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
456 reports, newest first.
Other or unspecified, Aug 25, 2017
THE DASHBOARD HAS CRACKED FOR THE SECOND TIME SINCE 2011. IT WAS REPLACED BY GENERAL MOTORS AT ED MORSE SAWGRASS CHEVROLET IN SUNRISE, FL IN APRIL OF 2014 DUE TO A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH DEFECTIVE MATERIAL CAUSING THE DASHBOARDS TO CRACK OVER THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND FRONT PASSENGER AIR BAG. NOW THE NEW DASHBOARD THAT WAS INSTALLED IN MY VEHICLE IN 2014 IS CRACKING IN THE SAME PLACE AS THE ORIGINAL DASHBOARD. I CONTACTED GENERAL MOTORS AND ED MORSE SAWGRASS CHEVROLET AND THEY HAVE ACKNOWLEDGED THE DEFECT, BUT REFUSE TO FIX THE PROBLEM STATING IT IS NOT A SAFETY HAZARD, WHICH IS NOT TRUE. WITH THE DASHBOARD CRACKING, IT IS CAUSING SHARP LOOSE PIECES OF PLASTIC THAT CAN IMPALE THE OCCUPANTS IN A SUDDEN STOP AND/OR COLLISION. THE PROBLEM IS NOT CAUSED DUE TO WEATHER EXPOSURE BECAUSE MY VEHICLE IS GARAGE KEPT WITH ONLY 48,000 MILES. THIS PROBLEM IS WIDESPREAD AND LAWSUITS ARE PENDING THROUGHOUT THE UNITED STATES DUE TO THE PROBLEM. A RECALL NEEDS TO BE ISSUED.
Other or unspecified, Aug 22, 2017
DASH HAS CRACKED IN 4 SEPARATE PLACES. ONE CRACK IS AT THE AIR BAG, COULD POTENTIALLY CAUSE ISSUES WITH AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT OR DEBRIS FROM DASH BREAKING OFF IF AIR BAG DEPLOYED.
Other or unspecified, Aug 22, 2017
DASH BOARD CRACK. THE DEALER REPAIRED IT SEVERAL YEARS AGO AND IT HAS CRACKED AGAIN AND COME LOOSE FROM THE PANEL UNDER THE WINDSHEILD.
Other or unspecified, Aug 21, 2017
MY 2011 CHEVROLET TAHOE LTZ IS GARAGE KEPT. THE DASHBOARD BEGAN CRACKING IN MARCH 2017 FROM UNKNOWN INJURY/ACCIDENT AND HAS PROGRESSIVELY WORSENED. NOW, WHILE DRIVING, THE ENTIRE DASHBOARD MAKES NOISE AND "FLAPS" REPEATEDLY. WHEN THIS BEGAN, MY CAR HAD APPROXIMATELY 79,000 MILES AND NOW MY CAR IN AUGUST 2017 HAS 85,000 MILES.
Engine and engine cooling, Engine, Aug 15, 2017
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET TAHOE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V868000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING); HOWEVER, THE PARTS TO DO THE REPAIR WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. AN UNKNOWN DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND CONFIRMED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE FOR THE RECALL REMEDY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE. UPDATED 12/13/2017 *LN *TR
Other or unspecified, Aug 10, 2017
GOT INTO MY 2011 CHEVY TAHOE LTZ ON A SPRING AFTERNOON, STARTED THE TRUCK, PUT MY TRUCK IN DRIVE, STARTED MOVING AND HEARD A VIBRATING NOISE. LOOKED AROUND MY DASH AND NOTICED 2 CRACKS ON MY DASHBOARD. WHICH HAS NOW TURNED INTO 2 CRACKS ON MY DASH. HOW DOES THAT HAPPEN SO FAST? NOW I AM READING ONLINE THIS IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM WITH CERTAIN MODELS. WHY ISN'T THIS BEING HANDLED BY GM? NICE TRUCK WHEN I FIRST GOT IT BUT NOW I AM THINKING ABOUT TRADING IN FOR ANYTHING BUT THIS. I'VE HAD THE TRUCK 4 YEARS AND HAVE A CRACKED DASH AND SMELLS OF MOLD THAT MY CAR DEALER CAN'T FIND THE CAUSE OF. I AM DISAPPOINTED IN YOU GM.
