Airbag complaints by model year
| Year | Complaints | Share of year's complaints | Typical mileage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 2 | 1% | — |
| 2023 | 2 | 0% | — |
| 2022 | 3 | 1% | — |
| 2021 | 6 | 1% | 3,000 miles |
| 2020 | 6 | 1% | 35,000 miles |
| 2019 | 7 | 1% | 11,000 miles |
| 2018 | 8 | 3% | 25,000 miles |
| 2017 | 4 | 1% | 2,000 miles |
| 2016 | 12 | 3% | 47,000 miles |
| 2015 | 37 | 5% | 35,000 miles |
| 2014 | 26 | 3% | 52,000 miles |
| 2013 | 36 | 31% | 60,000 miles |
| 2012 | 42 | 39% | 73,000 miles |
| 2011 | 113 | 40% | 62,000 miles |
| 2010 | 77 | 46% | 65,000 miles |
| 2009 | 122 | 52% | 102,000 miles |
| 2008 | 243 | 64% | 86,000 miles |
| 2007 | 146 | 56% | 100,000 miles |
| 2006 | 9 | 6% | 111,000 miles |
| 2005 | 14 | 8% | 64,000 miles |
| 2004 | 8 | 4% | 56,000 miles |
| 2003 | 7 | 4% | 130,000 miles |
| 2002 | 5 | 3% | 130,000 miles |
| 2001 | 3 | 2% | 200,000 miles |
| 2000 | 6 | 3% | 164,000 miles |
| 1999 | 2 | 1% | 166,000 miles |
| 1998 | 4 | 7% | 230,000 miles |
| 1997 | 2 | 2% | — |
Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (front, side and curtain air bags, sensors and inflators).
Mileage when the problem started
What owners report
Hi , I came on here to see if there was an issue with airbags deploying on the gmxlc sierra 2022. A cow hobbled out into the route 11 , mooers , NY and I impacted with It well over 45mph . My chest hit the steering wheel and my neck was jerked forward and no airbag. Not sure if something is wrong woth the sensor or what. Also be advised the fatality in this incident was the cow annoyed down below.
Following engine replacement per NHTSA for 6.2l GMC engine. I am submitting a safety complaint regarding my 2022 GMC Sierra 1500 Denali (refresh body style). The vehicle has experienced repeated failures of driver-assist features and safety system warnings, including: Dash messages: "Lane Keeping Assist System Unavailable" and "Service Safety Restraint System." When the fault occurs, driver-assist features including Adaptive Cruise Control become inoperative. The issue has recurred multiple times, including after repairs. After one event, the truck sat parked approximately 10 days and the battery discharged to failure and required replacement. A dealership visit documented DTC U3000 ("Internal Electronic Failure") in the front view camera module. The dealer replaced/programmed/calibrated the front camera on 02/09/2026 at approximately 58,405 miles (invoice/RO #285795). …
Airbag system did not deploy but smoke in cabin during a crash. Video of front, rear and inside cabin shows the rear end passenger side impact at an estimated 45-50 MPH. I saw smoke in cabin, disturbed with anxiety after crash waiting for bags to deploy accidentally. The airbag deployed red light illuminated notifying an airbag deployment. I received a GM message through the vehicle report application stating that my airbag system malfunctioned and I needed to take the vehicle to a service department for repair as soon as possible. This crash was a total loss of the GMC Sierra, this was how hard the vehicle was hit. Why did the airbag system smoke? Why did the airbags not deploy? Why did I receive a Malfunctioning Airbag system message from GMC? …
The airbag system failed to deploy during a collision that resulted in the total loss of the vehicle. Additionally, the vehicle was operating with a 17" spare tire (undersized compared to the standard 20" wheels), which may have contributed to the accident. The vehicle has been totaled and is currently in the possession of the insurance company, but may be available for inspection upon request. Despite the severity of the collision, none of the airbags deployed, which could have resulted in serious injury if the circumstances were different. The use of an undersized 17" spare tire may have affected the vehicle's stability, braking, or performance, contributing to the crash. No. The vehicle was declared a total loss and has not been evaluated for defect reproduction by a dealer or service center. …
The contact owns a 2020 GMC Sierra. The contact proceeded through the intersection when a vehicle crashed into the contact's driver's side door and wheel at unknown speeds. The contact stated that the other vehicle crashed into two vehicles, then crashed into the contact's vehicle and stopped. The contact stated that the police report stated that the vehicle that crashed into the contact was constantly moving at the posted limit of 50 MPH. The air bags did not deploy. The contact was treated for a left shoulder sprain and swollen right hand, however, it was unknown if other passengers sustained injuries. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to a body shop but the vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 34,800.
