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2011 Chevrolet Silverado 1500

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2011 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 525.

About this comparison →

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

263 reports with mileage · 300 unknown

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Air Bags. Review the 306 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Structure. Review the 72 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine. Review the 40 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

22 crash reports4 fire reports6 injury reports

Unknown Or Other complaints

115 reports
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38,000 miles · Aug 11, 2016
Unknown Or Other

DASHBOARD ON FRONT PASSENGER SIDE AROUND THE AIR BAG PANEL IS CRACKING IN MULTIPLE LOCATIONS. VEHICLE IS GARAGE KEPT ALTHOUGH EXPOSED TO SUNLIGHT DURING DAYLIGHT HOURS WHILE AT WORK.

NHTSA ODI #10895071

Mileage unknown · Aug 5, 2016
Air BagsUnknown Or Other

VERY UPSETTING THAT GM HAD TO HAVE KNOWN TAKATA AIR BAGS ARE INSTALLED AND WE WERE NEVER INFORMED. I WOULD HAVE NEVER KNOWN MY VEHICLE WASN'T SAFE, IF I WASN'T ON THIS SITE RESEARCHING SAFE CAR FOR MY TEEN TO DRIVE. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW EXACTLY WHEN OUR LIFE'S ARE IMPORTANT ENOUGH TO HAVE RECALL LETTERS SENT? SHOULD WE ALL GO O…

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VERY UPSETTING THAT GM HAD TO HAVE KNOWN TAKATA AIR BAGS ARE INSTALLED AND WE WERE NEVER INFORMED. I WOULD HAVE NEVER KNOWN MY VEHICLE WASN'T SAFE, IF I WASN'T ON THIS SITE RESEARCHING SAFE CAR FOR MY TEEN TO DRIVE. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW EXACTLY WHEN OUR LIFE'S ARE IMPORTANT ENOUGH TO HAVE RECALL LETTERS SENT? SHOULD WE ALL GO OUT AND PURCHASE FACE SHIELD HELMETS FOR THE FAMILY WHILE WE WAIT?????? I ALSO READ COMPLAINTS REGARDING CRACKING IN DASH PANEL. I TOO HAVE HAIRLINE CRACKING DRIVER'S SIDE WHERE AIRBAG IS INSTALLED. PLEASE SEND RECALL LETTERS AS I CALLED MY LOCAL DEALER AND WAS TOLD NOTHING CAN BE DONE TILL I RECEIVE THE ACTUAL LETTER. THIS NEW BULLETIN WAS POSTED MONTHS AGO. IT'S NOW AUGUST 2016.

NHTSA ODI #10893666

55,000 miles · Jun 20, 2016
Unknown Or Other

CRACKING ON THE DASHBOARD OF A VERY WELL KEPT LOW MILEAGE TRUCK. WORRIED ABOUT SAFETY AROUND PASSENGER AIR BAG AS WELL AS THE QUALITY OF THE VEHICLE IN GENERAL. A SUNSHADE HAS BEEN USED SINCE DAY ONE AND THE TRUCK HAS NEVER BEEN OFF-ROAD OR IN A POSITION TO WHERE THIS SHOULD HAPPEN. GM SHOULD BE HELD LIABLE AND FIX THIS PROBLEM.…

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CRACKING ON THE DASHBOARD OF A VERY WELL KEPT LOW MILEAGE TRUCK. WORRIED ABOUT SAFETY AROUND PASSENGER AIR BAG AS WELL AS THE QUALITY OF THE VEHICLE IN GENERAL. A SUNSHADE HAS BEEN USED SINCE DAY ONE AND THE TRUCK HAS NEVER BEEN OFF-ROAD OR IN A POSITION TO WHERE THIS SHOULD HAPPEN. GM SHOULD BE HELD LIABLE AND FIX THIS PROBLEM. NOW A $49,000 TRUCK SEEMS VERY CHEAP AND AM WORRIED ABOUT THE SAFETY OF PASSENGERS.

NHTSA ODI #10875323

58,000 miles · May 24, 2016
Unknown Or Other

I HAVE 2 CRACKS THAT ARE RIGHT ABOVE THE PASSENGER AIRBAG AREA ON THE DASH.

