2015 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
Safety record from NHTSA: recalls, owner complaints, investigations and service bulletins.
Vehicles › Chevrolet › Silverado 1500 › 2015
Safety record from NHTSA: recalls, owner complaints, investigations and service bulletins.
These records cover every 2015 Chevrolet Silverado 1500. To see whether one car still needs a recall repair, decode its VIN or check it with NHTSA.
11 recalls name the 2015 Chevrolet Silverado 1500. Newest first.
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.
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.
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 NHTSA recall number 20V-736. GM's number for this recall is N202324251.
General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2014-2016 Chevrolet Silverado 1500, 2015-2016 Chevrolet Tahoe, and 2014-2015 GMC Sierra 1500 vehicles that may have received an incorrect replacement tensioner cable assembly as part of a previous recall remedy or a subsequent repair. The flexible steel cable connecting the driver's seat belt to the outboard…
A broken pretensioner cable reduces the effectiveness of the driver's seat belt, increasing the risk of injury.
GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver seat belt lap pretensioner, free of charge. The recall began on May 5, 2021. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, and GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is N212330040.
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.
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.
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.
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2015-2020 Chevrolet Suburban, Tahoe, and GMC Yukon, and 2014-2018 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 and GMC Sierra 1500 vehicles equipped with a 5.3-liter engine, a 3.08-ratio rear axle and four-wheel drive. If a wheel-speed sensor fails, while the vehicle is traveling between 41 and 60 mph in four-wheel or automatic…
Unintended activation of the driveline-protection system will cause unintended braking on the wheel on the opposite side of the failed sensor, causing the vehicle to pull to one side unexpectedly, increasing the risk of a crash.
GM will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the EBCM, free of charge. The recall began December 11, 2019. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-630-2438 or GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is N192261050.
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2015-2017 Cadillac Escalade, 2014-2018 Chevrolet Silverado, GMC Sierra, 2015-2018 Chevrolet Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Yukon vehicles. The amount of vacuum created by the vacuum pump may decrease over time.
As the vacuum level drops, the brake assist decreases, increasing braking effort, extending the distance required to stop the vehicle, thereby increasing the risk of a crash.
GM will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the Electronic Brake Control Module, free of charge. The recall began October 8, 2019. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-630-2438, Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006 or GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is N192268490.
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2015 Chevrolet Silverado 1500, Tahoe and Suburban, GMC Sierra 1500 and Yukon, and Cadillac Escalade vehicles. Electric power steering (EPS) assist may be lost momentarily, followed by a sudden return of EPS assist.
If EPS assist is lost and then suddenly returns, the driver may have difficulty steering the vehicle, especially at low speeds, increasing the risk of a crash.
GM will notify owners, and dealers will update the EPS module software, free of charge. The recall began October 12, 2018. 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 18289.
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2015-2016 Chevrolet Silverado 2500, 3500, 1500 Crew Cab Special Service, Tahoe Police Pursuit/Special Service, GMC Sierra 2500, and 3500 vehicles. The brake pedal pivot nut may loosen, causing the brake pedal to be loose or inoperative.
If the brake pedal becomes loose or inoperative, the driver may be unable to stop the vehicle by using the brake pedal. Additionally, a loose pedal may also interfere with the accelerator pedal. Either condition may increase the risk of a crash.
GM will notify owners, and dealers will add adhesive to the nut and reinstall the nut with increased tightness, free of charge. The recall began October 3, 2018. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, or GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is 18278. Note: The vehicles in this recall need this additional remedy despite being covered by recall 16V069 for brake pedal loosening.
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2015-2016 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 and Tahoe Police Pursuit and Special-Service vehicles. The flexible steel cable connecting the driver's seat belt to the outboard side of the seat may be repeatedly bent over the seat side shield as the driver enters and exits the vehicle causing the cable to fatigue and…
If the pretensioner cable becomes fatigued or breaks, the driver may not be properly restrained in the event of a crash, increasing their risk of injury.
GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the pretensioner cable and seat side-shield, free of charge. The recall began June 19, 2018. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is 18156.
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2014-2016 Buick Lacrosse and Chevrolet Spark EV, Caprice PPV and SS vehicles, 2014-2017 Buick Encore and Chevrolet Corvette, Silverado 1500 and GMC Sierra 1500 vehicles, 2015-2016 Cadillac Escalade and Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Tahoe, Trax, Suburban and Silverado 2500 and 3500 and GMC Yukon and Yukon XL…
A failure of the front air bags or seat belt pretensioners to deploy in the event of a crash necessitating deployment increases the risk of injury to the driver and front passenger.
