Cadillac / Chevrolet / Gmc recall: Air bags

What is wrong

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, 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." Additionally, GM is recalling certain 2007-2008 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, and Escalade EXT, Chevrolet Avalanche, Silverado 1500, Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Sierra 1500, Yukon, and Yukon XL vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming or "Zone C." 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 23, 2021. Second notification letters will be mailed once the remedy is available. Owner notification letters were mailed on September 20, 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 N212328780.

Vehicles covered

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

Facts

NHTSA recall number

21V052000

Type

Vehicle

Filed by

General Motors, LLC

Reported to NHTSA

Feb 5, 2021

Owners notified

Sep 20, 2021

Vehicles or items affected

557,023

Started by

NHTSA investigation

Built

–

Part

Air bags › Frontal › Passenger side › Inflator module

Maker's own recall number

N212328780

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

• Cadillac / Chevrolet / Gmc recall: Power train May 7, 2026
• Cadillac / Chevrolet / Gmc recall: Power train Feb 13, 2026
• Cadillac / Chevrolet / Gmc recall: Engine and engine cooling Apr 24, 2025
• Cadillac / Chevrolet / Gmc recall: Power train Oct 24, 2024
• Cadillac / Chevrolet / Gmc recall: Suspension Sep 20, 2023
• Buick / Cadillac / Chevrolet and more recall: Exterior lighting Dec 8, 2022

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.