NHTSA ODI #10870642

6,000 miles · May 12, 2016
Unknown Or Other

CRACKING DASH. HAS BEEN REPLACED TWO TIMES NOW. CRACKS HAVE OCCURRED IN THE SAME PLACES BOTH TIMES AND SIMILAR TO THE THOUSANDS OF PHOTOS ONLINE WHEN SEARCHING FOR GM CRACKED DASH OR A SIMILAR VARIANT. CRACKS EXPOSE MECHANICAL PARTS UNDER THE DASH AND ARE BRITTLE BUT VERY SHARP WHEN SEPARATED FROM THE DASH. DATE ENTERED WAS …

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CRACKING DASH. HAS BEEN REPLACED TWO TIMES NOW. CRACKS HAVE OCCURRED IN THE SAME PLACES BOTH TIMES AND SIMILAR TO THE THOUSANDS OF PHOTOS ONLINE WHEN SEARCHING FOR GM CRACKED DASH OR A SIMILAR VARIANT. CRACKS EXPOSE MECHANICAL PARTS UNDER THE DASH AND ARE BRITTLE BUT VERY SHARP WHEN SEPARATED FROM THE DASH. DATE ENTERED WAS TODAY BUT INSTANCES STARTED IN 2011 AND THEN APPROX 1 YEAR AFTER THE FIRST REPLACEMENT. LAST REPLACEMENT TOOK PLACE IN MARCH OF 2016.

NHTSA ODI #10864630

38,000 miles · May 11, 2016
Air BagsUnknown Or Other

CRACKING PLASTIC DASH ON UPPER LEFT CORNER OF PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG. SEEMS THOUSANDS OF OTHER PEOPLE HAVE SAME ISSUE.

NHTSA ODI #10864495

68,456 miles · May 10, 2016
Unknown Or Other

ONE MORNING, MY DAUGHTER AND I WAS GETTING IN THE TRUCK SO I COULD DROP HER OFF AT SCHOOL. WE GOT ABOUT A MILE DOWN THE ROAD AND STARTED HEARING A RATTLE. ONCE WE MADE IT TO A STOP SIGN, I LOOKED AROUND IN THE TRUCK AND FOUND THE PROBLEM. THERE ARE 2 CRACKS GOING DOWN THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE GAUGE CLUSTER ON THE DASH. AS WELL AS A…

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ONE MORNING, MY DAUGHTER AND I WAS GETTING IN THE TRUCK SO I COULD DROP HER OFF AT SCHOOL. WE GOT ABOUT A MILE DOWN THE ROAD AND STARTED HEARING A RATTLE. ONCE WE MADE IT TO A STOP SIGN, I LOOKED AROUND IN THE TRUCK AND FOUND THE PROBLEM. THERE ARE 2 CRACKS GOING DOWN THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE GAUGE CLUSTER ON THE DASH. AS WELL AS ANOTHER CRACK ON THE LEFT BACK CORNER OF THE AIRBAG ON THE PASSENGER SIDE DASH. I'M VERY PARTICULAR ABOUT MY TRUCK. I KEEP IT VERY CLEAN. I'VE NEVER PLACED ANYTHING ON THE DASH/WINDOW AREA TO CAUSE THE CRACKS. THAT MORNING IT WAS COLD OUT, PROBABLY AROUND 30 DEGREES. IT WAS VERY DISCOURAGING THAT WHEN I CALLED TO ASK ABOUT THE REPLACEMENT, (DURING THAT TIME, I STILL HAD MY WARRANTY FROM WHERE I HAD BOUGHT THE VEHICLE) I WAS TOLD THAT IT WOULD NOT BE COVERED, AND WOULD NEED TO BE PAID OUT OF POCKET. I WAS RAISED AS A CHEVY MAN, I BELIEVE THEY MAKE AMAZING VEHICLES. FOR THIS NOT TO ALREADY HAVE BEEN AN ISSUE TO HAD FIXED DUE TO THE LARGE AMOUNT OF PEOPLE HAVING THE SAME ISSUE IS OUTRAGEOUS. IT IS OBVIOUSLY A SAFETY ISSUE. SINCE THE ENTIRE CENTER DASH IS WEAK FROM BEING CRACKED ON EACH SIDE, I FEEL IT COULD POTENTIALLY CAUSE THE AIRBAG TO FAIL IN THE FRONT OR EVEN WORSE IS INJURE WHO IS SITTING IN THE MIDDLE SEAT IN THE BACK. (DAUGHTER SITS IN THAT SPOT DUE TO AGE.) PLEASE, DO SOMETHING TO FIX THIS ISSUE. IT'S CLEAR THAT IT'S A PROBLEM AND IT COULD POTENTIALLY SAVE A LIFE BY BEING PROACTIVE ABOUT THE SITUATION. CHEVY HAS ALWAYS BEEN DEPENDABLE, DON'T LET YOUR LOYAL CUSTOMERS DOWN.