GM will notify owners, and dealers will reflash the SDM software. Vehicles that have had a previous air bag deployment will have the SDM replaced. These repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began on August 4, 2017. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300, Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, or GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is 17287.
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2015-2017 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 HD, 3500 HD, Tahoe, Suburban, GMC Sierra 2500 HD and 3500 HD, GMC Yukon, GMC Yukon XL, Cadillac Escalade and Cadillac Escalade ESV vehicles and 2014-2017 Chevrolet Corvette, Silverado 1500, Trax, Caprice Police Pursuit Vehicle, GMC Sierra 1500, Buick Encore, and…
A failure of the front air bags or seat belt pretensioners to deploy in the event of a crash necessitating deployment increases the risk of injury to the driver and front passenger.
GM will notify owners, and dealers will reflash the SDM software. Vehicles that have had a previous air bag deployment will have the SDM replaced. These repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began on October 13, 2016. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300, Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, or GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is 16007.
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2015-2016 Chevrolet Silverado 1500, 2500, and 3500 heavy duty trucks manufactured October 1, 2013, to February 1, 2016, 2015-2016 Chevrolet Tahoe Police Pursuit Vehicles (PPV) manufactured March 1, 2014, to February 1, 2016, and 2015-2016 GMC Sierra 2500 and 3500 heavy duty trucks manufactured October…
If the brake pedal becomes loose or inoperative, the driver may be unable to stop the vehicle by using the brake pedal. Additionally, a loose pedal may also interfere with the accelerator pedal. Either condition may increase the risk of a crash.
GM will notify owners, and dealers will add adhesive to the brake pedal pivot nut and reinstall with an increased torque, free of charge. The recall began on March 14, 2016. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020 or GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is 20760.
Odometer Fraud. The contact purchased a 2015 Chevrolet Silverado 1500. The contact discovered that there was a mileage discrepancy after the purchase. The vehicle was a private sale. At the time of the purchase, the mileage was 107,015. It was later discovered upon registering the vehicle at a local DMV agency that the mileage was 233,000.
A lifter failed and caused an injector to fail and a push rod to bend. The truck has misfires on two cylinders now. The AFM system is a large issue known for 2014 and newer 1500 trucks as mine is a 2015. The truck is in need of a motor rebuild or replacement and the dealer I took the truck to for the work quoted me over $9000 for the work to be completed. The engine has less then 125,000 miles on it.
What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? The factory paint coat/paint adhesion system (Exterior Summit White Finish) failed, resulting in early-stage delamination and separation of the topcoat directly from the electro-coat primer. The vehicle and affected body panels are intact, unaltered, and available for inspection upon request. How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? (early-stage delamination and separation) Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? Yes. On XXX, I visited my local dealership in [XXX] and spoke directly with Service Manager Mr. Gerome. He inspected the issue and informed me that dealership-level assistance could not be applied because the vehicle is over 7 years old, advising me to contact GM Customer Assistance directly for a corporate goodwill review GM Customer Care evaluated photos: The issue was reviewed directly through GM Customer Care and Senior Executive Liaison Roman via photographs, but GM refused to acknowledge the factory paint adhesion defect or offer a remedy. Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others? Yes, the defect was formally submitted for review to General Motors Customer Care and Senior Executive Liaison Roman. No police or insurance inspections have occurred, as there has been no collision or external impact causing this failure. Were there any warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did they first appear? No warning lamps or digital messages occurred, as this is a physical surface material failure. The issue began as subtle surface lifting and small paint flakes detaching without any prior stone chips or scratches. The issue first appeared on [XXX]. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Rear window defrost caught fire. No noticeable damage to vehicle. On my twenty fifteen chevy silverado. Smoke filled the cab of the vehicle. There were no warning or messages to alert to this happening. I reported the dangerous incident to a dealer who told me to contact corporate. He said this is an issue but it was called a customer satisfaction program N192265660 rear window thermal event which yes it was my year but the safety issue which I was never aware of expired. He then told me to report it to NHSTA.gov. This is very dangerous and certainly should be a recall to befixed. Luckily I had started the vehicle in my driveway and was getting into it when it happened. It could have happened while I was driving.That was a known dangerous issue this should still be fixed without an expiration date. It is still dangerous.
At 124,000, the transmission started slipping and not grabbing gears. Coleman Taylor Transmissions ended up having to do a full rebuild which costs about $4000. At around 20,000 miles, the vehicle started to shutter going 45 mph. The vehicle still does shake violently at 62-75 mph causing a safety concern. The brakes wont go if Ive been standing still for a long time like in a drive through or backing down a boat ramp. You have to stand on the brakes with both feet to get the vehicle to stop and thats only going 5 mph. We still own this vehicle and still have issues with it.
