2011 Chevrolet Tahoe
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Air bags is the leading concern among 456 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 8th highest complaint count among 26 Tahoe model years with reports.
Of the 2011 reports, 6 involved a crash and 2 involved a fire. 3 people were injured.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
Air bags, frontal, passenger side, inflator moduleFeb 5, 2021
General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2014 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Silverado 2500, Silverado 3500, Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Sierra 2500, Sierra 3500, Yukon, and Yukon XL vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of AL, CA, FL, GA, HI, LA, MS, SC, TX, PR, AS, GU, the MP, and VI or "Zone A." Additionally GM is recalling certain 2011-2014 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Silverado 2500, Silverado 3500, Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Sierra 2500, Sierra 3500, Yukon, Yukon XL and 2011-2013 Cadillac Escalade EXT, Chevrolet Avalanche, Silverado 1500, and GMC Sierra 1500 vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of AZ, AR, DE, DC, IL, IN, KS, KY, MD, MO, NE, NV, NJ, NM, NC, OH, OK, PA, TN, VA, and WV or "Zone B." Additionally, GM is recalling certain 2010-2014 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Silverado 2500, Silverado 3500, Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Sierra 2500, Sierra 3500, Yukon, and Yukon XL and 2010-2013 Cadillac Escalade EXT, Chevrolet Avalanche, Silverado 1500, and GMC Sierra 1500 vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of AK, CO, CT, ID, IA, ME, MA, MI, MN, MT, NH, NY, ND, OR, RI, SD, UT, VT, WA, WI, and WY or "Zone C." These vehicles are equipped with non-desiccated passenger frontal inflators containing phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate (PSAN) propellant. These inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, high temperatures, and high temperature cycling.
An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, resulting in serious injury or death.
GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator with an alternate one, free of charge. Interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk were mailed on February 25, 2021. Second notification letters will be mailed once the remedy is available. Owner notification letters were mailed to 40 VIN owners on May 11, 2021. A second owner notification letter was mailed to all other owners on January 24, 2022. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020; Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006; and GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is N212328800.
Campaign 21V054000 on NHTSA.gov
Air bags, frontal, passenger side, inflator moduleFeb 5, 2021
General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2007-2011 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, Escalade EXT, Chevrolet Avalanche, Silverado 1500, Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Sierra 1500, Yukon, Yukon XL, and 2009-2011 Chevrolet Silverado 2500, Silverado 3500, GMC Sierra 2500 and Sierra 3500 vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U.S. Virgin Islands or "Zone A." Additionally, GM is recalling certain 2007-2008 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, Escalade EXT, Chevrolet Avalanche, Silverado 1500, Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Sierra 1500, Yukon, Yukon XL vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia or "Zone B." These vehicles are equipped with non-desiccated passenger frontal inflators containing phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate (PSAN) propellant. These inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, high temperatures, and high temperature cycling.
An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, resulting in serious injury or death.
GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator with an alternate one, free of charge. Interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk were mailed on February 22, 2021. Second notification letters will be mailed once the remedy is available. Owner notification letters were mailed on March 1, 2021. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020; Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006; and GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is N212328760.
Campaign 21V050000 on NHTSA.gov
Electrical system, ignitionDec 30, 2014
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2011-2012 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, Escalade EXT, Chevrolet Avalanche, Silverado HD, Silverado LD, Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Sierra LD, Sierra HD, Yukon, and Yukon XL vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the ignition lock actuator may bind, making turning the key difficult or causing the ignition to get stuck in the "Start" position.
If stuck in the "Start" position, the ignition may suddenly snap back into the "Accessory" position, causing a loss of engine, steering, and braking power, increasing the risk of a vehicle crash. If the vehicle is in a crash, the air bags may not deploy, increasing the risk of occupant injury.
GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and replace the ignition lock housing, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on February 12, 2015. Owners may contact GM customer service at 1-800-458-8006 (Cadillac), 1-800-222-1020 (Chevrolet), or 1-800-462-8782 (GMC). GM's number for this recall is 14696 for the original equipment, and 14912 for the service replacement parts.
