NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
Air Bags complaints
115 reportsClear category filter40,000 miles · Jan 5, 2016
Air Bags
DASH BOARD IS CRACKED ABOVE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND AT PASSENGER AIR BAG. I FEAR THAT IF AIR BAGS WERE TO DEPLOY FRAGMENTS OF DASH WILL BE SENT THROUGH CABIN CAUSING INJURIES TO PASSENGER AND DRIVER. CRACKS ARE SO BAD THAT CENTER OF DASH WHERE SPEAKER IS LOCATED JUST FLOPS WHILE DRIVING. TAHOE HAS BEEN GARAGE KEPT SINCE BOUGHT FROM…
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DASH BOARD IS CRACKED ABOVE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND AT PASSENGER AIR BAG. I FEAR THAT IF AIR BAGS WERE TO DEPLOY FRAGMENTS OF DASH WILL BE SENT THROUGH CABIN CAUSING INJURIES TO PASSENGER AND DRIVER. CRACKS ARE SO BAD THAT CENTER OF DASH WHERE SPEAKER IS LOCATED JUST FLOPS WHILE DRIVING. TAHOE HAS BEEN GARAGE KEPT SINCE BOUGHT FROM DEALER IN 2011 AND I AM ORIGINAL OWNER.
NHTSA ODI #10818111
110,000 miles · Jan 5, 2016
Air BagsUnknown Or Other
MY DASH IS CRACKED IN 4 DIFFERENT PLACES. ONE CRACK EXTENDS TO THE AIRBAG AND I AM AFRAID IF THE AIRBAG WERE TO DEPLOY PIECES OF THE DASH WOULD BREAK OFF AND POTENTIALLY HIT SOMEONE. IT IS ALSO VERY ANNOYING BECAUSE IT RATTLES CONSTANTLY.
NHTSA ODI #10818029
83,000 miles · Nov 18, 2015
Air Bags
MY VEHICLE HAS DEVELOPED TWO CRACKS IN THE DASH ONE BY THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND ONE AT THE LEFT UPPER CORNER OF THE PASSENGER AIRBAG. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD AS IT MAY AFFECT THE DEPLOYMENT OF THE AIRBAG. THIS VEHICLE HAS BEEN GARAGE KEPT SINCE I BOUGHT IT IN 2012 AND IT HAS 83,000 MILES ON IT. GM IS REFUSING TO TAKE RESPONS…
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MY VEHICLE HAS DEVELOPED TWO CRACKS IN THE DASH ONE BY THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND ONE AT THE LEFT UPPER CORNER OF THE PASSENGER AIRBAG. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD AS IT MAY AFFECT THE DEPLOYMENT OF THE AIRBAG. THIS VEHICLE HAS BEEN GARAGE KEPT SINCE I BOUGHT IT IN 2012 AND IT HAS 83,000 MILES ON IT. GM IS REFUSING TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY AND REPLACE THIS MANUFACTURER DEFECT
NHTSA ODI #10794686
32,000 miles · Oct 14, 2015
Air BagsUnknown Or Other
THERE ARE 2 CRACKS ON THE DASH, ONE ON EACH SIDE WHICH COULD CAUSE HARM/DEATH TO THE PASSENGERS BECAUSE OF FLYING PLASTIC SHOULD AN AIRBAG DEPLOY. I HAVE CONTACTED THE DEALER AND GM WITH NEGATIVE RESULTS. IT WAS FIRST NOTICED IN APRIL 2015 AND THE VEHICLE HAD LESS THAN 32,000 MILES.
NHTSA ODI #10781908
61,000 miles · Oct 11, 2015
Air BagsUnknown Or Other
CRACKS HAVE FORMED IN THE DASHBOARD FOR NO REASON. IT STARTED WITH ONE CRACK ABOVE THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER, WHICH CONTINUES TO WORSEN, AND NOW ONE HAS FORMED BY THE PASSENGER AIRBAG, WHICH HAS ME CONCERNED FOR SAFETY SHOULD THE AIRBAG NEED TO DEPLOY.
NHTSA ODI #10781299
55,000 miles · Oct 9, 2015
Air Bags
THE DASHBOARD HAS CRACKED NEAR THE AIR BAG ON THE PASSENGER SIDE WHICH APPEAR TO BE A SAFETY ISSUE IF IT MAY CUT OR IMPAIR THE PROPER INFLATION OF THE AIRBAG.
