2009 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Airbag Problems

230 owners have reported air bags problems with the 2009 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 to NHTSA — 52% of all 444 complaints for this model year. The typical failure happened around 77,000 miles. That ranks #4 of 29 Silverado 1500 model years for airbag complaints (a typical year has 21). 3 related recalls have been issued.

230complaints
77ktypical miles
3related recalls
4crashes
0fires
2injuries

Which parts fail

  • Side/window
    1

Components named in complaints (front, side and curtain air bags, sensors and inflators).

Mileage when the problem started

  • Under 25k
    811%
  • 25k–50k
    1216%
  • 50k–75k
    1824%
  • 75k–100k
    1520%
  • 100k–150k
    1824%
  • 150k+
    57%

Owner reports

Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2009 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).

Takata Recall. The contact owns a 2009 Chevrolet Silverado 1500. The contact received a recall notification for NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V053000 (Air Bags) however, the dealer informed the contact that the part for the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated while driving at 45 MPH, the air bag warning light illuminated. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The dealer was notified of the failure. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 15,450. Parts distribution disconnect.

15,000 miles · Sep 2021

The contact owns a 2009 Chevrolet Silverado 1500. The contact stated while having his vehicle serviced at the local dealer under an air bag recall, the air bag sensor warning lights remained illuminated. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V053000 (Air Bag). The dealer diagnosed the vehicle and stated that the air bag cell light was not corresponding with the instrument panel. The contact stated the vehicle was not repaired correctly. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 98,000.

98,000 miles · Jun 2022

The contact owns a 2009 Chevrolet Silverado 1500. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V052000 (Air Bags) while having an inspection completed. After receiving notification of the recall, while driving approximately 35 MPH, the passenger's side air bag unexpectedly deployed, damaging the dashboard and fracturing the window. The vehicle had not been taken to the dealer to be diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 146,000.

146,000 miles · Nov 2025

The contact owns a 2009 Chevrolet Silverado 1500. The contact stated that the service air bag warning light was illuminated. The vehicle failed to start. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that the air bag control module was corroded due to moisture in the driver weld. The vehicle was not covered under a recall. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 90,000.

90,000 miles · Mar 2024

The contact's father owns a 2009 Chevrolet Silverado 1500. The contact stated that while his dad was driving 25 MPH, he heard a loud explosion coming the front driver's side air bag. The air bag warning light was illuminated prior to the explosion. The air bag did not deploy because there was no crash. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer and was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 63,000.

63,000 miles · Jan 2024

My truck has roughly 26,000 miles and the airbag sensing module on it corroded due to water gathering around it in the acoustic padding. It happens because water runs down a line that enters the cab and gets absorbed by the acoustic padding. This is a known issue as there is a recall for other states. My state is not one even though Louisiana is one of the wettest states and we also use salt in the winter when the roads ice. I'm glad I didn't get hurt by this since it can cause the seatbelt pretentioners to fire and/or the airbag to deploy. This is the document from GM/NHTSA. GM Bulletin [redacted] Can you please include Louisiana in this recall since the issue is affecting us?

Jan 2024

Takata recall. The contact owns a 2009 Chevrolet Silverado 1500. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V053000 (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 recall but informed the contact that parts were not available. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts are not available.

Feb 2021

Takata Recall. The contact owns a 2009 Chevrolet Silverado 1500. The contact received a recall notification for NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V052000 (Air Bags) however, the dealer informed the contact that the parts for the recall repair were not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not notified of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

Aug 2021

Takata Recall. The contact owns a 2009 a Chevrolet Silverado 1500. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 21V052000 (Air Bags) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. Neither the dealer nor the manufacturer were notified of the failure. The contact had not experienced a failure. Vin tool confirms parts not available.

Jun 2021

I have NOT received 2-recall notices for my airbag, said to have been sent on March 1, 2021 and May 11, 2021 for my 4-Door 2009 Silverado LS with Shot Bed. Your website said if the manufacture has failed or is unable to remedy this safety recall for your vehicle in a timely manner to contact you and file an online complaint with NHTSA... Thus this is why I am writing. I cannot tell you when this incident occurred - you know as you are the experts.

Jun 2021

Related recalls

Air bags › Frontal › Passenger side › Inflator module

NHTSA recall 21V-050 · Feb 5, 2021 · 2,641,272 vehicles

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.

Air bags › Frontal › Passenger side › Inflator module

NHTSA recall 21V-053 · Feb 5, 2021 · 692,526 vehicles

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

NHTSA recall 21V-052 · Feb 5, 2021 · 557,023 vehicles

General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2009 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, Escalade EXT, Chevrolet Avalanche, Silverado 1500, Silverado 2500, Silverado 3500, Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Sierra 1500, Sierra 2500, Sierra 3500, Yukon, and Yukon XL vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of Arizona, Arkansas,…

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 23, 2021.

NHTSA investigations

Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture

NHTSA investigation EA21002 · opened Sep 17, 2021 · open

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 Silverado 1500 years

’96’97’98’99’00’01’02’03’04’05’06’07’08’09’10’11’12’13’14’15’16’17’18’19’20’21’22’23’24’25’261671931121421345124479594230197306598347661830151211208121
Airbag complaints per model year, Chevrolet Silverado 1500.

Frequently asked questions

How common are airbag problems on the 2009 Chevrolet Silverado 1500?

NHTSA has 230 complaints about the air bags of the 2009 Chevrolet Silverado 1500, 52% of the model year's 444 complaints. The component named most often is side/window (1 mentions).

Is there a recall for 2009 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 airbag problems?

Yes — NHTSA recall 21V-050 (inflator module, Feb 5, 2021); NHTSA recall 21V-053 (inflator module, Feb 5, 2021); NHTSA recall 21V-052 (inflator module, Feb 5, 2021). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.

At what mileage do 2009 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 airbag problems start?

Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 77,000 miles, and 11% before 25,000 miles.

Is it dangerous?

Owners linked 4 crashes, 0 fires and 2 injuries to air bags problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.

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.