2011 Chevrolet Tahoe Airbag Problems

Which parts fail

• Passenger side frontal › Cushion
  1
• SRS malfunction warning lamp/light
  1

Components named in complaints (front, side and curtain air bags, sensors and inflators).

Mileage when the problem started

• Under 25k
  33%
• 25k–50k
  2325%
• 50k–75k
  3033%
• 75k–100k
  1617%
• 100k–150k
  1820%
• 150k+
  22%

Owner reports

Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2011 Chevrolet Tahoe owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).

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. …

I took my vehicle into sunset Chevrolet in Sumner Washington, in November of 2022 and had them complete the Takata air bag recall on the vehicle. I drove it for a few months and put it in storage. Since the recall the dash is now cracked where the dealer replaced the passenger airbag recall. It was not cracked prior to the replacement. I have talked to the dealer and they are saying they will not cover this. This is a hazard issue and can cause additional shrapnel to come flying at you if the vehicle is involved in an accident. The vehicle was stored in the garage and not driven. The dealer won't even examine the vehicle to see if the bolts were inadvertently overtightened on the technicians side. This is not right and this is something that should be covered. The vehicle has about 88k miles on it. My dash was not cracked at the time of the repair and now it is. …

I spoke with GM a couple of times and GM refuses to help with the cost of dash repair that could happen if the airbag recall is fixed. My dash is already damaged so the repair would totally ruin the dash and can cost over $2000.00 if repairs are made, therefore my airbag recall cannot be completed

I confirmed the vehicle has a recall. Called the Dealer and they informed me that the dash may crack while performing the recall but is not included in the recall. Any cracks in the dash would be customer pay. This doesn't seem right.

Dashboard is cracked from the corner of the passenger airbag cover to the seam in the dash panel need the defroster. We were involved in a rear end accident and the crack appeared after the accident. I'm concerned it could affect the air bag deploying.

My 2011 Chevy Tahoe ltz dashboard fractured completely through the plastic adjacent to the passenger airbag and progressively rattled until it separated. It then cracked in the area in front of the steering wheel and continues to rattle and the crack is getting longer. The area of the dash between these 2 cracks rattles violently when driving on the highway and I am severely concerned about shards of the dash becoming detached in a collision and injuring me or an occupant of my car. I am also concerned that the deployment of the airbag will be compromised and May itself cause the dash to shatter and create sharp projectiles in a collision. This occurred organically over time and was not caused by a single event in time. There are thousands of other trucks with same model dash as mine that all have the same cracks in the same areas. …

Takata recall- my service airbag light recently came on shortly after starting the vehicle. This is the second time this problem has occurred over the past two summers. The first time this problem occurred I brought my vehicle to the dealership where they preformed a airbag scan. I was told no codes were present. The airbag light was then reset and I haven't had any issues until recently. I have read about the known potentially deadly issues associated with the passenger airbag deflators. I live in houston tx where the summers hot and humid. I have read that these areas are at greater risk due to issues arising in hot and humid climates. I plan on bringing my car back to the dealership soon. I'm sure I will be told that since the recall is pending I will be responsible for paying for the repairs. I'm a father of two... …

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. …

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.

Tl* Takata recall. The contact owns a 2011 Chevrolet Tahoe. The contact stated while his wife was driving 25 MPH, when all six air bags on the driver's and passenger's side panels inadvertently deployed. The contact stated that there was no warning light illuminated. The contact stated no one was injured or sought medical attention. A police report was filed. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer mike reichenbach Chevrolet (10 university pkwy, okatie, sc 29909, [phone]) where the dealer was made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The VIN was included in NHTSA campaign number: 21V050000 (air bags). The manufacturer had been informed of the failure and had the vehicle investigated. The failure mileage was approximately 110,000.

Related recalls

NHTSA investigations

Airbag complaints in other Tahoe years