used prices for a 2022 Tahoe ($38,000 to $52,000 depending on trim and mileage), that's a significant amount of money to spend on a vehicle with a known transmission risk that's been recalled twice.
What to do
If you own one of these vehicles: Don't wait for the letter. Call your dealer and reference NHTSA recall 26V-085. The software update is free and takes about an hour.
GM customer service numbers:
- Chevrolet: 1-800-222-1020
- GMC: 1-800-462-8782
- Cadillac: 1-800-458-8006
If you're shopping for a used Tahoe, Suburban, Silverado, or Yukon (2020 to 2022): Run the VIN before you make an offer. Enter it at NHTSA.gov/recalls or use CarScout's recall lookup to see every open recall tied to a specific vehicle.
If the VIN shows an open recall, the selling dealer must perform the repair at no charge. But they won't volunteer the information.
The pattern
GM's 10-speed automatic has been a recurring source of problems. The valve wear issue keeps surfacing in different build windows, and each fix addresses a slightly different failure mode. Modern transmissions are complex systems, and one software patch rarely covers every edge case.
If you're tracking used GM trucks and SUVs, knowing the recall history matters as much as knowing the price. CarScout's market pages show pricing data by model and year, updated from live listings. A deal on a 2022 Tahoe looks different when the transmission has been recalled twice and never properly fixed.