Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (doors, hood, frame, rust, paint and trim).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2009 Chevrolet Tahoe owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
Tl* the contact owns a 2009 Chevrolet Tahoe. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 16V381000 (air bags). The contact stated that the driver's side dashboard had a three to four inch crack. Additionally, there was a one inch crack on the passenger side dashboard. There were no warning indicators illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer (musson patout Buick GMC, 214 w. Hwy 90 frontage rd., new iberia, la 70560) where it was diagnosed that air bag parts were not available. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified and did not assist. The VIN was unknown. The failure mileage was 131,415.
Tl* the contact owns a 2009 Chevrolet Tahoe. The contact stated that there was premature deterioration on the interior door handles of the front driver and passenger side doors. The contact stated that the handles were fraying with sharp edges. The dealer was notified of the failure and indicated that the two front interior door handles needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The vehicle was not included in NHTSA action number: ea10004 (latches/locks/linkage, structure). The failure mileage was 46,700.
There is a crack in the airbag area of the dashboard. I reported this to GM in March 2016 and they refuse to correct the issue. Today, there is a new crack on the dashboard near the drivers side now. This is a known issue with these cars. The same thing happened to my 2007 Chevy avalanche, and in 2010, GM replaced it without any issues. Now with the Tahoe, they refuse. The vehicle is parked under a garage awning and we never use anything but a dry rag to clean the dashboards. This is no fault of ours, and appears to be a known issue with Chevy manufacturing.
In regards of my 2009 Chevy Tahoe ltz this vechicle has had some issues in the few months of ownership. When ever the car is parked an you exit the SUV to lock it it does not lock you hear the clicking sound like its locked but when you try to open the door that should be locked it opens right up an the alarm goes off an to mention the door handles are chipping away an the plastic cuts almost every person that opens my doors that are not careful. An ive had to patch almost 5 places on my coolant an A/C lines that are aluminum very cheaply made.
My 2009 Chevrolet Tahoe has developed numerous cracks in the dashboard including around the passenger airbag. My biggest concern is that is I get into an accident, are pieces of the dash going to be shot at/into passenger and/or driver/ I have tried to get GM/Chevrolet to replace and their option was for me to spend $800 to replace their dashboard that has material defects. That does not seem acceptable and I am sure is not practical considering I have read there are thousands of people with the same issue. Can the NHTSA help?
Front passenger and driver interior door handles are peeling plastic with sharp edges. A child and an adult have cut their hands opening the door from the inside to get out. No stitches required but severe cut. I went to see about replacement. Told not considered defect and the same type of handles would be replaced at a cost of $800. Why would anyone replace them when you know the same thing will happen again with new handles. There has got to be a better solution for this defect.
When trying to open the liftgage, either manually or by pushing the button, the liftgate opens partially then suddenly falls. I have seen a recall for this, however I am not able to locate a recall specifically for a 2009 Chevrolet Tahoe. "the affected vehicles have gas struts that hold the power liftgate up when open," said NHTSA in its recall summary. "these struts May prematurely wear and the open liftgate May suddenly fall. It May strike a person, increasing their risk of injury."
I own a 2009 Chevrolet Tahoe that the dash board all of a sudden began showing cracks, within a peroid of 3 months after noticing, these cracks have traveled up the dash board above instrument panel, and at passenger side air bag cover. Eventually the dash will fall completely in. I am concerned that if the passenger air bag is deployed, the dash is so brital that fragments of the dash will cause severe cuts, and bodily harm with the possibilty of death.
I have two cracks in my dash board right by where my air bags are. One is on the passenger side and the other is on the driver side. I view this has a safety hazard, if for some reason I am in a wreck I do not know how this would affect myself or my daughter or even if this would prevent the air bags from deploying. I have contacted my local dealership and waiting to hear back from them what GM will do about this situation..replace..repair etc.
Tl* Takata recall. The contact owns a 2009 Chevrolet Tahoe. The contact noticed that the dashboard was cracking where the driver and passenger side air bags were located. The ABS warning indicator illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified. The VIN was included in NHTSA campaign number: 16V381000 (air bags), but the contact did not receive a notification. The failure mileage was 120,000.
Body complaints in other Tahoe years
Frequently asked questions
How common are body problems on the 2009 Chevrolet Tahoe?
NHTSA has 52 complaints about the body & structure of the 2009 Chevrolet Tahoe, 18% of the model year's 284 complaints. The component named most often is body (35 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2009 Chevrolet Tahoe body problems?
No. NHTSA lists no body & structure recall for the 2009 Chevrolet Tahoe, though it has 5 recalls for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2009 Chevrolet Tahoe body problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 74,000 miles, and 4% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 0 crashes, 0 fires and 3 injuries to body & structure 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.