2014 Chevrolet Tahoe Problems

What owners report

Complaints on this model year center on a cracked plastic dashboard, reported by owners across a wide mileage range and often appearing near the passenger-side airbag opening, along with intermittent electrical faults that owners describe as door locks cycling, warning lights flashing and the engine cutting out. A separate group of complaints involves the Takata passenger-side airbag inflator recall, where owners report that the replacement part was not available for an extended period. Many complaints fall between roughly 30,000 and 90,000 miles.

1. 1
   Body and structure

   Cracked dashboard, often near passenger airbag

   • 45 complaints (50%)
   • median 60,000 mi at 4.3 yrs old (27 state mileage)
   • filed 2016–2023

   Owners describe cracks developing in the hard plastic dashboard, frequently starting at the passenger-side airbag opening or near the instrument cluster and air vents, then spreading. Several say the cracks appeared without any impact, sometimes after a bump or temperature change, and some report rattling or movement of the dash while driving. According to the complaints, dealers declined to cover replacement and owners were quoted for a full dash replacement at their own expense. Reported from roughly 30,000 to 100,000 miles, on vehicles both garaged and parked outside, in hot climates and cold.

   1 related service bulletin

   What to check: Inspect the top of the dash on both sides, especially the seam around the passenger airbag cover, for hairline cracks or prior repairs; ask whether the dash has been replaced. A service bulletin addresses peeling frame coating rather than the dash, so dash repairs are generally an owner expense.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Yesterday while driving home, my dashboard exploded open. I guess this is a common problem with these cars which should be a serious problem to the manufacturer. After safely pulling over I was able to see that I now have a large crack in my dashboard. Parts shot out of the dash and could have hit me while driving. Please investigate!”

   NHTSA complaint #11353986, filed 2020-09, 117,000 miles

   “I recently purchased a 2014 chevy Tahoe with right at 40,000 miles on the vehicle. Shortly after I noticed the dash had cracked on the driver side by the top air vent. The crack has gotten even bigger in the following weeks. I also have a 2007 chevy silverado and the dash is cracked on it as well. I know several people who have had this same issue with poor quality GM parts. My Tahoe is an ltz and expect quality when buying such. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10874986, filed 2016-06, 42,000 miles
2. 2
   Electrical system

   Intermittent electrical faults, stalling and no-start

   • 37 complaints (41%)
   • median 54,000 mi at 3.9 yrs old (16 state mileage)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2014–2026

   Complaints describe episodes where the door locks cycle repeatedly, interior lights and the instrument panel flicker, a trailer brake warning appears and the engine stalls or the vehicle will not restart. Owners say the battery and alternator tested fine and that dealers sometimes could not duplicate the problem; some had the battery replaced or the electronic control module changed without a lasting fix. Several owners link the symptoms to the chassis electronic module recall and report their vehicle identification number was not included. Typically reported between about 39,000 and 82,000 miles, sometimes recurring over months or years.

   Recall 14V6140003 related service bulletins

   What to check: Ask whether recall 14V614000 (chassis electronic module) was completed on this vehicle, and have a shop check for stored codes and inspect the chassis module and battery connections. A service bulletin describes an intermittent no-crank or stall condition with a security light.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Chasi electrical component recall , trailer breaking system , car dead won't start 3 years of this , battery replaced every year , spark plugs etc I have been to classic cheverlot very year and they just sit there and die the same thing and pull records saying showed battery and that's fraud . I bring in for this and starts with car not starting then breaking system and then al power loss .purchased vehicle 5/2014, recalled , 12-2015 12-2016, 12-2017,1-2019. Same thing car won't start , flashes trailer breaking system”

   NHTSA complaint #11165079, filed 2019-01, 74,000 miles

   “Classic cheverlot sold me my Tahoe and taking responsibility since day one for the original recall . I have been here 2015/2016/ 2017/2018/2019 for the 'trailer breaking system ' per dash board flashing at me. Then car doesn't want to start and it's not my battery!!! It's a defect in the car module system!”

   NHTSA complaint #11165085, filed 2019-01
3. 3
   Air bags

   Passenger airbag inflator recall parts unavailable

   • 12 complaints (13%)
   • median 19,501 mi at 4.2 yrs old (2 state mileage, few)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2017–2026

   Owners report receiving notice of the Takata passenger-side airbag inflator recall but being told the replacement part was not available, in some cases for an extended period. The complaints mostly describe the recall process itself rather than a failure that occurred; a few describe airbags not deploying in a collision. Dealers in some accounts said they could not perform the repair until parts arrived. Mostly reported in 2020 and 2021 on vehicles with no mileage stated, so age rather than mileage appears to be the factor.

   Recall 21V054000

   What to check: Confirm with a dealer, using the vehicle identification number, whether recall 21V054000 has been completed; open recalls are repaired at no cost.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “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 invalid.”

   NHTSA complaint #11439167, filed 2021-11

   “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 dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.”

   NHTSA complaint #11435090, filed 2021-10
4. 4
   Steering

   Steering knuckle and hub separation on police vehicles

   • 13 complaints (14%)
   • median 75,770 mi at 4.1 yrs old (10 state mileage)
   • 2 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2014–2026

   Complaints from police-pursuit use describe the left or right front steering hub coming apart during driver training, on vehicles with very low mileage. A related complaint describes the sway bars being replaced shortly after purchase. These reports come from a small number of fleet vehicles rather than typical private use. Reported at very low mileage, under about 6,000 miles, during pursuit-driver training.

   Recall 13V342000

   What to check: Former police-pursuit vehicles should be inspected closely for front suspension and steering work; ask for service history and check the front brake calipers, which are covered by recall 13V342000 on certain build dates.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “2014 Chevrolet Tahoe police pursuit vehicle (ppv) issued new by highway patrol in 2q14. Vehicle presented with near complete stalling at idle in park, as well as idle in drive with brake applied - where engine intermittently has trouble stabilizing rpms between 0.7 and 0.6, and the gauge needle moves back and forth, sometimes erratically. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10662114, filed 2014-12, 300 miles

   “During officer training left steer hub came apart. Same training since 2012 and no different then pursuit driving. Ppv Tahoe. We have another unit and filing separate case with same issue but both steer hubs failed.”

   NHTSA complaint #10676682, filed 2015-01, 5,313 miles

Buying note. Check the dashboard for cracks around the passenger airbag cover before buying, and confirm that both the Takata airbag inflator and chassis electronic module recalls were completed. A pre-purchase electrical inspection is worthwhile given the intermittent stalling and warning-light complaints.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.