NHTSA ODI #10864076

Mileage unknown · May 8, 2016
Air BagsUnknown Or Other

I OWN A 2011 CHECK SILVERADO I CLEAN MY TRUCK REGULARLY AN TAKE GOOD CARE OF IT I HAVE LESS THEN 50,000 MILES ON IT. I FOUND A CRACK IN MY DASH RUNNING FROM THE CORNER OF MY PASSAGE AIRBAG. I FEEL THAT IT'S A BIG SAFETY HAZARD CONSIDERING IF SOMEONE CRASHES INTO ME AND THE AIRBAG DEPLOYS JAGGED CHUNKS OF DASH COULD POSSIBLY IMP…

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I OWN A 2011 CHECK SILVERADO I CLEAN MY TRUCK REGULARLY AN TAKE GOOD CARE OF IT I HAVE LESS THEN 50,000 MILES ON IT. I FOUND A CRACK IN MY DASH RUNNING FROM THE CORNER OF MY PASSAGE AIRBAG. I FEEL THAT IT'S A BIG SAFETY HAZARD CONSIDERING IF SOMEONE CRASHES INTO ME AND THE AIRBAG DEPLOYS JAGGED CHUNKS OF DASH COULD POSSIBLY IMPALE MYSELF OR MY PREGNANT WIFE. I DID SOME RESEARCH AN SEEN THAT THOUSANDS OF CHEVY MODELS ARE HAVING THE SAME ISSUE BECAUSE OF MANUFACTORER NEGLIGENCE AN I FEEL THAT THIS IS ENOUGH OF A SAFETY HAZARD TO WHERE SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE ABOUT THIS.

NHTSA ODI #10863802

Mileage unknown · May 5, 2016
Unknown Or Other

CRACKED PASSENGER SIDE DASHBOARD. PICTURE SHOWS THE CRACK JUST BEGINNING FROM THE AIRBAG AREA TO GOING TOWARDS THE VENT. THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE IN GM VEHICLES, MY TRUCK IS A 2011 MODEL.

NHTSA ODI #10863491

120,000 miles · May 3, 2016
Air BagsUnknown Or Other

MY 2011 SILVERADO DASH IS CRACKING IN SEVERAL PLACE AND IM ONLY THE SECOND OWNER OF THE TRUCK. I FEEL SHARP PIECE OF PLASTIC COULD BECOME HAZARDERS DURING A CRASH.

NHTSA ODI #10862717

Official recalls

4

21V050000 · Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module

Feb 5, 2021

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 & remedy

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.

21V054000 · Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module

Feb 5, 2021

General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2014 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Silverado 2500, Silverado 3500, Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Sierra 2500, Sierra 3500, Yukon, and Yukon XL vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of AL, CA, FL, GA, HI, LA, MS, SC, TX, PR, AS, GU, the MP, and VI or "Zone A." Additionally GM is recalling certain 2011-2014 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Silverado 2500, Silverado 3500, Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Sierra 2500, Sierra 3500, Yukon, Yukon XL and 2011-2013 Cadillac Escalade EXT, Chevrolet Avalanche, Silverado 1500, and GMC Sierra 1500 vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of AZ, AR, DE, DC, IL, IN, KS, KY, MD, MO, NE, NV, NJ, NM, NC, OH, OK, PA, TN, VA, and WV or "Zone B." Additionally, GM is recalling certain 2010-2014 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Silverado 2500, Silverado 3500, Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Sierra 2500, Sierra 3500, Yukon, and Yukon XL and 2010-2013 Cadillac Escalade EXT, Chevrolet Avalanche, Silverado 1500, and GMC Sierra 1500 vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of AK, CO, CT, ID, IA, ME, MA, MI, MN, MT, NH, NY, ND, OR, RI, SD, UT, VT, WA, WI, and WY 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.

