Airbag complaints by model year
| Year | Complaints | Share of year's complaints | Typical mileage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 1 | 1% | 2,000 miles |
| 2024 | 2 | 1% | — |
| 2023 | 1 | 0% | 11,000 miles |
| 2022 | 8 | 1% | 12,000 miles |
| 2021 | 20 | 2% | 7,000 miles |
| 2020 | 11 | 1% | 20,000 miles |
| 2019 | 12 | 1% | 23,000 miles |
| 2018 | 15 | 3% | 67,000 miles |
| 2017 | 30 | 4% | 48,000 miles |
| 2016 | 18 | 2% | 36,000 miles |
| 2015 | 66 | 6% | 44,000 miles |
| 2014 | 47 | 3% | 51,000 miles |
| 2013 | 83 | 28% | 60,000 miles |
| 2012 | 59 | 27% | 68,000 miles |
| 2011 | 306 | 54% | 70,000 miles |
| 2010 | 197 | 54% | 90,000 miles |
| 2009 | 230 | 52% | 77,000 miles |
| 2008 | 594 | 65% | 80,000 miles |
| 2007 | 479 | 56% | 96,000 miles |
| 2006 | 24 | 7% | 100,000 miles |
| 2005 | 51 | 10% | 85,000 miles |
| 2004 | 34 | 4% | 93,000 miles |
| 2003 | 21 | 3% | 90,000 miles |
| 2002 | 14 | 3% | 91,000 miles |
| 2001 | 12 | 3% | 194,000 miles |
| 2000 | 31 | 5% | 138,000 miles |
| 1999 | 19 | 3% | 137,000 miles |
| 1998 | 7 | 2% | 121,000 miles |
| 1997 | 16 | 3% | 113,000 miles |
Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (front, side and curtain air bags, sensors and inflators).
Mileage when the problem started
What owners report
The contact owns a 2022 Chevrolet Silverado 1500. The contact stated while his wife was in a parking lot, she inadvertently depressed the accelerator as she was driving out of the parking lot, she crashed into a light pole with the front end of the vehicle in the center. The contact stated that the hood was crushed back to just before the front wheel wells. The front bumper was also crushed by the impact with the concrete stand that the light pole was attached. The contact stated that the concrete pillar had been moved back a few feet, and the light pole had been broken and bent. The contact said that the air bags had not deployed. The contact stated that his wife had suffered minor facial bruising and bruising to both knees from hitting the steering wheel and the bottom of the dashboard. There were no police or emergency services at the scene. …
The contact owns a 2022 Chevrolet Silverado 1500. The contact stated that while her husband was driving at 60 MPH and coughing, he got distracted and lost control of the vehicle. The vehicle veered off the road and crashed into several trees. The air bags failed to deploy. The contact's husband did not recall whether a warning light illuminated. The contact also stated that the following distance indicator feature of the vehicle that would cause the vehicle to decelerate when approaching an object failed to respond while the vehicle was veering towards the trees. The contact's husband was transported out of the vehicle to the hospital with the assistance of emergency units. The contact's husband sustained chips to his spine, C7+1 chips on his neck, a laceration on his forehead, bruises on the upper body, and a left broken rib. A police report was filed. …
The contact owns a 2021 Chevrolet Silverado 1500. The contact stated that while driving approximately 20 MPH, the vehicle crashed into a parked vehicle. During the crash, the front passenger side of the vehicle was severely damaged but the air bag did not deploy. The driver sustained an injured nose, mild concussion, bottom tooth damage, and back and neck pains. No medical treatment was needed. A police report was taken at the scene and the vehicle was later towed away. The cause of the failure was not determined. The manufacturer and local dealer were contacted but no assistance was offered. The manufacturer's air bag department declined assistance due to the air bag failure not being reported promptly. The failure mileage was 23,000.
