Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2009 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
Takata recall. The contact owns a 2009 Chevrolet Silverado 2500. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V050000 (Air Bags) however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The local dealer was contacted, and it was confirmed that the part was not yet available. 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. Parts distribution disconnect.
i have a 2009 Chevy 2500 HD and my ABS, Stable Trac and air bag lights resently went on and i all the sudden lost brake power and found out that the Abs module and Harness were melted really bad. i have not reported it to anyone yet i dont know how to go about it .
Been getting notification post cards about this airbag recall and called my dealer in June 2023 about getting the work done, and have not heard back from them to schedule anything. 11 months later I talked to them, and they say the part is hard to get, and they are waiting on the parts. Now I am 14 months past the time I called to schedule repairs and still no parts. I don't think this is being handled in a timely manner. Still driving around with a recalled airbag.
Takata recall. The contact owns a 2009 Chevrolet Silverado 2500. The contact received a recall notification for NHTSA Campaign number: 21V053000 (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. The manufacturer was notified of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Vin tool confirms parts are not available.
Tl* Takata recall. The contact owned a 2009 Chevrolet Silverado 2500. While driving approximately 45 MPH, the contact fell asleep behind the wheel, veered off the road, and crashed into a pole. None of the air bags deployed. A police report was not filed. The contact sustained injuries to the hands, abdominal area, upper thighs, and knees. Medical attention was required. The vehicle was towed by the insurance company and deemed a total loss. The vehicle was not diagnosed by the insurance company or a dealer to determine why the air bags failed to deploy. The vehicle was not included in NHTSA campaign number: 16V381000 (air bags). The manufacturer was notified after the crash. The approximate failure mileage was 92,060.
"Takata recall" received a safety recall notice by mail dated July 2016 regarding the front passenger air bag inflators can malfunction. Over the last year and a half I have contacted several dealerships in my area for a replacement. I was told that there was an ongoing court battle where Takata claims that their is nothing wrong with the original installed inflator. The dealerships told me that they do not have replacement parts and would not install a replacement part until the court case was settled. No injuries have happened yet because the vehicle has not been in an accident. However I fear that someone May be injured or killed if an accident in this vehicle occurs.
Tl* the contact was operating a 2009 Chevrolet Silverado 2500. The contact stated that the company vehicle was stationary when a second vehicle crashed into its rear. As a result, the contact's company vehicle crashed into the rear of a third vehicle. The front end of the vehicle was severely damaged. The air bags failed to deploy although the display message indicated that the air bags had deployed. The driver and three passengers all suffered various head, back, and neck injuries that required medical attention. A police report was filed. The failure mileage was 68,000.
I have had several electrical issues as wiring harness rub through behind the left cylinder head,right side of dashboard cracking above passenger side airbag which was reported and nothing done as replies ,I see this as a danger to me and passengers as it May blow up and hurt or kill occupants and electrical issues are a fire hazard as personal safety .
Dash is cracking around airbag. Mine cracked just sitting. This seams to be an ongoing issue within the GM community. These dashes are cracking and could cause someone to be injured should the vehicle get into an impact and not only the airbag deploy but plastic shards project ahead of the airbag.
Not the actual air bag, but the plastic dash around it. Known cracking in the dash will cause it to shatter during air bag deployment causing possible injuries due to pieces becoming projectiles. GM is well aware of this defect in the manufacture of the dash.
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 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 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 Silverado 2500 years
Frequently asked questions
How common are airbag problems on the 2009 Chevrolet Silverado 2500?
NHTSA has 24 complaints about the air bags of the 2009 Chevrolet Silverado 2500, 39% of the model year's 61 complaints.
Is there a recall for 2009 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 airbag problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 21V-053 (inflator module, Feb 5, 2021); NHTSA recall 21V-052 (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 2009 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 airbag problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 75,000 miles, and 9% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 2 crashes, 1 fire and 5 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.