Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (front, side and curtain air bags, sensors and inflators).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2000 Chevrolet Silverado owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
The event was a car pulled out in front of me which still hit the driver's side of my vehicle (2000 Chevy Silverado). Then my truck had a full frontal impact at greater than 30 MPH into a dirt wall in which neither the driver's nor passenger's airbags deployed (the truck is totalled). I hit the steering wheel and got a concussion with blood around the brain, a broke cheek bone, and fractured hip. My wife was 33 weeks preganant at the time and her water broke and she got a compound fracture in the lower leg/ankle. As a result of the water breaking my son was born 3 days later 7 weeks premature. As for what was done to correct the problem I'm hoping it will at least be investigated to make sure this is not a systemic problem (I.e. Software screwup something not hooked up right in the airbag system etc). I have pics of the truck and the crash site I can send if necessary. …
Dt: the contact's son was involved in an accident on 6-17-05. The contact received a copy of the crash report. Upon impact, neither air bag deployed. The vehicle hit several trees. The police report stated the speed limit was 55 MPH. The passenger's head went through the windshield, but passenger was not seriously hurt. Neither the driver nor the passenger had to go to the hospital. The contact reported that air bag light illuminated in the car prior to the incident. The insurance company has been notified. The truck was totaled. The contact took pictures of the pine tree that was embedded in the hood. Updated 11/15/05.
I was in a head on collision and received a compound fracture to my right femur bone, 2 black eyes and fractured ribs due to the inactivation of the drivers and passenger airbag modules, also the steering wheel bent resembling an airplane wheel. My wife checked the internet after the incident and found there was a recall for the airbag module on the year of my 2000 Chevrolet Silverado truck. We were never notified of this before the incident, but are currently receiving updates today. Do not understand why we were never notified of this. The truck is now in a storage yard and we are awaiting the response from the insurance adjustor.
Tl contact owns a 2000 Chevrolet Silverado. While driving 30 MPH he depressed the brakes and crashed into the vehicle in front of him. The air bags did not deploy. The front seat passenger sustained a lacerated spleen and contusion of the heart. A complaint was submitted to the manufacturer (complaint # 71-546827970). The current and failure mileages were 128,000. Updated 02-01-08 updated 02/01/08
Consumer complained about air bag failure. On two separate occasions vehicle was involved in a crash. In first crash vehicle was struck at the right fender area at 75-80 MPH and neither air bag deployed. In second crash vehicle was struck from the driver's side at 50 MPH, and neither air bag deployed. Consumer would like NHTSA to explain these issues.
Recall campaign 02V078 00 concerning air bag sensing module. Consumer's vehicle was involved in a rear end collision, it crashed into another vehicle in front at 50 MPH. Upon impact, neither frontal air bag deployed. Consumer sustaine dinjuries, and was transported to the local hospital by ambulance. Dealer and manufacturer were notified.
Dt: consumer's vehicle was involved in a car accident on September 11, 2005 while driving 50-55 MPH. It was a head on collision. Upon impact, driver's side air bag did not deploy. The consumer had not contacted the dealer or manufacturer.
The vehicle was involved in a frontal collision while driving at 40 MPH and none of the air bags deployed upon impact. Driver impacted the steering wheel, and driver's side seat belt didn't retract.
Off center head on crash with 2 similar 2000 Chevy Silverado extended cab pick up trucks. Estimated impact speed 90 MPH ( 60 MPH vehicle 2, 30 MPH vehicle 1 per chp report) no airbag deployment of either vehicle.
I contacted sarah schille of general motors about this failure.she sent an investigator to tom benson to look at the truck. He did whatever he does to collect data from the vehicle and then takes pictures etc. And sends all of the information to GM for evaluation. I feel this accident was severe enough for the airbags deploy and I'm not satisfied at all with GM's response to the situation. I requested the report and a copy of the deployment criteria for the airbags I was told that information will not be supplied. How am I to know if this is a failure or not. This information should not be private to the manufacturer only. I want someone to look into this problem.
Related recalls
Air bags › Frontal › Sensor/control module-inactive
On certain pickup and utility trucks, some of these vehicles have an air bag sensing diagnostic module (sdm) which contains an anomaly that could result in the driver and passenger's air bag failing to deploy during certain frontal crashes.
Remedy: Dealers will recalibrate the sdm on the affected vehicles. Owner notification began August 28, 2002. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free…
Airbag complaints in other Silverado years
Frequently asked questions
How common are airbag problems on the 2000 Chevrolet Silverado?
NHTSA has 53 complaints about the air bags of the 2000 Chevrolet Silverado, 4% of the model year's 1,305 complaints. The component named most often is frontal (44 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2000 Chevrolet Silverado airbag problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 02V-178 (sensor/control module-inactive, Jul 1, 2002). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 2000 Chevrolet Silverado airbag problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 80,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 52 crashes, 1 fire and 51 injuries and 1 death 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.