Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2013 GMC Sierra 1500 owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
The contact owns a 2013 GMC Sierra 1500. The contact stated that the vehicle was taken to the dealer to be repaired under NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V054000 (Air Bags). The contact stated that prior to having his vehicle repaired, he had not experienced any failure with his vehicle. The contact stated that once he picked up the vehicle, he noticed that there was a crack on the passenger's side dashboard where the air bag was replaced. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer and the contact was informed that the dealer was not liable for any damages to the dashboard. The contact stated that the dealer provided a letter from the manufacturer which stated that the dealer nor manufacturer was responsible for any damages done in the process of completing the recall. The contact stated that his vehicle was in perfect condition prior to the repair and felt that the air bag was now unsafe. …
The contact owns a 2013 GMC Sierra 1500. The contact stated that while driving approximately 60 MPH, the roof, passenger's side curtain, and the front side air bags deployed without a crash. The contact stated that the driver's and passenger's side seat belts no longer deployed, and there were metallic debris coming from the air bags. The contact sustained a cut on the right leg. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer where it was diagnosed with moist air bags and corrosion that caused the failure after rainy weather. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 170,000.
Received notice in March 2021 of defective passenger side air bag inflator which, due to environmental related degradation can explode during deployment sending metal fragments through the air bag into the vehicle risking serious injury or death. Notice further states parts are not currently available to repair the defect. No notice was received as of 9/15/21, and in checking on NHTSA and GM websites on this topic, there is no indication of when or if it will ever be repaired. This complaint is initiated to get specific information how long a passenger in my vehicle is at risk of serious injury or death from this defective air bag inflator.
Takata Recall. The contact owns a 2013 GMC Sierra. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V053000 (Air Bags) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted and confirmed that parts were not yet available. The manufacturer was notified and advised the contact to call the local dealer to schedule an appointment. The contact called the dealer and an appointment was scheduled however, after calling the dealer back to change the appointment date, she was informed that parts were not yet available. The contact had not experienced a failure. Vin tool confirms parts not available.
The contact owns a 2013 GMC Sierra 1500. The contact stated that while her son was driving approximately 70 MPH, the driver's and passenger's side air bags inadvertently deployed, causing the seat belts lock into place. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and the contact was informed that there was no recall on the VIN for the failure. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and scheduled an inspection however, the results were not made available. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was unknown.
Takata Recall. The contact owns a 2013 GMC Sierra 1500. The contact received a recall notification for NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V054000 (Air Bags) however, the dealer informed the contact that the part for 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. VIN tool confirms parts are not available.
Takata Recall. The contact owns a 2013 GMC Sierra 1500. The contact received a recall notification for NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V054000 (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 dealer and the manufacturer were not notified of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
Takata recall. The contact owns a 2013 GMC Sierra 1500. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 21V054000 (Air Bags) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. No 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. Vin tool confirms parts not available.
The contact owns a 2013 GMC Sierra 1500. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V054000 (Air Bags). The contact took the vehicle to the local dealer and had the recall repair performed February 25, 2021. The contact stated the air bag warning light had since illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. A dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.
Takata recall. The contact owns a 2013 GMC Sierra 1500. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V054000 (Air Bags) however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. 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. VIN tool confirms parts are not available.
Related recalls
Air bags › Frontal › Passenger side › Inflator module
General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2013 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, and Escalade EXT, Chevrolet Avalanche, Silverado 1500, Silverado 2500/3500, Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Sierra 1500, Sierra 2500/3500, Yukon, and Yukon XL vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of Alabama, California, Florida,…
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 24, 2021.
Air bags › Frontal › Passenger side › Inflator module
General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2014 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Silverado 2500, Silverado 3500, Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Sierra 2500, Sierra 3500, Yukon, and Yukon XL vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of AL, CA, FL, GA, HI, LA, MS, SC, TX, PR, AS, GU, the MP, and VI or "Zone…
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 25, 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 2013 GMC Sierra 1500?
NHTSA has 36 complaints about the air bags of the 2013 GMC Sierra 1500, 31% of the model year's 116 complaints.
Is there a recall for 2013 GMC Sierra 1500 airbag problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 21V-053 (inflator module, Feb 5, 2021); NHTSA recall 21V-054 (inflator module, Feb 5, 2021). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 2013 GMC Sierra 1500 airbag problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 60,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 2 crashes, 0 fires and 3 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.