Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2010 Chevrolet Avalanche owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
For no apparent reason, my dash started cracking next to the passenger airbag at around 48,000 miles. The large crack began to spread across the dash until, after a few months, it was all the way across to the steering wheel. Now small cracks are beginning to spider out. There seems to be no support underneath the dash and with every small bump in the road it becomes worse and worse. The dash must be made of an inferior material for it to crack so easily. If the air bag does inflate, the dashboard could burst into thousands of sharp pieces that could be a cause of serious injury or death. I have gotten a repair estimate to replace the dash for $1,500. However, some of the thousands of people that have this same problem say they have had the dash replaced, only to have it crack again. …
During the calendar year 2016, I have experienced two(2) severe dashboard cracks. One crack in front of my instrument cluster occurred while driving as I heard it "crack". The other crack appeared on the passenger side above the air bag panel. I am not sure when this crack appeared, but concerns me relative to the air bag operation/safety. I have drilled holes at the end of the crack on the driver side in an attempt to stop the progression, but the crack continues to get larger. The dash apparently is becoming brittle and the cracks are continuing to grow. I can only assume that soon I will have pieces of the dash come off exposing electrical wiring and components below the dash. Due to the safety concerns and appearance aspects, I am having the dash replaced by my dealership at a cost to me of almost $1,000. …
The dash in my Chevrolet Avalanche has become more and more loose where the two main dash pieces connect, or so I thought. Clearly the middle speaker in the dash is too heavy for one of the pieces (seat facing piece) and it broke the snap that "held" the two of them together. After realizing exactly what was happening, I wanted to get it fixed but really did not know who to turn to. In one of the pictures you can clearly see where a piece of the dash has actually broken and it has fallen into the inner/underneath of the dash and I do not know where it went. Now, both sides (the airbag corner where it all started and just at the end of the steering wheel rise in the dash) the plastic is cracking. The airbag side is clearly worse than the steering wheel side. How do I get this fixed? Is there a recall on this? How much does something like this cost?
Thus far, nothing has "happened" with my vehicle, but there has been a recall in effect for the airbags in my vehicle for well over a year and nothing has been done to replace the airbags. I am also having some electrical problems with my truck not shutting off when I remove the key, and the interior dome lights will not turn on when the button is pressed (this has all began since the recall was initiated but not taken care of). I just want my airbags replaced, as they are supposed to be, given the recall, and if the recalled parts are responsible for the additional problems I am now having with my truck, I want those addressed and repaired as well. The length of time this has taken to address is beyond unreasonable and I have been as patient as I can be waiting for this recalled part to be replaced.
Tl* Takata recall. The contact owns a 2010 Chevrolet Avalanche. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 16V381000 (air bags); however, the part for the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact stated the compartment that held the passenger side air bag was fractured. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and stated that the compartment that held the air bag was able to be repaired, but the part was unavailable. The VIN was unknown. The approximate failure mileage was 120,000. VIN tool confirms parts not available. Updated 07/13/17
I have just received a card in the mail about the Takata airbag recall. I have had the vehicle in the shop for oil changes at reliable chevolet and have been told that there is a recall notice for this vehicle but there is no part to replace. I have looked up my VIN number in a web site named www.airbagrecall.com to determine if my vehicle is on the list. My 2010 chevolet avalance is on the list. I am not sure how to proceed since the dealer tells me that there is no replacement part available. I also have a tire symbol appear on my driver's screen. I have spoken to the dealer who indicated that nothing can been diagnosed until the symbol remains permanent.
Recently the dashboard of my truck keeps cracking and everyday more cracks appear or the ones that are already visible, just keep getting worse. I am concerned for my passengers as well as my own safety because the cracks of the dashboard are right next to where the airbag would deploy. The cracks can affect the deployment of my airbag with the possibility of injury worse then if the airbag were to deploy correctly. I am also concerned that if I were to get into an accident, that these cracked pieces of the dashboard would be projected from the dash and can do further harm to my passengers and or myself.
Dash cracked in multiple locations, one over the instrument panel, second one upper left of passenger airbag, third one upper right of same airbag. Center clip on main part of dash behind speaker broke off due to poor design/cheap material. First noticed dash vibrating when vehicle in motion on highway, downhill from there. Took to dealer and GM, unwilling to repair/replace without $. Quick search shows it to be a major issue in 2007+ avalanches, suburbans, tahoes, escalades, sierras, silverados. Not sure what impact these cracks will have on airbag deployment/passenger safety.
I own a 2010 Chevrolet Avalanche ltz that was purchased used in 2015 (38,000 miles with a small crack just above the air bag to the left, right at the corner of the air bag on the dash board. Since I've had the vehicle, it has cracked more over time to a longer length on the left and right corner and left of the steering column. The vehicle is up kept but the dash board keeps cracking. Im noticing the multiple vehicle Avalanche's have this same problem and why hasnt it been resolved or a recall been placed.
Dashboard cracked in 2 locations, under 50,000 miles on vehicle. One crack located near passenger side air bag that could be dangerous in a crash and effect air bag deployment. Large scale of identical design defects in other similar vehicles and Chevrolet will not replace the damaged component without significant cost to owners and if replaced with only have the same problem again as flaw has not been corrected in replacement component.
Related recalls
Air bags › Frontal › Passenger side › Inflator module
General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2013 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, and Escalade EXT, Chevrolet Avalanche, Silverado 1500, Silverado 2500/3500, Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Sierra 1500, Sierra 2500/3500, Yukon, and Yukon XL vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of Alabama, California, Florida,…
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator with an alternate one, free of charge. Interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk were mailed on February 24, 2021.
Air bags › Frontal › Passenger side › Inflator module
General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2014 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Silverado 2500, Silverado 3500, Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Sierra 2500, Sierra 3500, Yukon, and Yukon XL vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of AL, CA, FL, GA, HI, LA, MS, SC, TX, PR, AS, GU, the MP, and VI or "Zone…
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator with an alternate one, free of charge. Interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk were mailed on February 25, 2021.
Air bags › Frontal › Passenger side › Inflator module
General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2007-2011 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, Escalade EXT, Chevrolet Avalanche, Silverado 1500, Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Sierra 1500, Yukon, Yukon XL, and 2009-2011 Chevrolet Silverado 2500, Silverado 3500, GMC Sierra 2500 and Sierra 3500 vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in…
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator with an alternate one, free of charge. Interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk were mailed on February 22, 2021.
NHTSA investigations
Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture
From 2000 through 2017, Takata produced millions of air bag inflators using two types of phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate ("PSAN") propellant -- propellant 2004 and propellant 2004L. After prolonged exposure to high temperature cycles and humidity, inflators using propellant 2004 can degrade, causing the propellant to burn too quickly when ignited.
Airbag complaints in other Avalanche years
Frequently asked questions
How common are airbag problems on the 2010 Chevrolet Avalanche?
NHTSA has 53 complaints about the air bags of the 2010 Chevrolet Avalanche, 48% of the model year's 111 complaints.
Is there a recall for 2010 Chevrolet Avalanche airbag problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 21V-053 (inflator module, Feb 5, 2021); NHTSA recall 21V-054 (inflator module, Feb 5, 2021); NHTSA recall 21V-050 (inflator module, Feb 5, 2021). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 2010 Chevrolet Avalanche airbag problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 73,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.