Owner-reported complaints naming the airbag system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Reports naming the air-bag system — deployment behaviour, inflators, sensors and warning lights. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2002 Chevrolet Tahoe submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 31 reports on file name it.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
The 25 most recent of 31, in the owner's own words
We were sitting in car with it idling, the right-side air bag just deployed without collision. We turned the ignition off waited a few moments and turned it back on and the right-side dash airbag deployed without any warning. The vehicle has not been in any collisions.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2002 CHEVROLET TAHOE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE RAN ACROSS BLACK ICE CAUSING THE CONTACT TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SPIN UNCONTROLLABLY EVENTUALLY CRASHING INTO A CONCRETE WALL WITH THE FRONT-END OF THE VEHICLE. NO AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THE CONTACT RECEIVED INJURIES TO THEIR KNEE, SHOULDER, NECK, BACK, AND EYE. MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS NEEDED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE TOWED AND DEEMED TOTALED. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000.*DT THE CONTACT RECIEVED A CLAIM ID NUMBER #ODI11382901 AND CASE NUMBER [XXX].*JB
I WAS COMING HOME ON MY ROAD GOING 30 MILES AN HOUR GOING AROUND THE CURVE 25 IF THAT MY STEERING DID NOT WORK I WENT ON THE ROAD STARTED ROLLING IN TWICE AND LANDED UPSIDE DOWN NOT ONE OF MY AIRBAGS WENT OFF I WENT TO THE HOSPITAL THE AMBULANCE HAD TO COME AND GET ME
TAKATA RECALL
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2002 CHEVROLET TAHOE. WHILE THE DRIVER WAS MAKING A LEFT TURN, ANOTHER VEHICLE DROVE THROUGH A RED LIGHT AND CRASHED INTO THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE OF THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED A FRACTURED CLAVICLE, STERNUM, VERTEBRAE, LEFT HAND, ELEVEN FRACTURED RIBS, AND A MAJOR LACERATION ACROSS THE FACE THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED AND DEEMED DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 239,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2002 CHEVROLET TAHOE. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO A GUARD RAIL. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED A FRACTURED COLLAR BONE, SEVERAL BROKEN RIBS, HEAD TRAUMA, BRAIN BLEEDING, AND STROKES. THE CONTACT WAS PLACED INTO A MEDICALLY INDUCED COMA AND ON A RESPIRATORY MACHINE, BUT LATER DIED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A SAVAGE YARD. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 73,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2002 CHEVROLET TAHOE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE AND THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SEAT BELT RESTRAINT FAILED TO OPERATE. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED A FRACTURED RIB AND CONTUSION TO THE STERNUM THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 200,999.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS 2002 CHEVROLET TAHOE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE CAUSING THE VEHCLE TO SPIN AND BECOME UNCONTROLLABLE. IN ADDITION, ANOTHER VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE VEHICLE CAUSING IT TO ROLL OVER SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE CRASHING INTO A GUARD RAIL. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED CRITICAL INJURIES AND THE FRONT PASSENGER SUSTAINED FATAL INJURIES. BOTH THE CONTACT AND FRONT PASSENGER REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET TAHOE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER CRASHED INTO A GUARD RAIL AND THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE DRIVER SUSTAINED MASSIVE HEAD TRAUMA, BROKEN RIBS AND BLEEDING FROM THE BRAIN, RESULTING IN A FATALITY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE CONTACT WAS UNAWARE IF THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 72,000.
HIT A TREE ON ENTIRE PASS SIDE AND NO AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. *TR
TL - THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET TAHOE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE DRIVER WAS DRIVING AT 45 MPH AND ATTEMPTED TO AVOID A CRASH WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE. AS A RESULT, THE DRIVER CRASHED INTO A GUARDRAIL AND THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT WAS TAKEN TO A HOSPITAL AND SUSTAINED INJURIES TO THE RIBS, THE COLLAR BONES, A BRAIN TRAUMA AND A COLLAPSED LUNG. THE DRIVER SUFFERED FROM FATAL INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 73,000. DR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET TAHOE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE CONTACT LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE WHILE PROCEEDING AROUND ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE CONTACT CRASHED THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE INTO A DITCH. THE VEHICLE FLIPPED OVER MULTIPLE TIMES AND LANDED UPSIDE DOWN. THE RADIO WAS EJECTED FROM THE VEHICLE AND THE STEERING WHEEL FRACTURED. THE CONTACT WAS PULLED OUT OF THE VEHICLE BY ANOTHER INDIVIDUAL. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED A SPRAINED SHOULDER AND MEMORY LOSS THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A JUNK FACILITY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNAVAILABLE.
