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 2008 GMC Sierra 1500 owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
The contact owns a 2009 GMC Sierra 1500. The contact stated while driving 30 MPH, the steering wheel air bag and driver seat belt air bag were inadvertently deployed. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact stated she veered to the side of the road and cut the air bags. The contact also stated she could no longer use the driver's seat belt as it was locked. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who advised the contact that they could not determine the cause of the failure. However, the manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that they could not share the diagnostic of the vehicle because it was confidential. The manufacturer also offered to buy back the vehicle. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 138,000.
The contact owns a 2008 GMC Sierra 1500. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked and turned off at the residence, the front windshield cracked. Upon inspection, the contact noticed that the front driver's and passenger's side air bags had deployed without impact. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, where it was diagnosed, and it was determined that a short circuit was caused by water damage in the air bag modules underneath the front driver's and passenger's side seats. The vehicle was then towed to a body shop for the air bags to be replaced; however, the replacement parts were on backorder. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 38,000.
The contact owns a 2008 GMC Sierra 1500. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V050000 (Air Bags). The local dealer was contacted and informed the contact about the disclaimer about the dashboard possibly being damaged. The dealer informed the contact that there were no loaner vehicles, but then called back and offered a loaner. The manufacturer was contacted and filed a clai,m and referred the contact to another local dealer. The contact called the other local dealer, Ferman Chevrolet of Tarpon Springs (43520 US Hwy 19 N, Tarpon Springs, FL 34689), who confirmed there was a disclaimer related to the recall repair. The contact had not experienced a failure.
I have contacted Blaise Alexander in muncy pa 17756 in 2020 or 2021 and they told me that the part was on back order they would contact me when the part has come in 5 years later they still have not contacted me I have reached out by phone through email and Facebook messenger to set up a time to fix my 2008 gmc sierra and haven't heard anything well last week my service air bag soon light came on and I am very nervous about that so I will not drive the truck I would like to file a formal complaint and have this taken care of please
I'm frustrated with the dash being cracked. the big issue is that i believe it is a safety issue. the dash is cracked around the airbag area. if this airbag should deploy someone could be hurt or killed. I would like to get this corrected because I'm afraid to operate the vehicle. Thank you for your attention in this matter. Regards, [xxx] PARTS OF THIS DOCUMENT HAVE BEEN REDACTED TO PROTECT PERSONALLY IDENTIFIABLE INFORMATION PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6) *cc
Takata recall. The contact owns a 2008 GMC Sierra 1500. The contact received a recall notification for NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V050000 (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 not notified of the issue. The part was not available for repair. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.
The contact owns a 2008 GMC Sierra 1500. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V050000 (Air Bags); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure.
Driving down the road on way home from work airbags blew out. The one in the steering wheel and the one on the passenger side. It busted windshield on passenger side. Shards of stuff all over dash on passenger side. That airbag popped 2 times.
Tl* the contact owned a 2008 GMC Sierra 1500. While driving 65 MPH and attempting to stop, the contact crashed into the rear of another vehicle. The air bags did not deploy. A police report was filed. The driver sustained an concussion and injuries to the neck, left shoulder, and back. Medical attention was required. The local dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer was notified and stated that the area for the air bags to deploy was not contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 195,000. The vehicle was destroyed. The VIN was not available.
Vehicle's airbags did not deploy upon collision with two concrete walls, causing a life threatening tbi and also severe damage to the left arm which resulted in it's inability to control/use below the elbow, and especially the hand. This was due to the brachial plexus injury that was caused when the airbags did not deploy as they were supposed to. I have attached the report from police and insurance company (with photos).
Related recalls
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.
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.
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 Sierra 1500 years
Frequently asked questions
How common are airbag problems on the 2008 GMC Sierra 1500?
NHTSA has 243 complaints about the air bags of the 2008 GMC Sierra 1500, 64% of the model year's 381 complaints. The component named most often is frontal (2 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2008 GMC Sierra 1500 airbag problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 21V-050 (inflator module, Feb 5, 2021); NHTSA recall 21V-052 (inflator module, Feb 5, 2021). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 2008 GMC Sierra 1500 airbag problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 86,000 miles, and 7% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 9 crashes, 0 fires and 10 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.