Campaign 14V827000 on NHTSA.gov
Steering, linkagesJun 28, 2011
GM IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2011CADILLAC ESCALADE, ESCALADE ESV; CHEVROLET SILVERADO HD, SILVERADO LD, SUBURBAN, TAHOE; AND GMC SIERRA HD, SIERRA LD, YUKON, AND YUKON XL VEHICLES. THE INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT ATTACHING BOLTS MAY NOT HAVE BEEN TIGHTENED TO THE PROPER SPECIFICATION.
THIS COULD ALLOW THE JOINTS TO SEPARATE, AND THE DRIVER COULD EXPERIENCE LOSS OF STEERING INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
GM DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND ENSURE THAT THE INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT BOLTS ARE TIGHTENED TO THE PROPER SPECIFICATION. THE SAFETY RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN ON OR ABOUT JULY 13, 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CADILLAC AT 1-800-458-8006, CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438 AND GMC AT 1-866-996-9463.
Campaign 11V339000 on NHTSA.gov
Suspension, rear, axle, spindleJan 6, 2011
GENERAL MOTORS IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2011 CADILLAC ESCALADE, ESCALADE ESV, ESCALADE EXT; CHEVROLET AVALANCHE, COLORADO, EXPRESS, SILVERADO, SUBURBAN, TAHOE; AND GMC CANYON, SIERRA, SAVANA, YUKON AND YUKON XL VEHICLES. THE REAR AXLE CROSS PINS WERE NOT PROPERLY HEAT TREATED AND COULD FRACTURE AND BECOME DISPLACED WITHIN THE REAR AXLE. SHOULD THE PIN SHIFT OUT OF POSITION, IT COULD CREATE AN INTERFERENCE CONDITION AND CAUSE THE REAR AXLE TO LOCK.
THE DRIVER MAY NOT BE ABLE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND A CRASH COULD OCCUR WITHOUT WARNING.
DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW REAR AXLE CROSS PIN FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JANUARY 11, 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CADILLAC AT 1-866-982-2339, CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438, GMC AT 1-866-996-9463 AND AT THE OWNER CENTER AT WWW.GMOWNERCENTER.COM.
Campaign 11V007000 on NHTSA.gov
Representative owner complaints: air bags
186 reports, newest first. Show all
Air bags, Other or unspecified, Jul 21, 2016
DASHBOARD IS CRACKED. CONCERNED ABOUT SAFETY IN THE EVENT THE AIRBAG DEPLOYS. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN IN ANY ACCIDENTS. NO CHEMICAL OR CLEANER HAS EVER BEEN APPLIED TO THE DASH. IT LOOKS LIKE A STRESS CRACK OR MANUFACTURER DEFECT.
Air bags, Other or unspecified, Jul 18, 2016
MY TAHOE WAS PARKED WHEN I NOTICED 2 CRACKS ON THE LEFT HAND CORNER BY THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG ON MY DASHBOARD. I ALSO HAVE A REALLY LARGE CRACK ON THE DASHBOARD ABOVE THE INSTRUMENT PANEL . I AM CONCERNED THAT AIRBAG WILL NOT DEPLOY CORRECTLY IF I WERE IN AN ACCIDENT.
Air bags, Other or unspecified, Jul 8, 2016
MY DASH IS CRACKING AND BREAKING AROUND MY AIRBAG. THIS SEEMS LIKE IT COULD BE VERY DANGEROUS IN A CRASH. I'M WORRIED THAT EITHER THE AIRBAG WON'T DEPLOY AS IT SHOULD OR IF IT DOES, THERE WILL BE SHARDS OF PLASTIC DASH FLYING AROUND IN THE CAB. NOTHING HAPPENED TO THE DASH, IT JUST STARTED CRACKING.
Air bags, Other or unspecified, Jun 22, 2016
CRACK APPEARED YESTERDAY (06/21/16) IN THE DASH - AT THE UPPER LEFT CORNER OF THE PASSENGER AIRBAG COMPARTMENT.
