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 2005 Chevrolet Silverado owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
The contact owns a 2005 Chevrolet Silverado 1500. The contact stated while driving approximately 50 mph, he lost control of the vehicle due to losing consciousness. The vehicle left the roadway and went airborne and crashed with a road sign landing in a field. None of the airbags deployed and only the seatbelt lap belt tensioned not the shoulder strap. The contact sustained injuries such as several lacerations across the face and inside the mouth, and broken L1 vertebrae. The contact mentioned he fractured the steering wheel with his face during the impact. A police report was filed and the vehicle was towed to a local lot then towed again to the contacts insurance lot where it was awaiting a diagnosis. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 281,000.
I had an accident on Tuesday sept. 20, 2005 driving my 2005 Chevy pickup k2500 hd 4 wheel drive. I lost control and went off highway striking a city dumpster headon and moving the dumpster approximately 50-60 ft. By police report and than going back on highway and crossing all 4 lanes before the truck stopped. My truck was totaled but my airbag never deployed. I was unconscious and was airlifted to vanderbilt hospital in nashville tn. Why didn't my airbag deploy with a headon crash of this force? This seems to be a defect in the product. I received a 4 inch cut across the bottom of my chin that required several stitches and very sore from my head down my right leg. Still following up with doctors....
SRS warning came on. Had fault code. Called Chevy dealer and they said I would need a new airbag. I researched and found that GM does know about this and even put out a TSB. It is a connector to the airbag itself located in the left kick panel. The fix is to clean the connector or replace it. No new airbag is needed but it did reoccur about a year later. Recleaned and OK again. This is a safety item and should be a recall. Since GM knew it I must assume that NHTSA knew it also. I can see where a lot of people would not fix this and just drive like this since a lot of technicians think you need a new airbag when it is in fact poor wiring by GM.
Dt: the contact owns a 2005 Chevrolet Silverado. While driving on a steep curve he had to panic brake to avoid going over an embankment. The brakes locked and would not allow the vehicle to slow down or stop. The vehicle hit the ground and proceeded to flip over. The vehicle is equipped with driver and passenger side air bags. Upon impact the front air bags did not deploy. The vehicle has not been inspected to determine why the brakes locked up or why the air bags did not deploy. He has not contacted the manufacturer or the service dealer.
Dt*: the contact stated the vehicle was involved in an accident on dry roads. Two vehicles collided in front of the contact, causing an emergency braking situation. The contact collided with the rear of the second vehicle, and the air bags did not deploy. The contact was injured in the accident. An independent repair shop was consulted and they were unable to duplicate the problem.
As I was driving the "service air bag" warning appeared in the information center of the dash and the air bag light started to blink. There was no reason for the warning light. I re-set the information center and the warning reappeared. Very disappointing as there are only 64,537 miles on the vehicle. I checked on the internet to see if there was a recall for this problem for my vehicle, as the miles are very low on my vehicle. Of course there was none for my vehicle. It appears this is a common problem with GM vehicles and an extra expense to the owners. I'm very disappointed at this point. I could not locate any recalls for my vehicle VIN, but there were other recalls involving the air bags with other GM vehicles. I'm lost for words.
Service air bag warning light has been on since 2007, when vehicle was still under warranty. Has been to bob grimm Chevrolet in morton, il for this same problem approx 9 times. I no longer live in the vicinity of this dealer, and wouldn't want them working on it again since they have been unable to repair multiple times. Written communication to GM all the way up to ceo has not resolved this issue. Jack schmitt Chevrolet in o'fallon, il did a diagnostic and reported the air bag in my vehicle is used. Nobody has ever worked on the truck regarding the air bag except bob grimm Chevrolet. My understanding is when this light is on, the air bag will not deploy, endangering my life.
For no apparent reason, the air bag warning lights on vehicle came on when starting the vehicle. Vehicle has not been involved in any accident. Vehicle was taken in for repair and repair shop said the front sensors for no apparent reason had gone defective disabling the air bags on vehicle. Sensors had to be replaced and I was told parts were only available from a Chevrolet dealership. After repair I checked online and found numerous other owners of Chevrolet vehicles have experienced the same problem. I am concerned with the safety issue of disabled air bags when this part goes defective for no reason.
I was driving 75 MPH with my cruise control on, and the speedometer dropped to 35 MPH. Shortly after, about 10 miles, the air bag light came on. The speedometer reset after turning off the ignition switch and worked properly. This happened again two more times, and the speedometer failed completely. The air bag light remained on and is still on at 123,000 miles. Diagnostic check showed number 1 air bag sensor fault. Replaced sensor. Air bag light still on. I sent the speedometer head to a private mechanic in minnesota, and it now works fine.
I was driving the vehicle at normal speeds and I have had this vehicle for about 6 months and never have had a problem with it. All the sudden I get a message that says "service air bag". I took the truck to the dealer and they diagnosed it and they said that the truck needs a new front drivers side impact sensor that went bad. This truck has never been in an accident and the airbags have never been deployed. They told me that if this repair does not get done, if I have an accident the airbags wouldn't deploy.
Airbag complaints in other Silverado years
Frequently asked questions
How common are airbag problems on the 2005 Chevrolet Silverado?
NHTSA has 28 complaints about the air bags of the 2005 Chevrolet Silverado, 9% of the model year's 316 complaints. The component named most often is frontal (4 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2005 Chevrolet Silverado airbag problems?
No. NHTSA lists no air bags recall for the 2005 Chevrolet Silverado, though it has 8 recalls for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2005 Chevrolet Silverado airbag problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 64,000 miles, and 24% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 6 crashes, 0 fires and 6 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.