Consequence & remedy

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 25, 2021. Second notification letters will be mailed once the remedy is available. Owner notification letters were mailed to 40 VIN owners on May 11, 2021. A second owner notification letter was mailed to all other owners on January 24, 2022. 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 N212328800.

11V007000 · Suspension:rear:axle:spindle

Jan 6, 2011

GENERAL MOTORS IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2011 CADILLAC ESCALADE, ESCALADE ESV, ESCALADE EXT; CHEVROLET AVALANCHE, COLORADO, EXPRESS, SILVERADO, SUBURBAN, TAHOE; AND GMC CANYON, SIERRA, SAVANA, YUKON AND YUKON XL VEHICLES. THE REAR AXLE CROSS PINS WERE NOT PROPERLY HEAT TREATED AND COULD FRACTURE AND BECOME DISPLACED WITHIN THE REAR AXLE. SHOULD THE PIN SHIFT OUT OF POSITION, IT COULD CREATE AN INTERFERENCE CONDITION AND CAUSE THE REAR AXLE TO LOCK.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THE DRIVER MAY NOT BE ABLE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND A CRASH COULD OCCUR WITHOUT WARNING.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW REAR AXLE CROSS PIN FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JANUARY 11, 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CADILLAC AT 1-866-982-2339, CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438, GMC AT 1-866-996-9463 AND AT THE OWNER CENTER AT WWW.GMOWNERCENTER.COM.

10V643000 · Suspension:rear:axle:spindle

Dec 17, 2010

GENERAL MOTORS IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2011 CADILLAC ESCALADE EXT, CHEVROLET AVALANCHE, SILVERADO LD AND GMC SIERRA LD VEHICLES. THE REAR AXLE CROSS PINS WERE NOT PROPERLY HEAT TREATED AND COULD FRACTURE AND BECOME DISPLACED WITHIN THE REAR AXLE. SHOULD THE PIN SHIFT OUT OF POSITION, IT COULD CREATE AN INTERFERENCE CONDITION AND CAUSE THE REAR AXLE TO LOCK.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THE DRIVER MAY NOT BE ABLE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND A CRASH COULD OCCUR WITHOUT WARNING.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW REAR AXLE CROSS PIN FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JANUARY 11, 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CADILLAC AT 1-866-982-2339, CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438, GMC AT 1-866-996-9463 AND AT THE OWNER CENTER AT WWW.GMOWNERCENTER.COM.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

2

DP22005 · Pedestrian Alert Sounds

Opened Jan 27, 2023 · Closed Aug 7, 2023

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Electrical System:propulsion System

NHTSA received a petition on or about July 18, 2022, requesting that Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 141 be applied to all electric and hybrid vehicles operating in the United States. The petition can be reviewed at NHTSA.gov under ODI Number 11486072. FMVSS 141 establishes performance requirements for pedestrian alert sounds for motor vehicles. The standard applies to hybrid and electric vehicles that have a gross vehicle weight rating of 4,536 KG or less or are defined as low-speed vehicles. The standard became fully applicable to all such vehicles manufactured on or after March 1, 2021.On January 27, 2023, NHTSA opened Defect Petition (DP) 22-005 to evaluate the subject matter described in the petition. On June 24, 2023 and as supplemented on June 25, 2023, the petitioner notified NHTSA he was withdrawing his petition. The petitioner indicated that, based on his review of data, there is no justification for asserting potential benefits that could be derived from actions sought by my petition. Based on the petitioner's withdrawal, DP22-005 is closed. Closure of this DP does not represent a determination by NHTSA regarding the subject matter of the petition.

EA21002 · Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture

Opened Sep 17, 2021 · No close date supplied

Status: open (inferred from source dates) · Air Bags:frontal:driver Side:inflator Module; Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module

