Cadillac / Chevrolet / Gmc recall: Air bags

What is wrong

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.

What could happen

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

The fix

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.

Vehicles covered

• Cadillac Escalade 2007–2011
• Cadillac Escalade Esv 2007–2011
• Cadillac Escalade Ext 2007–2011
• Chevrolet Avalanche 2007–2011
• Chevrolet Silverado 1500 2007–2011
• Chevrolet Silverado 2500 2009–2011
• Chevrolet Silverado 3500 2009–2011
• Chevrolet Suburban 2007–2011
• Chevrolet Tahoe 2007–2011
• Gmc Sierra 1500 2007–2011
• Gmc Sierra 2500 2009–2011
• Gmc Sierra 3500 2009–2011
• Gmc Yukon 2007–2011
• Gmc Yukon Xl 2007–2011

Facts

NHTSA recall number

21V050000

Type

Vehicle

Filed by

General Motors, LLC

Reported to NHTSA

Feb 5, 2021

Owners notified

Mar 1, 2021

Vehicles or items affected

2,641,272

Started by

NHTSA investigation

Built

–

Part

Air bags › Frontal › Passenger side › Inflator module

Maker's own recall number

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.

Other recalls for the same vehicles

• Chevrolet / Gmc recall: Air bags Sep 24, 2026
• Chevrolet / Gmc recall: Air bags May 21, 2026
• Chevrolet / Gmc recall: Air bags Mar 19, 2026
• Chevrolet / Gmc recall: Fuel system, gasoline Mar 5, 2026
• Buick / Cadillac / Chevrolet and more recall: Equipment Feb 26, 2026
• Chevrolet / Gmc recall: Power train Feb 12, 2026

To check one car, enter its 17-character VIN on the official NHTSA page: a recall may cover only some vehicles of a model year.
Recall data: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Nebula is not affiliated with or endorsed by NHTSA.