Recall alert: 400K pickups recalled over risk of exploding airbags

July 12, 2021

By Mark Jones

Recalls in the automotive industry occur rather frequently. Many of them are insignificant in nature. You might have a faulty component that could cause an interior light to malfunction.

Then there are more serious recalls that deal with hazards that could put your life in danger. A glaring example recently is millions of faulty Takata airbags that have the potential to explode when deployed. Tap or click here for details on that massive recall.

Now, there’s a new recall dealing with faulty airbags. While this latest one isn’t associated with Takata, it is serious enough to pay attention to. Read on for all the details and see if you’re vehicle is impacted.

Here’s the backstory

General Motors issued a recall this week for more than 400,000 Chevy Silverado and GMC Sierra trucks. The problem is related to roof rail airbags.

According to GM, “in affected trucks, the roof-rail airbag (RRAB) inflator end cap may detach from the inflator. Separately, the inflator sidewall in these vehicles may also be prone to rupture.

‘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.”

Is your vehicle impacted?

The latest recall involves 2015-2016 Chevy Silverado and GMC Sierra trucks. Check the following list to see if your vehicle is impacted:

If you have an impacted vehicle, the flaw will be fixed for free at your dealership.

What you should do now

If you have an affected vehicle, GM will send you a notification with instructions to make an appointment with your car dealership. Interim notification letters will be sent on Aug. 16, 2021.

You will receive a second notice when a repair is available. If you’re not sure if your vehicle is part of this recall, you can visit my.gm.com/recalls and type in your VIN to see any open recalls or other actions that may be active on it.

You can also reach out to NHTSA, Chevy or GMC directly using the following contact information: NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V504000, GM recall number: N202324251, Chevrolet Customer Service: 1-800-222-1020, GMC Customer Service: 1-800-462-8782, NHTSA Toll Free: 1-888-327-4236, NHTSA (TTY): 1-800-424-9153.

To find out if your vehicle is part of any recalls, you can visit the NHTSA website at https://www.nhtsa.gov/recalls and key in your 17-digit vehicle identification number. Make sure you have your VIN on hand before you start to help streamline the process.

You can also sign up to get email alerts regarding the issue. If you confirm that your car is affected, you should get the recall fixed immediately by contacting your local auto dealer.

Keep reading

Half a million vehicles recalled – Check the full list for yours

Recall alert: Check your home for this dangerous product before someone gets hurt

https://www.komando.com/news/recalls/gm-airbag-recall/