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, Structure, Aug 6, 2015
THE DASHBOARD ON MY TAHOE HAS BEGAN TO CRACK. IT ORIGINALLY BEGAN TO CRACK ON THE DRIVERS SIDE AND HAS SPREAD UP OVER THE CONTROL PANEL. LAST WEEK I NOTICED A CRACK ON THE PASSENGER SIDE THAT LEADS RIGHT TO THE AIRBAG. NOW THAT THE AIRBAG IS INVOLVED I DEFINITELY FEEL THAT THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY HAZARD. SEEING THE WIDESPREAD COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS HAPPENING TO OTHERS I FEEL THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL. $70,000 VEHICLES SHOULD NOT HAVE PLASTIC DASHBOARDS THAT CRUMBLE AWAY. UPDATED 09/09/15*LJ
Air bags, Structure, Other or unspecified, Jul 13, 2015
WHILE DRIVING ON CITY STREETS SEVERAL DAYS AGO I HEARD A LOUD POPPING SOUND AS IF AN OBJECT HAS HIT THE WINDSHIELD. AFTER STOPPING TO INSPECT FOR DAMAGE AND NOT FINDING ANY GLASS CRACKS OR CHIPS I DROVE ON. SHORTLY THEREAFTER I NOTICED A NOISE COMING FROM THE DASH AREA AND FOUND THAT THE CENTER PORTION OF THE DASHBOARD AT THE RADIO SPEAKER WAS LOOSE DUE TO FACT THAT THE TAB WHICH IS DESIGNED TO HOLD THE CENTER FASTENER WAS BROKEN BY THE WEIGHT AND MOVEMENT OF THE SPEAKER. UPON FURTHER EXAMINATION I FOUND THAT THE DASHBOARD WAS CRACKED AT THE UPPER LEFT HAND CORNER OF THE AIRBAG COMPARTMENT ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL GM DEALER THIS MORNING DUE TO SAFETY CONCERNS WITH REGARDS TO THE AIR BAGS EITHER BEING DEPLOYED ACCIDENTALLY OR IN THE EVENT OF A REAL ACCIDENT, DAMAGE TO THE AIR BAGS DUE TO THE BROKEN EDGES OF THE PLASTIC DASH MATERIAL. FURTHERMORE, PERSONAL INJURY COULD OCCUR AS A RESULT OF FLYING DEBRIS FROM THE LOOSE, BROKEN OR BRITTLE PLASTIC PIECES IMMEDIATELY ADJACENT TO THE AIR BAG COMPARTMENT. ACCORDING TO THE LOCAL DEALER THEY ARE AND HAVE BEEN AWARE OF THESE TYPE OF FAILURE TO THE DASH COMPONENTS FOR SEVERAL YEARS (DATING BACK TO 2005) ON THIS VEHICLE BUT TO DATE THEY HAVE ISSUED NO BULLETINS OR RECALL NOTICES. THIS INFORMATION IS ALSO DOCUMENTED HERE ON YOUR WEBSITE WHERE I WAS ABLE TO FIND AT LEAST 15 SIMILAR COMPLAINTS FILED WITH NHTSA WITHIN JUST THE LAST 24 MONTHS MOST OF WHICH IDENTIFY THE EXACT SAME LOCATION OF FAILURE TO BE THE UPPER LEFT HAND CORNER OF THE DASH ADJACENT TO THE AIR BAG COMPARTMENT. IT SEEMS OBVIOUS THAT GM HAS NO DESIRE TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE ON THEIR OWN WITHOUT BEING PUSHED TO DO SO. YOUR ATTENTION TO THIS ISSUE WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED BY MANY, MANY GM OWNERS.
Air bags, Other or unspecified, Jun 19, 2015
I PURCHASED A USED TAHOE IN AUGUST 2014 WITH 42K MILES ON IT. AT THE TIME OF PURCHASE THE DASH ABOVE THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG HAD A SMALL CRACK, APPROX 1.5 INCHES. SINCE THEN THE CRACK SPREAD TO ABOUT 2 INCHES AND I HAVE NOTICED A CRACK ON THE DRIVER SIDE DASH AS WELL. THE DRIVER SIDE CRACK STARTED SMALL BUT EXTENDS ABOUT 4 INCHES. EVERYONE I KNOW THAT OWNS A TAHOE OR SILVERADO MANUFACTURED IN 2009 - 2011 HAVE THE SAME ISSUE. WHY IS THIS NOT BEING REPAIRED AT DEALER COST? THE CRACKED DASH IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE SHOULD THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG DEPLOY. THE PLASTIC THEN BECOMES PROJECTILES.
