2011 Chevrolet TAHOE problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
446 owner complaints analyzed
5 distinct recall campaigns
66,801 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2011 model year. Data snapshot: . 273 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Unknown Or Other is the most frequently named component, appearing in 211 of 446 complaints (47.3%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Steering behavior | 36 | 8.1% |
| Braking behavior | 12 | 2.7% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 8 | 1.8% |
| Transmission and shifting | 4 | 0.9% |
| Fuel system concerns | 4 | 0.9% |
| Engine operation | 2 | 0.4% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Unknown Or Other | 211 |
| Air Bags | 184 |
| Structure:Body | 63 |
| Electrical System | 16 |
| Electronic Stability Control (Esc) | 15 |
| Structure | 15 |
| Engine | 11 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 7 |
Unknown Or Other: 211; Air Bags: 184; Structure:Body: 63; Electrical System: 16; Electronic Stability Control (Esc): 15; Structure: 15; Engine: 11; Fuel/Propulsion System: 7
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 15 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 60 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 85 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 61 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 44 |
| 150,000 and above | 8 |
Under 25,000: 15; 25,000 to 49,999: 60; 50,000 to 74,999: 85; 75,000 to 99,999: 61; 100,000 to 149,999: 44; 150,000 and above: 8
50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (85). 173 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2010 | 1 |
| 2011 | 3 |
| 2012 | 5 |
| 2013 | 12 |
| 2014 | 12 |
| 2015 | 39 |
| 2016 | 97 |
| 2017 | 113 |
| 2018 | 65 |
| 2019 | 45 |
| 2020 | 24 |
| 2021 | 16 |
| 2022 | 4 |
| 2023 | 3 |
| 2024 | 5 |
| 2025 | 2 |
2010: 1; 2011: 3; 2012: 5; 2013: 12; 2014: 12; 2015: 39; 2016: 97; 2017: 113; 2018: 65; 2019: 45; 2020: 24; 2021: 16; 2022: 4; 2023: 3; 2024: 5; 2025: 2
Pattern summary
Unknown Or Other leads the component reports. Steering behavior appears in 36 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 12 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 8 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10487443 · 2012-12-05 (December 5, 2012)
I WAS DRIVING WEST ON RIO RD. IN CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA, AT ROUGHLY 35 MPH. AT APPROXIMATELY 6:00 PM, A DEER EMERGED FROM THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. IT HAPPENED INSTANTANEOUSLY AND AVOIDING THE DEER WAS NOT AN OPTION. IMMEDIATELY AFTER STRIKING THE DEER AT THE FRONT RIGHT BUMPER (UNDERNEATH HEADLIGHT), THE SIDE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED IN MY 2011 CHEVY TAHOE. HOWEVER, THE AIRBAG THAT WAS SUPPOSE TO DEPLOY FROM THE DRIVERS SEAT (ON THE SIDE NEAR SEATBELT) DID NOT DEPLOY. ADDITIONALLY, THE FRONT TWO AIRBAGS (FROM STEERING WHEEL AND DASHBOARD) DID NO…
Owner-reported narrative. 30,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10487443 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10497665 · 2013-02-10 (February 10, 2013)
I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY WITH MY CHILD, WHEN THEN ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. SECONDS LATER THE "STABILITRAK OFF AND TRACTION CONTROL OFF" CAME ON. "SERVICE TRACTION" CAME ON AND WITHIN SECONDS THE POWER STEERING LEFT AND THE BRAKES SEEMED AS IF THEY WERE NOT WORKING PROPERLY. THANK GOD THERE WAS NOT A LOT OF TRAFFIC!! I GOT OVER AS THE ENGINE SPUTTERED AND FINALLY DIED. THIS COULD HAVE BEEN A TRAGEDY!! I HAVE READ MANY ARE HAVING THIS PROBLEM AND IT NEEDS TO BE FIXED BEFORE SOMEONE REALLY GETS HURT!! *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 74,242 miles reported. Look up ODI 10497665 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10459535 · 2012-05-24 (May 24, 2012)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET TAHOE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE INDEPENDENTLY DECELERATED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE ABS, LOSS OF POWER, CHECK ENGINE AND THE TRACTION CONTROL WARNING LAMPS WERE ILLUMINATED IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE FAILURE. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE THROTTLE SENSOR AND CABLES WERE DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED BUT THE REMEDY FAILED TO CORRECT THE PRO…
Owner-reported narrative. 4,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10459535 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10489246 · 2012-12-19 (December 19, 2012)