The vehicle involved is a Chevrolet Silverado 1500. During a collision, the vehicle sustained a front-left (driver-side) impact which caused it to spin and subsequently strike the rear. Despite the severity of the initial impact and secondary rear collision, the Supplemental Restraint System (SRS), including the front and side airbags, did not deploy. The failure of the airbag system increased the risk of injury to all occupants, including a minor child. Without deployment of the front or side airbags during a front-left impact and secondary rear collision, occupants were exposed to direct impact forces that airbags are designed to help mitigate. There were no airbag or SRS warning lights, dashboard messages, or other indications of a malfunction prior to the collision. The concern regarding the airbag system arose only after the incident occurred. …
I was involved in a 3 car accident where I was stopped and rear ended into another vehicle in front of me. My car experienced severe damage which led to multiple minor injuries and a concussion because the airbags were not deployed. Because they were not deployed, I aggressively hit my head on the steering wheel and dash area of my vehicle. I had my seatbelt own but because of the airbag not deploying, I experienced multiple injuries. The vehicle that rear ended me was going 40-50 mph when they collided and pushed me into the truck stopped in front of me. I did receive an alert right when this happened from my application on my phone stating "Issue with Airbag system. Schedule Service Now" meaning that the airbag was not able to deploy when it was supposed to do so. …
I hit a concrete light pole at 10-15mph on the right side and zero air bags went off, I hit my face and arm and chest on steering wheel, broken my nose, messed left arm up and brushed left lung it's got fluid on it and ribs are bruised it's hard to breathe and move after a week happened on 2022 thanksgiving around 1030 pm cops showed up truck was undrivable, had X-rays and Ct scans and have a heart scan this week,
The contact owns a 2019 Chevrolet Silverado 1500. While driving at 60 MPH, the vehicle struck a deer, but the air bags failed to deploy. The air bag warning light illuminated after the vehicle was restarted. A police report was filed. The vehicle was driven away from the crash site. The vehicle was taken to an auto collision center, which was unable to determine the cause of the air bags failure. The vehicle was then taken to an unknown dealer, who cleared the DTC. The failure mileage was approximately 98,000.
The seatbelts and airbags did not engage when vehicle was involved in serious accident. Seatbelts we're on but did not lock up and airbags never deployed. Vehicle is in a body shop in Mexico. Serious spinal and hip injury made worse due to these components mail functioning. Vehicle is still in Mexico while insurance company drags their feet so they don't have to pay. Vehicle has only been towed and not examined while it just sits there waiting for insurance company to do something. There was a police report made and I'm unaware if insurance folks have looked at vehicle as They won't talk to us. There were no warning systems prior to incident. Why would a person even think their seatbelts and airbags weren't going to work??
Related recalls (17)
Air bags › Side/window › Curtain › Inflator
General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2016 Chevrolet Silverado 2500/3500, GMC Sierra 2500/3500 vehicles, and 2016-2017 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 and GMC Sierra 1500 vehicles. The left-side or right-side roof rail air bag (RRAB) inflator end cap may detach from the inflator or the inflator sidewall may rupture.
Remedy: Dealers will replace both RRAB modules, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed November 9, 2026.
Air bags
General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2018 Chevrolet Silverado 1500, GMC Sierra 1500, 2019 Chevrolet Silverado 2500, Silverado 3500, GMC Sierra 2500, and Sierra 3500 vehicles. The left-side or right-side roof rail air bag (RRAB) inflator end cap may detach from the inflator or the inflator sidewall may rupture.
Remedy: Dealers will replace both RRAB modules, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 24, 2026. Owners may contact GMC customer service at 1-888-988-7267 or Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020.
Air bags
General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2018 Chevrolet Silverado 1500, GMC Sierra 1500, 2019 Chevrolet Silverado 2500, Silverado 3500, GMC Sierra 2500, and Sierra 3500 Crew Cab vehicles. The left or right-side roof rail air bag (RRAB) inflator end cap may detach from the inflator or the inflator sidewall may rupture.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the left and right-side RRAB modules, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 16, 2026.
Air bags
General Motors (GM) is recalling certain 2018 GMC Sierra 1500, 2019 Sierra 2500, 3500, Chevrolet Silverado 3500, and Chevrolet Silverado 2500 and 2018 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Crew Cab vehicles. The left or right-side roof-rail air bag (RRAB) inflator end cap may detach from the inflator or the inflator sidewall may rupture.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the left and right side RRAB modules, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 23, 2025.
Air bags › Side/window › Curtain › Inflator
General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2018 Chevrolet Silverado 1500, GMC Sierra 1500, 2018-2019 Chevrolet Silverado 2500, 3500, and GMC Sierra 2500, 3500 Crew Cab trucks. The left or right-side roof-rail air bag (RRAB) inflator end cap may detach from the inflator or the inflator sidewall may rupture.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the left and right side RRAB modules, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 8, 2024.
