← New search

2010 GMC Yukon

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2010 GMC Yukon do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 103.

About this comparison →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
Compare all Yukon years →

Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

All reported categories

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

64 reports with mileage · 41 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 53 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Structure. Review the 26 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine. Review the 8 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

1 crash reports2 fire reports4 injury reports

Unknown Or Other complaints

38 reports
Clear category filter
44,140 miles · Sep 19, 2016
Unknown Or Other

DASH BOARD CRACKING IN TWO DIFFERENT PLACES. ONE OVER THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND 1 AROUND THE AIRBAG OPENING.

NHTSA ODI #10908014

60,000 miles · Aug 28, 2016
Unknown Or Other

HUGE DASHBOARD CRACK IN FRONT OF PASSENGER SIDE

NHTSA ODI #10902058

90,000 miles · Aug 14, 2016
Unknown Or Other

MY 2010 GMC YUKON XL HAS A CRACKED DASH IN 2 PLACES THAT THE DEALERSHIP WILL NOT REPLACE

NHTSA ODI #10895724

Mileage unknown · Aug 9, 2016
Unknown Or Other

DASH CRACKED AND A BIG CHUNK FELL OUT RIGHT BESIDE THE AIR BAG TO MANY PEOPLE ARE HAVING THIS PROBLEM SOME ONE NEEDS TO FORCE A RECALL ON THIS

NHTSA ODI #10894661

72,000 miles · Aug 3, 2016
Unknown Or Other

7/2/16 WE CLEANED OUR YUKON GETTING READY FOR THE BEACH AND NOTICED A NEW CRACK ABOVE THE INSTRUMENT PANEL IN THE DASH WITH SHARP EDGES WHICH IF A CRASH HAPPENED COULD SEND PROTRUDING OBJECTS TOWARDS THE DRIVER POSSIBLY INJURING THE DRIVER AND PUNCTURING THE AIR BAG CAUSING IT TO MALFUNCTION. WE ONLY DRIVE THIS VEHICLE ON WEEKEN…

Read full complaint

7/2/16 WE CLEANED OUR YUKON GETTING READY FOR THE BEACH AND NOTICED A NEW CRACK ABOVE THE INSTRUMENT PANEL IN THE DASH WITH SHARP EDGES WHICH IF A CRASH HAPPENED COULD SEND PROTRUDING OBJECTS TOWARDS THE DRIVER POSSIBLY INJURING THE DRIVER AND PUNCTURING THE AIR BAG CAUSING IT TO MALFUNCTION. WE ONLY DRIVE THIS VEHICLE ON WEEKENDS AND ON VACATION. IT IS GARAGED AT ALL TIMES. IT IS BABIED!! THIS JUST HAPPENED. A VEHICLE OF THIS EXPENSE SHOULD HAVE A STURDIER MADE DASH AND IT SHOULDN'T CRACK WITHOUT A CRASH OR HIT LIKE A WRECK! AS I WAS DOING RESEARCH THIS IS NOT A NEW ISSUE GMC HAS AND THEIR ARE MANY VEHICLES THAT HAVE THIS SAME ISSUE. WHY HASN'T THIS BEEN RECALLED YET? ARE THEY WAITING ON AN INJURY OR DEATH? THIS SHOULD BE A SAFETY ISSUE. FROM WHAT I HAVE READ FROM OTHERS PIECES CONTINUE TO FALL OUT AND EXPOSES MECHANICAL PARTS UNDNERNEATH THE DASH. WE HAVE THE EXTENDED BUMPER TO BUMPER WARRANTY BUT HAVEN'T HAD THE TIME TO TAKE IT TO OUR LOCAL GMC AND I HEAR IT ISN'T COVERED. THIS IS RIDICULOUS AND GMC NEEDS TO BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE. TO PAY 40,000 FOR A VEHICLE IT SHOULDN'T HAVE A CRACKED DASH WITH UNDER 70000 MILES! I HAVE CONTACTED A LAWYER HANDLING A CLASS ACTION LAWSUIT BUT WE SHOULDN'T HAVE TO DO THAT. TV MIGHT BE NEXT. I WAS JUST WASHING THE INSIDE WINDOWS WHEN I NOTICED IT.

NHTSA ODI #10893004

72,000 miles · Jun 8, 2016
EnginePower TrainUnknown Or Other

I HAD BEEN REAR ENDED, MY DAUGHTER TOOK MY 2010 YUKON TO THE LOCAL DEALER (FINDLAY) ON MAY 12, 2016, SHE WAS TOLD ACCIDENT DIDN'T CAUSE THE PROBLEM AND WOULD NEED THE TIRE SENSOR CHECKED AT A COST OF $500.00. YESTERDAY (JUNE 8, 2016) COMING HOME FROM WORK, I WAS TURNING OFF THE MAIN HIGHWAY ONTO A RESIDENTIAL STREET (RIVERVIEW)…

