Airbag complaints by model year
| Year | Complaints | Share of year's complaints | Typical mileage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 3 | 4% | — |
| 2023 | 6 | 3% | 39,000 miles |
| 2022 | 6 | 3% | — |
| 2021 | 27 | 6% | 37,000 miles |
| 2020 | 4 | 7% | 16,000 miles |
| 2019 | 8 | 7% | 30,000 miles |
| 2018 | 2 | 2% | 71,000 miles |
| 2017 | 10 | 6% | 40,000 miles |
| 2016 | 10 | 4% | 40,000 miles |
| 2015 | 11 | 2% | 25,000 miles |
| 2014 | 13 | 14% | 46,000 miles |
| 2013 | 51 | 22% | 56,000 miles |
| 2012 | 61 | 34% | 74,000 miles |
| 2011 | 185 | 41% | 67,000 miles |
| 2010 | 115 | 37% | 74,000 miles |
| 2009 | 97 | 34% | 98,000 miles |
| 2008 | 233 | 44% | 93,000 miles |
| 2007 | 500 | 42% | 100,000 miles |
| 2006 | 7 | 6% | 125,000 miles |
| 2005 | 19 | 6% | 123,000 miles |
| 2004 | 14 | 3% | 74,000 miles |
| 2003 | 19 | 4% | 90,000 miles |
| 2002 | 31 | 7% | 88,000 miles |
| 2001 | 31 | 6% | 84,000 miles |
| 2000 | 21 | 7% | 44,000 miles |
| 1999 | 20 | 4% | 184,000 miles |
| 1998 | 9 | 3% | 84,000 miles |
| 1997 | 5 | 1% | 268,000 miles |
| 1996 | 16 | 6% | 145,000 miles |
| 1995 | 18 | 7% | — |
Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (front, side and curtain air bags, sensors and inflators).
Mileage when the problem started
What owners report
I was in a rollover crash on 3/9/25. I hit the guardrail head on, then completely rolled the vehicle multiple times. The driver/steering wheel airbag did NOT deploy. Curtain airbags, and the airbag from the seat deployed but the steering wheel did NOT. My head hit the steering wheel as a result with injuries to my face. The airbag malfunction was confirmed by a mechanic.
On October 23 I was driving my vehicle and the airbag light and a message service safety restraint appeared. On October 24 I was in route to take the vehicle to the dealership and as I was merging going to the highway the vehicle turned off, lost complete power threw itself into neutral. I had to drive it over to the shoulder to keep from getting hit. I was able to get the vehicle to turn back on and got it to the dealership. This would be the third time that the vehicle has lost power and completely turned off while driving the first time I took it to the dealership. They said they couldn't find anything wrong. The second time this happened. I took it to the dealership. They said they replaced the gateway module this third time I took it to the dealership they have called me and said they need to replace the OnStar telecommunication module. The vehicle is unsafe. …
The contact owns a 2023 Chevrolet Tahoe. The contact stated that while driving at an unknown speed, the "service safety restraint system", warning message appeared on the instrument panel. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where a diagnostic was performed; the diagnostic showed that there was a defect in the overhead module which rendered her airbag ineffective. The contact was informed that the part to repair the vehicle was on backorder and was given a time estimate of six weeks after the diagnostic was performed. The contact recently called the dealer and was informed that part was still unavailable and that there was no longer an ETA on the part. The manufacturer had yet to be notified of the failure. The vehicle had yet to be repaired. The failure mileage was 15,000.
The contact owns a 2023 Chevrolet Tahoe. The contact stated while driving 10 MPH, the air bag warning light illuminated. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer or independent mechanic to be diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and was referred to the NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 39,144.
My husband had an accident on 8/10/24 where adverse driver ran a red light at high speeds and struck this vehicle he was while driving impacting front end and both sides of car and airbags failed to deploy! He sustained a permanent disabling injury to his left shoulder.
Vehicle continues to experience flashing air bag light and service self-restraint system warning. Brought in twice in 2025 for self-restraint system but dealer refuses to cover under warranty. On December 18, 2025, experienced complete power and electrical failure while in transit on a turning lane. The vehicle was unable to start, or open any windows, and the transmission would not shift back into park or neutral while obstructing traffic near an active railroad. Vehicle battery was replaced and was able to safely put vehicle into gear. Vehicle battery replacement allowed for normal driving; however, from that date on the transmission started shifting harder and jerkier. On December 31, 2025, vehicle was being driven on the freeway to then experience difficult shifting and reduced power. …
The airbags failed to deploy in my 2021 Chevrolet Tahoe after being involved in an accident where another vehicle t-boned my vehicle on the passenger side front end to rear end causing severe damage and pushing my vehicle with great force. A police report was taken by officers that responded to the traffic accident. A claim was filed with my auto insurance and my 2021 Chevrolet Tahoe is currently being repaired as it was not deemed a total loss. Myself and my passengers were injured and received and continue receiving medical treatment for our injuries; our safety was definitely placed at risk. …
The contact owns a 2021 Chevrolet Tahoe. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle, the warning message "service restraint system" was displayed and the air bag warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer who diagnosed that the electrical wiring under the front driver's side seat was damaged from moving the seat back and forth. In addition, the contact also indicated that while operating the vehicle the message "Power Steering" was displayed and the steering wheel became difficult to turn in either direction. The cause of the failures was not yet determined. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 140,000.