Vehicle: 2015 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 (VIN: [XXX]). The factory Summit White paint and clearcoat are delaminating from the primer in large sheets along the roofline directly above the windshield header. This factory paint-bonding failure exposes raw primer and bare metal, compromising the structural roof seal around the windshield. Left unaddressed, it creates water intrusion and structural rust risks near the windshield header, posing a safety and visibility hazard. GM has denied goodwill assistance despite this being a known manufacturing defect. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
The contact owns a 2015 Chevrolet Silverado 1500. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, the "Service Power Steering Drive" message was displayed and the steering wheel became extremely difficult to maneuver. The contact attempted to drive onto the main street; however, had to drive slowly with the hazard lights activated, before returning to the residence. The contact researched and became aware of an unknown recall; however, the VIN was not under recall. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic to be diagnosed and associated the failure with an electric pump. The failure mileage was approximately 106,799.
I am filing this complaint regarding a serious engine lifter/Active Fuel Management (AFM) failure in my 2015 Chevrolet Silverado 1500. The vehicle experienced a lifter failure that caused significant engine problems and created a potential safety concern while driving back from shopping: loss of power, engine misfire, severe shaking, ticking, check-engine light, stalling, inability to maintain speed, etc. The vehicle had approximately 200k miles at the time of the failure. The vehicle was inspected by a local mechanic, which diagnosed the problem as collapsed/failed lifter. The repair required/will cost approx. 3k or more estimated My concern is that this does not appear to be an isolated failure. Other owners of 2015 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 trucks equipped with GM's Active Fuel Management system have reported lifter failures, including failures resulting in engine damage and sudden loss of engine power or propulsion. A sudden lifter or related engine failure can create a significant safety hazard, particularly when it occurs at highway speeds, while merging into traffic, crossing an intersection, or in another situation where the driver depends upon the engine to maintain acceleration and vehicle speed. I am reporting this in hopes that GM can be held accountable as they knew about these defective lifters but did nothing but hide it.
January of last year, I was driving, coming off the highway, my engine came on and the system send to shutdown immediatly. I was close enough to my machanic, upon inspection, the AFM System failed at only 76,622 miles. This is part of the building issues with this value lifter problem I wanted to document it with the NHTSA as you are actively opening case for this ongoing issue with GM. i am hoping that a class action law suit will hopfully gain traction. this was a know issue, i was outside of standard warrenty, I was forced to replace the engine out of my own pocket to avoid having a truck worth almost nothing. I will bring this up with GM corporate also, reciept uploaded. Millions of 2014-present trucks and SUVs, while federal investigations specifically target nearly 878,000 to 1 million newer vehicles (2019–2026). GM should be helad accountable
When applying brakes at low speeds the brakes are unresponsive they sound rough and the vehicle does not come to a stop it skids forward, and an electric low whine occurs. This doesn't happen everytime. I took it in for Carvanas 30 day warranty and was told its because I drove it down the mountain grade while applying brakes and they didnt find anything wrong with the brake thus wouldn't be covered. Been seeing this vacuum issue with the brakes on this particular issue and seeing if I can get this resolved.
Lifter for cylinder 7, part of the Active Fuel Management system, failed to open causing the truck to lose full power while I was on the highway without any warning prior to the incident. It could have caused an accident if It had happened during a busier time on the highway as I could not go the "flow of traffic's speed." It has been torn down and looked over to confirm the problem and full extent of the damage, by a dealership, with pictures of proof. This has left me without my vehicle for months due to needing a full brand new motor.
The contact owns a 2015 Chevrolet Silverado 1500. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the brakes failed to engage while the brake pedal was depressed. The contact placed both feet on the brake pedal for the vehicle to come to a stop. No warning lights were illuminated. A dealer was contacted and made the contact aware of an unknown recall; however, the VIN was not under recall. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 187,918.
The contact owns a 2015 Chevrolet Silverado 1500. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle lost power steering functionality for approximately 1 minute. The failure had occurred while the steering wheel was straight or turning towards the left or the right, and the steering wheel was jerking during the failure. The “Power Steering” message was displayed, and there was an audible chime intermittently. The dealer was contacted, and the issue was discussed. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The failure mileage was 158,000.