2002 TAHOE LT WAS TRAVELING SOUTH ON TWO LANE ROAD WHEN RIGHT FRONT TIRE HIT SOFT SHOULDER. CAR LEFT ROAD AND TRAVELED ABOUT 200 FEET BEFORE HITTING A POWER POLE. CAR STRUCK POLE JUST BEHIND LEFT FRONT TIRE. IMPACT SHEARED THE POLE OFF AND THE CAR ROLLED ONTO DRIVER'S SIDE, THEN SLID ABOUT ANOTHER THIRTY TO FIFTY FEET. NO AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. DRIVER STRUCK FACE ON STEERING WHEEL, CUTTING FOREHEAD AND RECEIVED OTHER FACIAL INJURIES. LEFT LEG WAS BROKEN IN FOUR PLACES AND DRIVER WAS PINNED IN CAR FOR ONE AN ONE HALF HOURS. THE VEHICLE WAS A TOTAL LOSS. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CHEVROLET TAHOE. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS REAR ENDED BY ANOTHER VEHICLE. AND CRASHED INTO A GUARD RAIL. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE CONTACT'S HEAD STRUCK THE STEERING WHEEL AND HE WAS TRANSPORTED TO THE HOSPITAL BY AMBULANCE. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED SPINAL CORD AND NECK INJURIES. THE DOCTOR X-RAYED THE CONTACT AND DIAGNOSED HIM WITH BURNING PARESTHEGIC, HYPER-ESTHESIA, AND CENTRAL CORD SYNDROME. THE CONTACT WAS RELEASED FROM THE HOSPITAL TWO DAYS AFTER THE CRASH. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 285,000.
IN 2009 MY IGNITION SWITCH WOULD NOT WORK.I WOULD TRY 3 OR 4 TIMES TO START THE CAR AND IT WOULD FINALLY START. IT OCCURRED DRIVING FOR ABOUT 1 HOUR OVER BUMPY ROADS. I HAD WESELOH CHEVROLET DIAGNOSE IT BUT THEY COULDN'T IDENTIFY THE PROBLEM. FINALLY THEY INSTALLED A NEW IGNITION SWITCH AND CHARGED ME 425.OO AND IT STILL SHUTS OFF. NOW I FIN D OUT THEY KNEW ABOUT THIS IN 2003.MY CAR IS UNSAFE.THEY INSTALLE ANOTHER DEFECTIVE IGNITION SWITCH. THE DEALERSHIP IS IN CARLSBAD CALIFORNIA.THEIR PHONE NUMBER IS[XXX] PLEASE HELP. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
TRAFFIC STOPPED IN FRONT OF ME UNEXPECTEDLY, I SWERVED TO AVOID CAR IN FRONT OF ME AND HIT CONCRETE WALL. AIR BAGS DID NOT WORK. MY FACE HIT STEERING WHEEL, CAUSING INJURY TO NOSE AND MOUTH. *TR
REAR ENDED A VEHICLE GOING APPROX. 70 MPH AND HAD EXTENSIVE FRONT END DAMAGE HOWEVER THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. DRIVER HIT HEAD ON STEERING WHEEL AND PASSENGER SUFFERED SEVER HEAD INJURY. *JS
I WAS DRIVING MY 2002 CHEVY TAHOE, A GENTLEMAN RAN A STOP SIGN, I HIT HIM AT 39 MPH, HEAD ON IN MY TAHOE, T-BONED HIS TRUCK. NEITHER AIRBAG DEPLOYED, NOR DID MY SEATBELT KEEP ME FROM HITTING THE STEERING WHEEL AND MY HEAD KNOCKING ME OUT. GM SENT SOMEONE TO LOOK AT MY CAR WHICH HAS BEEN DEEMED A TOTAL LOSS. I HAVE YET TO HEAR BACK FROM GM ON THIS INCIDENT. I PURCHASED THIS CAR BRAND NEW THINKING IT WAS SAFE. THE ONE TIME I NEEDED MY SEATBELT TO WORK, IT FAILED. THE COMPUTER IN MY CAR SHOWED BOTH SEATBELTS WERE ON AND IN WORKING ORDER, IT SHOWED THE CRASH WAS AT 39 MPH YET THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AND THEY WERE IN PROPER WORKING ORDER. WHATEVER ANSWER GM GIVES ME WILL NOT BE GOOD ENOUGH UNLESS THEY ADMIT TO FAULTINESS IN THEIR EQUIPMENT. *TR
MY DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING MY 2002 CHEVY TAHOE WHEN IT WAS SIDE SWIPED BY ANOTHER CAR. THE CAR WENT OUT OF CONTROL AND ROLLED THREE TIMES LANDING ON IT'S HOOD. THE FRONT OR SIDE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *TR