Air bags, Jun 7, 2016
DASH HAS CRACKED AROUND PASSENGER AIR BAG. AFRAID IT WILL EASILY DEPLOY. JUST NOTICED THIS 2" CRACK ABOUT A MONTH AGO. NO REASON TO HAVE CRACKED.
Air bags, Other or unspecified, Visibility/wiper, Jun 2, 2016
CRACKED DASH ABOVE AIRBAG AND INSTRUMENT CLUSTER.
Air bags, Structure, May 28, 2016
DASH IS CRACKED IS SEVERAL AREAS
Electrical system, Air bags, Electronic stability control (ESC), May 26, 2016
2 ISSUES--- 1ST--DASHBOARD HAS CRACKS IN IT, WHICH 1 CRACK IS ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. IT COULD BE A SAFETY HAZARD AND CAUSE THE AIRBAG TO EXPLODE CAUSING GREAT HARM TO A PERSON. THESE CRACKS ARE IN THE SAME POSITION AS MANY OTHER CONSUMERS WHO HAVE MADE COMPLAINTS. 2ND--ENGINE SHUTS DOWN WHILE DRIVING; NO STEERING OR BRAKE CONTROL. RADIO SHUTS OFF & ON, ALL DASH COMPONENTS FLICKER ON AND OFF, GAUGES TURN OFF, DOOR LOCKS ENGAGE & DISENGAGE. THIS HAPPENS FOR 3-10 SECONDS AND THEN WILL "RESET" AND FUNCTION NORMAL. I'VE LOOKED AT DIFFERENT FORUMS TO TRY TO FIND OUT WHAT COULD BE CAUSING THIS AND MANY OTHER PEOPLE ARE EXPERIENCING THIS ISSUE.
Air bags, May 13, 2016
THE DASHBOARD CRACKED BETWEEN THE AIR BAG AND THE DASH VENT WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED. THE SECOND CRACK, ABOVE THE DRIVER CONTROLS OCCURRED WHILE THE DEFROSTER WAS RUNNING AND WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE TRAVELING AT APPROXIMATELY 65-MPH.
Air bags, Other or unspecified, May 12, 2016
TYPICAL CHEVY TAHOE DASH CRACKING ISSUE. IT WORRIES ME THAT IF I AM IN AN ACCIDENT THAT SHARP PIECES OF PLASTIC MAY CAUSE MORE HARM TO SOMEONE INSIDE THE CABIN THAN IF IT WAS ADDRESSED AND REPAIRED. GM IS AT FAULT FOR USING CHEAP MATERIALS AND THE CONSUMER SHOULDN'T HAVE TO PAY. IT ISN'T CAUSED BY ANYTHING THAT THE OWNER OF THE VEHICLE IS OR ISN'T DOING. PURELY MATERIAL AND MANUFACTURING DEFECTS. WE PAY $50K FOR THESE TRUCKS EACH THE LEAST GM COULD DO IS SPEND THE $500 IF THAT PER VEHICLE TO REPLACE IT.
Air bags, Structure, May 2, 2016
DASH ON 2011 CHEVROLET TAHOE HAS CRACKED ON THE PASSENGER SIDE NEXT TO THE AIRBAG PANEL. DASH HAS ALSO CRACKED ON THE DRIVER SIDE ABOVE THE INSTRUMENT PANEL CLUSTER. CONCERN IS THAT IN A CAR ACCIDENT WHERE THE AIR BAGS DEPLOY THE DASH BOARD MAY BREAK APART AND BECOME SHRAPNEL CAUSING ADDITIONAL INJURY, PERMANENT DISABILITY, OR DEATH TO THE PASSENGER.
Air bags, Other or unspecified, Mar 5, 2016
TOP OF DASHBOARD CRACKED - NO ACCIDENT INVOLVED. I HAVE CONCERNS ABOUT THE AIRBAG WORKING PROPERLY NOW. DEALER WANTS $1,000 TO FIX IT.
