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: structure
85 reports, newest first. Show all
Air bags, Structure, Apr 7, 2022
Takata Recall. The contact's wife owns a 2011 Chevrolet Tahoe. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V054000 (Air Bags) and the vehicle was taken to the dealer who completed the recall repair; however, while driving the vehicle a week later, the contact's wife noticed that the dashboard was shaking significantly. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact's wife drove back to their residence, where the contact inspected the dashboard and noticed that it was severely cracked on the driver's side behind the steering wheel and on the passenger's side. The dealer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that the dashboard replacement would be at his own expense as the manufacturer would not cover the repair. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and advised the contact that the dealer should have informed them that the dashboard would be cracked prior to the recall repair and after the failure; however, the manufacturer did not provide any assistance. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 122,500.
Structure, Feb 13, 2022
Dashboard is cracking at passenger side air bag, and on the driver side instrument cluster. This is a known Chevy defect and Chevy not wanting to fix the problem so to faulty engineering design. Class action lawsuit got no where. We need you help so other owners of Tahoes, Yukons, Sierra’s, and Silverados can have their faulty dashboard replaced. Definitely a safety issue due pieces of the dash flying out in a accident.
Structure, Apr 28, 2021
THE DASHBOARD CONTINUES TO CRACK AND DETERIORATE IT HAS NOW CRACKED NEAR THE FRONT PASSENGER AIRBAG. THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY IT HAS HAPPENED OVER TIME
Structure, Sep 6, 2020
SHORTLY AFTER MY EXTENDED WARRANTY EXPIRED, MY DASHBOARD BEGAN TO CRACK. WITHIN TWO YEARS, IT DEVELOPED THREE SUBSTANTIAL CRACKS WHICH LED TO SHIMMYING OF THE DASHBOARD WHILE DRIVING. THE BECAME A CHRONIC AND CONTINUAL PROBLEM.
Structure, Sep 3, 2020
DASH BOARD HAS CRACKED, ALMOST COMPLETELY OUT, 2011 TAHOE WITH, 60000 MILES.
Structure, Jul 1, 2020
CRACKING IN DASH DUE TO POOR QUALITY AND BUILD. POSSES POTENTIAL HAZARD SHOULD AIRBAGS DEPLOY. *TR
Structure, Other or unspecified, Jun 9, 2020
DASH CRACKING REAL BAD. *TR
Air bags, Structure, Jun 1, 2020
HI. MY 2011 CHEVY TAHOE "SERVICE AIRBAG" LIGHT IS ON. MY VIN # IS [XXX]. I FOUND A RECALL FOR IT ON THE CHEVY WEBSITE BUT IT SAYS ITS 'RECALL INCOMPLETE, REMEDY NOT YET AVAILABLE'. I BELIEVE THEY HAVE FAILED TO REMEDY THIS SAFETY RECALL FOR MY VEHICLE IN A TIMELY MANNER. DATE OF RECALL: MAY 27,2016 MANUFACTURER RECALL NUMBER 2049151 NHTSA RECALL NUMBER 16V381. IM JUST WONDERING IF THERE IS ANYTHING YOU CAN DO TO HELP? SINCE MY "SERVICE AIRBAG" LIGHT IS ON NOW I FEEL VERY UNSAFE DRIVING THE VEHICLE AS THE RECALL STATES THE FOLLOWING: THE PROPELLANT IN SOME TYPES OF TAKATA AIRBAG INFLATORS CAN DEGRADE OVER TIME, ESPECIALLY AFTER LONG TERM EXPOSURE IN HOT AND HUMID REGIONS. IF THE PROPELLANT DEGRADES TO A CERTAIN LEVEL, THE INFLATORS MAY RUPTURE DURING DEPLOYMENT, CAUSING SERIOUS OR FATAL INJURIES. SEPARATELY AND ADDITIONALLY, THE DASH HAS CRACKED ALL THE WAY ACROSS THE WIDTH OF THE VEHICLE. IT IS CRACKED ON THE COVER TO THE AIRBAG AS WELL. THERE WAS NO ACCIDENT. IT JUST CRACKED ONE DAY. A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT HAS BEEN FILED AND I HAVE ATTACHED THE PDF. CLEARLY THIS IS A PROBLEM THAT IS HAPPENING TO ALOT OF PEOPLE. A CRACKED DASHBOARD COULD COMPOUND THE SEVERITY OF A CAR CRASH AND IT COULD SHATTER INTO PIECES UPON AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT AND SEND SHARDS OF DASHBOARD FLYING AT BOTH THE DRIVER AND THEIR PASSENGERS. BETWEEN THE AIRBAG RECALL AND THE DASH CRACKING IT IS VERY UNSAFE TO DRIVE. GM IS UNWILLING TO HELP ME. PLEASE LET ME KNOW WHAT IMMEDIATE ACTION CAN BE TAKEN SO MYSELF AND MY PASSENGERS ARE SAFE WHEN I'M DRIVING. THANKS! INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *CC *TR
Air bags, Structure, Other or unspecified, May 29, 2020
MY DASH BOARD IS CRACKED IN TWO PLACES. IT CRACKED TO THE DOME PART OVER THE GAUGES AND IT CRACKED TO MY PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG. I DO NOT FEEL SAFE TRANSPORTING PEOPLE IN THE PASSENGER SIDE. *TR *BF*JB
Structure, May 20, 2020
DASH BOARD CRACKED. *TR
Structure, Oct 13, 2019
DASHBOARD CRACK ABOVE STEERING COLUMN AND BY THE PASSENGER AIRBAG IT CRACKS MORE WITH HEAT/COLD TURNED ON IN VEHICLE.