NHTSA ODI #10781091
75,000 miles · Sep 8, 2015
Air BagsVehicle Speed Control
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 CHEVROLET TAHOE. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE INDEPENDENTLY ACCELERATED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED THREE TIMES IN ORDER FOR THE VEHICLE TO SLOW DOWN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE RAN OFF THE ROAD INTO A DITCH. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AND NO INJURIES WERE SUS…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 CHEVROLET TAHOE. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE INDEPENDENTLY ACCELERATED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED THREE TIMES IN ORDER FOR THE VEHICLE TO SLOW DOWN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE RAN OFF THE ROAD INTO A DITCH. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AND NO INJURIES WERE SUSTAINED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, BUT THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,000. UPDATED 11/09/15*LJ THE CONSUMER HAS SINCE SOLD THE VEHICLE. UPDATED 12/15/15.*JB
NHTSA ODI #10762154
96,000 miles · Aug 28, 2015
Air BagsStructure
DRIVING ALONG ONE DAY AT 45 MPH AND THE DASHBOARD JUST CRACKED. MINE HAS CRACKED OVER THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. I HAVE A FRIEND WHO HAS THE SAME CRACK AS WELL AS A CRACK OVER THE AIR BAG ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. THE CRACKED DASH IS A KNOWN PROBLEM THAT NEEDS TO BE CORRECTED, I AM ALSO CONCERNED WHAT MAY HAPPEN IF THE AIR BAG GOES OFF …
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DRIVING ALONG ONE DAY AT 45 MPH AND THE DASHBOARD JUST CRACKED. MINE HAS CRACKED OVER THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. I HAVE A FRIEND WHO HAS THE SAME CRACK AS WELL AS A CRACK OVER THE AIR BAG ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. THE CRACKED DASH IS A KNOWN PROBLEM THAT NEEDS TO BE CORRECTED, I AM ALSO CONCERNED WHAT MAY HAPPEN IF THE AIR BAG GOES OFF WITH WHAT IS OBVIOUSLY A BRITTLE DASH.
NHTSA ODI #10760022
105,500 miles · Aug 7, 2015
Air Bags
THE DASHBOARD HAS TWO CRACKS. THE FIRST CRACK, EXTENDING FROM FRONT TO BACK ON THE PASSENGER SIDE FROM THE FRONT EDGE OF THE DASHBOARD BACK INTO THE COVER (LEFT FRONT CORNER) OF THE PASSENGER AIRBAG, APPEARED THE WEEK OF JUNE 29, 2015. THE SECOND CRACK BEGAN APPROXIMATELY 3 WEEKS LATER ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE OF DASHBOARD. IT START…
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THE DASHBOARD HAS TWO CRACKS. THE FIRST CRACK, EXTENDING FROM FRONT TO BACK ON THE PASSENGER SIDE FROM THE FRONT EDGE OF THE DASHBOARD BACK INTO THE COVER (LEFT FRONT CORNER) OF THE PASSENGER AIRBAG, APPEARED THE WEEK OF JUNE 29, 2015. THE SECOND CRACK BEGAN APPROXIMATELY 3 WEEKS LATER ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE OF DASHBOARD. IT STARTED ON THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE DOME PORTION COVERING THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE CRACK PROGRESSED APPROXIMATELY 1 1/2 INCHES AND SPLIT INTO A "V" SHAPE AND IS CONTINUING UP THE DOME. OUR SAFETY CONCERNS ARE TWOFOLD. FIRST, IS THE CRACK AT THE AIRBAG GOING TO INTERFERE WITH IT'S PROPER FUNCTION OR PIERCE IT UPON DEPLOYMENT. SECOND, IF WE'RE INVOLVED IN A WRECK, WILL THE SHARP POINTS OF PLASTIC DASH INVOLVED IN THE DRIVER'S SIDE CRACK CAUSE INJURIES IF THE FORCES OF A COLLISION TURN THEM INTO PROJECTILES. THIS PROBLEM WITH GM/CHEVY DASHBOARDS IS WIDESPREAD AND IT MUST BE ADDRESSED AND RECTIFIED BEFORE SOMEONE GETS INJURED DUE TO THE COMPANY'S NEGLIGENCE.
NHTSA ODI #10746920
65,000 miles · Mar 27, 2015
Air BagsStructure
THE DASHBOARD IS CRACKING IN SEVERAL PLACES. ONE LOCATION IS RIGHT ABOVE THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER. THE OTHER IS AROUND THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD AS AN AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT COULD RESULT IN PLASTIC BREAKING FREE AND BECOME FLYING PROJECTILES WITHIN THE CABIN. LIKE MANY OTHER VEHICLES WITH THIS SAME ISSUE, THE V…
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THE DASHBOARD IS CRACKING IN SEVERAL PLACES. ONE LOCATION IS RIGHT ABOVE THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER. THE OTHER IS AROUND THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD AS AN AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT COULD RESULT IN PLASTIC BREAKING FREE AND BECOME FLYING PROJECTILES WITHIN THE CABIN. LIKE MANY OTHER VEHICLES WITH THIS SAME ISSUE, THE VEHICLE IS WELL MAINTAINED, GARAGE KEPT, AND IN GOOD WORKING ORDER. THE WAY THAT GM DESIGNED THE DASHBOARDS AND THE MATERIALS USED FOR THE DASHBOARDS ARE THE REASON FOR THIS ISSUE. BOTH GM AND OUR LOCAL DEALERSHIP HAVE DENIED ME ANY ASSISTANCE IN HAVING THE DASHBOARD REPLACED. *TR
NHTSA ODI #10702088
Official recalls
3Feb 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.
