2011 Chevrolet Tahoe problems
NHTSA has received 572 complaints about the 2011 Chevrolet Tahoe, and 33% of them involve air bags. Next are body & structure (14%) and electrical system (3%).
At a glance
- Complaints
- 572 filed with NHTSA
- Most reported
- Air bags 33% of complaints
- Crashes and fires
- 8 and 3
- Injuries and deaths
- 3 and 0
- Typical mileage
- 66,000 miles 370 complaints with mileage
Source: NHTSA owner complaints
Where the complaints are
Share of this model year's complaints by the part of the car involved. One complaint can name more than one part, so the shares can add up to more than 100%.
When problems show up
View the numbers
| Mileage | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 0k to 20k miles | 20 |
| 20k to 40k miles | 37 |
| 40k to 60k miles | 94 |
| 60k to 80k miles | 96 |
| 80k to 100k miles | 52 |
| 100k to 120k miles | 31 |
| 120k to 140k miles | 23 |
| 140k to 160k miles | 5 |
| 160k to 180k miles | 10 |
| 180k to 200k miles | 2 |
| 200k+ miles | 0 |
What the data shows
Of the 370 complaints that include odometer readings, half describe a problem before roughly 66,000 miles. For air bags specifically, the median reported mileage is about 67,000 miles (92 complaints with mileage).
Safety-related details: 8 complaints mention a crash; 3 complaints mention a fire; 3 injuries reported. Its complaints are less severe on average than those of 93% of model years in our database.
Looking only at complaints filed within five years of the model year (so older and newer years are comparable), the 2011 ranks 6th most-complained-about out of 32 model years of the Chevrolet Tahoe with enough data (353 complaints in that window). It is also covered by 5 safety recall campaigns.
What owners wrote
A few complaints as filed, shortened and with personal details removed. The first ones are among the most serious reports for this model year; the rest are typical.
Tl* the contact owns a 2011 chevrolet tahoe. The contact stated that while driving 15 MPH, the suspension failed without warning while the driver's side front tire separated from the vehicle. The contact crashed into another vehicle as a result. The contact sustained trauma to the leg and a collapsed spine disc. A police report was not filed. The vehicle was towed to the dealer. The contact was not provided with a diagnosis and the vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified.
Tl* the contact owns a 2011 chevrolet tahoe. The contact stated that the vehicle shifted out of park and into reverse independently causing the vehicle to roll backwards and crash into a wooded lot. The front driver's side door was damaged due to the impact. The air bags did not deploy. The driver sustained minor injuries but did not require medical attention. No police report was filed. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure.
Tl* the contact owns a 2011 chevrolet tahoe. The contact stated that while driving at 55 MPH, the rear passenger grabbed the seat belt causing it to twist around the passenger's neck. The seat belt was unable to retract. The seat belt had to be cut in order to release the passenger. The passenger sustained minor scratches to the neck that did not require medical attention. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 62,000.
I was driving on the highway at approx 60 MPH. The truck dropped speed rapidly and without warning. Lights starting flashing and stating reduced engine power - service stabilitrak. When attempting to pull over I applied the brakes and the truck lunged forward. This happened three times before the engine sputtered and shut off - on the highway. Gm/chevrolet states this is not under warranty. The truck is less than 3 years old.
Dash on 2011 chevrolet tahoe has cracked on the passenger side next to the airbag panel. Dash has also cracked on the driver side above the instrument panel cluster. Concern is that in a car accident where the air bags deploy the dash board may break apart and become shrapnel causing additional injury, permanent disability, or death to the passenger.