Takata Recall. The contact owns a 2014 Chevrolet Tahoe. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V054000 (Air Bags) however, the part to do the recall repair was not available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The dealer was made aware of the issue and informed the contact that they were not liable for…
2014 Chevrolet Tahoe airbags problems
severe 13 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $1,100 · see airbags across all vehicles →
Complaints
13
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$1,100
2crashes
2injuries
What stands out
No new NHTSA airbags complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 4 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
The failure pattern owners describe
Buyer takeaway: The 2014 Tahoe has a documented case of front airbags failing to deploy in a real frontal collision despite prior recall work, plus widespread reports of dashboard cracks near airbag housings that owners fear could compromise airbag function or cause injury if deployed. A large batch of Takata recall notices went unrepaired for extended periods due to parts shortages, leaving affected vehicles unprotected.
Owners of 2014 Tahoes report four distinct airbag concerns. First, one owner experienced a frontal-impact collision in which both the driver steering wheel and front passenger airbags failed to deploy, resulting in neck pain, headaches, shoulder, back, and cognitive issues. That vehicle had completed a prior manufacturer airbag recall more than a year earlier with no warning lights appearing before the crash. Second, multiple owners received NHTSA Campaign 21V054000 (Takata) recall notices but could not complete repairs because dealers had no parts available for months or longer—GM stated additional testing was ongoing with no remedy provided yet. Third, five owners reported spontaneous dashboard cracks, several clustered around the passenger-side airbag housing, appearing during normal driving with no collision or bump. These owners worry that cracked dashboards near the airbag could reduce deployment effectiveness or send jagged edges into occupants' faces. Fourth, one owner reported an incident where the vehicle suddenly accelerated to 90 mph despite braking attempts, then struck another vehicle in a glancing blow without airbag deployment. No root causes or part costs are confirmed in these narratives.
Same Chevrolet Tahoe airbags reports on nearby years: 2011 · 2012 · 2013
Failure modes owners describe
Airbag Non-Deployment in Frontal Collision
Driver steering wheel and front passenger airbags failed to deploy during a frontal-impact collision despite adequate crash forces. The vehicle had undergone a prior airbag-related manufacturer safety recall more than one year before the failure, with no pre-collision warning lights or SRS fault indicators present. The root cause remains unconfirmed as the vehicle has not been examined by the dealer or manufacturer.
When: During frontal-impact collision; prior recall completed more than one year before
Symptoms owners cite: Driver steering wheel airbag did not deploy; Front passenger airbag did not deploy; No SRS warning lights, indicators, or fault alerts before collision; Driver sustained neck pain, headaches, shoulder pain, back pain, weakness, cognitive fog, and seatbelt-related neck abrasion
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicle retained by insurance carrier and available for inspection; manufacturer inspection not yet completed
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Vehicle previously completed manufacturer safety recall repair related to airbags more than one year prior to accident
Airbag Takata Recall—Parts Unavailable
Multiple owners received recall notification for NHTSA Campaign Number 21V054000 (Takata airbag recall) but were unable to complete the repair because the required parts were not available from dealers. Owners reported that manufacturers and dealers exceeded a reasonable timeframe for providing parts and completing the recall work. No actual failures were reported by these owners; the complaint is that the recall remedy could not be executed.
When: Recall notification received; parts unavailable at time of complaint
Symptoms owners cite: Recall notification received (Campaign 21V054000); Required recall parts unavailable at dealer; Excessive delay in recall repair timeframe
Codes mentioned: 21V054000
Repairs/costs cited: Repair not completed due to parts availability; one dealer (Covert Buick GMC, Austin, TX) stated they were not liable for vehicle damages during recall repair wait
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA Campaign Number 21V054000 (Takata airbag recall); manufacturer stated further testing was ongoing for months with no remedy or parts provided
Dashboard Cracking Near Airbag Housing
Multiple owners reported cracks in the dashboard, specifically around the passenger-side airbag cover or housing, appearing spontaneously without impact or collision. Owners expressed concern that dashboard cracks near the airbag could compromise airbag effectiveness or cause jagged edges to deploy into occupants' faces during inflation. Some owners reported multiple cracks in the dashboard across different areas.
When: Cracks appeared spontaneously during normal driving; not caused by collision or road debris
Symptoms owners cite: 2-inch crack in passenger-side dashboard starting at top left corner of airbag cutout; Dashboard crack near passenger-side airbag cover; Multiple dashboard cracks (3+ in some cases) including above passenger airbag and above driver-side instrument panel; Cracks appeared without vehicle impact or bumps
Repairs/costs cited: Owners report GM ignores the problem; one owner notes that Lexus replaced their cracked dash without issue
Airbag Non-Deployment During Unintended Acceleration Incident
Owner reported sudden unintended acceleration to 90 mph while on cruise control on Interstate 90 in Montana, with braking failure. Vehicle struck another vehicle in a glancing blow, but neither front airbag deployed. The incident ended when the vehicle went off-road into a burrow pit and slowed. Root cause of airbag non-deployment not determined.
When: During sudden unintended acceleration and collision event; referenced work order #342136
Symptoms owners cite: No braking response despite brake pedal application; Sudden acceleration to 90 mph on cruise control; Attempted gear change and engine shut-off unsuccessful; Glancing-blow collision with vehicle in front; No airbags deployed during impact
Repairs/costs cited: See Karl Tyler workorder #342136
Synthesized from 13 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 2 most recent
Takata recall. The contact owns a 2014 Chevrolet Tahoe. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V054000 (Air Bags) however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. The VIN was…
Had airbags trouble with your 2014 Chevrolet Tahoe?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the airbags problem on the 2014 Chevrolet Tahoe?
It's a meaningful issue. 13 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $1,100.
At what mileage does the airbags typically fail?
Based on the 13 complaints filed, airbags issues most often appear around 40,763 miles. Some report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 with no symptoms. Maintenance habits matter — vehicles that received timely fluid services and were not regularly overworked tend to last longer.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $1,100 for airbags repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to airbags?
No active recalls currently cover airbags issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2014/Chevrolet/Tahoe.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.