Air bags, Structure, Feb 10, 2016
TAHOE DASH RECALL: COPY OF LETTER SENT TO GM... CHEVROLET CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE CENTER P.O. BOX 33136 DETROIT, MI 48323-5136 ON 7/18/2011 WE PURCHASED A 2011 TAHOE (VIN #[XXX]) REPLACING OUR PREVIOUS 2003 TAHOE, BOTH PURCHASED NEW AND BOTH AT ED MORSE CHEVROLET LOCATED AT 14401 W. SUNRISE BLVD., SUNRISE, FLORIDA 33323-3202. ALTHOUGH I HAVE HAD SOME QUALITY AND WORKMANSHIP COMPLAINTS, OUR TAHOE HAS BEEN A RELIABLE VEHICLE. THE SERVICE AT ED MORSE HAS ALSO BEEN OUTSTANDING. HOWEVER, I MUST REGISTER MY DISSATISFACTION WITH TWO OBVIOUSLY DEFECTIVE ITEMS ON THE TAHOE THAT GENERAL MOTORS HAVE NOT CONSIDERED IT IMPORTANT ENOUGH TO CONDUCT A RECALL. MY 2011 TAHOE IS FITTED WITH THE "REGIONAL VALUE PACKAGE" WHICH INCLUDED "CHROME DOOR HANDLES" WHICH IS NOTHING BUT CHROME LOOKING PLASTIC. THESE "CHROME" DOOR HANDLES HAVE CRACKED TWO TIMES AND HAVE BEEN REPLACED ON JUNE 8TH. 2013 (INVOICE #[XXX]) AND JUNE 21ST. 2014 (INVOICE # [XXX]) UNDER THE FACTORY WARRANTY. ON OCTOBER 15TH. 2013 AT 17,198 MILES, THE DASHBOARD TO MY 2011 TAHOE CRACKED. THIS WAS COVERED UNDER MY FACTORY WARRANTY. MY TAHOE IS NOW AT ED MORSE CHEVROLET GETTING THE DASHBOARD REPLACED AGAIN DUE TO IT CRACKING IN THE SAME EXACT PLACE. UNFORTUNATELY, THIS TIME I'M BEING TOLD THAT THEY WILL BE CHARGING ME A "CO-PAYMENT" OF $200 TO REPLACE THE DASH. AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH, IT'S OBVIOUS THAT BOTH THE DOOR HANDLES AND THE DASHBOARDS ON THE TAHOE AND SIMILAR MODELS HAVE A DEFECTIVE DESIGN AND INFERIOR MATERIALS. I SHOULD NOT BE CHARGED A $200 "CO-PAYMENT" TO FIX SOMETHING THAT GENERAL MOTORS KNOWS IS A DEFECTIVE PART. THERE ARE NUMEROUS POSTINGS, BLOGS AND THREADS THAT REFER TO THESE "DEFECTIVE ITEMS" ESPECIALLY ON THE DASHBOARD. EVEN FACEBOOK HAS A PAGE DEDICATED TO THE CRACKED DASHBOARDS. HTTPS://WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/GROUPS/GMDASHCRACK/?FREF=NF INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
Air bags, Other or unspecified, Jan 30, 2016
DASH IS CRACKING AROUND PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG AND THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER. THIS IS UNSAFE BECAUSE IN THE EVENT OF PASSENGER AIRBAG DEPLOYING, SHARDS OF CRACKED DASH CAN BECOME PROJECTILES. MANY COMPLAINTS ON INTERNET ABOUT SAME ISSUE, NO RESOLUTION FROM GM.
Air bags, Structure, Jan 28, 2016
DASH IS CRACKING AROUND PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG. THIS IS UNSAFE BECAUSE IN THE EVENT OF PASSENGER AIRBAG DEPLOYING, SHARDS OF CRACKED DASH CAN BECOME PROJECTILES. MANY COMPLAINTS ON INTERNET ABOUT SAME ISSUE, NO RESOLUTION FROM DEALER OR GM CUSTOMER SERVICE.
