2011 Chevrolet Suburban Airbag Problems

Mileage when the problem started

• Under 25k
  00%
• 25k–50k
  519%
• 50k–75k
  1141%
• 75k–100k
  726%
• 100k–150k
  27%
• 150k+
  27%

Owner reports

Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2011 Chevrolet Suburban owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).

This is not connected with a specific crash in this vehicle. It is a defect with all vehicles with this seat. There is known common defect with the stitching on the side of the front seats covering the airbag. The stitching is designed to come apart if an airbag is deployed. The defective stitching deteriorates and falls apart. This exposes the airbag system in the seat. This occurs on all GM vehicles with the same leather seats. Models include Suburbans, Yukons, and pickup trucks. In this Suburban the stiching started to come apart about 6 years ago with a few loose threads. The entire side of the seat has now come apart. The rest of the seat is in relatively good repair without any holes, rips or torn stitching. GM claims this is cosmetic and not covered. The safety issues caused by this includes the potential deterioration of the airbag system interfering with deployment in a crash. …

The contact owns a 2011 Chevrolet Suburban. The contact stated that the air bag warning light was illuminated on the instrument panel. The contact later received a recall notification for NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V050000 (Air Bags) which she associated to the failure. The vehicle was taken to the dealer for the recall repair; however, upon picking up the vehicle, the contact noticed that the air bag warning light remained illuminated. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer who provided the contact with a diagnostic fee. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.

Takata recall. The contact owns a 2011 Chevrolet Suburban. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 21V054000 (Air Bags) however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact called the local dealer who stated the parts were not available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was notified and referred the contact to NHTSA. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts are not available.

Takata Recall. The contact owns a 2011 Chevrolet Suburban. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V054000 (Air Bags) however, the dealer informed the contact that 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 not notified of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.

We were on a two lane road heading westbound. East bound vehicle crossed center strip striking our front drivers side of vehicle. We were on a curve in the road, traveling approx 40-45mph while other vehicle was traveling the same MPH if not more. Our vehicle sustained frame damage to the front drivers side as well as all airbags deploying except passenger side airbag/in seat airbag. Airbags that did deploy include: steering wheel, drivers curtain, drivers side airbag/seat, passenger dash board, passenger curtain, middle row curtains (both sides), 3rd row curtains (both sides). Passenger sitting in front seat is an adult and large enough that the airbag should have deployed. Attached are pictures to show all airbags in front row, as well as vehicle damage and police report. I have additional photos to show the rest of the airbags if needed.

Although GM says that the truck is safe, I feel that driving a potentially lethal truck with defective airbags, whose condition is made much worse because of the heat and humidity of sw florida, I do not feel it is safe at all.

In September 2014, I noticed my dash above the instrument cluster cracking. I purchased this car as a GM certified used car with original factory warrantee in April 2013 with 60081 miles on it. In less than 5 months of ownership it developed this crack while still under factory warrantee. I took it to my local dealer with all my paperwork and they said it was not covered, nor would they replace it. This crack has developed due to no fault of my own from neglect, excess wear and tear, excess sunlight or anything other than manufacture flaw. This crack has continued to spread and due to the thin and sharp nature of the plastic, if I were to get into an accident, this would splinter and act like shrapnel within the cabin. My family's life is danger due to this fact and GM refuses to acknowledge this is an issue. …

Tl* Takata recall. The contact owns a 2011 Chevrolet Suburban. The contact stated that the air bag warning indicator illuminated. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 16V381000 (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. Bruce lowrie Chevrolet (711 sw loop 820, fort worth, tx) was contacted and confirmed that the parts were not available for the recall remedy. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue and was not able to confirm when the parts were to become available. The failure mileage was approximately 151,000. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

I bought a GM certified Suburban and less than two weeks later the dashboard cracked behind the airbag. I called the dealer and GM and alerted them to the problem and told them I felt unsafe driving the vehicle with my children in the vehicle. I feel that if that airbag deploys it could send that sharp piece of broken plastic flying through my car. They will not fix the dashboard without me paying for it and said it is not a common complaint people are having. However, everyone I have talked to with a Suburban, tahoe, or pick up truck between the years of 2007-2013 is experiencing the same crack in the same place near that airbag. GM needs to fix these before innocent people get hurt.

This is a florida vehicle where heat and humidity (the major factors identified with failures of these airbags/inflators) can cause my Suburban to be a high risk to me and my family. We submitted for this recall in 2016 and have yet to be contacted on status or estimated time for the parts/procedures to be ready to complete this repair. As GM disagrees with this recall, they appear to be stalling in hopes that the vehicles will just be retired before they have to repair them. We shouldn't have to wait until people die for the NHTSA to force the hand on GM to implement this recall.

Related recalls

NHTSA investigations

Airbag complaints in other Suburban years