Problems · by component

2008 Chevrolet Tahoe air bags problems

244 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2008 Chevrolet Tahoe cite air bags, 42% of all 586 complaints for this model year. NHTSA also lists 2 recalls on this component.

Complaints
244
42% of all complaints
Crashes
5
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
5
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the air bags

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“We were sitting in a parking lot with the engine running and heard an explosion in the vehicle. Later we discovered that the left rear, side curtain air bag had deployed. Horn has been inoperable for months cruise control hasn't worked in years steering wheel radio controls don't work. No appointment reason for any of it. Pass air bag off warning light red Air bag light is usually on but not always.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Nov 30, 2025Electrical system, Air bags, Vehicle speed controlODI 11702074
“I was sent a notification in February 2021 to notify of a recall for the airbags on my Tahoe. I have received no further information from General Motors, Chevrolet or the local dealer. The notice says a severe injury or death could result from the malfunction. Seven months is not timely. I checked the General Motors website and it states no parts or repairs are available. I will contact them also so see if this can be escalated. Dangerous.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 14, 2021Air bagsODI 11432848
“The contact owns a 2008 Chevrolet Tahoe. While the contact's daughter was entering traffic at 65 MPH, the vehicle in front made an abrupt stop. As a result, the contact's daughter was unable to stop the vehicle in time and crashed into the rear of the vehicle. The contact was concerned that no air bags deployed during the impact. In addition, the contact stated that the OnStar feature failed to activate and it was concluded that it was due to the sensors. During the impact, the contact's daughter's head hit the steering wheel and caused an injury in which physical therapy was required on the weekly basis. The vehicle was towed and a police report was filed. The contact also wanted to advise that vehicle was included in NHTSA Campaign Number 21V52000 (Air Bags). The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 139,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 7, 2021Air bagsCrash reportedODI 11431989
“RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE GM RECALL: N212328760. MADE AN APPOINTMENT TO HAVE THE RECALL WORK COMPLETED WITH SIMPSON CHEVROLET IN IRVINE CA. WHEN WE LEFT THE CAR WE WERE TOLD THAT THEY HAVE TO GO UNDER THE DASH TO DO THE WORK, AND IF THEY BREAK OR CRACK THE DASHBOARD, WE WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIRS. WE DID NOT HAVE THE WORK COMPLETED AS THE NOTICE SAYS THE SERVICE WILL BE PERFORMED FOR YOU AT NO CHARGE. THEY ALSO INFLATED THE MILEAGE BY 9,000 MILES.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 15, 2021Air bagsODI 11403080
“I WAS NOTIFIED JULY 2016 BY US MAIL THAT MY VEHICLE IS INVOLVED IN GM RECALL 49152 FOR THE PASSENGER SIDE TAKATA AIRBAG INFLATOR. I HAVE NEVER RECV'D ANY FURTHER COMMUNICATION FROM GM. I FILED A COMPLAINT WITH NHTSA 4/10/19 (ODI #11195391). I MAILED REQUESTED DOCS TO NHTSA 5/15/19. I HAVE NOT HEARD BACK FROM ANYONE AND THE ISSUE WITH THE TAKATA AIRBAG INFLATOR HAS NOT BEEN ADDRESSED AFTER 4 YEARS OF WAITING FOR A REMEDY.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 24, 2021Air bagsODI 11389653
“IT'S BEEN OVER 4 YEARS SINCE THIS MANDATORY RECALL AND CHEVROLET STILL HAS NO FIX FOR THE AIRBAGS. HAVING A CAR THAT I SPENT SO MUCH ON AND MAINTAINING IT CAUSE I LOVE IT BUT I CAN'T EVEN DRIVE IT SINCE I DON'T FEEL WE AS A FAMILY IS SAFE. I WASTED OVER $40K FOR IT TO JUST BE THERE...CAUSE WHO KNOWS WHAT CAN HAPPEN WITH THAT AIRBAG.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 6, 2021Air bagsODI 11386857

Showing 6 of 244 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 10, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Related recalls

2 recalls on this component

Air bags: inflator module

Remedy pending

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, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia or "Zone B." Additionally, GM is recalling certain 2007-2008 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, and Escalade EXT, Chevrolet Avalanche, Silverado 1500, Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Sierra 1500, Yukon, and Yukon XL vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming or "Zone C." These vehicles are equipped with non-desiccated passenger frontal inflators containing phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate (PSAN) propellant. These inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, high temperatures, and high temperature cycling.

Air bagsReported Feb 5, 2021NHTSA 21V052000

Air bags: inflator module

Remedy pending

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 the states of Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U.S. Virgin Islands or "Zone A." Additionally, GM is recalling certain 2007-2008 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, Escalade EXT, Chevrolet Avalanche, Silverado 1500, Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Sierra 1500, Yukon, Yukon XL vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia or "Zone B." These vehicles are equipped with non-desiccated passenger frontal inflators containing phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate (PSAN) propellant. These inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, high temperatures, and high temperature cycling.

Air bagsReported Feb 5, 2021NHTSA 21V050000
Data from NHTSA Recalls API · synced Nov 10, 2026

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.