Read full complaint

I HAD BEEN REAR ENDED, MY DAUGHTER TOOK MY 2010 YUKON TO THE LOCAL DEALER (FINDLAY) ON MAY 12, 2016, SHE WAS TOLD ACCIDENT DIDN'T CAUSE THE PROBLEM AND WOULD NEED THE TIRE SENSOR CHECKED AT A COST OF $500.00. YESTERDAY (JUNE 8, 2016) COMING HOME FROM WORK, I WAS TURNING OFF THE MAIN HIGHWAY ONTO A RESIDENTIAL STREET (RIVERVIEW) AS I MADE THE TURN THE CARS ABS BRAKE SENSOR LIGHT WENT OFF AND SO DID THE LIGHT AS THOUGH I ON WAS ON ICE, BUT I WAS ON A PAVED ROAD AND SPEED WAS LOW MAYBE 10 MPH, IT WENT OFF ALMOST AS QUICKLY AS IT CAME ON. SO I PROCEEDED, STOP AT A 4 WAY STOP SIGN (RIVERVIEW AND LAKESIDE), WHEN I PROCEEDED ON ALL THE DOOR LOCKS STARTED GOING OFF AND THE POWER AND TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT ENGAGE. I TRAVELED APPROXIMATELY 500 FEET BEFORE THE CAR ENGAGED AND STARTED RUNNING. I AM TRYING TO FIND OUT IF THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM AND IF SO ARE THERE ANY RESOLUTIONS AND IS ANYONE ELSE HAVING THIS PROBLEM. IN A WEEK I NEED TO TRAVEL 200 MILES TO A DOCTOR AND I'M CONCERNED THAT THIS IS MAJOR.

NHTSA ODI #10873203

78,000 miles · Jun 6, 2016
Air BagsUnknown Or Other

THE DASHBOARD IS CRACKING IN MULTIPLE PLACES BY THE AIRBAGS. I AM CONCERNED THAT THERE WILL BE SHARDS OF PLASTIC FLYING AT ME/MY FAMILY SHOULD AN AIRBAG DEPLOY. THE CRACKS ARE GROWING AND HAPPEN AT A STANDSTILL AND WHILE DRIVING. I KNOW THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH 2007-2013 DASHES BECAUSE THERE IS A FACEBOOK GROUP WITH OVER 400…

Read full complaint

THE DASHBOARD IS CRACKING IN MULTIPLE PLACES BY THE AIRBAGS. I AM CONCERNED THAT THERE WILL BE SHARDS OF PLASTIC FLYING AT ME/MY FAMILY SHOULD AN AIRBAG DEPLOY. THE CRACKS ARE GROWING AND HAPPEN AT A STANDSTILL AND WHILE DRIVING. I KNOW THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH 2007-2013 DASHES BECAUSE THERE IS A FACEBOOK GROUP WITH OVER 4000 MEMBERS WHO OWN GM PRODUCTS (YUKON, TAHOE, SILVERADO ETC) THEY ARE ALL HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM!!

NHTSA ODI #10872870

Mileage unknown · Jun 2, 2016
Unknown Or Other

I HAVE A CRACKED DASHBOARD AT THE CORNER OF PASSENGER AIRBAG AND ABOVE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER.

NHTSA ODI #10872054

85,000 miles · May 18, 2016
Unknown Or Other

MY DASHBOARD HAS BEEN SLOWLY DETERIORATING UNTIL YESTERDAY. WHEN I GOT IN THIS MORNING I NOTICED ADDITIONAL CRACKING AND ONE CRACK IS SO BAD THAT IT IS CAVING IN AROUND THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG. I AM NOT COMFORTABLE THAT THIS WILL NOT AFFECT THE FUNCTIONALITY OF THE AIRBAG OR THAT IT WILL NOT THROW PIECES OF PLASTIC DASH AROUND…

Read full complaint

MY DASHBOARD HAS BEEN SLOWLY DETERIORATING UNTIL YESTERDAY. WHEN I GOT IN THIS MORNING I NOTICED ADDITIONAL CRACKING AND ONE CRACK IS SO BAD THAT IT IS CAVING IN AROUND THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG. I AM NOT COMFORTABLE THAT THIS WILL NOT AFFECT THE FUNCTIONALITY OF THE AIRBAG OR THAT IT WILL NOT THROW PIECES OF PLASTIC DASH AROUND IF IT HAS TO DEPLOY. ADDITIONALLY, THERE IS CHROME WRAPPING ON THE DOOR HANDLES AND THE PASSENGER DOOR INSIDE AND OUT HAS BEGUN TO PEEL. MY WIFE SUSTAINED A DEEP CUT ON HER INDEX FINGER AND I HAVE TO TELL EVERY SINGLE PERSON WHO GETS IN OR OUT TO BE CAREFUL NOT TO TOUCH THE SHARP PIECES. I CALLED GM AND THEY SAID IT WAS NOT REALLY A CONCERN AND ADVISED I DEAL WITH AN AUTHORIZED SERVICE CENTER. MY TRANSLATION WAS THAT THIS WILL COST ME GREATLY TO REPAIR SOMETHING THAT SHOULD NOT BE HAPPENING ON THIS CLASS OF VEHICLE.

NHTSA ODI #10865574

82,000 miles · Apr 19, 2016
Unknown Or Other

THE DASH IS CRACKING ALL OVER, FROM ONE SIDE TO THE OTHER. STARTED AS A SMALL CRACK AND IS NOW THE ENTIRE DASH VERY QUICKLY

NHTSA ODI #10860264

Official recalls

3

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.

21V053000 · Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module

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.

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.

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

1

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.