FaultScore

1999 Chevrolet Tahoe airbag problems

20 of the 677 complaints about the 1999 Chevrolet Tahoe are about the airbag system — 3% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 162,500 miles.

F

20

Complaints

17

Crashes

0

Fires

12

Injuries

Exactly what failed

Frontal 12 60.0%
AIR Bags 7 35.0%
Driver Clockspring/Spiral Cassette 1 5.0%

Airbags across every Chevrolet Tahoe year

1995 20 1.3%
1996 17 1.1%
1999 20 1.3%
2000 21 1.4%
2001 31 2.1%
2002 31 2.1%
2003 19 1.3%
2004 15 1.0%
2005 19 1.3%
2007 501 33.2%
2008 233 15.5%
2009 97 6.4%
2010 115 7.6%
2011 186 12.3%
2012 61 4.0%
2013 51 3.4%
2014 13 0.9%
2015 11 0.7%
2016 10 0.7%
2017 10 0.7%
2021 26 1.7%

What owners said

Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.

at 191,000 miles Loganville, GA

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER CLOCKSPRING/SPIRAL CASSETTE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 CHEVROLET TAHOE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HIS PITMAN ARM WAS RECENTLY REPLACED AND THE CLOCKSPRING WAS FRACTURED AND ALSO NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SINCE THE PITMAN ARM WAS REPLACED, THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR BEGAN TO ILLUMINATE. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO MAXIE PRICE CHEVROLET ATLANTA (3600 US-78, LOGANVILLE, GA 30052, 770466-7000) AND NASH CHEVROLET (630 SCENIC HWY S, LAWRENCEVILLE, GA 30046, 678-369-3889) AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE PARTS TO REPLACE THE CLOCKSPRING WERE NO LONGER MANUFACTURED. THE CONTACT'S ONLY OPTION WAS TO FIND A JUNK YARD THAT MAY CARRY THE REPLACEMENT PARTS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED AND THE AIR BAG INDICATOR CONTINUED TO ILLUMINATE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 191,000.

NHTSA complaint #11268496 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Kent, WA Crash 1 injured

AIR BAGS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 1999 CHEVROLET TAHOE. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE CONTACT HAD A HEAD ON COLLISION WITH A LIGHT POLE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT WAS INURED AND RECEIVED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED AND TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. AN UNKNOWN DEALER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE, BUT DID NOT ASSIST. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

NHTSA complaint #11203728 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 184,000 miles Columbus, MS

AIR BAGS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 CHEVROLET TAHOE. WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE PASSENGER AND DRIVER SIDE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED WITHOUT WARNING OR IMPACT. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESUME DRIVING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 184,000.

NHTSA complaint #10862846 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 141,000 miles Amarillo, TX Crash 1 injured

AIR BAGS

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 CHEVROLET TAHOE. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 15 TO 20 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS AND UNEXPECTEDLY, THE OPPOSING VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE WHICH RESULTED IN A HEAD ON COLLISION. THE POLICE AND AMBULANCE WERE CALLED TO THE SCENE. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED SEVERE INJURIES. THE AIR BAG FAILED TO DEPLOY WITH THE MASSIVE LEVEL OF IMPACT. THE VEHICLE WAS COMPLETELY DESTROYED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A COLLISION CENTER. THE CONTACT HAD CONCERN OF THE SAFETY RISK INVOLVED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 141,000.

NHTSA complaint #10299900 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 199,946 miles Lansing, IL Crash 1 injured

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

WHILE DRIVING MY 99 TAHOE DOWN A 4 LANE ROAD, A DRUNK HAD PULLED OUT INFRONT OF ME. I HAD SLAMMED ON MY BRAKES AND SWERVED TO AVOID HIM BUT STILL HIT HIM PRETTY HARD IN HIS REAR QUARTER PANEL. AS A RESULT OF THE ACCIDENT, I HAD SUFFERED A DOUBLE HEMATOMA TO MY BRAIN AND HAD BRAIN SURGERY TO STAY ALIVE. MY COMPLAINT WITH MY TAHOE IS 1) MY AIRBAG IN MY STEERING WHEEL DID NOT DEPLOY. I THINK IF IT DID, MY INJURY WOULD HAVE BEEN AVOIDED. 2) I QUESTION THE STOPPING ABILITY IF MY ANTI DIVE FRONT BRAKES. I WAS ON THE BRAKES HARD WITH THE VEHICLE NOSING DOWN BUT I THINK MY STOPPING DISTANCE SHOULD HAVE BEEN SHORTER.

