Campaign 21V-050

These inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, high temperatures, and…

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Defect summary

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 the states of Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U.S. Virgin Islands or "Zone A." Additionally, GM is recalling certain 2007-2008 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, Escalade EXT, Chevrolet Avalanche, Silverado 1500, Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Sierra 1500, Yukon, Yukon XL vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia or "Zone B." These vehicles are equipped with non-desiccated passenger frontal inflators containing phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate (PSAN) propellant. These inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, high temperatures, and high temperature cycling.

Consequence

An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, resulting in serious injury or death.

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. Second notification letters will be mailed once the remedy is available. Owner notification letters were mailed on March 1, 2021. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020; Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006; and GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is N212328760.

Notes

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.

Source: NHTSA ODI recalls file, campaign 21V050000. Text as published by NHTSA.
Vehicles covered

14 product lines are covered

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA about airbags on these vehicles: 5,613, of which 229 involved a crash, fire, injury or death. Complaints are not verified by NHTSA.

Vehicles covered by campaign 21V-050
MakeModelModel yearsComplaints on this component
CadillacEscalade2007 to 2011269
CadillacEscalade ESV2007 to 201138
CadillacEscalade EXT2007 to 201122
ChevroletAvalanche2007 to 2011506
ChevroletSilverado 15002007 to 20111,806
ChevroletSilverado 25002009 to 201170
ChevroletSilverado 35002009 to 201115
ChevroletSuburban2007 to 2011398
ChevroletTahoe2007 to 20111,130
GMCSierra 15002007 to 2011700
GMCSierra 25002009 to 201127
GMCSierra 35002009 to 20119
GMCYukon2007 to 2011477
GMCYukon XL2007 to 2011146
Source: NHTSA ODI recalls and complaints files. Equipment, tire and child-seat campaigns list products, not vehicles.