Air bags, Other or unspecified, Jun 12, 2015
JUST BOUGHT THE CAR ABOUT 3 MONTHS AGO WIT ONLY 53000 MIKE MORE LESS AND WITHIN THE PAST MONTH THE DASH HAS STARTED CRACKING ONE OF THE CRACKS IS SO CLOSE ON THE EDGE TO THE AIRBAG THAT I HAVE A FEAR THE THE AIR BAG SYSTEM MIGHT FAIL OR EVEN GET CUT ON DEPLOYMENT DUE TO A ACCIDENT AND SOME CAN GET VERY HURT DUE TO FAILURE ON DESIGN OF DASHBOARD AND DEALER WON'T EVEN COVER IT UNDER WARRANTY AND NO RECALL HAS BEEN DONE CAR IS LESS THAN 5 YEARS OLD AND ONLY HAS 55000 MILES FOR THIS TO BREAK AND WITH TIME IT WILL ONLY GET WORSE
Air bags, Structure, Apr 16, 2015
I NOTICED ABOUT A MONTH AGO THAT MY TAHOE DASHBOARD WAS CRACKED ON TWO SPOTS. *TR
Air bags, Structure, Feb 20, 2015
SHORTLY AFTER BUYING MY USED TAHOE A CRACK DEVELOPED NEAR THE CORNER OF THE PASSENGER AIRBAG, FORMING A "Y" SHAPE WHICH LEAVES A SMALL, SHARP PIECE OF POTENTIAL SHRAPNEL IF THE AIRBAG WERE TO DEPLOY. I FEAR THIS ISSUE COULD CAUSE POTENTIALLY FATAL OUTCOMES DUE TO THE LIKELIHOOD OF THE BRITTLE PLASTIC BECOMING FLYING SHRAPNEL IN THE EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT AND AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT. THIS IS A WELL REPORTED AND WELL KNOWN ISSUE WITH ALL GMT900 VEHICLES. GM NEEDS TO RECALL THESE DASHBOARDS! *TR
Air bags, Structure, Nov 20, 2014
DASHBOARD CRACKED THROUGH TO THE AIRBAG CAVITY, ALSO ON TOP OF MAIN GAUGE DISPLAY. IT IS BEGINNING TO FORK IN TWO DIRECTIONS. *TR
Air bags, Other or unspecified, Sep 19, 2014
I TOOK MY TAHOE TO HERNDON CHEVROLET TO BE DETAILED. WITHIN 24 HRS AFTER THE DETAILING, THERE WAS A CRACK IN THE DASH TOUCHING THE AIRBAG AND TO OVER THE STEERING WHEEL. *TR
Air bags, Structure, Equipment adaptive/mobility, Aug 16, 2014
DASH BOARD IS CRACKING FOR NO APPARENT REASON. IT HAS CRACKED ON THE DRIVERS SIDE AS WELL AS AROUND THE AREA WHERE THE AIR BAG IS KEPT. MY FEAR IS THAT BECAUSE OF THE CRACKS THE AIR BAG COULD POSSIBLY DEPLOY WITH NO WARNING WHILE DRIVING AND CAUSE ME TO HAVE ACCIDENT OR TO CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. THERE HAVE BEEN NUMEROUS REPORTS ON THE GM MODEL 2007 - 2014 TAHOES, YUKONS AND TRUCKS THAT THE DASHBOARDS ARE CRACKING IN THE SAME AREAS ON ALL OF THE VEHICLES AROUND THE AIR BAG. *TR
Air bags, Structure, May 22, 2014
I OWN A 2011 TAHOE THAT HAS BEEN KEPT IN THE GARAGE AND IS IN IMMACULATE CONDITION. I HAVE 2 CRACKS ON MY DASHBOARD; ONE ON THE UPPER LEFT-HAND SIDE OF MY PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG AND THE OTHER RIGHT BEHIND MY STEERING WHEEL. THIS CRACK IS ACTUALLY BRANCHING INTO TWO CRACKS NOW. I HAVE SOME SERIOUS CONCERNS REGARDING THE SAFETY OF MY VEHICLE IN THE EVENT I AM IN A COLLISION AND MY AIRBAGS NEED TO BE DEPLOYED. THIS CRACKED DASH