NHTSA complaint #10265716 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Seattle, WA Crash 1 injured

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

THE VEHICLE'S AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY DURING A FRONTAL COLLISION. *NM COUNCIL FOR THE CONSUMER STATED THAT AIR BAGS NEED TO BE TESTED AT CHEVROLET'S EXPENSE. *TC

NHTSA complaint #10110864 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 100,000 miles Huntsville, AL Crash 3 injured

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

DURING A FRONT END COLLISION WHILE DRIVING AT 55 MPH FRONT AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THREE PASSENGERS SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES. CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALERSHIP FOR INSPECTION.

NHTSA complaint #10074130 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 52,000 miles Piedmont, SC Crash

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH VEHICLE WAS HIT IN THE FRONT CENTER. BOTH FRONTAL AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY.

NHTSA complaint #10040265 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SAN Antonio, TX

AIR BAGS

AIR BAG PROBLEM. MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED.

NHTSA complaint #10024050 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Dallas, TX Crash 2 injured

AIR BAGS

THIS WAS A VERY HEAVY FRONT END COLLISION. THE VISUAL DAMMAGE EST. IS 10,000 DOLLARS AND STILL RISING THEY DO NOT HAVE THE INTERNAL DAMAGE EST. I CALLED GM AND FILED A FORMAL COMPLAINT. THEY TOLD ME THAT THEY WERE VERY BUSY AND DID NOT HAVE TIME TO INVESTIGATE THIS FAILURE. THEY ALSO TOLD ME THAT THIS WOULD COST THE TO MUCH MONEY TO DO AN INVESTIGATION. THE REP FROM GM TOLD ME THAT THEY COULD TELL IF THE WRECK WAS BAD ENOUGH BY THE DESCRIPTION OF THE WRECK OVER THE PHONE WITH OUT EVEN SEEING THE WRECK. THE DALLAS FIRE DEPARTMENT, DALLAS POLICE DEPARTMENT, TOW TRUCK DRIVER AND HUFFINES CHEVROLET WHICH IS A CERTIFIED CHEVROLET BODY SHOP SAID THAT THIS WAS WAY TO MUCH DAMAGE TO THE FRONT END AND THEY SHOULD HAVE WENT OFF. BUT COPRORATE GM SAID THAT IT WAS NOT AND THEY COULD TELL THAT WITHOUT SEEING THE VEHICLE. GM ALSO TOLD ME THAT THE OTHER VEHICLE IN THE ACCIDENT TOOK ALL THE IMPACT, WITHOUT EVEN SEEING THE VEHICLES HOW WOULD THEY NOW THIS? I STILL HAVE 10,000 DOLLARS OF FRONT END DAMAGE TO MY VEHICLE AND THAT IS WAY TO MUCH IF THE OTHER VEHICLE TOOK ALL THE IMPACT. THEY REPEATEDLY TOLD ME THAT IT WAS OK THAT THEY DID NOT GO OFF BECAUSE THE REST OF THE SAFTEY EQUIPMENT WORKED "I.E. SEATBELTS, CRUMPLE ZONES" BUT THAT DOES NOT CHANGE THE FACT THAT THE AIRBAG SYSTEM DID NOT WORK AND THIS WOULD HAVE KEPT MY 7 MONTH PREGNANT WIFE FROM HITTING THE DASH BOARD! IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTION I WILL BE MORE THAN HAPPY TO ANSWER THEM LARGE OR SMALL. THANK YOU!

