RoadVitals

2004 Chevrolet Tahoe Airbags Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the airbag system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Airbags reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
14
Latest Feb 18, 2016
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
3%
of 466 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
9
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
15

What this page shows

Reports naming the air-bag system — deployment behaviour, inflators, sensors and warning lights. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2004 Chevrolet Tahoe submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 14 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.

Owner reports naming airbag

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

Airbags
Filed Feb 18, 2016
Crash reported1 injury reported

MY HUSBAND AND I WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT AND THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY WE WERE HIT AT 55 MPH

NHTSA ID
10836861
Incident
Feb 9, 2015
AirbagsInterior & seatsSteering
Filed May 21, 2014
Crash reported

I HAVE BEEN SEEING COMMERCIALS ABOUT AIRBAGS NOT DEPLOYING ON CHEVY VEHICLES. MY DAUGHTER WAS KILLED IN MY 04 CHEVY TAHOE WHERE THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. SHE WAS THROWN FROM THE VEHICLE AND ALSO ANOTHER PERSON WAS IN THE CAR AS WELL. AIRBAGS ON THE DRIVERS OR PASSENGERS SIDE DID NOT DEPLOY. THE TRUCK FLIPPED SEVERAL TIMES. THE DRIVERS SEAT ALSO LIFTED UP AND WAS SPLIT IN TO. WE ASKED THE INVESTIGATORS AND OUR INSURANCE COMPANY TO CHECK INTO WHY THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AND THEY SAID IT WAS NORMAL, BUT WE KNEW OTHERWISE. THEY DID NOT TAKE ANY FURTHER ACTION. *TR

NHTSA ID
10593235
Incident
Jun 22, 2009
Mileage
102,500 mi
Airbags
Filed May 25, 2013

ON THE DATE IN QUESTION MY TEENAGE SON AND GIRLFRIEND CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP AT A STOP SIGN WHEN, WITHOUT ANY WARNING LIGHTS OR OTHER WARNING OF ANY KIND, THE OVERHEAD SIDE RAIL AIRBAGS ON BOTH PASSENGER AND DRIVER SIDE DEPLOYMENT SIMULTANEOUSLY AND THE SEATBELTS LOCK UP. FORTUNATELY THE KIDS WERE NOT PHYSICALLY HARMED. GM WAS CONTACTED AND THEY ARRANGED AN INSPECTION OF THE VEHICLE INCLUDING RECOVERY OF THE ENCRYPTED BLACK BOX DATA WHICH CONFIRMED THE VEHICLE WAS NOT IN MOTION AND THERE WAS NO EXPLANATION FOR THE DEPLOYMENT. AFTER ABOUT 2 MONTHS WE WERE FINALLY TOLD THE ENGINEERS HAD CONCLUDED THAT THE SENSORS HAD BEEN EXPOSED TO A LOT OF WATER DAMAGE AND WERE SEVERELY CORRODED. THEY AUTHORIZED A COMPLETE REPLACEMENT OF THE SMART MODULE, EVERY AIRBAG SENSOR, SEAT BELT HARDWARE AND ALL INCIDENTAL DAMAGE TO THE INTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE. I SUBSEQUENTLY SUBMITTED A CLAIM TO GM FOR MONEY DAMAGES IN MARCH-APRIL 2013, AND RECEIVED A CALL IN , REGARD TO THIS TWO WEEK AGO. GM OFFERED A FEW MEAGER ITEMS TO TRY AND SETTLE THE DISPUTE, AND IN THE PROCESS OF THIS LATEST DISCUSSION, WE WERE ADVISED FOR THE FIRST TIME THAT NOT A SINGLE REPORT MADE MENTION OF ANY WATER OR CORROSION DAMAGE, BUT THE ENGINEERING REPORT FOUND INSTEAD THAT INADEQUATE DOOR PADDING IN ALL FOUR DOORS FROM THE FACTORY ALLOWED THE SENSORS TO VIBRATE EXCESSIVELY, THUS CAUSING THE DEFECTIVE DEPLOYMENT. SHE ADMITTED THAT GM HAD SEVERAL SIMILAR PROBLEMS WITH CERTAIN VEHICLES LIKE OURS MADE DURING A CERTAIN PERIOD OF TIME. A COUPLE OF DAYS LATER WE SPOKE WITH OUR ORIGINAL CLAIMS REP WHO DENIED EVER TELLING US THAT WATER DAMAGE AND CORROSION WERE CULPRITS. SHE CLAIMED TO HAVE MADE THE REPAIR DECISION ON HER OWN THE FIRST TIME AND SHE WAS NOT AWARE OF ANY ENGINEERING REPORT REGARDING DOOR PADDING. SINCE FEBRUARY MY SON HAS CONTINUED TO DRIVE A VEHICLE WITH A SERIOUSLY DEFECTIVE AIR BAG SYSTEM. *TR

NHTSA ID
10513486
Incident
Nov 29, 2012
Mileage
84,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Mar 25, 2013

