GM Recalls 374,715 Silverado & Sierra HD with Takata airbags

[Zane]

Zane Merva

Executive Editor, GM-Trucks.com

5/29/2015

 

 

We are the first to report that late on Friday, General Motors quietly recalled 330,128 2007-2008 US sold Silverado HD and Sierra HD pickup trucks with Takata airbags. Including Canada and global sales, that figure rises to 374,715 pickups. Last December, GM-Trucks.com surmised correctly this was about to happen when the company announced it had sourced new replacement airbags for certain vehicles.

 

This story is developing and we will update it as more information becomes available.

 

This message was distributed to dealers late Friday, May 29th, 2015

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GM CUSTOMER CARE AND AFTERSALES

DCS3669

URGENT - DISTRIBUTE IMMEDIATELY

Date:
May 29, 2015

Subject:
Upcoming Safety Recall 15438

Front Passenger Airbag Inflator

GM Media Statement and Q&As

Models:
2007-2008 Chevrolet Silverado 2500/3500 Heavy Duty

2007-2008 GMC Sierra 2500/3500 Heavy Duty

To:
All Chevrolet and GMC Dealers

Attention:
General Manager, Service Advisor, Service Manager, Parts and

Service Director, Parts Manager, Used Vehicle Sales Manager

Provided below, for your immediate reference, is the GM media statement which was released today.

General Motors is recalling 330,198 2007 and 2008 model year full-size Chevrolet Silverado heavy duty and GMC Sierra heavy duty pickup trucks in the U.S. to replace the passenger air bag inflators manufactured by TK Holdings Inc. (Takata). This recall implements Takata’s air bag inflator equipment recall announced on May 19, 2015 (NHTSA recall number 15E-041). GM is not aware of any humidity-related ruptures in Takata air bag inflators in any GM-badged vehicles in the field and knows of no crashes, injuries, fatalities or complaints regarding air bag performance in these vehicles. Including Canada and exports, the total number of vehicles being recalled is 374,715.

Also included are some Q&As to assist you with responding to customer questions or concerns.

Q1. What is the condition?

A1. Takata has issued an equipment recall for the SPI passenger airbag inflators that were installed as original equipment on the 2007 and 2008 Chevrolet Silverado 2500/3500 heavy duty and GMC Sierra 2500/3500 heavy duty models only. According to information provided to NHTSA by Takata, there is a risk that, in a crash, these passenger air bag inflators could deploy too forcefully, causing the inflator to rupture and increase the risk of air bag inflation injuries.

Q2. What is the cause?

A2. The principal root cause is still under investigation by Takata, which has determined some aged inflators from areas of high absolute humidity and high temperatures may rupture when deployed in a crash. Evidence from airbags returned to Takata from other vehicle manufacturers indicates moisture intrusion into the inflator from high humidity, along with temperature cycling, can cause changes in the propellant, which can result in generating gas more rapidly during deployment. The increase in pressure generated by the propellant with this condition may exceed the design tolerance of the inflator chamber, which may cause the inflator assembly to fragment during air bag deployment in a crash.

Q3. Are the vehicles safe to drive?

A3. GM is complying with Takata’s equipment recall announcement. GM is aware of no incidents to date of humidity-related inflator ruptures in any GM vehicles in the field.

Q4. When were the vehicles built?

A4. December 2006 to August 2008

Q5. What does the repair involve and how long will it take?

A5. NHTSA will be coordinating an industry-wide, national remedy program based on priority and relative risk. When parts are available, the repair should take less than an hour. Dealers will replace the existing passenger airbag inflator with a new inflator.

Q6. How will I know if my vehicle has this issue?

A6. Customers will receive a letter when replacement parts are available. In the meantime, owners can look on the Safercar.gov (NHTSA) website and check to see if their VIN is included. Owners can also go to the GM recall center website and check their VIN to see if it has an open recall (https://my.gm.com/na-gm/recalls)

Q7. Will I be provided a rental/loaner vehicle while my vehicle is being repaired?

A7. Please work with your dealer for specific questions or concerns you may have.

Q8. Is this a regional or national recall?

A8. This is a national recall for the 2007 and 2008 Chevrolet Silverado 2500/3500 heavy duty models only and GMC Sierra 2500/3500 heavy duty models only. (If asked: Light-duty full-size pickups from those model years used a different air bag system.)

Q9. What other GM models use air bag inflators being recalled by Takata?

A9. The 2003 through 2007 Pontiac Vibe, manufactured by NUMMI (under partnership with Toyota) and the 2005 Saab 9-2X, manufactured by Subaru, are the only other GM-badged vehicles affected by this Takata equipment recall.

END OF MESSAGE

GM CUSTOMER CARE AND AFTERSALES

[MS3DALE]

I will add to this...that GM,and us dealers do NOT have parts available at this time,and there is no date to which they will be available.

I will try and keep this thread updated when I get more info.!

[deerhunter]

So, would it be a good idea to turn off the passenger airbag? I guess that's a personal risk assessment call.

['01LS1]

So, would it be a good idea to turn off the passenger airbag? I guess that's a personal risk assessment call.

 

Last I heard, there was a better chance of being struck by lightning than being affected due to an issue with the Takata air bags.

Yes there have been 5 or 6 deaths attributed to them(in all of the mfg's they make product for), but the above was based on the statistical odds.

[mkayler]

I do not think I would like the roll the dice like that thought for a loved one sitting in the passenger seat though. Just knowing about it and something does happen and gets hurt I would feel like crap. Just my two cents.

[okfoz]

Would not the Tahoe, Suburban, Yukon also not be effected as well? I believe they used the same airbags...

[okfoz]

Or are the HD steering wheels & air bags different than the standard air bag?

[MS3DALE]

Would not the Tahoe, Suburban, Yukon also not be effected as well? I believe they used the same airbags...

 

 

Or are the HD steering wheels & air bags different than the standard air bag?

 

The HD's use a different air bag.

[okfoz]

What about the HD Suburban and HD Yukon XL?

[MS3DALE]

Good question,not sure.....all the information we have for now is whats posted above,I can tell you though that usually the pickups have different part numbers/air-bags than the SUV's do.

[okfoz]

 

Last I heard, there was a better chance of being struck by lightning than being affected due to an issue with the Takata air bags.

Yes there have been 5 or 6 deaths attributed to them(in all of the mfg's they make product for), but the above was based on the statistical odds.

So what you are saying, you have about the same statistical chance of being struck by lightning AND being in a plane crash within a 2 week span.