ON MARCH 20. 2007 I RECIEVED A LETTER FROM ONSTAR TELLING ME THAT A SAFETY FEATURE THAT I PURCHASED NEW WITH MY 2002 CHEVROLET TAHOE WILL NOT BE OPERABLE AFTER DECEMBER 31, 2007. I WILL NO LONGER HAVE THE ONSTAR SYSTEM TO CALL 911 AUTOMATICALLY IN CASE AIR BAG DEPLOYMENT. I UNDERSTAND THAT THERE ABOUT 2 MILLION OWNERS OF GM CARS THAT WILL HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. *AK
ON MY WIFE'S WAY HOME FORM WORK SHE WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT, WERE SHE REAR ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE, THE CRASH WAS AT ABOUT 35 TO 45 MILES PER HOUR AND IT AFFECTED THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE OF OUR 2002 CHEVY TAHOE. THE IMPACT WAS SO SIGNIFICANT THAT THE FRAME OF THE TAHOE WAS BENT. THE CRASH PRETTY MUCH MIMICKED THE SAME OFF CENTER FRONT CRASH THAT THE INSURANCE INSTITUTE FOR HIGHWAY SAFETY CONDUCTS ON THEIR TESTING. THE PROBLEM WAS THAT THE FRONT AIRBAGS NEVER DEPLOYED ALTHOUGH THE ACCIDENT HAPPENED UNEXPECTEDLY, MY WIFE WAS WEARING HER SEAT BELT AND DIDN'T SUSTAINED SERIOUS INJURIES. OUR CONCERN IS THAT THE BAGS NEVER DEPLOYED AND THAT THEY MIGHT DEPLOY AT ANYTIME. THE AUTO BODY SHOP RECOMMENDED BY OUR INSURANCE COMPANY TOLD US THAT BECAUSE THE CRASH IMPACT WAS OFF CENTERED THE AIRBAG SENSOR WERE NEVER TRIGGERED. AFTER SEEING SO OF THE INSURANCE INSTITUTE FOR HIGHWAY SAFETY TEST THE BAGS SHOULD HAVE DEPLOYED. ALSO IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE FRAME HAS TO BE REPLACED AND ALL THE BODY PARTS FIXED AND REPLACED. IF THE FRAME HAS TO BE REPLACED HOW SAFE WOULD THAT VEHICLE BE? I AM OPEN FOR ANY FARTHER CONVERSATIONS ABOUT THIS TOPIC. THANK YOU. *JB
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE TIRE HAD A BLOW OUT, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO HIT BOTH GUARD RAILS WITH THE FRONT END. THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. ALTHOUGH THE SEATBELT WAS WORN, THE CONTACT SUSTAINED A CONCUSSION. THERE WAS A POLICE REPORT TAKEN AT THE SCENE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTO BODY SHOP, WHERE IT WAS DEEMED A TOTAL LOSS BY THE INSURANCE COMPANY.
I WAS DRIVING MY 2002 TAHOE ABOUT 30-35 MPH WHEN I BLACKED OUT AND LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. I HIT A COLUMN OUTSIDE A HOTEL WHICH WAS ABOUT 2X2 FEET WITH STEEL WITHIN THE CENTER OF THE COLUMN. MY TRUCK WAS A TOTAL LOST AND THE FRONT AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AS THEY WERE SUPPOSED TO. *JB
THE AIR BAG SENSOR LIGHT STAYS ON . CONSUMER IS CONCERNED THAT THE AIR BAG WILL NOT DEPLOY UPON IMPACT. *AK
12-09-02 FRONT/.SIDE IMPACT. NO AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. 05-24-03 SIDE IMPACT PRECEEDING ROLLOVER. NO AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. SEAT BELT DID NOT RESTRAIN DRIVER. ONSTAR WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF ACCIDENT FOR SAFETY. MAJOR INJURIES INCURRED.*AK
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
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