Related recalls (11)
Air bags › SRS malfunction warning lamp/light
General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2021 Buick Envision, Cadillac CT4, CT5, Escalade, Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Tahoe, Corvette, Suburban, GMC Yukon, Yukon XL vehicles. The communications gateway module incorrectly processes a loss of communication with the sensing diagnostic module (SDM), causing the air bag…
Remedy: The communications gateway module software will be updated by a dealer, or through an over-the-air (OTA) update, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on July 1, 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.
Air bags › Frontal › Passenger side › Inflator module
General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2009 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, Escalade EXT, Chevrolet Avalanche, Silverado 1500, Silverado 2500, Silverado 3500, Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Sierra 1500, Sierra 2500, Sierra 3500, Yukon, and Yukon XL vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of Arizona, Arkansas,…
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 23, 2021.
Air bags › Frontal › Passenger side › Inflator module
General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2013 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, and Escalade EXT, Chevrolet Avalanche, Silverado 1500, Silverado 2500/3500, Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Sierra 1500, Sierra 2500/3500, Yukon, and Yukon XL vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of Alabama, California, Florida,…
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 24, 2021.
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.
Show 6 more recalls
Air bags › Frontal › Passenger side › Inflator module
General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2012 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, Escalade EXT, Chevrolet Avalanche, Silverado 1500, Silverado 2500/3500, Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Sierra 1500, Sierra 2500/3500, Yukon, and Yukon XL originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii,…
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.
Air bags › Frontal › Sensor/control module-inactive
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2014-2016 Buick Lacrosse and Chevrolet Spark EV, Caprice PPV and SS vehicles, 2014-2017 Buick Encore and Chevrolet Corvette, Silverado 1500 and GMC Sierra 1500 vehicles, 2015-2016 Cadillac Escalade and Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Tahoe, Trax, Suburban and Silverado 2500 and…
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will reflash the SDM software. Vehicles that have had a previous air bag deployment will have the SDM replaced. These repairs will be performed free of charge.
Air bags › Side/window
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2015 Chevrolet Suburban, Suburban LTZ, Tahoe, Tahoe LTZ, GMC Yukon, and Yukon XL Denali vehicles manufactured on May 13, 2014. The affected vehicles were assembled with a roof rail air bags (RRAB) that were not reinforced at the points were the bags contact the hardware…
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the roof carrier attaching hardware, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin in early September 2014.
Air bags › Frontal
Certain vehicles originally built with cloth seats that were equipped with an automatic air bag passenger sensing system and later reupholstered with aftermarket leather seat cover kits are involved. Testing has indicated that the aftermarket leather seat covers can cause the passenger sensing system to malfunction.
Remedy: Because a replacement leather seat cover that is compatible with the passenger sensing system is not available, general motors (GM) will repurchase these vehicles in accordance with the terms stated in GM's letter to…
Air bags › Frontal › Sensor/control module-inactive
On certain pickup and utility trucks, some of these vehicles have an air bag sensing diagnostic module (sdm) which contains an anomaly that could result in the driver and passenger's air bag failing to deploy during certain frontal crashes.
Remedy: Dealers will recalibrate the sdm on the affected vehicles. Owner notification began August 28, 2002. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free…
Air bags
The vehicles have both the supplemental inflatable restraint (sir) label and an engine start label installed on the same side of the sun visor. This does not comply with FMVSS no.208, "occupant crash protection."
Remedy: The engine start label will be removed from the stowed side of the sun visor and a new engine start label will be installed on the headliner in the sun visor depression.
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.
Rollover Side Curtain Air Bags
In June 2015, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened this Defect Petition in response to a petition (see ODI 10568388) requesting a defect investigation of several alleged defects that can cause occupant ejections during rollover crashes in certain General Motors vehicles.The petition focused on a 2011 Texas crash involving a model year 2010 Chevrolet Tahoe, which allegedly resulted in multiple occupants…
Air Bag Malfunction
On April 9, 2021, the Office of Defects Investigations (ODI) opened PE21-010 to investigate instances of air bag malfunction indicator light (MIL) illumination and potential for frontal air bag non-deployment in several vehicles manufactured by General Motors (GM).
Frequently asked questions
Which Chevrolet Tahoe years have airbag problems?
By NHTSA complaints, the 2007 (500), 2008 (233), 2011 (185), 2010 (115) and 2009 (97) model years. Airbag complaints make up 42% of all complaints for the 2007.
Is there a recall for Chevrolet Tahoe airbag problems?
Yes — 11 recalls, including 21V-421 (srs malfunction warning lamp/light, Jun 10, 2021); 21V-050 (inflator module, Feb 5, 2021); 21V-052 (inflator module, Feb 5, 2021). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers; check a specific car with the VIN recall check.
At what mileage do Chevrolet Tahoe airbag problems start?
Across all years, half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 84,000 miles; 23% happened before 50,000 miles.
What part fails most often?
Owners most often name the frontal (76 mentions), followed by the side/window (12).
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.