Structure, Jul 20, 2019
THE DASH HAS CRACKED IN SEVERAL PLACES
Structure, Jul 10, 2019
CRACKED DASH AND COULD CAUSE SERIOUS INJURY IF AIR BAG IS DEPLOYED.
Structure, Apr 23, 2019
DASH CRACKING: I OWN A 2011 CHEVROLET TAHOE LTZ. THE DASH HAS CRACKED TWICE ON THIS VEHICLE. THE 1ST TIME IT WAS UNDER WARRANTY. THE 2ND TIME IT OCCURRED THE DASH CRACKED IN TWO PLACES. THIS COST ME MORE THAN $1000. ONCE IT CRACKED IT STARTED MAKING A RATTLING NOISE AS I WENT DOWN THE ROAD. AFTER REVIEWING ALL THE COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS SAME PROBLEM, I FAIL TO UNDERSTAND WHY A RECALL WAS NOT ORDERED BY THE GOVERNMENT IN REGARD TO THIS PROBLEM. THIS IS A PROBLEM REPORTED BY THOUSANDS OF OTHER PEOPLE WHO HAVE PURCHASED A CHEVROLET TAHOE OR SUBURBAN. THESE ARE NOT CHEAP VEHICLES TO PURCHASE BUT ARE OBVIOUSLY MADE WITH CHEAP, DEFECTIVE MATERIALS.
Structure, Mar 15, 2019
DASHBOARD CRACKS DUE TO POOR QUALITY MATERIAL AND POOR DESIGN. ONCE CRACKED, THE DASHBOARD PRESENTS A SAFETY HAZARD. IF THE AIRBAG WERE TO DEPLOY, THE FORCE OF THE DEPLOYMENT AGAINST THE ALREADY CRACKED DASHBOARD COULD SEND SHARP FRAGMENTS OF THE DASHBOARD INTO PASSENGERS.
Structure, Jan 2, 2019
DASHBOARD HAS TWO CRACKS. ONE IS ABOUT A INCH LONG AT THE LEFT FRONT CORNER OF PASSENGER'S AIRBAG. ANOTHER RIGHT BEHIND THE STEELING WHEEL ABOUT 4 INCHES LONG. THE DASHBOARD ARE VIBRATING WITH CLICKING NOISE.
Structure, Dec 4, 2018
I AM VERY CAREFUL AND TAKE GOOD CARE OF MY VEHICLES, BUT THIS ONE HAS A CRACK IN THE DASH THAT IS GETTING BIGGER AND BIGGER. FROM TALKING WITH A FEW PEOPLE THAT OWN THE SAME MODEL THEY HAVE HAD THE SAME ISSUE. IT SEEMS TO BE A DEFECT FROM GM. I HAVE NOT HIT ANY MAJOR POT HOLES OR APPLIED ANY PRESSURE WHAT SO EVER TO THE DASH. NOW IT'S SO BAD THAT IT RATTLES WHEN DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE ESPECIALLY WITH GM NOT TAKING RESPONSIBILITY FOR THEIR ERROR.
Structure, Dec 3, 2018
MULTIPLE CRACKS IN INSTRUMENT PANEL DASHBOARD, VERY COMMON ISSUE THAT, IF INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT, PIECES THAT ARE BROKEN COULD BECOME AIRBORNE AND CAUSE BODILY HARM.
