2008 Chevrolet Suburban Airbag Problems

Mileage when the problem started

• Under 25k
  00%
• 25k–50k
  28%
• 50k–75k
  416%
• 75k–100k
  624%
• 100k–150k
  1040%
• 150k+
  312%

Owner reports

Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2008 Chevrolet Suburban owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).

The contact owns a 2008 Chevrolet Suburban. The contact stated that while her daughter was driving at 30 MPH, she started to choke and was unable to breathe, which resulted in the driver fully colliding into a cement wall. The driver sustained injuries, and medical attention was provided, and the contact child was taken to the local trauma facility. The contact stated that all of the air bags located in the vehicle were deployed during the incident. A police officer was driving behind during the incident and assisted immediately after the crash. The contact was concerned that the air bags deployed violently, causing a fracture to the driver's neck, which resulted in an emergency trigonometry on the scene, who cut the trachea. The driver suffered injuries and underwent multiple operations due to the incident. The driver sustained lung and trachea injuries from the incident. …

Takata Recall. The contact owns a 2008 Chevrolet Suburban. The contact received a recall notice for NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V052000(AIRBAGS); however, upon contacting the dealer, she was informed that the remedy may cause her dashboard to crack and she would be responsible for the repair. The manufacturer was then notified of the matter and confirmed that the dealer would not be held responsible for any cracks or damages to the dashboard. The contact stated that the manufacturer should cover the cost of the dashboard due to the recall. The vehicle had yet to be repaired for the recall. The contact had not experienced a failure.

The contact owned a 2008 Chevrolet Suburban. The contact received recall notifications of NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V050000 (Air Bags) and would like to be removed from the recall distribution list because she no longer owns the vehicle. The dealer was contacted. The manufacturer was not contacted.

Took my SUV for an airbag recall and when it was completed my truck AirBag light was left on. My truck did not have that light on when I arrived at the location. Dealer mentioned not knowing what to do about it. I made a complaint and nothing was done by the dealer.

Tl* the contact owned a 2008 Chevrolet Suburban. The contact stated while driving at 55 MPH, the rear axle fractured. As a result, the brakes would not engage when the brakes were suppressed causing the contact to crash into a concrete barrier. The air bags failed to deploy. A police report was filed.the contact sustained a broken wrist and neck soreness. The contact did not seek any medical attention. The vehicle was not drivable and was towed to her home address. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. A dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer had not been informed of failure. The failure mileage was 140,000.

I'm am bringing up a safety concern in my vehicle pertaining to the airbags in the front of the vehicle. I own a 2008 Suburban and recently the dash board has cracked right near the passenger air bag. I have called the Chevrolet corporate to voice my concerns and I have been told the vehicle is out of warranty so there is nothing they can do. I am really concerned if my front passenger airbags ever deploys it will cause the dash board to become a projectile. I believe this is a huge safety concern and this is the second Chevrolet that I have owned that has the same problem in the same place. The first vehicle was a 07 Chevrolet tahoe, which Chevrolet/GM fully repaired. I had to trade my 07 tahoe because my family got bigger and got the Suburban now it has done the same thing. I am really concerned for the safety of my family and other family's who own a Chevrolet with this same problem.

The dash on my 2008 Suburban cracked at around 70,000 miles, in 2012. I reported it then to both my dealer and GM. They called this a cosmetic issue and that they were clearly not responsible, however, many many other suburbans, tahoes, sliverados, and trucks have the very same issue and at exactly the same spots around the airbag. The cracks are around the passenger side airbag, such that, if the airbag were to deploy, sharp plastic shrapnel would fly into the passenger's face. This is a deadly safety concern that I take extremely serious, such that the situation becomes GM is literally and directly threatening the safety of my family. Pictures are attached which show the safety defect adjacent to the airbag. Please help push GM with addressing this serious deficiency.

Tl* Takata recall. The contact owns a 2008 Chevrolet Suburban. The contact stated that when the vehicle was restarted, the air bag indicator illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The manufacturer stated that the parts would not be available until August. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 16V383000 (air bags); however, the parts to do the repair were unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The failure mileage was 147,000. VIN tool confirms parts not available. Updated 09/06/17

This is a major safety concern and Chevrolet will not take ownership that this is a a major defect in manufacturing. These dashboards cracking and now the safety cover for my air bag is popping up. I am afraid that the airbag will falsely deploy. I have four kids that take turns in the front seat were this can be a big issue. Not only that, if we do get into an accident the dashboard fragments can break off and impale someone. This needs to be recalled before injuries occur. I have pictures if u would like to see them. I even have a bumper to bumper warrantee and they are still not fixing the issue.

Driving when you reach about 30-35 MPH all the locks start cycling up and down, all the gauges go haywire, there is a throttle in the engine. When you turn it off sometimes it starts back up and runs fine and sometimes it won't do anything like the battery is dead and then a few minutes later it comes back on and starts back up. The last incident was 01/09/20 but this started in 12/2019. The vehicle has a brand new engine which only has about 1,000 miles on it. Also there is a crack in the dash at the corner of the passenger side air bag.

Related recalls

NHTSA investigations

Airbag complaints in other Suburban years