The contact owns a 2015 Chevrolet Silverado 1500. The contact stated that while his son was stopped at a gas station, while buckling the seat belt, the floor anchor pretensioner cable snapped off. The contact stated that there was no warning light illuminated. A Chevrolet dealer was contacted and stated that the VIN was previously under recall, and the vehicle was repaired in Maryland in 2016 under NHTSA Campaign Number: 16V209000 (Seat Belts). The vehicle was recently repaired at Lancaster Chevrolet in Lancaster, SC (1616 Charlotte Hwy, Lancaster, SC 29720), and the contact stated that the vehicle would be covered under warranty if the mileage was under 184,700 miles. The contact paid out of pocket to have the cable replaced. The cause of the failure was not diagnosed. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 200,000.
COMPONENT: Electric power steering (EPS) and electrical/power distribution. Available for inspection. FAILURE: My 2015 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 LT (5.3L, 4WD) intermittently loses EPS assist during tight low-speed turns; steering becomes suddenly and severely heavy. On one occasion the engine shut off completely while I was turning - steering went heavy immediately before the stall. The same events bring random Service StabiliTrak warnings, Tow/Haul messages I did not request, and loss of stereo audio and turn-signal chime, sometimes together. Shutting off, opening the driver's door, waiting a minute, then remote starting restores normal operation - modules appear to reset when the truck fully powers down. SAFETY RISK: Loss of steering assist plus complete engine shutdown occurred while turning. Losing both in traffic could readily cause a crash. RECALL: NHTSA 18V-586 (GM 18289, EPS Loss of Steering Assist) was completed on this VIN 2018-10-11. Eight years later the vehicle still loses steering assist, now with engine stall. GM's Part 573 report states the remedy only reduces EPS current draw so voltage stays above the 8.8V cutoff; it appears inadequate here. GM TSB 18-NA-161 describes this same symptom set and attributes it to high-resistance battery cable connections, a poor BCM ground at G218, a shorted B+ cable at the starter solenoid, or a faulty battery - a hardware condition never made subject to recall despite causing engine stall and loss of steering assist. INSPECTION: Hotchkiss Auto could not recreate the failure; the vehicle set numerous codes across multiple modules, making the fault impossible to isolate. Not inspected by manufacturer, police, or insurance. No crash, injury, or fire. PRIOR REPAIR: Two months ago I cleaned and tightened two grounds (front passenger wheel area, under driver's dash). Symptoms stopped two months, then returned. WARNINGS: StabiliTrak and Tow/Haul messages precede and accompany the failures. First appeared June 2025.
I am having difficulty getting the driver side seat belt buckle to latch.
The contact owns a 2015 Chevrolet Silverado 1500. The contact stated that the vehicle was taken to a dealer for an undisclosed repair. The vehicle was picked up and driven for seven minutes down the road, and the vehicle lost power steering functionality. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer, and the following day the vehicle was diagnosed and determined to have a failed steering angle sensor. The vehicle was repaired out of pocket; however, after the repair, the issue reoccurred. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 216,300.
Rear windshield was recalled and replaced in 2020, was driving and heard a pop and driver side rear windshield had shattered again, Chevys fix for rear windshield was just to put a new one in and not fix the actual issue, have a 6 month old baby and thank goodness she was not back there at the time.
Transmission shuttered while driving on the freeway at 65 mph, the rpm dial indicator show high and my speed dropped to 40 mph. The transmission fluid was burnt and the torque converter was replaced
Vehicle transmission repaired at 77,000 along with a new torque converter. Torque converter and transmission both failed again at 115,000 miles. GMC currently replacing the 3rd torque converter with 130,000 miles. I have spent over $14,000 on 2 transmissions and 3 torque converters on a vehicle I've owned for 6 years.
At 144k I had to replace the passenger lifters because cylender 8 (linked to AFM) was stuck. I got that repaired. At 147k I had to get my passenger side lifters replaced again. 2 months later at about 152k I had to replace drivers side lifters. At this point 152k ive had all lifters replaced. Passenger side twice. Now at 157k my bottom end is bad. I was driving and boom no power. That could of been bad. Ive spent so god damn much money on this truck due to the AFM. Its ridiculous. Now I have to spend 8k on a new engine. Ive spent a total of 12k in repairs to this truck. There has to be something done to compensate. Because of your guyses shitty engineering im going into debt. Its insane
09/28/2024. Chevrolet 5.3 L V8 Silverado 1/2 ton pickup truck. I was driving on KS. Highway 7, N bound, the engine started shaking, eng light on and the engine quit. I costed to the side of the road. Number 7 cylinder dropped a valve and more damage. Mileage on vehicle 53,198. This truck had top care, as it still has. Cost to me at Hendrick Chevrolet $7,092.89. This has happened to many people with no help from GM. ITS A SHAME. GM KNEW THIS. Date of incident 09.28.2024
Odometer Fraud. The contact purchased a 2015 Chevrolet Silverado 1500. It was discovered that there was a mileage discrepancy. The vehicle was a dealer sale. The contact stated that the mileage on the title was discovered to be 214,850. At the time of purchase, the mileage was 139,131. The Carfax report mileage was not obtained.