NHTSA complaint #761485 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Knightdale, NC Crash 1 injured

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

FRONT COLLISION AT 25-30 MPH, AND NEITHER AIRBAG DEPLOYED, CONSUMER SUFFERED MINOR INJURIES.

NHTSA complaint #8006232 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Pittsford, NY Crash

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

DRIVERS AIRBAG FAILED TO DEPLOY IN A FRONT END ACCIDENT.

NHTSA complaint #757392 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Douglassville, PA Crash 1 injured

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

WHILE DRIVING 40MPH ON WET PAVEMENT VEHICLE WAS T-BONED WHICH PUSHED VEHICLE INTO A TELEPHONE POLE AND AIRBAGS DIDNOT DEPLOY. FRONTAL AND SIDE DAMAGE.

NHTSA complaint #8002156 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

NEW Port Richie, FL Crash 2 injured

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

VEHICLE HIT A TREE. UPON IMPACT, SEAT BELT DID NOT RETRACT, AND AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, RESULTING IN INJURIES.

NHTSA complaint #887171 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Folsom, LA Crash

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 30MPH ON HIGHWAY AND WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING FRONT WNT INTO SHOULDERS OF A STEEP HILL. 45 DEGREE ANGLE, AND VEHICLE HIT A TREE. UPON IMPACT, DUAL BAGS DIDN'T GO OFF. DEALERSHIP WAS AWARE OF PROBLEM.

NHTSA complaint #887011 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Kingston, OK Crash 9 killed

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING 55MPH ON HIGHWAY AND ANOTHER VEHICLE RAN IN FRONT, AND CONSUMER'S VEHICLE HIT OTHER VEHICLE BROADSIDE. UPON IMPACT, AIRBAGS DIDN'T GO OFF.

NHTSA complaint #878233 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ST. Clair Shores, MI Crash 2 injured

AIR BAGS

CONTACTED GMC , THEY WOULD NOT COME OUT TO INSPECT VEHICLE AS REQUESTED. NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED.

NHTSA complaint #723846 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ST. Clar Shore, MI Crash

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

WHILE TRAVELING AT 45 MPH ANOTHER VEHICLE PULLED OUT IN FRONT OF CONSUMER'S VEHICLE RESULTING IN AN ACCIDENT. UPON IMPACT, AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AT ANY TIME. ALSO, ABS LOCKED UP. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.

NHTSA complaint #863306 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

MC Donaugh, GA Crash 3 injured

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL

WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AT 40 MPH ANOTHER VEHICLE RAN A STOP SIGN, CONSUMER HIT OTHER VEHICLE DIRECTLY IN THE SIDE OF CAR. UPON IMPACT, AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. CONSUMER FELT AIR BAGS SHOULD HAVE DEPLOYED.

NHTSA complaint #860103 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

SAN Jose, CA Crash 1 injured

AIR BAGS

THE VEHECLE WAS TRAVELING APPROX 40 MPH WHEN IT HIT BLACK ICE ANDM SLIDE OFF THE ROAD AND HIT A BIG ROCK ON THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT. THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT BODY AND AXLE WAS PUSHED BACK APPROX 6 TO 8". NIETHER AIR BAG OPENED PASSENGER OR DRIVER. THE PASSENGER MY WIFE SUFFERED A BROKEN BACK. THE VEHECLE WAS TOTALED BY THE INSURANCE. ONE REASON WE BOUGHT THE CHEVROLET TAHOE WAS BECAUSE OF THE DUEL AIR BAG. I FEEL THAT THE SEVERITY OF THE ACCIDENT THE AIR BAGS SHOULD HAVE OPENED. I HAVE TAKEN PICTURES AND STATE FARM INSURANCE IS ALSO INVESTIGATING THE ACCIDENT FOR THE FAILED AIR BAGS.

NHTSA complaint #704617 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other 1999 Chevrolet Tahoe problems

← Full 1999 Chevrolet Tahoe report