air bags on my truck still dont work and i was not told by sales person that the safety features didnt work on truck before purchase. Dealership has worked on it twice and the last tech airbags were working and they are not still same symbol saying airbag not working
2016 GMC Sierra 1500 airbags problems
12 complaints (3% of all complaints for this car). Typical mileage when it fails: 47,000. 3 crashes reported.
- owner complaints
- 12
- of this car's complaints
- 3%
- typical mileage
- 47,000
- crashes
- 3
- recalls
- 3
Which part fails
- Side/window: curtain1
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+
GMC Sierra 1500 airbags problems in other years
Related recalls
Air bags: side/window: curtain: inflator
- What is wrong
- General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2016 Chevrolet Silverado 2500/3500, GMC Sierra 2500/3500 vehicles, and 2016-2017 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 and GMC Sierra 1500 vehicles. The left-side or right-side roof rail air bag (RRAB) inflator end cap may detach from the inflator or the inflator sidewall may rupture.
- Risk
- A detached end cap or inflator rupture can allow compressed gas to escape and project the end cap or fragments of the inflator into the vehicle, increasing the risk of injury.
- Remedy
- Dealers will replace both RRAB modules, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed October 21, 2026. Owners may contact GMC customer service at 1‑888‑988‑7267 or Chevrolet customer service at 1‑800‑222‑1020. GM's number for this recall is N262569920. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on on September 24, 2026.
Recall number 26V611000 · Recall details
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
What 2016 GMC Sierra 1500 owners say
Most recent owner complaints, unedited.
The contact owned a 2016 GMC Sierra 1500. The contact stated that while driving approximately 35 MPH, the vehicle crashed into a deer, causing significant damage to the front end. During the crash, no airbags deployed. The cause of the air bag's failure to deploy was not determined. The vehicle was repaired at the local collision center. Recently, while driving approximately 50 MPH, the driver pressed the brakes to decelerate before crashing into a deer. During the crash, the vehicle sustained minor damage to the front end, but all the air bags in the vehicle deployed, including the driver steering wheel air bag, the front passenger side air bag, the driver and passenger side curtain airbags and seat belt pretensioners, and the passenger side seat air bag. The driver's side seat airbag did not deploy. The contact suffered adverse effects of COPD due to the air bag powder during the deployment. No medical treatment was needed. The cause of the failure was not determined. The manufacturer and local dealer were not contacted. The contact indicated that due to the minor damage to the vehicle during the crash, the air bag should not have deployed. The vehicle was towed to a collision center and was determined to be destroyed. The failure mileage was unknown.
My rear driver side door electric harness failed only two years after owning vehicle. This disables everything, including the side airbag putting passengers at risk. Most recently (2024), my radio harness failed causing ALL functions regarding infotainment system to be obsolete. Multiple electric issues and no recalls to be seen.
Truck says service airbag when it only had 148,867 miles. Was told its passenger side front by dealership. All other airbags are fine
My 2016 gmc Sierra transmission going out again first time locked up and researched everyone I know that owns gmc says they have same issue replaced front drive train busted also and noticed the weld on the frame around steering box and frame has one weld pass very thin rusting away already I've done replaced engine front diff fuel pump now airbag warning keeps going off and my radio has security build in it keeps locking up so I think my entire gmc sjo I ld be recalled replaced with a better used one at least gmc make it right allow me a safe auto for what I paid for so please check transmission on all 2016 gmc trucks suv before someone gets killed over malfunction and airbags an on board computer shutting down my email [XXX] I'd be happy to allow gmc builders to take it and learn from defaults in it I know I had service dept Thornhill auto chapmanville wv service a brake recall on it and the web sites continue saying no recall please email any help thank you for everyone's time helping me INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
Service Airbag light is on. Airbag removed and replaced at owner's expense. Diagnosed electrical concern. Cost Not covered by GMC. There has been four Airbag recalls on the 2016 GMC Sierra since 2016, but none covering total replacement of the Airbag. Recalls dated 09-08-2016, 07-10-2017, 11-25-2020, and 07-01-2021. Does NOT seem logical to me to cover cost for most of the component, but not the Airbag itself. This doesn't seem fair...$1422.45.
The contact owns a 2016 GMC Sierra 1500. The contact stated that while her husband was driving at an undisclosed speed, there was an abnormally loud sound inside the cabin of the vehicle. The contact stated that the front and rear driver’s and passenger’s side air bags had inadvertently deployed without being involved in a crash. The vehicle loss motive power and stalled. The driver and the contact’s son who was sitting in the front passenger’s seat were struck on the head with the air bags however, there were no injuries. Medical attention was not needed. No police report was filed. There were no warning lights illuminated on the vehicle. The vehicle was restarted after several minutes and driven back to the residence. The vehicle was then taken to the dealer to be diagnosed; however, the mechanic was unable to determine the cause of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 112,000. THE CONSUMER STATED THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THE OWNER/DRIVER WAS NOT AT FAULT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS TO HAVE THE VEHICLE REPAIRED AND NOT COST TO THE CONSUMER. THE CONSUMER HAD NOT YET BEEN REPAIRED AS OF 5/18/22.
On average, about every 3rd time I drive this truck, but almost every time if it's wet or cold, I get a warning that there is a mechanical issue with my airbags. I don't know which one, or what part of the system is failing, but the airbag warning light will remain on the entire time I'm driving and I get notices from onstar that it requires immediate attention. It's happened too many times for me to count. The first time it happened (over a year ago), I took it to the dealership regarding the issue, they thought it was likely electrical and could be fixed with a $1000 repair.
Tl* the contact owns a 2016 gmc sierra 1500. When the vehicle was started, the air bag warning indicator illuminated. While driving approximately 45 MPH, the driver and passenger side curtain air bags deployed. The contact stopped the vehicle in the middle of the highway until the police arrived. The vehicle was towed to the contact's residence. The vehicle was taken to finnegan chevrolet (26529 southwest fwy, rosenberg, tx 77471) where it was diagnosed that the headliner and sensors needed replacement. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 47,000.
Vehicle involved in a rear end collision and pushed into a vehicle in front causing both front and rear damage, airbag came out of inflater but did not deploy
Questions about the 2016 GMC Sierra 1500 airbags
Does the 2016 GMC Sierra 1500 have airbags problems?
Owners have filed 12 complaints about the airbags of the 2016 GMC Sierra 1500, 3% of all its complaints.
At what mileage do 2016 GMC Sierra 1500 airbags problems start?
The typical (median) mileage in owner complaints is 47,000 miles.
Was there a recall on the 2016 GMC Sierra 1500 airbags?
Yes, 3 recalls: 26V611000, 21V504000, 20V736000. Check your VIN to see if your car still needs the free repair.
What year does the GMC Sierra 1500 have bad airbags?
The GMC Sierra 1500 model years with the most airbags complaints are 2008 (243 complaints), 2007 (146 complaints) and 2009 (122 complaints).
Other 2016 GMC Sierra 1500 problems
Brakes 106Transmission 85Electrical 54Engine 41Steering 38Suspension 15Visibility 14Fuel system 9Driver assistance 8Body 7Seats 7Acceleration 4Lights 4Wheels 4Seat belts 2Tires 2
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