Air bags, Aug 5, 2017
DASH HAS CRACKED IN (2) PLACES THAT COULD CAUSE SAFETY ISSUES WITH AIR BAGS IF BAGS WERE NEEDED TO DEPLOY. VEHICLE HAS 38K MILES AND HAS ALWAYS BEEN GARAGE KEPT, SO SUNLIGHT DAMAGE AND ARMOR ALL PROTECTANT ARE NOT THE PROBLEM.
Other or unspecified, Jul 31, 2017
THE DASHBOARD IS CRACKED. SEVERE RATTLE AND NOISY WHILE OPERATING. THIS IS A DESIGN FLAW AS I HAVE READ THIS ISSUE IS BEING SEEN IN 1000'S OF VEHICLES. I HAVE TAKEN THIS IN TO CHEVROLET DEALERS ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS WITH NO HELP OR ASSISTANCE. GREATLY EFFECTS THE VALUE OF THE VEHICLE.
Air bags, Jul 31, 2017
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET TAHOE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR REMAINED ILLUMINATED WHILE DRIVING. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V381000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART NEEDED FOR THE REPAIR WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE CONTACT CALLED (BRUCE LOWRIE CHEVROLET, 711 SW LOOP 820, FORT WORTH, TX 76134) WHERE IT WAS CONFIRMED THAT THE RECALL PART WAS ON BACKORDER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CALLED AND STATED THAT THE PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE FOR THE REPAIR AND THERE WAS NO TIME FRAME ON WHEN THE PART WOULD BECOME AVAILABLE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,000. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.
Other or unspecified, Jul 27, 2017
CRACK ON DASH NEAR AIR BAG - THIS HAPPENED A FEW WEEKS AGO SO I STARTED DOING ONLINE RESEARCH ON THIS AND FOUND THIS IS A COMMON DEFECT WITH GMS DASHES. FOUND THIS FACEBOOK GROUP "07-13 GM CRACKED DASH SAFETY HAZARD FOR ALL TRUCKS" AND REALIZED SEVERAL PEOPLE ARE HAVING THIS ISSUE. I CALLED THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD IT'S A KNOWN PROBLEM, BUT NO RECALL HAS BEEN ISSUED YET. SHE TOLD ME IN THE MEANTIME TO MAKE SURE I KEEP A CAR SHADE ON WHEN IT'S OUTSIDE (WHICH I ALREADY DO). SHE ALSO SAID THERE IS A CHANCE I WILL SEE ADDITIONAL CRACKS OVER TIME. MY CONCERN IS IF THE AIR BAG WERE TO DEPLOY, WOULD THE CRACK CAUSE MY DASH OR PARTS OF IT TO SHATTER AND/OR MAKE THE AIRBAG LESS EFFECTIVE.
Other or unspecified, Jul 24, 2017
TAKATA RECALL, MY DASHBOARD HAS 2 CRACKS IN IT,,,,OVER THE AIRBAG ON THE PASSENGER SIDE, THEN OVER THE INSTRUMENTS ON THE DRIVERS SIDE.
Other or unspecified, Jul 22, 2017
THE DASHBOARD HAS A DIAGONAL CRACK FROM THE UPPER LEFT HAND CORNER OF THE AIR BAG COVER TOWARD THE DRIVER AND WINDOW. IT IS APPROXIMATELY 1 INCH LONG AND .060 WIDE. THERE IS ALSO A CRACK ON THE DASH ABOVE THE INSTRUMENT GAUGES THAT IS APPROXIMATELY 3 INCHES LONG AND SOME WHAT THIN AND JAGGED. IT STARTS SLIGHT LEFT OF THE DRIVERS LINE OF SIGHT WHERE THERE IS A TRANSITION RADIUS AND RUNS TOWARD THE WINDSHIELD. BOTH OF THESE CRACKS OCCURRED DURING FREEZING OUTSIDE TEMPERATFURES.
Other or unspecified, Jul 21, 2017
DASH CRACKED IN 2 SPOTS......1 OVER INSTRUMENT PANEL.... 1 AT THE AIR BAG
Air bags, Other or unspecified, Jul 20, 2017
MULTIPLE CRACKS ACROSS THE DASHBOARD HAVE FORMED, IN SOME CASES COMPLETELY BISECTING THE DASHBOARD PIECES. I'M CONCERNED THAT IF THE AIRBAGS ARE DEPLOYED OR IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH THESE SHARP PIECES OF PLASTIC WILL BECOME PROJECTILES. I WAS JUST QUOTED A PRICE OF $1400 BY MY DEALER TO REPLACE THE DASH, BUT IT SEEMS THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM.