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET TAHOE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AS SOON AS THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED INADVERTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THE CONTACT WAS TOLD BY THE DEALER THAT THEY WERE NOT ABLE TO DETERMINE WHAT CAUSED THE FAILURE, BUT THEY WOULD CHANGE THE MODULE AND SENSOR TO SEE IF THE REPAIR WOULD CORRECT THE ISSUE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WAS 89,000. *TR

NHTSA ID
10504465
Incident
Mar 22, 2013
Mileage
89,000 mi
AirbagsElectrical
Filed Sep 24, 2012

ON SEPT 21, 2012 I WAS DRIVING HOME FOR LUNCH AND AFTER DRIVING FOR ABOUT 10 MINUTES I NOTICE MY RADIO SHUT OFF AND ON, THE POWER DOOR LOCKS KEPT LOCKING AND UNLOCKING. ALSO, THE GAUGES ON THE DASH WHERE COMING ON AND OFF AND ALL THE LIGHTS INSIDE ON THE TAHOE WHERE GOING ON AND OFF ALSO. AS SOON AS EVERYTHING STOPPED MY AIRBAGS DEPLOYED AND HIT MY FACE AND CHEST. I REMEMBER A CLOUD OF WHITE POWDER AND REALIZED I WAS STILL DRIVING. I WAS ABLE TO AVOID RUNNING INTO ON COMING TRAFFIC. *TR

NHTSA ID
10476865
Incident
Sep 21, 2012
Mileage
176,388 mi
AirbagsDriver assistance
Filed Jul 12, 2011
Crash reported2 injuries reported

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET TAHOE. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH DURING RAINY WEATHER, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED ABNORMALLY AND CRASHED INTO A CONCRETE MEDIUM. THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SPIN AROUND AND THEN REVERSED WHILE THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL THE ENTIRE TIME. THE VEHICLE THEN CRASHED INTO A SECOND VEHICLE BEFORE FINALLY CRASHING INTO A METAL RAIL BEFORE STOPPING. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE POLICE REPORTED TO THE SCENE AND A REPORT WAS FILED. THE DRIVER OF THE VEHICLE SUSTAINED NECK INJURIES AND SWELLING TO HIS COLLAR BONE. THE PASSENGER SUSTAINED INJURIES TO HER RIB CAGE, NECK AND FACE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTO BODY SHOP BUT WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT AND REAR END OF THE VEHICLE SUSTAINED MODERATE DAMAGE AS WELL AS THE REAR DRIVER SIDE WHEEL AND THE SPARE TIRE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 55,000.

NHTSA ID
10411932
Incident
Jul 11, 2011
Mileage
55,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Jun 27, 2011
Crash reported2 injuries reported

2004 CHEVROLET TAHOE, AFTER BEING INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT WITH SEVERE IMPACT TO BOTH FRONT CORNERS AND BUMPER, HARD IMPACT COLLISION, AND AFTER FLIPPING THREE TIMES, BOTH FRONT AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. SEVERE DRIVER INJURY AS A RESULT OF THE AIRBAG FAILURE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10409000
Incident
Jun 16, 2011
Mileage
80,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Aug 23, 2010

VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO CHEVROLET DEALER FOR A SUSPECT SYSTEM RESTRAINT ISSUE WITH INDICATIONS FROM THE AIR BAG DASH LIGHT. FIRST REPAIR WAS DIAGNOSED WITH CODE"C0041". CODE LEAD THE DEALER TO THE DRIVERS SEAT. THE TECHNICIAN REPORTED THE ISSUE TO BE A WIRING PROBLEM UNDER THE SEAT WITH RUBBING OF THE WIRING. AIR BAG LIGHT DID GO OUT FOR A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME AND THEN STARTED TO FLASH BACK ON AND OFF. WITHIN THE PAST TWO MONTHS THE LIGHT HAS STARTED TO STAY LIT ABOUT 90% OF THE TIME. VEHICLE WAS RETURNED TO THE CHEVROLET DEALER, TROUBLE CODE REPORTED THE SAME CODE (C0041), NOW THE DEALER IS INDICATING THE PROBLEM TO BE THE "SEAT AIR BAG MODULE". DEALER WANTS TO SPLIT THE COST OF THE REPAIR 50/50 NOW AFTER AN INITIAL CHARGE OF $275 AGAINST A CURRENT ESTIMATE OF $570. *TR

NHTSA ID
10351252
Incident
Feb 16, 2010
Mileage
74,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Mar 3, 2009
Crash reported2 injuries reported

I WAS APPROACHING AN INTERSECTION HEADING NORTHBOUND, GOT THE GREEN ARROW, SO PROCEEDED TO GO. MY VEHICLE WAS GOING ABOUT 5-10 MILES PER HOUR. ANOTHER CAR COMING THE OPPOSITE WAY, HEADING SOUTHBOUND RAN THE RED LIGHT GOING ABOUT 35 MILES PER HOUR. MY AIR BAG DID NOT BLOW. I DRIVE A 2004 CHEVY TAHOE. I HAD MY 6YR OLD DAUGHTER IN THE CAR. WE BOTH GOT INJURIES. THE OTHER CAR'S AIRBAG BLEW . MY CAR WAS CRUSHED LIKE TIN FOIL AND I CAN'T UNDERSTAND WHY THE AIR BAG DID NOT GO OFF. *TR