WAS DRIVING HIGHWAY WHEN SUDDLENLY THE ENGINE POWER WAS REDUCED AND TRACTION CONTRIOL STABILITY TRACK CAM ON AND SAID TO SERVICE WAS GOING 65 DROPPED TO 45 ALMOST GOT HIT BY RIG.WAS NEAR EXIT PULLED OFF BUT CAR ACCELERATED THROUGH LIGHT EVEN THOUGH FOOT WAS ON BRAKE, TOOK CORNER VERY FAST AND BACK INTO A GAS STATION WHERE I WHIPPED IT INTO PARK AND SHUT OFF ENGINE.TURNED ENGINE BACK ON AFTER I CALMED DOWN CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON, AFTER IDLING FORABOUT 15 MIN THE SAME THING HAPPENED THE ENGINED REVED THEN POWERED DOWN ETC.THIS HAPPENED 6 TIMES…
Owner-reported narrative. 41,137 miles reported. Look up ODI 10489246 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10509917 · 2013-04-29 (April 29, 2013)
AFTER EVERY RAIN, THE REAR DOORS FILL WITH WATER. I CLEAR THE DRAIN HOLES REGULARLY BUT AFTER EACH RAIN I STILL NEED TO TAKE OFF THE SEAL AND LET THE WATER DRAIN. IF IT IS A HEAVY RAIN, THE DOORS TAKE OVER 15 MINUTES TO DRAIN BECAUSE THEY ARE COMPLETELY FULL. I SHOULD NOT HAVE TO DO THIS AFTER EVERY RAIN. I AM CONCERNED THAT RUST WILL FORM AND THAT THERE WILL BE ELECTRICAL ISSUES. IF I AM NOT HOME FOR SEVERAL DAYS AFTER IT RAINS AND THE TRUCK IS SITTING, THIS MEANS THE WATER IS SITTING IN THERE. AT NIGHT, IF THE TEMPERATURE DROPS BELOW …
Owner-reported narrative. 10,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10509917 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10704466 · 2015-04-08 (April 8, 2015)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET TAHOE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 14V827000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) AND STATED THAT THE PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE TO SCHEDULE THE RECALL REPAIR. THE DEALER DID NOT GIVE A SPECIFIC DATE FOR WHEN THE PART WOULD BECOME AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT WAS NOT EXPERIENCING A FAILURE. UPDATED 5/19/15*CN
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10704466 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10783314 · 2015-10-19 (October 19, 2015)
WE HAD THE OIL CHANGED AT A LUBE SHOP IN MARBLE FALLS TEXAS AND THE PERSON THAT CHANGED THE OIL TOLD US THE TRANSMISSION DIP STICK TUBE WAS LOOSE SO HE COULDN'T CHECK THE TRANSMISSION FLUID. WE LEFT THE LUBE SHOP AND WAS DRIVING DOWN 1431 IN MARBLE FALLS WHEN A GENTLEMAN STOPPED US AND TOLD US THE TAHOE WAS ON FIRE. WE POPPED THE HOOD AND INDEED THERE WERE FLAMES IN THE LOWER PART OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. WE CALLED THE POLICE AND FIRE DEPARTMENT AND THEY CAME TO OUR CALL WITHIN 10 MINUTES. IN RESEARCHING THE PROBLEM I SAW THAT THERE IS A RECA…
Owner-reported narrative. 47,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10783314 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10816860 · 2015-12-29 (December 29, 2015)
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. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 45,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 45,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10816860 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10505041 · 2013-03-30 (March 30, 2013)
SO WHEN EVER I FUEL MY CAR AT THE PUMP BY CLICKING THE FUEL PUMP TO AUTO START, THE PUMP USUALLY STOP PUMPING AFTER ABOUT 15 SEC, AND THEN YOU WILL HAVE TO MANUAL FILL AGAIN WITH YOUR HANG OR START THE AUTO FUELING AGAIN. *TR SO TODAY WHEN I STARTED FUELING MY CAR AGAIN AFTER ABOUT 4 OR 5 GALLON OF FUELING HAD ALREADY ENTER THE VEHICLE, THE FUEL STARTED TO SPRAY OUT FROM THE NOZZLE WHERE YOU PLACE THE FUEL PUMP OUT, FUEL GOT ALL OVER MY BODY. I QUICK NOTICE IT, AND TURNED THE AUTO START PUMPING FEATURE OFF WITH MY HANDS. AFTERWARD, I WENT TO …
Owner-reported narrative. 15,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10505041 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10587285 · 2014-05-08 (May 8, 2014)
TRAVELING WEST ON I-10 FROM HOUSTON TO CALIFORNIA. ABOUT 15 MILES OUT OF VAN HORN TX GOING TO EL PASO THE CAR SHUT DOWN. ALL THE LIGHTS CAME ON THE DASHBOARD AND I COULD NOT STEER THE CAR. WE GOT OVER TO THE SHOULDER (IT WAS A STRUGGLE). THE CAR WAS DEAD. WOULD NOT DO ANYTHING. CALLED FOR HELP. ABOUT 15-20 MIN. LATER TRIED TO START THE CAR AGAIN AND IT WORKED. WHEN I LOOKED UNDER THE HOOD I DID NOT SEE ANYTHING WRONG. DROVE TO EL PASO AND FOUND OUT THAT THE SENSORS FROM THE GAS TANK TO THE ENGINE WERE NOT WORKING PROPERLY (FUEL PRESSURE SENSOR)…
Owner-reported narrative. 52,710 miles reported. Look up ODI 10587285 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11693784 · 2025-10-16 (October 16, 2025)
Fuel pump failure caused my vehicle to stall not once, not twice, but THREE times in the middle of the interstate on my way back home from out of state. This was terrifying, especially since my kids were in the car with me. The entire vehicle shut off in the middle of traffic and I was in the far left lane
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11693784 at NHTSA ↗