Airbag complaints by model year
| Year | Complaints | Share of year's complaints | Typical mileage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 2 | 1% | 1,000 miles |
| 2022 | 3 | 2% | 1,000 miles |
| 2021 | 4 | 2% | 117,000 miles |
| 2020 | 1 | 2% | — |
| 2019 | 3 | 4% | 170,000 miles |
| 2018 | 2 | 4% | — |
| 2017 | 4 | 3% | — |
| 2016 | 3 | 1% | 60,000 miles |
| 2015 | 1 | 0% | 66,000 miles |
| 2014 | 2 | 18% | 52,000 miles |
| 2013 | 5 | 23% | 60,000 miles |
| 2012 | 5 | 38% | 75,000 miles |
| 2011 | 21 | 45% | 100,000 miles |
| 2010 | 15 | 54% | 130,000 miles |
| 2009 | 10 | 43% | 61,000 miles |
| 2008 | 42 | 61% | 145,000 miles |
| 2007 | 58 | 60% | 100,000 miles |
| 2005 | 2 | 5% | 20,000 miles |
| 2004 | 5 | 6% | 14,000 miles |
| 2003 | 3 | 2% | 238,000 miles |
| 2002 | 2 | 2% | 73,000 miles |
| 2001 | 2 | 1% | 235,000 miles |
| 2000 | 3 | 4% | 33,000 miles |
Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (front, side and curtain air bags, sensors and inflators).
Mileage when the problem started
What owners report
The contact owns a 2022 GMC Yukon XL. The contact stated that the component that controls the overhead console was not working. The contact stated that the warning light had illuminated that the air bag had a malfunction. The dealer diagnosed the failure, and advised her that the roof console needed to be replaced, however if she was involved in a crash the air bag would not deploy. The part was ordered however it had been 2 months since the order was placed. The contact also mentioned that the service safety restrain system warning light illuminated and the dealer replaced the fuse but the failure reoccurred. The contact stated that she then contacted the manufacturer who advised her they were not able to speak to her because of a lemon law suite she opened. The failure mileage was 858.
Airbags did not deploy. A car run a red light. I hit it on its passenger side. I was going about 45mph before the crash. I did slam my breaks before impact but I would guess I was still going 30-35mph at impact. Car has not been inspected yet. It is still in our possession. We have made in insurance claim. No warning light of any kind were on before the crash.
The contact owned a 2021 GMC Yukon XL. The contact stated that while driving 70 MPH, the "Service Safety Restraint Device" warning light illuminated. A dealer was contacted. The vehicle was taken to a dealer, and the contact was informed that the air bag was not repaired correctly because there was electrical tape and packing foam inside the air bag housing. The air bag was replaced and the front driver seat belt was replaced, and the vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and opened a case. The approximate failure mileage was 117,000.
Make left turn and distracted by kids in the back. Looked back and felt a crash. Collided with a traffic signal pole and caused major/total damage to vehicle. Driver side airbag DID NOT deploy causing injury to neck, shoulder, and lower back.
The contact owns a 2019 GMC Yukon. The contact stated that while driving approximately 5 MPH, a second vehicle traveling approximately 65 MPH crashed into the front drivers side of the vehicle. During the crash, the vehicle sustained severe front-end damage, but no airbags in the vehicle deployed. The contact sustained injuries that included fractured ribs and a fractured left hip, and a sternum contusion. The contact was air-lifted to the hospital. Two occupants in the second vehicle were transported to the hospital with unknown injuries. A police report was taken at the scene, and the vehicle was towed away. The contact indicated that the vehicle was destroyed during the crash. The cause of the failure was not determined. The manufacturer and local dealer were not contacted. The failure mileage was 170,000.
I was traveling straight on ohio turnpike with my family when all of a sudden the truck tires started to feel weird. I tried to slow down a little by pumping my breaks, but the wheel gave a sharp pull to the left for no reason. I was traveling approx 60-70 MPH when I felt a strong pull to the left hand side and my seat started to vibrate. I couldn't control the steering and informed everyone in the vehicle at that time that we were going to crash. I am positive that this defect in the steering/breaking system resulted in a major accident. If that's not bad enough, my air bags never deployed and I was injured as a result of the mva. 7 passengers wearing seatbelts. Vehicle totaled. Damaged guard rail. Submitted a defect claim right away. I've driven suvs since I was issued my license and never once have I ever felt out of control. It was like slow motion. …
The drivers seat broke and front airbags did not deploy. The seat broke during rear end collision which pushed the seat back so I was no longer able to reach steering wheel or brakes to stop. Went thru on coming traffic to end up on wrong side of road in ditch. Police inspection, insurance inspections, auto repair inspection No warnings.
Noting that prior to this we only had one issue with transmission and we did the flush and it did fine for several thousand of miles. Fast forward to a few days ago. As I was driving down the highway I came to a stop at the red light. Once it was green and I pressed on the accelerator with my foot per usual. And it did not move it pushed the gas peddle and nothing at all happened. I was stuck in the highway could not move until I'm assuming the transmission finally shifted jarring my entire car and it allowed me to get to a safe place at 20 miles an hour max. Keep in mind I was in the middle of the highway not knowing what was happening. With my precious babies in the car. Thanking God we were not injured. This problem is so common and notorious among GMC Yukons 2017 year models. It's saddening that now I have a car note on a car that will not go. …
Related recalls (8)
Air bags › SRS malfunction warning lamp/light
General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2021 Buick Envision, Cadillac CT4, CT5, Escalade, Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Tahoe, Corvette, Suburban, GMC Yukon, Yukon XL vehicles. The communications gateway module incorrectly processes a loss of communication with the sensing diagnostic module (SDM), causing the air bag…
Remedy: The communications gateway module software will be updated by a dealer, or through an over-the-air (OTA) update, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on July 1, 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 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 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.
Show 3 more recalls
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 › 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.
Air bags › Frontal › Sensor/control module-inactive
On certain pickup and utility trucks, some of these vehicles have an air bag sensing diagnostic module (sdm) which contains an anomaly that could result in the driver and passenger's air bag failing to deploy during certain frontal crashes.
Remedy: Dealers will recalibrate the sdm on the affected vehicles. Owner notification began August 28, 2002. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free…
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 Yukon XL years have airbag problems?
By NHTSA complaints, the 2007 (58), 2008 (42), 2011 (21), 2010 (15) and 2009 (10) model years. Airbag complaints make up 60% of all complaints for the 2007.
Is there a recall for GMC Yukon XL airbag problems?
Yes — 8 recalls, including 21V-421 (srs malfunction warning lamp/light, Jun 10, 2021); 21V-052 (inflator module, Feb 5, 2021); 21V-050 (inflator module, Feb 5, 2021). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers; check a specific car with the VIN recall check.
At what mileage do GMC Yukon XL airbag problems start?
Across all years, half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 103,000 miles; 20% happened before 50,000 miles.
What part fails most often?
Owners most often name the frontal › sensor/control module (3 mentions), followed by the frontal (2).
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.