The contact owned a 2020 GMC Sierra 1500. The contact stated that while he was stopped in traffic, he was rear-ended, which caused him to crash into the vehicle in front of him. The contact stated that smoke was seen coming from the air bag; however, the air bags failed to deploy. The contact had not sustained injuries. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to a salvage yard. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 64,000.
What happened: the air bags failed to deploy during a crash. Question: What component or system failed or malfunctioned? Answer: air bags, automatic emergency braking, forward collision warning. Question: Is it available for inspection upon request? Answer: yes Question: How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? Answer: driver-side air bags failed to deploy upon a rear-end collision with the vehicle to my immediate front @ 40 mph. Question: Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? Answer: No. It currently is at a repair facility as of this morning and it's apparent that the air bags did not deploy. Question: Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others? Answer: No, and not to my knowledge since turning the vehicle into the repair facility this morning. …
System that failed was the air bag system , Yes it can be available for inspection with notification, My family and friend were put at risk when the air bag system deployed in a parked car and seat belt restraints were deployed pulling them back into the seats , not moving and no other cars around it or near it went off Randomly it was NOT IN AN ACCIDENT , injuring the 3 occupants. The problem is still pending , At the dealer, and General motors has been notified . Case 9-6893265248, General Motors Product Assistance Claims (PAC) There has been a police report filled with local officials, I don't think the dealership has inspected , Buy recommendation of GM, since this is none accident related to the air bag system going off randomly, Very freighting to me and my family. …
Related recalls (15)
Air bags › Side/window › Curtain › Inflator
General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2016 Chevrolet Silverado 2500/3500, GMC Sierra 2500/3500 vehicles, and 2016-2017 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 and GMC Sierra 1500 vehicles. The left-side or right-side roof rail air bag (RRAB) inflator end cap may detach from the inflator or the inflator sidewall may rupture.
Remedy: Dealers will replace both RRAB modules, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed November 9, 2026.
Air bags
General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2018 Chevrolet Silverado 1500, GMC Sierra 1500, 2019 Chevrolet Silverado 2500, Silverado 3500, GMC Sierra 2500, and Sierra 3500 vehicles. The left-side or right-side roof rail air bag (RRAB) inflator end cap may detach from the inflator or the inflator sidewall may rupture.
Remedy: Dealers will replace both RRAB modules, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 24, 2026. Owners may contact GMC customer service at 1-888-988-7267 or Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020.
Air bags
General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2018 Chevrolet Silverado 1500, GMC Sierra 1500, 2019 Chevrolet Silverado 2500, Silverado 3500, GMC Sierra 2500, and Sierra 3500 Crew Cab vehicles. The left or right-side roof rail air bag (RRAB) inflator end cap may detach from the inflator or the inflator sidewall may rupture.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the left and right-side RRAB modules, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 16, 2026.
Air bags
General Motors (GM) is recalling certain 2018 GMC Sierra 1500, 2019 Sierra 2500, 3500, Chevrolet Silverado 3500, and Chevrolet Silverado 2500 and 2018 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Crew Cab vehicles. The left or right-side roof-rail air bag (RRAB) inflator end cap may detach from the inflator or the inflator sidewall may rupture.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the left and right side RRAB modules, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 23, 2025.
