Airbag complaints by model year
Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (front, side and curtain air bags, sensors and inflators).
Mileage when the problem started
What owners report
Traveling at approximately 35mph on inner city road in my 2009 Hummer H3T, both driver and passenger side curtain airbags deployed without any warning, no collision or accident, system went into crash mode and fired seat belt tensioners. Pictures taken of the exterior conditions and terrain/road conditions. Luckily just driver was in vehicle no other passengers. Vehicle taken to GMC dealer and inspected by service tech and insurance company. Multiple other Hummer H3(T) owners have experienced similar incidents. Lack of parts OEM or after market make repairs unlikely will be contacting GM.
Driving to work one morning it was a winter cold day I was going northbound and a vechicle going southbound pulled out to pass a transport truck and kept going I slowed down went to right a wee bit and car hit me head on !! I was woken by OnStar and finally got out exiting the passenger side door !! I received left knee abrasions and few cuts and checked over by ems and did a followup later on day other driver transported to hospital with bad injuries !! From being in shock I kinda accepted accident but started dealing with concussion and ptsd !! Few days later adjuster and I looked at truck in the impound and was shocked that I looked OK with the damage !! His first thought was high impact and wondered about air bag later on !! The Hummer was a write off but I managed to take a few pics !! …
My husband and I were driving down our driveway in his 2008 Hummer H3, and both the passenger side and driver's side airbags deployed for no reason. It sounded like a cannon went off in the vehicle with us. Our eardrums hurt for the rest of the night. We contacted our insurance company, who refused to pay stating it was a manufacturer issue. We contacted GM, who did an investigation and concluded that the airbags "functioned as they were supposed to". When we asked how that could be possible, and what the investigation showed, we were told that the information was confidential. The gentleman that GM sent to take pictures of our driveway for the investigation even commented that he didn't see anything that would have caused them to deploy. …
While driving on a gravel road upwards on a gravel road (not a legal street) going under 10mph, the side upper airbags deployed by themselves without being in an accident or anything being structurally damaged. I was dazed, and might of had a slight concussion. The passenger was knocked unconscious, and her ribs and back hurt. I have read on many forums that this similar situation has occurred. There are more situations but please read below. These vehicles are made to do climb 60 degree angles, I don't understand how there are so many insistence that this has happened. This is not safe at all!! Below are just a few I found on the internet. …
Takata recall air bags did not deploy when driving 75mph speed limit on rural hwy. It was real dark hard to see and I come up on the curve per eyewitnesses stated I was going just fine then all sudden went dwn into the ditch head first back rt tire blew off then vehicle started flipping a total of 8x..hit front Hummer first. And flipped 8 times..no air bags deployed. Hummer come to rest on drivers side finally. Again the riverside air bags did not deploy. I feel like this is error in GM. Cuz those airbags shld have deployed and I would be able to stand sit put my own shoes on get dressed everything
Tl* the contact owns a 2007 Hummer H3. While driving 40 MPH, the vehicle independently stopped, without the contact depressing the brake pedal. The contact crashed the vehicle into a ditch. The air bags failed to deploy. A police report was not filed and there were no injuries. The failure occurred twice previously, but did not result in a crash. The vehicle was towed to the dealer and not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 115,000. The VIN was not available.
We recently had transmission coolant line replaced by the dealer about 2 weeks ago. Last night, while my 17 year old son was driving straight on a paved road at approximately 25mph the driver and passenger side airbags deployed for no reason. He sustained a burn on his hand from the air bag as well as neck pain. At this point he has not needed medical attention.
Dt*: the contact stated while driving 60 MPH to a ramp changing to another highway, the contact slammed the brakes when noticed the vehicle hit something which resulted to be a deer. The front air bags did not deploy and the driver seat belt did not restrain. The contact suffered chest bruises and the child riding in the front passenger seat was restrained by the seat belt but suffered a neck injury. The air bag in the passenger side did not deploy either. The contact could not see the object impacted because the hood opened covering the windshield. There were no warning lights illuminated prior to the accident. The police and fire department were present and a police report was taken. The contact and the child were evacuated to a hospital in a private vehicle. The vehicle was taken to a body shop and was deemed inoperable. …
Related recalls (1)
Air bags › Frontal
Certain vehicles originally built with cloth seats that were equipped with an automatic air bag passenger sensing system and later reupholstered with aftermarket leather seat cover kits are involved. Testing has indicated that the aftermarket leather seat covers can cause the passenger sensing system to malfunction.
Remedy: Because a replacement leather seat cover that is compatible with the passenger sensing system is not available, general motors (GM) will repurchase these vehicles in accordance with the terms stated in GM's letter to…
Frequently asked questions
Which Hummer H3 years have airbag problems?
By NHTSA complaints, the 2006 (20), 2007 (19), 2008 (17) and 2009 (8) model years. Airbag complaints make up 6% of all complaints for the 2006.
Is there a recall for Hummer H3 airbag problems?
Yes — 1 recall, including 06V-417 (frontal, Oct 31, 2006). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers; check a specific car with the VIN recall check.
At what mileage do Hummer H3 airbag problems start?
Across all years, half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 73,000 miles; 34% happened before 50,000 miles.
What part fails most often?
Owners most often name the side/window (13 mentions), followed by the frontal (4).
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.