2002 Chevrolet Tahoe Air Bags
Owner-reported problems and safety issues filed with NHTSA. Review common failures, severity levels, and complaint trends over time.
Complaint Timeline
Chronological view of owner reports
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
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.
TAKATA RECALL
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 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
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 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.
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.
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
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
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
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.
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
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
ON JANURAY 23. 2004, I WAS REAR-ENDED ON THE FREEWAY. I WAS GOING ABOUT 65-70 MPH. A PERSON HIT ME FROM THE REAR, HE WAS TRAVELLING AROUND 100-110 MPH. I LOST CONTROL OF MY TAHOE, I WENT SIDEWAYS, THEN I SHOT FORWARD AND HIT THE CENTER DIVIDER( ON THE CENTER RIGHT SIDE OF MY CAR) AT ABOUT 65 MPH OR FASTER, I WAS SHOT BACKWARDS INTO A GUARD RAIL AND CAME OFF OF THAT AND THEN THE TAHOE ROLLED ON TO ITS SIDE, SKID FOR ABOUT 30 FEET AND THEN IT FINALLY STOPPED. MY AIR BAGS(FRONT NOR SIDE) NEVER DEPOLYED. I FEEL THAT IF THEY HAD MY WIFE NOR I WOULD HAVE BEEN INJURED. I KNOW THAT THEY ARE DESIGNED TO DEPLOY WHEN YOU HIT SOMETIME LIKE A BRICK WALL AT ABOUT 10-15 MPH. WHAT DO YOU CALL HITTING A CEMENT DIVIDER AT OVER 65 MPH.*AK
I WAS TRAVELING DOWN TO FREEWAY, DOING ABOUT 65-70 MPH. I WAS REAR ENDED BY A GUY GOING BETWEEN 100-110 MPH, I WAS THROWN OUT OF CONTROL. I HIT THE CENTER DIVIDER ALMOST HEAD ON AT ABOUT 70 MPH. I THEN BOUNCED OFF THE DIVIDER, CAME CLEAR AGCROSS ALL LANES AND HIT THE REAR GUARD RAIL, I BOUNDED OFF THAT AND ROLLED ON ITS SIDE. IN ALL MY AIR BAGS NEVER DEPLOYED.*AK
THE TRUCK HIT A WALL HEAD ON BETWEEN 33-35 MPH. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY UPON IMPACT ALLOWING THE DRIVER TO HIT THE WINDSHIELD WITH HIS HEAD SHATTERING IT. GENERAL MOTORS SENT SOMEONE TO DIAGNOSE THE TRUCKS' CONDITION WHICH THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD "EXCEPTIBLE STANDARDS". PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS TS
WHILE DRIVING SWERVED TO MISS ANOTHER VEHICLE AND LOST CONTROL, ROLLED OVER FOUR TIMES. UPON IMPACT, AIRBAGS DIDNOT DEPLOY. DRIVER INJURED AND VEHICLE TOTALED. PLEASE ADD VIN. *AK
ON TWO OCCASIONS THE FRONT AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY UPON FRONT IMPACT. THE VEHCILE WAS INSPECTED BY A CRASH INVESTIGATOR WHO TOLD THE CONSUMER THAT THE VEHICLE OPERATED AS DESIGNED. *NLM
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Quick Summary
The 2002 Chevrolet Tahoe has 24 Air Bags complaints on file. 21 crashes have been reported. Review the timeline above for detailed owner experiences.