Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2011 Chevrolet Avalanche owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
February of 2021 I was notified the driver side air bag in my truck I drive daily has an issue that if goes off can cause serious injury or death. that as 6 months ago and still no path forward to fix it, how safe it this for me to drive is death is an option? I feel this would be a concern for drivers and the companies doing more to prevent something if a part cannot be secured. Maybe start offering deals to accept the trade ins so your customer doesn't have to drive around an unsafe vehicle because of supply issues? This needs to be addressed so something silly can be avoided.
Was advised of the recall of my vehicle on Feb 26th 2021 and that the part to fix the problem was not available it is now six months later and have heard nothing and don,t know how log they expect people to wait with a faulty part to be repaired.
Tl* the contact owns a 2011 Chevrolet Avalanche. While driving 35 MPH and attempting to engage the brakes, the vehicle did not slow down and the ABS failed. As a result, the contact's vehicle crashed into the rear end of another vehicle. The air bags failed to deploy. The contact sustained unknown injuries, but did not require medical attention. A police report was filed. The vehicle was taken to the dealer. The technician verified that the ABS failed and needed to be reset. The contact asked the manufacturer for a new ABS brake module under the warranty, but the manufacturer refused to replace the ABS brake module. The failure mileage was 24,500. Updated 4/21/15 updated 04/23/15
Tl* the contact owns a 2011 Chevrolet Avalanche. The contact noticed that the front passenger side dashboard was fractured directly above the air bag. The vehicle was taken to dan vaden brunswick Chevrolet Cadillac (121 altama connector, brunswick, ga 31525, [phone]), but was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 16V381000 (air bags), but 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 stated that the vehicle was taken to the same dealer three times and the part was not available each time. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and scheduled an appointment at the same dealer and provided a case number: 9-5453255979. The approximate failure mileage was 80,000. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
My vehicle dashboard has cracked, most recently at the passenger side airbag. Another crack started earlier directly above the vehicle gauge cluster. The most recent crack to the dash now causes the dash panel to consistently shake while the vehicle is in motion. I do not know for sure if the cracks occurred while the vehicle was stationary or while in motion. The concern now involves the proper operation of the passenger side airbag and what will occur with the damaged dash if the airbag must deploy. Will it properly deploy and if it must, will the damaged dash have an adverse effect on the vehicle driver and passengers? Finally, the damaged dash is a distraction to the vehicle operator with constant vibration and is directly ahead in the vehicle operators field of vision.
Dashboard has 5 large cracks 4 lateral an 1 vertical top front speaker has fallen off clips.vehicle dashboard started cracking while just sitting over time and while driving road vibration help cracking continue I'm afraid that with the cracking since it is in the passenger airbag area as well it could cause airbag to deploy causing more damage injuries to passenger or a wreck by suddenly going off and causing driver to swerve suddenly.
Tl* the contact owns a 2011 Chevrolet Avalanche. The contact stated that the dashboard on the passenger side of the vehicle fractured along the passenger side air bag housing enclosure. The vehicle was taken to the dealer to be inspected. The contact was informed that the dashboard needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 40,000.
Dashboard cracked while sitting in driveway and now violently shakes and bounces while driving including right above airbag, see this is a very common problem with this truck, concerned on the affect this would have if in accident due to the sharp edges and continuing growing length of the crack, could easily send sharp shards if in accident and wife is already severly disabled. GM is aware but did not offer any help.
The vehicle dashboard is exhibiting multiple, continual cracking around the air bag cove plate and above the instrument panel. Cracking is occurring without regard to vehicle movement. The concern is if an accident occurs the cracked pieces of the dashboard will form shrapnel when air bag inflates and/or interfere with air bag proper operation.
My dashboard cracked in two places, by the passenger airbag and over the instrument cluster. As near as I can tell it occurred when my wife was driving on a highway. Highway 99 from athens, al to salem, al. We are afraid that, if anything occurs to cause the airbag to inflate it will send shards of plastic flying through the cab.
Related recalls
Air bags › Frontal › Passenger side › Inflator module
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…
Remedy: 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.
Air bags › Frontal › Passenger side › Inflator module
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…
Remedy: 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.
NHTSA investigations
Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture
From 2000 through 2017, Takata produced millions of air bag inflators using two types of phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate ("PSAN") propellant -- propellant 2004 and propellant 2004L. After prolonged exposure to high temperature cycles and humidity, inflators using propellant 2004 can degrade, causing the propellant to burn too quickly when ignited.
Airbag complaints in other Avalanche years
Frequently asked questions
How common are airbag problems on the 2011 Chevrolet Avalanche?
NHTSA has 55 complaints about the air bags of the 2011 Chevrolet Avalanche, 43% of the model year's 127 complaints.
Is there a recall for 2011 Chevrolet Avalanche airbag problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 21V-054 (inflator module, Feb 5, 2021); NHTSA recall 21V-050 (inflator module, Feb 5, 2021). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 2011 Chevrolet Avalanche airbag problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 69,000 miles, and 8% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 1 crash, 0 fires and 1 injury to air bags problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.