Other or unspecified, Jul 20, 2017
THE DASH ON MY GARAGE KEPT TAHOE IS CRACKING AND FALLING APART. I CAN ONLY IMAGINE WHAT DAMAGE COULD BE DONE IF IN A WRECK AND THE SHARP PIECES ARE FLYING IN OUR FACES. THE FIRST CRACK BY THE AIRBAG HAPPENED WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY..I HEARD A LOUD POP AND IT SCARED ME TO DEATH. THE SECOND CRACK ABOVE THE INSTRUMENT PANEL ALSO HAPPENED WHILE DRIVING BUT NOT AS LOUD.
Air bags, Jul 20, 2017
MY DASH BOARD HAS SPLIT FROM MY FRONT PASSENGER AIRBAG TO THE DEFROST VENT. DASHBOARD IS PULLING AWAY AND VIBRATES EXCESSIVELY. THERE WAS NOR ACCIDENT OR INCIDENT. I JUST HAPPENED TO NOTICE ONE DAY. THE DATE SELECTED IS JUST AN GUESS.
Structure, Jul 11, 2017
MY DASH IN MY 2011 CHEVY TAHOE HAS CRACKED FROM THE PASSENGER AIRBAG TO THE CLUSTER ABOVE STEERING WHEEL. DASH WOULD MAKE A POPPING SOUND WHEN DRIVING,THATS WHEN I NOTICED CRACK
Other or unspecified, Jun 21, 2017
CRACKED DASHBOARD. MULTIPLE CRACKS INCLUDING ONE BY PASSENGER AIRBAG.
Other or unspecified, Jun 19, 2017
THE DASH BOARD OF THE TRUCKS IS CRACKING. IT HAS FIVE CRACKS NOW AND GETTING LONGER. IT STARTED TO CRACK WITHIN THE FIRST 4 YEARS.
Air bags, Other or unspecified, Jun 14, 2017
CRACKS APPEARING ON THE DASHBOARD. TAHOE IS GENTLY USED AND GARAGED. SEVERE VIBRATIONS OF THE DASHBOARD, WHEN DRIVING, IS CAUSING THE CRACKS. THE CENTRAL SPEAKER ON THE DASH ALSO VIBRATES.
Air bags, Jun 13, 2017
DASHBOARD IS SEPARATING AND RATTLING NEAR PASSENGER AIRBAG
Structure, Visibility/wiper, Jun 6, 2017
SPONTANEOUS WINDSHIELD CRACK, ORIGINATING FORM PASSENGER SIDE UPPER RIGHT CORNER TO CENTER OF WINDSHIELD; APPROX 8" LONG. CRACK IN DASH PERPENDICULAR TO PASSENGER AIRBAG AREA, APPROX 2" LONG. VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN COVERED GARAGE FOR 72 HOURS, DISCOVERED UPON NEXT USE.
Other or unspecified, Jun 5, 2017
DASHBOARD CRACKED WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY
Steering, Other or unspecified, Electronic stability control (ESC), Jun 2, 2017
MY STABILITY TRACK LIGHT WILL COME ON AND MY TAHOE WILL DECREASE IN SPEED WHEN THIS HAPPENS. THIS HAS HAPPENED MULTIPLE TIMES IN THE PAST COUPLE OF MONTHS. MY DASHBOARD HAS A HUGE CRACK OVER THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER. IT MADE A LOUD POP SOUND WHEN IT SPLIT. THERE IS A RUBBING NOISE COMING FROM MY STEERING COLUMN WHEN I HAVE TO TURN A CORNER.
Engine and engine cooling, Engine, Jun 1, 2017
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET TAHOE POLICE PURSUIT. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V868000 (ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING); HOWEVER, THE PARTS TO DO THE REPAIR WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE CHEVROLET DEALER WAS CONTACTED (RK CHEVROLET 2651 VIRGINIA BEACH BLVD, VIRGINIA BEACH, VA 23452; (757) 431-6502) AND CONFIRMED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE FOR THE RECALL REMEDY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AT 800-222-1020 AND WAS NOT ABLE TO CONFIRM WHEN THE PARTS WOULD BE AVAILABLE. CASE NUMBER: 8-2928956882 WAS PROVIDED. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE....UPDATED 07/10/17 *BF *JS