2021 Tahoe Lemon

Matthew Mcmaster · September 30, 2020

New to forum, new to a potential lemon....thanks for read and any help. My intention of this post is to seek advice, guidance and also warn people with the same vehicle.

Roughly a month ago, I bought a 2021 Tahoe Z71. I Love it, its perfect, and I have a baby on the way which is why I purchased it. It fits my business profile well, and I enjoy it (previous ford driver).

With that said, some major and minor issues have raised...Not sure how to handle it.

After about 1,800 mile, the “Service Safety Restraint system” code popped up on the dash. I figured I hit a button and did it by mistake. I couldn’t figure it out so I wanted to take it to the dealer. I did not take it to the dealer I bought it from because it was to far away, so I took it somewhere locally since it was GM warranty issue. That dealer took it gladly and said they will look at it. Very nice people.

After the first visit, the Chevy dealer called and said, “well sir, we don’t have much, but we got the light to go off, we had two put tape on the sensor but if may come back on, just bring it back.Sir, your kinda a Guinea Pig here, we aren’t really sure, its such a new vehicle.” I said “okay cool, thanks for the help, I will let you know when it comes back on”. Back story...I own a busy business, 12 fleet vehicles...why would I second guess a professional GM service department? Later on, my (pregnant) wife and I take a 2 hour road trip. Half way through the trip, the light goes back on...So I call them when I get home.

The second visit they said they will call Chevy tech support to figure out the issue...They call me back that day, said they don’t have any solutions yet and that I can come pick up the truck in the meantime...and they will call me with a solution when they find it..I said, nah. Keep it until we find a solution. I didn’t want them to forget about me..fair right?

4 days later, they call me and say, “good news sir! We know what it needs. Chevy said we have to replace the air bags. that MAY fix the issue. Only problem is, the parts are back ordered and could take up to 8 weeks...Can you come pick up the vehicle until the parts get here?” I said, “well, is it safe to drive, I have a pregnant wife..” They said, yes its fine as long as the air bags do not go off...” I said, “Okay, sure, see you soon.” My wife and I looked at each other and laughed! We manage a very high risk business that we deal with high risk decisions all day...I know his answer was wrong, but I am not here to bust anyone’s balls. I just want my Tahoe back....

5 mins later, the service guy calls me back and says “sir, I misspoke, you cannot take this without signing a wavier releasing us from liability in the event you get hurt...” I said, “well how would I get hurt?” He said “ Well sir, if that airbag light is on, the airbags wont deploy in an accident...” I thought to myself, well why didn’t you tell me that the first time you took it and when you put tape on it with anticipation of the light coming back on. I drove my pregnant wife around in a 2021 Chevy Tahoe with out airbags?!?!!? WOW...

I told the dealer that I bought it from...they said “wow, don’t pick it up, it may not be safe to drive.” They’d said, “send us the service reports, we will look at them.“ They mentioned the reports didn’t seem right, and asked me if the dealer offered me a loaner vehicle. I said no, why would they, they are just fixing it, I didn’t buy it there.

Long story short, I have no longer have the vehicle, So now I have a 75k vehicle that I cant drive, and I have GM wanting to put new airbags in a brand new car.....WTF right? Side notes, the blue tooth doesn’t work well, 1 out of 5 calls, I have to hang up because it sounds like I went under water. My phone doesn’t do that in any other car...so its not my phone...There is also very very bad noise not the outside of the car when I hit around 70 mph. Sounds like something is flapping...drives me nuts..I have only briefly mentioned these issues to them, I didn’t want them to think I was a complainer.

Finally, since I don’t feel like we are making any headway...I called GM today to open a case. They said they would call me in 3 days. With that said, what should I do? I am not picky, I don’t care about little things, I run a company with 250 employees and 12 vehicles (mostly ford fleet vehicles) I don’t want to complain, and frankly, I don’t have time. I just want a safe vehicle for my family. Should I feel good about them replacing the air bags in my brand new car? I personally don’t. I love the Tahoe, I like GM, we just bought my wife a Cadillac SUV. I was very happy with GM but this issue sucks and now I don’t have a vehicle to drive (I can take a old work truck, but that sucks).

Am I over reacting? Am I on the right track? I just want a Tahoe that is safe and works. I don’t wont major issues on a new vehicle like this. Neither dealer gave me a loaner in the meantime, so I am at a lost of words of what to do. I did my part, I paid my down payment and got financed for the remainder. I understand there may be issues, and that is cool...but now I am paying Roughly $1,000 Per month for a vehicle I cant drive and I have no course of action. I am not that guy to “call my lawyer” but is this going to turn into that? I pray not! I don’t have time, I just want my new Tahoe, its a bad ass truck man!

Thanks for any help, thoughts or direction you can provide me!

Have a great night,

~ Matt M.

Edited September 30, 2020 by Matthew Mcmaster

swathdiver · September 30, 2020

The joys of first year models. Let them keep it while you enjoy rental cars on their dime. I would not worry about the airbags, the chances of needing them are almost nil.