Show 12 more recalls
Air bags › Air bag/restraint control module
General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2022 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 vehicles. The sensing diagnostic module (SDM) was left in manufacturing mode and not activated at the assembly plant prior to shipment.
Remedy: Dealers returned the vehicles to the GM assembly plant and the sensing diagnostic modules were activated. The vehicles had not been sold from dealer inventory and therefore no owner letters will be mailed.
Air bags › Side/window › Curtain › Inflator
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2015-2016 GMC Sierra 1500, 2500, 3500, and Chevrolet Silverado 1500, 2500, and 3500 trucks. The roof-rail air bag (RRAB) inflator end cap may detach from the inflator, or the inflator sidewall may rupture.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the left and right side RRAB modules, free of charge. Interim owner notification letters informing owners of the safety risk were mailed on August 18, 2021.
Air bags › Frontal
General Motors, LLC. (GM) is recalling certain 2021 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 vehicles. The front driver's side air bag module may be missing one or more metal tabs that secure the plastic air bag cover to the housing.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the driver frontal air bag, and replace it if necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed August 16, 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.
Air bags › Frontal › Passenger side › Inflator module
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.
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 2012 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, Escalade EXT, Chevrolet Avalanche, Silverado 1500, Silverado 2500/3500, Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Sierra 1500, Sierra 2500/3500, Yukon, and Yukon XL originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii,…
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 › Side/window › Curtain › Inflator
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2015-2016 GMC Sierra 1500 and Chevrolet Silverado 1500 and 2015 GMC Sierra 2500 and 3500, and Chevrolet Silverado 2500 and 3500 trucks. The roof-rail air bag (RRAB) inflator end cap may detach from the inflator.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the RRAB modules on the left and/or right side, free of charge. Interim owner notification letters were mailed on December 22, 2020.
Air bags › Side/window › Curtain › Inflator
General Motors, LLC. (GM) is recalling certain 2020 Buick Enclave, Cadillac XT5 and XT6, Chevrolet Blazer, Silverado 1500, 2500 and 3500 and Traverse and GMC Acadia and Sierra 1500, 2500 and 3500 vehicles.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the suspect RRAB modules, free of charge. The recall began September 3, 2020.
Air bags › Frontal › Passenger side › Inflator module
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2019 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Crew Cab and GMC Sierra 1500 Crew Cab vehicles. The passenger-side frontal air bag module may have been damaged during assembly, possibly resulting in the air bag not inflating properly in the event of a crash.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger side air bag module, free of charge. The recall began on December 18, 2018.
Air bags › Frontal › Sensor/control module-inactive
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2014-2016 Buick Lacrosse and Chevrolet Spark EV, Caprice PPV and SS vehicles, 2014-2017 Buick Encore and Chevrolet Corvette, Silverado 1500 and GMC Sierra 1500 vehicles, 2015-2016 Cadillac Escalade and Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Tahoe, Trax, Suburban and Silverado 2500 and…
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will reflash the SDM software. Vehicles that have had a previous air bag deployment will have the SDM replaced. These repairs will be performed free of charge.
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.
Air Bag Malfunction
On April 9, 2021, the Office of Defects Investigations (ODI) opened PE21-010 to investigate instances of air bag malfunction indicator light (MIL) illumination and potential for frontal air bag non-deployment in several vehicles manufactured by General Motors (GM).
Frequently asked questions
Which Chevrolet Silverado 1500 years have airbag problems?
By NHTSA complaints, the 2008 (594), 2007 (479), 2011 (306), 2009 (230) and 2010 (197) model years. Airbag complaints make up 65% of all complaints for the 2008.
Is there a recall for Chevrolet Silverado 1500 airbag problems?
Yes — 17 recalls, including 26V-611 (inflator, Sep 24, 2026); 26V-325 (air bags, May 21, 2026); 26V-166 (air bags, Mar 19, 2026). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers; check a specific car with the VIN recall check.
At what mileage do Chevrolet Silverado 1500 airbag problems start?
Across all years, half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 79,000 miles; 27% happened before 50,000 miles.
What part fails most often?
Owners most often name the frontal (48 mentions), followed by the side/window (11).
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.