While driving at highway cruising speeds, the vehicle began showing abnormal RPM fluctuation/surging at steady speed. The RPM would repeatedly move up and down even while maintaining a constant speed, including when cruise control was used. There were no warning lights or dashboard messages at the time the symptoms first appeared. The suspected failure is the torque converter/torque converter clutch in the automatic transmission. After diagnosis, I was advised that the torque converter failure contaminated the transmission fluid/internal transmission components, and that the transmission now requires replacement. The failed transmission/related components may be available for inspection upon request, depending on repair timing. This condition created a safety concern because the drivetrain was not operating normally at highway speeds, causing inconsistent power delivery and concern that the transmission could slip, overheat, fail further, or leave the vehicle unable to maintain speed in traffic. A sudden loss of propulsion or worsening transmission failure could increase the risk of a crash. The problem has been diagnosed by a transmission repair facility. The vehicle has not been inspected by the manufacturer, police, or insurance representatives. No crash occurred. No injuries occurred. No warning lamps appeared before the failure. The first noticeable symptom was the RPM flutter/surging at steady highway cruising speed. The exact internal cause is unknown, but the best assessment is torque converter/torque converter clutch failure resulting in contamination and failure of the transmission.
The contact owns a 2015 Chevrolet Silverado 1500. The contact stated that while driving approximately 40-50 MPH, the driver's side curtain and front air bags, and the passenger's side curtain air bag deployed without impact. The contact stated that the front driver's side seat belt automatically retracted during the failure, but both the front driver's side and passenger's side seat belts had failed to retract manually after the failure. The contact was able to pull over to the side of the road. The air bag warning light illuminated after the failure. The contact sustained a burn on the back of the upper arm and a cut on the front of the forearm. The contact did not receive medical assistance. The contact was able to continue driving. The dealer and the manufacturer were not contacted. The vehicle was not yet diagnosed or repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 272,200.
NHTSA’s Office of Defects Investigation opened these reviews into vehicles including this one.
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.
On November 20, 2018, the Office of Defects Investigations (ODI) opened PE18-012 to investigate instances of sudden onset of a hard brake pedal that could result in extended stopping distance due to an issue with the brake assist vacuum pump in model year (MY) 2014 through 2016 GMC Sierra 1500 and Chevrolet Silverado 1500 series pickup trucks and MY 2015 through 2016 Cadillac Escalade, Chevrolet Suburban, Chevrolet Tahoe, and GMC Yukon SUVs.If the brake assist vacuum pump fails to operate as intended, the amount of brake power assist supplied to the driver can be significantly reduced, extending the subject vehicle stopping distance. GM stated that the root cause of pump failures was due to foreign debris such as oil sludge in the engine oil. GM stated that this debris can become trapped by the oil inlet filter screen. Under normal operation, this screen allows a small amount of oil into the brake vacuum pump. The foreign debris can, over time, clog the pump which can cause a loss of lubrication and a reduction in the amount of vacuum produced leading to a hard pedal and extended stopping distance.On December 13, 2018, GM issued a Special Coverage (N182202780) for the brake vacuum pump issue in MY 2014-2017 trucks and 2015-2017 SUVs on the K2XX platform for 6 years or 72,000 miles. Special Coverage repair includes the replacement of the vacuum pump and vacuum pump belt. Consumers received notification of the coverage via mail. On September 6, 2019, GM notified NHTSA that it was conducting safety recall 19V-645 which reprograms the electronic brake control module (EBCM) and included approximately 3.5 million trucks and SUVs. In October 2019, GM extended the terms of special coverage N182202780 to 10 years or 150,000 miles as well as now including the entire scope of recall 19V-645. In October 2020, GM expanded the scope of coverage N182202780 to include the MY 2018 Escalade and 2019 Tahoe.The remedy implemented in GM recall 19V-645 appears to be sufficient in addressing the safety-related concerns of this issue. Loss of vacuum assist now occurs at a progressive rate as well as there being a more timely warning of a brake problem to the driver through the driver information center (DIC). In view of the recall action and revision to the special coverage, this Preliminary Evaluation is closed. The agency reserves the right to take additional action if warranted by new circumstances. The ODI reports cited above are available for review online at NHTSA.gov under the identification numbers in the attached document.
Technical service bulletins and other communications the manufacturer sent dealers about this vehicle. Ask a dealer for the full document by its number.
Bars are owner complaints, dots mark years with recalls. Select a year to open its report.