Exterior lighting, Structure, Nov 9, 2018
CRACK IN THE DASHBOARD - DRIVERS SIDE. PASSENGER SIDE HEADLIGHT IS DISTORTED
Structure, Sep 24, 2018
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET TAHOE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE DASHBOARD WAS CRACKED IN FOUR PLACES. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE LOCAL DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,403.
Air bags, Structure, Sep 4, 2018
THE DASHBOARD HAS DEVELOPED A CRACK NEXT TO THE PASSENGER AIRBAG COVER. THIS IS A WIDESPREAD MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT FOR THIS TYPE OF GM VEHICLE. HOWEVER, GM REFUSES TO INSTATE A RECALL TO ADDRESS IT'S CUSTOMER'S CONCERNS. WITH THE PLASTIC OF THE DASHBOARD COMPROMISED, A DEPLOYMENT OF THE AIRBAG COULD SEND FRAGMENTS OF PLASTIC INTO THE CABIN.
Air bags, Structure, Aug 6, 2018
I OWN A 2011 CHEVROLET TAHOE. MY DASH BEGAN TO CRACK COMPLETELY FROM ONE END TO THE OTHER. I CALLED THE DEALER TODAY, GEORGE CHEVROLET IN BELLFLOWER CA, AND I SPOKE WITH THE SERVICE MANAGER JOSE. OF COURSE MY TAHOE IS INCLUDED IN THE TAKATA RECALL AND NO PARTS FOR IT ARE AVAILABLE YET. I DID ASK HIM ABOUT THE RECALL AND THEN I EXPLAINED THE PROBLEM WITH MY DASH. IT IS SO BADLY CRACKED NOW IT SEEMS TO ME THAT THE AIRBAGS ARE NOT SECURE AT ALL AS THE CRACKS HAVE MADE THE ENTIRE DASH LOOSE. I WAS TOLD THERE WAS NO RECALL AND I AM NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY SO NOTHING COULD BE DONE. I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER OF THE TAHOE AND HAVE TAKEN EXCELLENT CARE OF THE VEHICLE SINCE I PURCHASED IT IN 2011. IT SEEMS TO ME THAT THERE ARE MANY COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS ISSUE SO I HOPE SOMEONE WILL REVIEW AND CONSIDER A RECALL. THE CRACKING BEGAN AT ABOUT 22K MILES. I AM UNABLE TO SELECT THE BUTTON BELOW, BUT PLEASE CONTACT ME ASAP IF THERE IS A RECALL.
Structure, Aug 3, 2018
AFTER PURCHASING TAHOE FROM USED CAR DEALERSHIP LESS THAN A MONTH. A/C WAS ON DRIVING WHEN I HEARD A NOISE FROM THE DASH. TOOK PICTURES TO SHOW HUSBAND. DRIVING ON TY 40 GOING 40 MPH. CRACK IS A SAFETY ISSUE!
Structure, Aug 2, 2018
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET TAHOE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DASHBOARD WAS CRACKED AND AN ABNORMAL CLICKING NOISE WAS HEARD WHILE DRIVING AT UNKNOWN SPEEDS. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AUTONATION CHEVROLET GULF FREEWAY (13800 GULF FWY, HOUSTON, (281) 305-8940) WHO INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN A RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND REFERRED THE CONTACT TO NHTSA. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 122,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
Structure, Jun 29, 2018
CRACKED DASH - THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY WHEN CRACKING HAPPENED INSIDE ON THE DASH. IT HAS CRACKED IN 4 PLACES: (2) ABOVE THE STEERING WHEEL AND (2) AT THE AIR BAG. WHEN DRIVING, I NOTICE THERE IS NO SUPPORT IN THE MIDDLE OF DASH, IT BOUNCES AND MAKES THE CRACKS WORSE. I CALLED MY LOCAL CHEVROLET TAHOE AND RESEARCHED ONLINE FOR SAME MAKE AND MODEL ABOUT RECALLS AND THERE HAS YET TO BE A RECALL FOR THE CRACKS IN THE DASH. THERE HAS CERTAINLY BEEN LOTS OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE SAME ISSUE, BUT AGAIN NO ACTION HAS BEEN TAKEN. CRACKING AT AIRBAG IS HAZARDOUS, ESPECIALLY IF I WERE TO GET INTO AN ACCIDENT. THIS SHOULD CERTAINLY BE A RECALL DUE TO THE CRACKS AT THE AIRBAG AND THAT IT IS A SAFETY HAZARD.