SEEMS TO BE A COMMON ISSUE IN TAHOES FROM AT LEAST 2007 AND NEWER AND I AM CONCERNED THAT GM HAS DONE NOTHING TO RECALL THIS ISSUE, ESPECIALLY CONSIDERING HOW FAR BACK IT APPEARS TO BE AFFECTING VEHICLES. MY CONCERN IS THE POSSIBILITY OF LACK OF AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT AND/OR SHARDS OF SHARP PLASTIC FLYING THROUGH THE AIR IN THE EVENT OF A COLLISION CAUSING INJURY TO PASSENGERS OR, IN THE EVENT MY AIRBAGS DO DEPLOY, A COMPROMISE TO THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THEIR DEPLOYMENT DUE TO PUNCTURE. IT IS APPARENT THE DASH IS DEFECTIVE BY THE NUMBER OF SIMILAR ISSUES REPORTED BY CUSTOMERS. IT IS APPARENT THAT THE DASH IS ALREADY COMPROMISED DUE TO THESE CRACKS AND GM NEEDS TO CONSIDER THE SAFETY ISSUES POSED WITH THIS DEFECT. *TR
Air bags, Seat belts, Structure, Dec 5, 2012, crash
I WAS DRIVING WEST ON RIO RD. IN CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA, AT ROUGHLY 35 MPH. AT APPROXIMATELY 6:00 PM, A DEER EMERGED FROM THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. IT HAPPENED INSTANTANEOUSLY AND AVOIDING THE DEER WAS NOT AN OPTION. IMMEDIATELY AFTER STRIKING THE DEER AT THE FRONT RIGHT BUMPER (UNDERNEATH HEADLIGHT), THE SIDE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED IN MY 2011 CHEVY TAHOE. HOWEVER, THE AIRBAG THAT WAS SUPPOSE TO DEPLOY FROM THE DRIVERS SEAT (ON THE SIDE NEAR SEATBELT) DID NOT DEPLOY. ADDITIONALLY, THE FRONT TWO AIRBAGS (FROM STEERING WHEEL AND DASHBOARD) DID NOT DEPLOY AS WELL. MOREOVER, APPROXIMATELY THREE MONTHS BACK, ANOTHER FAMILY MEMBER ALSO HIT A DEER WITH THE SAME VEHICLE (2011 CHEVY TAHOE) AND AT THAT TIME NO AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. IN THIS INCIDENT THE VEHICLE WAS TRAVELING 70 MPH AND THE DEER STRUCK THE LEFT SIDE OF THE FRONT BUMPER AND NO AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. AT THE TIME, WE DIDN'T EVEN THINK ABOUT DEFECTIVE AIRBAGS, BUT NOW, WE ARE VERY, VERY CONCERNED THAT THERE'S A DEFECT. WE SIMPLY DO NOT KNOW WHAT TO DO. I HAVE CONTACTED CHEVROLET DIRECTLY AND THEY ASSURE ME SOMEONE WILL COME OUT AND LOOK AT THE VEHICLE THIS WEEK SOMETIME. I WOULD BE RELIEVED IF SOMEONE FROM THE NHTSA ALSO INVESTIGATES THESE TWO SCENARIOS. WHAT IS CHEVROLET'S RESPONSIBILITY TO ME AND MY FAMILY IN THESE TWO CASES? AND WHAT IS THE BEST COURSE OF ACTION? FURTHERMORE, I CAN ARRANGE FOR MY INSURANCE ADJUSTOR TO GATHER ANY DOCUMENTATION FROM THE FIRST INCIDENT (WHERE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY) SUCH AS PHOTOS, REPORTS AND PROVIDE THEM TO YOU. THE VEHICLE IS SITTING IN MY DRIVEWAY BECAUSE I AM WAITING FOR A CHEVROLET REPRESENTATIVE TO COME AND INSPECT IT. I WOULD APPRECIATE YOUR PROMPT ACTION IN THIS MATTER. THANK YOU! *TR