Denali2021 · September 30, 2020

My neighbor has a new GMC Sierra with what I think is the same error message, he had it fixed with a simple software update from the dealership. Can't say it's the same issue for sure but possibly. I'd maybe try a different dealership also.

Edit:

Sounds like another member had similar issue. Check out the thread below.

https://r.tapatalk.com/shareLink/topic?url=https://www.gm-trucks.com/forums/topic/243096-2021-yukon-denali-service-safety-restraint-system/&share_tid=243096&share_fid=33003&share_type=t&link_source=app

amxguy1970 · September 30, 2020

Joins forums to complain and listing it as a lemon from a previous ford owner in the first post, hmm... You bought one of the very first vehicles off a completely new redesign, there will be teething problems most likely. Seems this safety system issue has popped up multiple times with others, they will get it fixed. I would have zero quibbles about them replacing air bags, they aren't some vehicle ruining replacement that lowers its value and deems it unsafe to drive such as cutting and replacing a roof (which that doesn't either as professional shops know what they are doing). Let them replace it, they literally bolt in and out... If you are that upset about it try the lemon law, not sure there is much to stand on at the moment but I would have some real expectations of a vehicle that is new off the assembly line and what may or may not happen. The one thing I would have a problem with is not receiving a rental, they should be handling that for you or the dealer you bought it from comping you a rental if the repairing dealer doesn't have one in stock to loan.

BTW, price has nothing to do with what you are entitled to, a $25k car and a $150k car or your $75k can all have problems whether it is first year or final year of production, is doesn't mean squat that one gets more precedence than the other based on the price as they are all designed by the same company with numerous parts and assembled by people and machines. Take them for a ride when you get back and let them work on the sound you hear (probably something loose and an easy fix) and ditto with the phone issue. The good thing is these things have over the air updates and the phone issue may well be handled with an update or two. Let them fix it and give it time...

Tyler

amxguy1970 · September 30, 2020

KARNUT · September 30, 2020

I joined this forum in early 2014 to better understand the redesign GMC. Once I had equity in 18 months I got rid of it. Mine weren’t safety issues. I didn’t write much against my truck per say because people would chastised me being a newbie on this forum. Electrical problems are not new to GM SUVs. My sons 2015 would just shut off at slow speeds intermittently. The first time he took it in it was handled differently than a regular service call. Not to clog the works. There was a waiting list just for electrical problems. He finally got rid of it at a loss. Surprisingly he bought another one. You should be able to get a rental. I wouldn’t sign a waiver. I personally would drive it until the parts came in and put my wife in something else until they gave me a loner.

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Bob2C · September 30, 2020

Check this out. Sounds like your issue.

https://gmauthority.com/blog/2020/09/2021-chevy-tahoe-suburban-owners-experience-issues-with-underseat-wiring/

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The Zip · September 30, 2020

18 hours ago, Matthew Mcmaster said:

Finally, since I don’t feel like we are making any headway...I called GM today to open a case. They said they would call me in 3 days. With that said, what should I do? I am not picky, I don’t care about little things, I run a company with 250 employees and 12 vehicles (mostly ford fleet vehicles) I don’t want to complain, and frankly, I don’t have time. I just want a safe vehicle for my family. Should I feel good about them replacing the air bags in my brand new car? I personally don’t. I love the Tahoe, I like GM, we just bought my wife a Cadillac SUV. I was very happy with GM but this issue sucks and now I don’t have a vehicle to drive (I can take a old work truck, but that sucks).

What would you do if one of your 250 employees came to you with the same safety issue on one of your 12 fleet vehicles? You wouldn't want them to appear it was picky and not care about little things. You should want them to have the time to complain because they just want a safe vehicle to work in.

I suspect you want the best for your employees, just as you would for your family. The moral of this post, take the Tahoe to the shop, get a rental vehicle, and replace the truck if they can’t fix it.

Mandalorian · October 1, 2020

Look up the lemon law process in your state and see what the criteria are.

toasty · October 3, 2020

it's a warranted repair. you're entitled to a loaner vehicle, doesn't matter if it's the selling dealer or not. if the fix is replacing airbags, why wouldnt you want it? now, maybe I would not want them to that as a "maybe" step, but to be sure that's the fix before proceeding.

JoeRo · December 29, 2020

Hello, Matt! Have you had any other problems with your vehicle? We purchased a 2021 High Country Tahoe in July. Since then we have had at least 5 recalls. The headliner broke(they have tried to fix it, but only made it worse), our windshield was flawed (being replaced today,but never heard back from the dealership before closing time) and the 3rd row headrest won't go up(GM knows it's an issue and making the parts to fix it). We have less than 4,000 miles on it. I am worried that more things will come up in the future and wonder if it is worth keeping long term. I really like the vehicle otherwise. It rides amazingly well and has so much more room than our old Tahoe. We also opened a case with GM.