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2021 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 airbags problems

20 complaints (2% of all complaints for this car). 10 crashes reported.

owner complaints
20
of this car's complaints
2%
crashes
10
recalls
1

Which part fails

Owners did not name a specific part.

At what mileage

Complaints by mileage at the time of the problem.

0k-25k
25k-50k
50k-75k
75k-100k
100k-125k
125k-150k
150k-175k
175k-200k
200k+

Chevrolet Silverado 1500 airbags problems in other years

1994200020052010201520202025

Specific symptoms reported on the 2021 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 airbags

Phrases found in the owners' own descriptions, so one complaint can mention several symptoms.

No deployment 9Airbag light 7

Related recalls

Air bags: frontalReported July 1, 2021 · 12 vehicles affected
What is wrong
General Motors, LLC. (GM) is recalling certain 2021 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 vehicles. The front driver's side air bag module may be missing one or more metal tabs that secure the plastic air bag cover to the housing.
Risk
The missing tabs may prevent the air bag from deploying properly, increasing the risk of injury in a crash.
Remedy
Dealers will inspect the driver frontal air bag, and replace it if necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed August 16, 2021. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1‑800‑222‑1020. GM's number for this recall is N212336560.

Recall number 21V495000 · Recall details

Related investigations

Air Bag MalfunctionOpened April 9, 2021, closed August 24, 2023

On April 9, 2021, the Office of Defects Investigations (ODI) opened PE21-010 to investigate instances of air bag malfunction indicator light (MIL) illumination and potential for frontal air bag non-deployment in several vehicles manufactured by General Motors (GM). The vehicles included model year (MY) 2020 through 2021 CT4 and CT5 passenger cars, Sierra and Silverado trucks (1500/2500/3500 models), XT4 and MY 2021 Escalade, Suburban, Tahoe, Yukon SUVs.Technical Service Bulletin (TSB) 21-NA-005, issued in March 2021, addresses air bag MIL illumination with diagnostic trouble codes (DTCs) B0001-1B or B0012-0D. It cites rust particles in the connection terminal interface of the driver air bag inflator housing as the cause of the air bag MIL illumination. Illumination of the air bag MIL under these circumstances may result in a non-deployment of the frontal driver air bag during a frontal collision and increased risk of injury to the driver.GM stated a correlation exists between production delays due to the pandemic shutdown and premature corrosion initiation on the surface of the air bag inflator housing, which, in some cases, caused rust development during a seven (7) month period of vehicle production. In the rare instance when a rust particle dislodges from the driver air bag inflator housing and enters the air bag connector prior to assembly, an intermittent resistance spike at the air bag connector may result. The condition generates excessive resistance in the air bag electrical system when the steering wheel horn cover is manipulated or the steering wheel is turned. This excessive resistance is momentary. A crash commanding air bag deployment would need to occur exactly when the momentary excessive resistance occurs. Thus, there is a very low likelihood the hazard will present a risk during a crash of sufficient severity to warrant a commanded deployment. This failure mechanism occurs early in life and results in an air bag MIL illumination that corresponds to a DTC warning the driver that the vehicle requires service. The vehicle's air bag remains functional while the MIL is illuminated, and the DTC is present.Once the connection of the driver air bag module to the clockspring is made at the plant, or at the dealership for service, there is no longer an opportunity for rust migration into the connection point. The connector is sealed and has gold terminals, eliminating the expectation of fretting corrosion. All subject vehicles passed standard corrosion validation testing for extensive corrosion with no issue of air bag non-deployment.There is a low rate of occurrence: 1.41 incidents per thousand vehicles (IPTV) for all related occurrences, and 0.04 IPTV for occurrences with a mention of visible rust and/or corrosion on the air bag inflator housing. The average occurrence mileage for the subject vehicles is approximately 2,100. Every occurrence related to the alleged defect experienced an air bag MIL illumination and there are no verified allegations of air bag non-deployment within all data sources.To date, there have been no reported fires, crashes, injuries, or fatalities related to this issue. In view of the low rate, and the nature of early-life failure, the high detectability of failures, and low potential hazard to drivers, this Preliminary Evaluation (PE) is closed. The closing of this investigation does not constitute a finding by the federal safety agency that a safety-related defect does not exist. The agency reserves the right to take additional action if warranted by new circumstances.Review the ODI reports cited above at under the following identification numbers: 11537927, 11528888, 11525020, 11521401, 11506057, 11493107, 11486767, 11441525, 11433146, 11425658, 11423440, 11385267, 11376429, 11373466, 11366995.

PE21010

What 2021 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 owners say

Most recent owner complaints, unedited.

Filed Aug 12, 2026 · Airbags, Brakes · NV · crash

Turned from [XXX] into my street, about 9 houses down, i could not brake or turn steering wheel. Ended up hitting 2 cars, the problem was that the air bags did not deploy and the seat belt did not lock. truck was totalled. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Filed Jun 3, 2026 · Airbags · AL

Air bag light was on , took to dealership because this was absolutely a safety hazard! The left front crash sensor is defective.

Filed May 29, 2026 · Airbags · OR · crash · 2 injuries

25 to 30 MPH front end collision with no air bag deployment. During repair it showed airbags deployed although none were out.

Filed Feb 20, 2026 · Airbags · NC · crash · 2 injuries

The vehicle involved is a Chevrolet Silverado 1500. During a collision, the vehicle sustained a front-left (driver-side) impact which caused it to spin and subsequently strike the rear. Despite the severity of the initial impact and secondary rear collision, the Supplemental Restraint System (SRS), including the front and side airbags, did not deploy. The failure of the airbag system increased the risk of injury to all occupants, including a minor child. Without deployment of the front or side airbags during a front-left impact and secondary rear collision, occupants were exposed to direct impact forces that airbags are designed to help mitigate. There were no airbag or SRS warning lights, dashboard messages, or other indications of a malfunction prior to the collision. The concern regarding the airbag system arose only after the incident occurred. Following the collision, the vehicle was inspected by law enforcement and insurance representatives, and documentation is available. The issue has not been reproduced, as it occurred during the collision event.

Filed Jan 1, 2026 · Airbags · MN · crash

I was in an accident that resulted in being hit on the passenger side and then colliding with a traffic light pole. My concern is I hit the pole head on and my airbags never deployed

Filed Dec 29, 2025 · Airbags, Electrical · IA · crash · fire

A week or two before I took my truck into decorah Chevy isr because tailgate was going up and down all by itself while I was driving or parked without me by it. They said it was just the latch button . So they fixed it they said and still my blinker lights would just come on and then I hit a deer and my seatbelt did not latch and my airbags didn't deploy even though my app says they did. I'm wondering if all three are connected with electrical . Either way my air bags did not deploy and my truck has extensive damage and my seatbelt didn't lock ,

Filed Dec 25, 2025 · Airbags, Seat belts · IA

I was in an accident my seatbelts did not lock and OnStar was called , it says my airbags were deployed I could smell a smell but nothing deployed

Filed Dec 15, 2025 · Airbags, Brakes · CO · crash

The brake stopped working. I just bought the car two months ago.

Filed Jun 7, 2025 · Airbags, Engine · FL

I was on my way home from work on [XXX] coming around the lakes with no median or shoulder when the engine in my 2021 Silverado started rattling, temperature gauge started going up, and losing power. Within a matter of minutes my truck shut off leaving me stranded in the middle of a four lane highway with no safe location to stop. The engine wouldn’t even turn over to try and crank back up so I could get the truck out of the road. After help getting my truck to a safe location I noticed oil and antifreeze leaking out of the bottom side of the engine. This truck was at Love Chevrolet for engine failure on 8/14/24 and was told it was fixed and was never told about ongoing issues with this particular 6.2 engine. I found out a few weeks ago while trying to trade my truck in to Jim Browne Chevrolet dealer that my particular truck the 2021 Chevrolet Silverado High Country with the 6.2 engine had known issue with the engine locking up and was afraid to take my truck in on trade due to his service manger going through this same experience. So I paid top dollar for a high end Chevrolet truck to be stuck with not being able to trade it and now not being able to drive it. I called the dealer and was told that my trucks vin number was not part of the recall for this issue but there are trucks that are the same year, model, and engine type that are covered under this recall. I’m now stuck making a 850 a month payment on a 58000 dollar truck that I can’t drive and can’t afford to replace an engine. Any help would be greatly appreciated. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Filed May 20, 2025 · Airbags · TX · crash · 1 injury

Airbags did not deploy after a collision based accident

Questions about the 2021 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 airbags

Does the 2021 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 have airbags problems?

Owners have filed 20 complaints about the airbags of the 2021 Chevrolet Silverado 1500, 2% of all its complaints.

At what mileage do 2021 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 airbags problems start?

Not enough complaints include the mileage to tell.

Was there a recall on the 2021 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 airbags?

Yes, 1 recall: 21V495000. Check your VIN to see if your car still needs the free repair.

What year does the Chevrolet Silverado 1500 have bad airbags?

The Chevrolet Silverado 1500 model years with the most airbags complaints are 2008 (594 complaints), 2007 (479 complaints) and 2011 (306 complaints).

Other 2021 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 problems

Engine 453Transmission 245Electrical 113Brakes 45Steering 43Fuel system 32Body 29Suspension 18Driver assistance 17Locks 15Acceleration 10Wheels 8Seat belts 7Visibility 7Lights 6Tires 3Seats 2

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