NHTSA ID
10260544
Incident
Jan 22, 2009
Airbags
Filed Jan 14, 2009

THE "SERVICE AIRBAG" LIGHT & MESSAGE CAME ON IN MY 2004 CHEVROLET TAHOE. THE DEALER RAN TEST & FOUND THAT THE SENSING DIAGNOSTIC MODULE HAD FAILED THE VEHICLE IS LESS THAN 5 YEARS OLD, LESS THAN 71,000 MILES. THEY SAID THIS WAS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE THE AIRBAG MAY NOT COME OUT IN AN ACCIDENT. I HAD THEM REPLACE THIS MODULE ON 12/30/08 AND PAID THEM $550.49. I DON'T KNOW IF THEY STILL HAVE THE OLD PART OR NOT. THIS SHOULD NOT BE AN ISSUE IN AN EXPENSIVE VEHICLE AT THIS AGE, WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO RELY ON AIRBAGS TO FUNCTION PROPERLY & SAFELY FOR MANY MORE YEARS THAN THIS. IN THE PAST TWO WEEKS I DISCOVERED THAT MY HORN WILL NOT BLOW WHICH COULD ALSO BE A SAFETY ISSUE. A MECHANIC CHECKED THE HORN AND STATED THAT IT WILL COST AT LEAST $200. TO GO INTO THE STEERING WHEEL & TAKE IT APART TO FIND THE PROBLEM. I'VE ALSO TAKEN THIS VEHICLE IN A NUMBER OF TIMES BECAUSE THE "SERVICE TIRE MONITOR" MESSAGE COMES UP BUT THE DEALER DOESN'T FIND A PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ID
10255105
Incident
Nov 1, 2008
Mileage
69,900 mi
Airbags
Filed Aug 24, 2007
Crash reported1 injury reported

I WAS INVOLVED IN A HEAD ON COLLISION WITH 2 OTHER VEHICLES, AT 45 TO 50 MPH, AND MY AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. *TR

NHTSA ID
10200729
Incident
Aug 9, 2007
Mileage
56,800 mi
Airbags
Filed Jun 28, 2007
Crash reported1 injury reported

AIR BAGS OF 2004 CHEVROLET TAHOE SPONTANEOUSLY DEPLOYED UPON TURNING THE KEY TO THE ON POSITION. DRIVER AND PASSENGER AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. DRIVER WAS STRUCK IN CHEST AND FACE, CAUSING INJURIES, BURNS AND BRUISING), NECK, AND SHOULDER PAIN . SHE IS STILL SEEKING TREATMENTS. ALSO, A NEAR MISCARRIAGE OF UNBORN CHILD. REGIONAL DIAGNOSTICIAN READ BLACK BOX, AND NO TRIGGERS WERE FOUND. GENERAL MOTORS BOUGHT BACK VEHICLE AND WERE WAITING ON SETTLEMENT. *AK

NHTSA ID
10194923
Incident
Feb 20, 2006
Mileage
26,400 mi
Airbags
Filed Apr 1, 2005
Crash reported3 injuries reported

CONSUMER LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, IT ROLLED OVER, AND THE ROOF COLLAPSED. ALSO, NO AIR BAGS DEPLOYED.*AK CONSUMER GLANCED UP IN THE REAR VIEW MIRROR AT SON, LOOKED BACK DOWN AND HAD RAN OFF THE ROAD WITH ONE TIRE. TRYED TO CORRECT ENDED UP IN THE OPPOSITE LANE. WHEN CONSUMER CORRECTED THIS THE TAHOE TILTED CAUSING THE TIRE TO BUCKLE AND THE RIM CAUGHT ON THE PAVEMENT CAUSING THE CAR TO BEGIN FLIPPING. IT FLIPPED 5 TIMES LANDING ON THE ROOF. THE TAHOE WAS TOTALED. *BF

NHTSA ID
10117241
Incident
Mar 29, 2005
Mileage
12,000 mi
AirbagsOther / unspecified
Filed Feb 16, 2005
Crash reported3 injuries reported

DURING A SIDE IMPACT/ROLL OVER MOTOR VEHICLE ACCIDENT, NO AUTOMATIC SAFETY FEATURES DEPLOYED. FULL SIDE IMPACT TO THE PASSENGER SIDE RESULTED IN NO AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT. THIS VEHICLE WAS EQUIPPED AT ADDITIONAL COST, SIDE IMPACT AIRBAGS. IN CONTRARY TO NATIONAL ADVERTISING THE ON-STAR FEATURE WAS ALSO A NULL RESPONSE. THIS VEHICLE WAS A TOTAL LOSE AND NON-REPAIRABLE.*AK

NHTSA ID
10110649
Incident
Jan 17, 2005
Mileage
16,987 mi

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.

Other components reported on this vehicle

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Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .