On 9/20/2026 all of the roof-rail (side-curtain) airbag inflators spontaneously ruptured and deployed with explosive force while the vehicle was stationary. The event was triggered solely by shutting the vehicle's driver’s side door hard. There was absolutely no collision, impact, or external force applied to the vehicle that would justify a normal airbag deployment. The inflator body split tearing through the interior headliner. This identical failure mechanism matches existing GM safety campaigns (such as the federal safety agency Campaign 21V504000) concerning roof-rail airbag inflators suffering from internal manufacturing corrosion and thermal cycling stress. My local Chevrolet/GMC dealership ran my 17-digit VIN and stated that my specific truck is currently omitted from the active recall batches. When the physical rupture was presented to them, the dealership refused to honor a remedy, improperly citing the vehicle's age and mileage. Because this structural manufacturing defect poses an extreme risk of severe injury or shrapnel deployment to occupants in an un-crashed vehicle, I am requesting that the federal safety agency investigate this VIN omission and compel General Motors to expand their recall parameters to cover this vehicle.
2015 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 airbags problems
17 complaints (9% of all complaints for this car). Typical mileage when it fails: 58,000. 2 crashes reported.
- owner complaints
- 17
- of this car's complaints
- 9%
- typical mileage
- 58,000
- crashes
- 2
- recalls
- 2
Which part fails
Owners did not name a specific part.
At what mileage
Complaints by mileage at the time of the problem.
Chevrolet Silverado 2500 airbags problems in other years
Related recalls
Air bags: side/window: curtain: inflator
- What is wrong
- General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2015-2016 GMC Sierra 1500, 2500, 3500, and Chevrolet Silverado 1500, 2500, and 3500 trucks. The roof-rail air bag (RRAB) inflator end cap may detach from the inflator, or the inflator sidewall may rupture.
- Risk
- A separated inflator end cap or inflator rupture can allow compressed gas to escape, resulting in the end cap or other components being propelled into the vehicle, increasing the risk of injury or crash.
- Remedy
- Dealers will replace the left and right side RRAB modules, free of charge. Interim owner notification letters informing owners of the safety risk were mailed on August 18, 2021. Owners will receive a second notice when the remedy is available. Phase I owner notification letters were mailed on May 5, 2022. Phase II owner notification letters are expected to be mailed on May 31, 2022. Owners may contact GMC customer service at 1‑888‑988‑7267 or Chevrolet customer service at 1‑800‑222‑1020. This recall supersedes the federal safety agency recall number 20V‑736. GM's number for this recall is N202324251.
Recall number 21V504000 · Recall details
Air bags: side/window: curtain: inflator
- What is wrong
- General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2015-2016 GMC Sierra 1500 and Chevrolet Silverado 1500 and 2015 GMC Sierra 2500 and 3500, and Chevrolet Silverado 2500 and 3500 trucks. The roof-rail air bag (RRAB) inflator end cap may detach from the inflator.
- Risk
- If the end cap separates from the inflator, the compressed gas will escape and the end cap can be propelled into the vehicle, increasing the risk of injury or a crash.
- Remedy
- GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the RRAB modules on the left and/or right side, free of charge. Interim owner notification letters were mailed on December 22, 2020. Owners may contact GMC customer service at 1‑888‑988‑7267 or Chevrolet customer service at 1‑800‑222‑1020. Note: GM filed a new recall, number 21V‑504 that supersedes this recall. All vehicles previously recalled under 20V‑736 will now be repaired under the new recall number 21V‑504. GM's numbers for this recall are N202309680, N202309681, and N202309682.
Recall number 20V736000 · Recall details
Related investigations
Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture
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 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 -- note this information is subject to change/revision as the investigation proceeds). This investigation does not supersede EA15-001, which remains open.
EA21002
What 2015 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 owners say
Most recent owner complaints, unedited.
We have been calling and trying to get this recall taken care of. Every time we call they never have the parts and "will let us know". Its getting frustrating getting these notices from different sources and not being able to take care of it. Please help us to het this done by directing us to a repair shop that has the parts available.
Rear roof rail airbag inflator endcap failure. The endcap of the steel inflator separated and ejected throught the roof liner, read passenger window and through the wall of a house. The vehicle was parked in the driveway at the time and was not running. I was next the the window at the time of failure and was narrowly missed by the end cap but was his by the full force of the passenger window and sustained minor abrasions and closed head trauma from the glass. A police report was filed, and the manufacturer was notified. The vehicle is currently at a dealership awaiting inspection by the manufacturer.
Hit a deer about 50mph air bags went off cab filled with smoke but air bags did not deploy only the charge went off
The contact owns a 2015 Chevrolet Silverado 2500. The contact received a notification for the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 21V504000 (Air Bags) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The dealer had been notified about the issue and confirmed that parts were not yet available. The manufacturer had been notified of the issue but offered no assistance. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts are not available.
The contact owns a 2015 Chevrolet Silverado. The contact received notification of the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 21V504000 (Air Bags) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The dealer was made aware of the issue and confirmed that parts were not available. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
The contact owns a 2015 Chevrolet Silverado 2500. The contact received notification of the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 21V504000 (Air Bags) however, the part to do the recall repair was not available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The local dealer and WINEGARDNER GMC Buick of Prince Frederick (935 Solomon's Island Rd N, Prince Frederick, MD 20678) were made aware of the issue and informed the contact that parts were not yet available. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
Takata recall. The contact owns a 2015 Chevrolet Silverado 2500. The contact received notification of the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 21V504000 (Air Bags) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was notified of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts are not available.
The contact's father owns a 2015 Chevrolet Silverado 2500. The contact's father received notification of the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 21V504000 (Air Bags) however, the part to the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated on September 13, 2021, while his father was driving 5 mph over a pothole, the driver’s and passenger’s side front roof rail air bags deployed inadvertently. The contact stated that the air bag warning light was illuminated after the failure. The contact stated no one was injured or needed medical attention. No police report was filed. The driver was able to drive the vehicle to a repair shop. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. A dealer was not contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The failure mileage was approximately 146,000. VIN tool confirms part not available.
Air bag warning light and beeper repeatedly goes off intermittingly.
Questions about the 2015 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 airbags
Does the 2015 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 have airbags problems?
Owners have filed 17 complaints about the airbags of the 2015 Chevrolet Silverado 2500, 9% of all its complaints.
At what mileage do 2015 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 airbags problems start?
The typical (median) mileage in owner complaints is 58,000 miles.
Was there a recall on the 2015 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 airbags?
Yes, 2 recalls: 21V504000, 20V736000. Check your VIN to see if your car still needs the free repair.
What year does the Chevrolet Silverado 2500 have bad airbags?
The Chevrolet Silverado 2500 model years with the most airbags complaints are 2008 (106 complaints), 2007 (87 complaints) and 2011 (40 complaints).
Other 2015 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 problems
Electrical 58Brakes 37Transmission 20Fuel system 19Steering 17Engine 12Lights 9Visibility 9Seat belts 7Body 6Tires 4Suspension 3Wheels 3Acceleration 2Driver assistance 2Locks 1
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