Air bags, Other or unspecified, Jan 17, 2016
HI I CURRENTLY OWN A 2011 CHEVY TAHOE LT MODEL WITH 78,547 MILE ON IT AND THE DASH IS CRARCKED AROUND THE PASSENGER AIRBAG AND OVER THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER AND WHICH I THINK MIGHT COMPRIMISE THE AIRBAG ON DEPLOYMENT WHICH WOULD PUT MY CHILDREN AND PASSENGERS AT RISK OF A FATALITY IN THE EVENT THAT AN ACCIDENT OCCURS AND GM SHOULD RECALL THIS PROBLEM ITS NOT JUST MINE BUT MOST ALL GM MODELS 07-13 ARE AFFECTED BY THIS AND WE AS THE CUSTOMERS ARE CONCERNED WITH OUR PASSENGERS SAFETY AND WOULD LIKE TO GET THIS RECALLED BEFORE SOMETHING FATAL DOES OCCUR THANKS .
Air bags, Other or unspecified, Nov 28, 2015
DASH IS CRACKING AROUND PASSENGER AIRBAG AND ABOVE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER. CONCERNED THAT IF AIRBAGS WENT OFF DASH PIECES WOULD IMPALE DRIVER AND/OR PASSENGERS.
Air bags, Other or unspecified, Nov 27, 2015
CAME OUT TO TAKE THE KIDS TO SCHOOL AND THERE WAS A CRACK IN MY DASH NEAR THE PASSENGER AIR BAG. CRACK APPEARED OVER NIGHT, CAR WAS PARKED IN OCEANSIDE CA. CONCERN FOR PASSENGER AND FLYING DEBRIS OR IF AIRBAG WILL EVEN WORK PROPERLY. THIS SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM.
Air bags, Other or unspecified, Nov 16, 2015
THE DASH BOARD HAS CRACKED AT SEVERAL PLACES, INCLUDING WHERE THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAGS IT HAPPENED SOMETIME IN SEPT'2015, EVEN THOUGH THE TAHOE ALWAYS IS PARKED IN SHADE (UNDER THE PORTE COCHERE) OR IN THE GARAGE. I HAVE CALLED GMAC AND THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES I HAVE BEEN ASKED TO PAY OUT OF POCKET $800 FOR A MANUFACTURING DEFECT AS THIS IS A COMMON COMPLAINT, ON CHEVY DASHBOARDS.
Air bags, Other or unspecified, Oct 28, 2015
THREE DASH BOARD CRACKS APPEARED ON THE DASH OVERNIGHT. ONE CRACK NEAR DRIVERS DASH AREA UNDER WINDSHIELD, TWO OTHERS ON PASSENGER SIDE OF DASH BY THE AIRBAG. CONCERNED THIS COULD CAUSE ISSUES WITH AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT OR CAUSE PROPER OPERATION ISSUES. THIS TAHOE WAS PERFECTLY FINE, CAME OUT TO CAR OVERNIGHT AND NOTICED THE CRACKS.
Air bags, Oct 24, 2015
DASH HAS CRACKED AROUND PASSENGER AIR BAG . IF AIRBAG IS DEPLOYED COULD SEND PIECES INTO PASSENGER. SEEMS IS A COMMON PROBLEM .
Air bags, Other or unspecified, Sep 11, 2015
THERE IS A MAJOR CRACK THAT APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD AT THE BASE OF THE STEERING SECTION, CLOSEST TO THE WINDSHIELD.
Air bags, Sep 9, 2015
DASHBOARD CRACKED IN TWO PLACES LIKE MANY OTHER 2007-2011 GM. CONCERNED OF SAFETY ISSUE IF AIRBAGS WERE TO DEPLOY.PLASTIC FROM DASH COULD INJURE OR POSSIBLY PIERCE AIRBAG RENDERING IT USELESS.
Air bags, Sep 9, 2015
MY DASHBOARD IS CRACKING IN TWO PLACES NOW. MY CONCERN IS THAT THE CRACK NEAR THE PASSENGER AIRBAG WILL AFFECT IT'S EFFECTIVENESS IN A CRASH. I'VE CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP & GM AND BEEN TOLD THEY WILL NOT FIX IT.
Air bags, Other or unspecified, Aug 6, 2015
I BELIEVE THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD DUE TO THE POSSIBILITY OF AN AIRBAG INJURY.