- Component
- AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE
- Problem
- 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.
- Risk
- 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 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.
- 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.
What this recall means for you
Certain 2007 to 2009 Cadillac Escalade, Chevrolet Avalanche, Silverado 1500, Suburban and Tahoe, and GMC Sierra 1500 vehicles have a passenger-side frontal air bag inflator that uses non-desiccated phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate propellant. Over time, long-term exposure to high humidity, high temperatures and repeated temperature cycling can degrade this propellant, which may cause the inflator to explode when the air bag deploys.
An inflator explosion can send sharp metal fragments toward the driver or other occupants, which may result in serious injury or death. Affected vehicles are those in the specified recall zones and states listed in the official notice, so check whether your vehicle is included.
GM will replace the front passenger air bag inflator with an alternate one at no cost at an authorized dealer. Owner notification letters were mailed September 20, 2021, and a second notice will be mailed once the remedy is available. You can contact Chevrolet at 1-800-222-1020, Cadillac at 1-800-458-8006, or GMC at 1-800-462-8782, and you should check your VIN for open recalls.