From 2000 through 2017, Takata produced millions of air bag inflators using two types of phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate ("PSAN") propellant -- propellant 2004 and propellant 2004L. After prolonged exposure to high temperature cycles and humidity, inflators using propellant 2004 can degrade, causing the propellant to burn too quickly when ignited. The rapid burning can cause the inflator to rupture during deployment, potentially causing serious or even fatal injury to vehicle occupants. See 2016 Blomquist Report at www.nhtsa.gov/sites/nhtsa.gov/files/documents/expert_report-hrblomquist.pdf.Consequently, all frontal inflators using propellant 2004 that do not contain a "desiccant" (a substance that traps and holds moisture) in US vehicles are under recall. These "non-desiccated" inflators either have been or are required to be replaced.In some cases, the remedy part for these recalled inflators was, or will be, an inflator using either propellant 2004 or 2004L that does contain a desiccant. None of these "desiccated" remedy parts (which were installed in older model year vehicles) are currently under recall for a degradation concern. Certain subsets of desiccated PSAN inflators using propellant 2004 for use as original equipment, however, have been recalled for a degradation concern. All Takata inflators produced with propellant 2004L contain desiccant, and none of these desiccated inflators using propellant 2004L are under recall for a degradation concern. There have been no reported field ruptures in any non-recalled desiccated PSAN inflators.It is understood that desiccants fully saturate at some threshold, at which point any additional moisture will not be captured. This means the degradation process observed in non-desiccated inflators using propellant 2004 may also occur in non-recalled desiccated inflators using propellant 2004, assuming additional moisture enters the inflator and high temperature cycling occurs. Based on available information, desiccant saturation can occur within the first five years in the worst environments, and the time required for full saturation is affected by multiple factors. While no present safety risk has been identified, further work is needed to evaluate the future risk of non-recalled desiccated inflators using propellant 2004.Three entities -- Takata (now known as TK Global), the Independent Testing Coalition, and Exponent -- have been studying the long-term behavior of Takata desiccated PSAN inflators using propellant 2004L (as well as 2004) in the presence of moisture and temperature cycling. The research efforts, which include development of predictive modeling techniques and field sample analysis, are ongoing. To date, none of the researchers have identified field evidence showing that propellant 2004L is undergoing a degradation process that leads to aggressive deployment and potential rupture. However, the time in service of such inflators remains short compared to that of the inflators using propellant 2004. Further study is needed to assess the long-term safety of desiccated inflators using propellant 2004L.The Office of Defects Investigation is opening this investigation to examine whether a safety defect related to propellant degradation exists in non-recalled desiccated PSAN frontal inflators manufactured by Takata. This investigation will require extensive information on Takata production processes and surveys of inflators in the field. Lists of recall actions that may have used desiccated PSAN inflators as remedy parts, as well as the makes and models originally manufactured with them, is available with the downloadable version of this document (see nhtsa.gov/recalls?nhtsaId=EA21002 -- note this information is subject to change/revision as the investigation proceeds). This investigation does not supersede EA15-001, which remains open.

Additional source detail variants (2)

Air Bags:frontal:driver Side:inflator Module

From 2000 through 2017, Takata produced millions of air bag inflators using two types of phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate ("PSAN") propellant -- propellant 2004 and propellant 2004L. After prolonged exposure to high temperature cycles and humidity, inflators using propellant 2004 can degrade, causing the propellant to burn too quickly when ignited. The rapid burning can cause the inflator to rupture during deployment, potentially causing serious or even fatal injury to vehicle occupants. See 2016 Blomquist Report at www.nhtsa.gov/sites/nhtsa.gov/files/documents/expert_report-hrblomquist.pdf.Consequently, all frontal inflators using propellant 2004 that do not contain a "desiccant" (a substance that traps and holds moisture) in US vehicles are under recall. These "non-desiccated" inflators either have been or are required to be replaced.In some cases, the remedy part for these recalled inflators was, or will be, an inflator using either propellant 2004 or 2004L that does contain a desiccant. None of these "desiccated" remedy parts (which were installed in older model year vehicles) are currently under recall for a degradation concern. Certain subsets of desiccated PSAN inflators using propellant 2004 for use as original equipment, however, have been recalled for a degradation concern. All Takata inflators produced with propellant 2004L contain desiccant, and none of these desiccated inflators using propellant 2004L are under recall for a degradation concern. There have been no reported field ruptures in any non-recalled desiccated PSAN inflators.It is understood that desiccants fully saturate at some threshold, at which point any additional moisture will not be captured. This means the degradation process observed in non-desiccated inflators using propellant 2004 may also occur in non-recalled desiccated inflators using propellant 2004, assuming additional moisture enters the inflator and high temperature cycling occurs. Based on available information, desiccant saturation can occur within the first five years in the worst environments, and the time required for full saturation is affected by multiple factors. While no present safety risk has been identified, further work is needed to evaluate the future risk of non-recalled desiccated inflators using propellant 2004.Three entities -- Takata (now known as TK Global), the Independent Testing Coalition, and Exponent -- have been studying the long-term behavior of Takata desiccated PSAN inflators using propellant 2004L (as well as 2004) in the presence of moisture and temperature cycling. The research efforts, which include development of predictive modeling techniques and field sample analysis, are ongoing. To date, none of the researchers have identified field evidence showing that propellant 2004L is undergoing a degradation process that leads to aggressive deployment and potential rupture. However, the time in service of such inflators remains short compared to that of the inflators using propellant 2004. Further study is needed to assess the long-term safety of desiccated inflators using propellant 2004L.The Office of Defects Investigation is opening this investigation to examine whether a safety defect related to propellant degradation exists in non-recalled desiccated PSAN frontal inflators manufactured by Takata. This investigation will require extensive information on Takata production processes and surveys of inflators in the field. Lists of recall actions that may have used desiccated PSAN inflators as remedy parts, as well as the makes and models originally manufactured with them, is available with the downloadable version of this document (see nhtsa.gov/recalls?nhtsaId=EA21002 -- note this information is subject to change/revision as the investigation proceeds). This investigation does not supersede EA15-001, which remains open.

Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module

From 2000 through 2017, Takata produced millions of air bag inflators using two types of phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate ("PSAN") propellant -- propellant 2004 and propellant 2004L. After prolonged exposure to high temperature cycles and humidity, inflators using propellant 2004 can degrade, causing the propellant to burn too quickly when ignited. The rapid burning can cause the inflator to rupture during deployment, potentially causing serious or even fatal injury to vehicle occupants. See 2016 Blomquist Report at www.nhtsa.gov/sites/nhtsa.gov/files/documents/expert_report-hrblomquist.pdf.Consequently, all frontal inflators using propellant 2004 that do not contain a "desiccant" (a substance that traps and holds moisture) in US vehicles are under recall. These "non-desiccated" inflators either have been or are required to be replaced.In some cases, the remedy part for these recalled inflators was, or will be, an inflator using either propellant 2004 or 2004L that does contain a desiccant. None of these "desiccated" remedy parts (which were installed in older model year vehicles) are currently under recall for a degradation concern. Certain subsets of desiccated PSAN inflators using propellant 2004 for use as original equipment, however, have been recalled for a degradation concern. All Takata inflators produced with propellant 2004L contain desiccant, and none of these desiccated inflators using propellant 2004L are under recall for a degradation concern. There have been no reported field ruptures in any non-recalled desiccated PSAN inflators.It is understood that desiccants fully saturate at some threshold, at which point any additional moisture will not be captured. This means the degradation process observed in non-desiccated inflators using propellant 2004 may also occur in non-recalled desiccated inflators using propellant 2004, assuming additional moisture enters the inflator and high temperature cycling occurs. Based on available information, desiccant saturation can occur within the first five years in the worst environments, and the time required for full saturation is affected by multiple factors. While no present safety risk has been identified, further work is needed to evaluate the future risk of non-recalled desiccated inflators using propellant 2004.Three entities -- Takata (now known as TK Global), the Independent Testing Coalition, and Exponent -- have been studying the long-term behavior of Takata desiccated PSAN inflators using propellant 2004L (as well as 2004) in the presence of moisture and temperature cycling. The research efforts, which include development of predictive modeling techniques and field sample analysis, are ongoing. To date, none of the researchers have identified field evidence showing that propellant 2004L is undergoing a degradation process that leads to aggressive deployment and potential rupture. However, the time in service of such inflators remains short compared to that of the inflators using propellant 2004. Further study is needed to assess the long-term safety of desiccated inflators using propellant 2004L.The Office of Defects Investigation is opening this investigation to examine whether a safety defect related to propellant degradation exists in non-recalled desiccated PSAN frontal inflators manufactured by Takata. This investigation will require extensive information on Takata production processes and surveys of inflators in the field. Lists of recall actions that may have used desiccated PSAN inflators as remedy parts, as well as the makes and models originally manufactured with them, is available with the downloadable version of this document (see nhtsa.gov/recalls?nhtsaId=EA21002 -- note this information is subject to change/revision as the investigation proceeds). This investigation does not supersede EA15-001, which remains open.