Campaign 21V-051

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

View NHTSA filingAll General Motors campaigns
Defect summary

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, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U.S. Virgin Islands or "Zone A." 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 May 11, 2021. Owners may contact Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006; Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020; and GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is N212328770.

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 21V051000. Text as published by NHTSA.
Vehicles covered

14 product lines are covered

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA about airbags on these vehicles: 241, of which 21 involved a crash, fire, injury or death. Complaints are not verified by NHTSA.

Vehicles covered by campaign 21V-051
MakeModelModel yearsComplaints on this component
CadillacEscalade20122
CadillacEscalade ESV20121
CadillacEscalade EXT20121
ChevroletAvalanche20126
ChevroletSilverado 1500201259
ChevroletSilverado 250020129
ChevroletSilverado 350020124
ChevroletSuburban201225
ChevroletTahoe201261
GMCSierra 1500201242
GMCSierra 250020128
GMCSierra 350020121
GMCYukon201217
GMCYukon XL20125
Source: NHTSA ODI recalls and complaints files. Equipment, tire and child-seat campaigns list products, not vehicles.