Feb 5, 2021
General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2013 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, and Escalade EXT, Chevrolet Avalanche, Silverado 1500, Silverado 2500/3500, Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Sierra 1500, Sierra 2500/3500, Yukon, and Yukon XL 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 2010 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, and Escalade EXT, Chevrolet Avalanche, Silverado 1500, Silverado 2500/3500, Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Sierra 1500, Sierra 2500/3500, 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 2009 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, and Escalade EXT, Chevrolet Avalanche, Silverado 1500, Silverado 2500/3500, Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Sierra 1500, Sierra 2500/3500, 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."
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 24, 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 N212328790.
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.
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
2EA21002 · 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.
DP15004 · Rollover Side Curtain Air Bags
Opened Jun 11, 2015 · Closed Mar 7, 2017
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Air Bags; Air Bags:side/window; Air Bags:side/window:curtain
In June 2015, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened this Defect Petition in response to a petition (see ODI 10568388) requesting a defect investigation of several alleged defects that can cause occupant ejections during rollover crashes in certain General Motors vehicles.The petition focused on a 2011 Texas crash involving a model year 2010 Chevrolet Tahoe, which allegedly resulted in multiple occupants to be ejected.One of the ejected occupants was fatally injured.In assessing the petitioner's request, ODI reviewed information from the petitioner, technical information related to rollover side curtain air bags from General Motors (note: ODI did not request GM's field incident data), NHTSA's prior testing and evaluation work related to FMVSS No. 226 Ejection Mitigation, and potentially relevant reports in the NHTSA complaint and crash databases.Based on the information available at the present time, NHTSA does not believe that a safety-related defect currently exists in the design of the rollover side curtain air bags in the model year 2010 Chevrolet Tahoe and other similarly designed Tahoe and Yukon vehicles.Therefore, the petition is denied.However, the agency will take further action if warranted by changing future circumstances.The official petition denial, as published in the Federal Register, is available in the document file for this petition.
Additional source detail variants (3)
Air Bags
In June 2015, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened this Defect Petition in response to a petition (see ODI 10568388) requesting a defect investigation of several alleged defects that can cause occupant ejections during rollover crashes in certain General Motors vehicles.The petition focused on a 2011 Texas crash involving a model year 2010 Chevrolet Tahoe, which allegedly resulted in multiple occupants to be ejected.One of the ejected occupants was fatally injured.In assessing the petitioner's request, ODI reviewed information from the petitioner, technical information related to rollover side curtain air bags from General Motors (note: ODI did not request GM's field incident data), NHTSA's prior testing and evaluation work related to FMVSS No. 226 Ejection Mitigation, and potentially relevant reports in the NHTSA complaint and crash databases.Based on the information available at the present time, NHTSA does not believe that a safety-related defect currently exists in the design of the rollover side curtain air bags in the model year 2010 Chevrolet Tahoe and other similarly designed Tahoe and Yukon vehicles.Therefore, the petition is denied.However, the agency will take further action if warranted by changing future circumstances.The official petition denial, as published in the Federal Register, is available in the document file for this petition.
Air Bags:side/window:curtain
In June 2015, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened this Defect Petition in response to a petition (see ODI 10568388) requesting a defect investigation of several alleged defects that can cause occupant ejections during rollover crashes in certain General Motors vehicles.The petition focused on a 2011 Texas crash involving a model year 2010 Chevrolet Tahoe, which allegedly resulted in multiple occupants to be ejected.One of the ejected occupants was fatally injured.In assessing the petitioner's request, ODI reviewed information from the petitioner, technical information related to rollover side curtain air bags from General Motors (note: ODI did not request GM's field incident data), NHTSA's prior testing and evaluation work related to FMVSS No. 226 Ejection Mitigation, and potentially relevant reports in the NHTSA complaint and crash databases.Based on the information available at the present time, NHTSA does not believe that a safety-related defect currently exists in the design of the rollover side curtain air bags in the model year 2010 Chevrolet Tahoe and other similarly designed Tahoe and Yukon vehicles.Therefore, the petition is denied.However, the agency will take further action if warranted by changing future circumstances.The official petition denial, as published in the Federal Register, is available in the document file for this petition.
Air Bags:side/window
In June 2015, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened this Defect Petition in response to a petition (see ODI 10568388) requesting a defect investigation of several alleged defects that can cause occupant ejections during rollover crashes in certain General Motors vehicles.The petition focused on a 2011 Texas crash involving a model year 2010 Chevrolet Tahoe, which allegedly resulted in multiple occupants to be ejected.One of the ejected occupants was fatally injured.In assessing the petitioner's request, ODI reviewed information from the petitioner, technical information related to rollover side curtain air bags from General Motors (note: ODI did not request GM's field incident data), NHTSA's prior testing and evaluation work related to FMVSS No. 226 Ejection Mitigation, and potentially relevant reports in the NHTSA complaint and crash databases.Based on the information available at the present time, NHTSA does not believe that a safety-related defect currently exists in the design of the rollover side curtain air bags in the model year 2010 Chevrolet Tahoe and other similarly designed Tahoe and Yukon vehicles.Therefore, the petition is denied.However, the agency will take further action if warranted by changing future circumstances.The official petition denial, as published in the Federal Register, is available in the document file for this petition.
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