Air bags › Side/window › Curtain › Inflator
General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2018 Chevrolet Silverado 1500, GMC Sierra 1500, 2018-2019 Chevrolet Silverado 2500, 3500, and GMC Sierra 2500, 3500 Crew Cab trucks. The left or right-side roof-rail air bag (RRAB) inflator end cap may detach from the inflator or the inflator sidewall may rupture.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the left and right side RRAB modules, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 8, 2024.
Show 10 more recalls
Air bags › Side/window › Curtain › Inflator
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2015-2016 GMC Sierra 1500, 2500, 3500, and Chevrolet Silverado 1500, 2500, and 3500 trucks. The roof-rail air bag (RRAB) inflator end cap may detach from the inflator, or the inflator sidewall may rupture.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the left and right side RRAB modules, free of charge. Interim owner notification letters informing owners of the safety risk were mailed on August 18, 2021.
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.
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.
Air bags › Frontal › Passenger side › Inflator module
General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2012 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, Escalade EXT, Chevrolet Avalanche, Silverado 1500, Silverado 2500/3500, Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Sierra 1500, Sierra 2500/3500, Yukon, and Yukon XL originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii,…
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 › Side/window › Curtain › Inflator
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2015-2016 GMC Sierra 1500 and Chevrolet Silverado 1500 and 2015 GMC Sierra 2500 and 3500, and Chevrolet Silverado 2500 and 3500 trucks. The roof-rail air bag (RRAB) inflator end cap may detach from the inflator.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the RRAB modules on the left and/or right side, free of charge. Interim owner notification letters were mailed on December 22, 2020.
Air bags › Side/window › Curtain › Inflator
General Motors, LLC. (GM) is recalling certain 2020 Buick Enclave, Cadillac XT5 and XT6, Chevrolet Blazer, Silverado 1500, 2500 and 3500 and Traverse and GMC Acadia and Sierra 1500, 2500 and 3500 vehicles.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the suspect RRAB modules, free of charge. The recall began September 3, 2020.
Air bags › Frontal › Passenger side › Inflator module
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2019 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Crew Cab and GMC Sierra 1500 Crew Cab vehicles. The passenger-side frontal air bag module may have been damaged during assembly, possibly resulting in the air bag not inflating properly in the event of a crash.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger side air bag module, free of charge. The recall began on December 18, 2018.
Air bags › Frontal › Sensor/control module-inactive
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2014-2016 Buick Lacrosse and Chevrolet Spark EV, Caprice PPV and SS vehicles, 2014-2017 Buick Encore and Chevrolet Corvette, Silverado 1500 and GMC Sierra 1500 vehicles, 2015-2016 Cadillac Escalade and Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Tahoe, Trax, Suburban and Silverado 2500 and…
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will reflash the SDM software. Vehicles that have had a previous air bag deployment will have the SDM replaced. These repairs will be performed free of charge.
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.
Air Bag Malfunction
On April 9, 2021, the Office of Defects Investigations (ODI) opened PE21-010 to investigate instances of air bag malfunction indicator light (MIL) illumination and potential for frontal air bag non-deployment in several vehicles manufactured by General Motors (GM).
Frequently asked questions
Which GMC Sierra 1500 years have airbag problems?
By NHTSA complaints, the 2008 (243), 2007 (146), 2009 (122), 2011 (113) and 2010 (77) model years. Airbag complaints make up 64% of all complaints for the 2008.
Is there a recall for GMC Sierra 1500 airbag problems?
Yes — 15 recalls, including 26V-611 (inflator, Sep 24, 2026); 26V-325 (air bags, May 21, 2026); 26V-166 (air bags, Mar 19, 2026). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers; check a specific car with the VIN recall check.
At what mileage do GMC Sierra 1500 airbag problems start?
Across all years, half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 81,000 miles; 30% happened before 50,000 miles.
What part fails most often?
Owners most often name the frontal (14 mentions), followed by the side/window › curtain (3).
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.