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: other or unspecified
213 reports, newest first. Show all
Other or unspecified, Oct 8, 2015
I HAVE TWO CRACKS IN THE DASHBOARD THAT MAKES THE DASHBOARD FLOP, AND I'M WORRIED IT MAY AFFECT THE AIRBAGS. I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER, THE TRUCK HAS NEVER BEEN IN A WRECK, NEVER PLACE ANY ITEMS ON THE DASH, AND I USE A VISOR TO PROTECT THE DASH DURING WORK, AND THE TRUCK IS GARAGED WHEN I'M AT HOME. THE DEALER SAID IT WILL COST APPROX. $1,000 TO REPLACE! WHY WOULD I REPLACE A DEFECTIVE DASH? THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL!
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.
Other or unspecified, Sep 9, 2015
CRACKED DASHBOARD ON TAHOE. NUMEROUS PREVIOUS OWNERS HAVE FILED THE SAME COMPLAINT. GM (CHEVY) REFUSE TO RECALL THIS DEFECTIVE PRODUCT.
Other or unspecified, Aug 18, 2015
I HAVE A 2011 CHEVY TAHOE Z71. I WAS GETTING IN THE VEHICLE AND SEEN THAT THE DASH HAD A CRACK. I HADN'T HIT ANYTHING, HAD AN ACCIDENT, NOR SPEEDING PRIOR TO SEEING THIS. I SEE THAT ITS AN ONGOING ISSUE WITH CHEVY.
Air bags, Other or unspecified, Aug 6, 2015
I BELIEVE THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD DUE TO THE POSSIBILITY OF AN AIRBAG INJURY.
Other or unspecified, Aug 6, 2015
I GOT INTO MY VEHICLE AND NOTICED A CRACK ON THE DASHBOARD ABOVE THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THAT CRACK BECAME TWO CRACKS AND NOW THERE IS ONE FORMING BY THE PASSENGER AIRBAG. THIS VEHICLE HAS NEVER BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT. IT HAS JUST UNDER 18,000 MILES AND IS IN IMMACULATE CONDITION. AFTER INVESTIGATING THIS ONLINE IT SEEMS TO BE A COMMON ISSUE WITH MULTIPLE PEOPLE REPORTING THE SAME CRACKS. I AM WORKING WITH THE DEALER TO REPLACE THIS (AND IT WILL COST ME OUT OF MY OWN POCKET FOR PART OF THIS) BUT HIS SEEMS TO BE A DEFECT AND I THINK A RECALL MIGHT BE WARRANTED.
Other or unspecified, Aug 4, 2015
I PURCHASED THE ABOVE USED VEHICLE LAST SUMMER AND THE DASH AT THAT TIME HAD TWO CRACKS ONE ON EACH SIDE OF THE DASH. THE CRACKS ARE LOCATED CLOSE TO THE FRONT AIRBAGS ONE CRACK HAS NOW RAN MORE THAN HALF WAY UP OVER THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. I HAD FILED A COMPLAINT WITH THE BBB AND THEN HAD SPOKE WITH AN INDIVIDUAL FROM GM THEY PAID TO HAVE THE VEHICLE INSPECTED. WELL I JUST FEEL LIKE THE CRACKS POSE A SAFETY HAZARD IF THE DASH IS THAT WEAK THAT IT HAS CRACKED THEN WHAT WILL HAPPEN IF I WAS IN ACCIDENT THE DASH GOING TO EXPLODE OR MAYBE EVEN MAKE THE AIRBAGS MALFUNCTION. GM REFUSES TO FIX THE DASH I AM SORRY THAT IS NOT ACCEPTABLE THIS PROBLEM HAS APPARENTLY BEEN GOING ON FOR A GOOD WHILE. WHY WOULD A COMPANY NOT WANT TO ADDRESS THIS PROBLEM AND AVOID POSSIBLE LAWSUITS. IT'S KINDA LIKE A WELLNESS PROGRAM DO PREVENTATIVE CHECKUPS TO SAVE MONEY IN THE FUTURE. THESE VEHICLE COST WAY TO MUCH TO HAVE SUCH WEAK AND UNSUPPORTED DASHES. I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE WHO HAS COMPLAINED ABOUT THIS AND YET NOTHING IS BEING DONE. THIS MAKES NO SENSE TO ME AT ALL THIS NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED AND THOROUGHLY EXAMINED. THIS TAHOE ALSO SEEMS TO HAVE OTHER ISSUES IT RIDES LIKE A LOG WAGON AND PUT BRAND NEW TIRES ON IT LAST AUGUST. NOW THE FRONT CAP IS PEELING OFF AND IT APPEARS TO HAVE BEEN TOUCHED UP IT LOOKS LIKE SOMEONE TOOK SOMETHING AND JUST PUT BLACK SPOTS ALL OVER THE FRONT. THE TAHOE IS NOT DRIVEN ON GRAVEL ROADS AND IS NOT MISTREATED. I HAVE HAD SEVERAL SUV'S AND THIS IS THE WORST ONE I HAVE OWNED AND I AM VERY DISAPPOINTED. I WILL NOT RECOMMEND ANYONE TO BUY A SUV MADE BY GM BECAUSE THEY DO NOT WANT TO TAKE CARE OF THE PROBLEM AT HAND.
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
Other or unspecified, May 13, 2015
I NOTICED SEVERAL TAHOE OWNERS ARE ALSO COMPLAINING ABOUT CRACKED DASHBOARD FOR THEIR VEHICLE. MY IS ABOVE THE STEERING WHEEL AND HAVE SPREAD DOWN ABOUT 12 INCHES. I ALSO AGREE THAT IT COULD BE DANGEROUS IF THE AIRBAG IS DEPLOYED WITH CRACKED DASH THAT CAN CAUSE PLASTIC FRAGMENTS. IN ADDITION, I AM VERY DISAPPOINTED WITH THE QUALITY OF 2011 CHEVY TAHOE WHEN IT IS WAS PRICED IN UPPER $50'SK WHEN NEW. I HAVE OWNED 2 OTHERS IN THE PAST WITH NO ISSUES. THE PLASTIC MATERIAL USED FOR CONSTRUCTING THE 2011 TAHOE DASHBOARD IS TOO THIN. WITH ALL THESE COMPLAINTS, WHAT HAVEN'T CHEVY PUT OUT A RECALL?
Other or unspecified, Feb 20, 2015
I'M NOT SURE WHY I REC'D THE RECALL NOTICE ON THE 2011 CHEVY TAHOE. I TRADED THAT CAR IN BACK IN OCTOBER 2014. PLEASE REMOVE ME FROM YOUR MAILING FOR THIS VEHICLE. THANK YOU *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