← New search

2011 Chevrolet Silverado 1500

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2011 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 525.

About this comparison →

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

263 reports with mileage · 300 unknown

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Air Bags. Review the 306 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Structure. Review the 72 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Engine. Review the 40 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

22 crash reports4 fire reports6 injury reports

Electrical System complaints

26 reports
Clear category filter
160,000 miles · Apr 20, 2019
Electrical System

INTERMITTENTLY STOPS WORKING. IT WILL CUT OFF WHILE DRIVING CITY STREETS AND AT HIGH SPEEDS AND THE LOCK BUTTONS WILL LOCK AND UNLOCK REPEATEDLY WHILE DRIVING DASHBOARDLIGHTS AND GAUGES GO OFF AND ON LIKE A PINBALL MACHINE, ALL WHILE GOING DOWN THE HIGHWAY OR CITY STREETS. SOMETIMES LOSING ALL POWER WHILE DRIVING ON CITY STREETS…

Read full complaint

INTERMITTENTLY STOPS WORKING. IT WILL CUT OFF WHILE DRIVING CITY STREETS AND AT HIGH SPEEDS AND THE LOCK BUTTONS WILL LOCK AND UNLOCK REPEATEDLY WHILE DRIVING DASHBOARDLIGHTS AND GAUGES GO OFF AND ON LIKE A PINBALL MACHINE, ALL WHILE GOING DOWN THE HIGHWAY OR CITY STREETS. SOMETIMES LOSING ALL POWER WHILE DRIVING ON CITY STREETS OR HIGHWAY.

NHTSA ODI #11202635

75,000 miles · Feb 14, 2019
Electrical SystemExterior LightingStructure

BATTERY DIED DUE TO HEADLIGHTS COMING ON WHILE CAR WAS PARKED. LIGHTS CAN NOT BE SHUT OFF FROM SWITCH, OPENING THE HOOD I DETECTED ELECTRICAL SMELL. I REMOVED THE FUSE BOX COVER AND NOTICED WATER COLLECTING AND STAINS. I PULLED SEVERAL FUSES AND FOUND THREE THAT MELTED. ALL THIS HAPPENED AFTER A ICE STORM FOLLOWED BY A WARMING U…

Read full complaint

BATTERY DIED DUE TO HEADLIGHTS COMING ON WHILE CAR WAS PARKED. LIGHTS CAN NOT BE SHUT OFF FROM SWITCH, OPENING THE HOOD I DETECTED ELECTRICAL SMELL. I REMOVED THE FUSE BOX COVER AND NOTICED WATER COLLECTING AND STAINS. I PULLED SEVERAL FUSES AND FOUND THREE THAT MELTED. ALL THIS HAPPENED AFTER A ICE STORM FOLLOWED BY A WARMING UP AND MELTING TREND THE WATER COLLECTED ON THE FENDER BRACE AND LEAKED INTO UNDER HOOD FUSE BLOCK. I REPLACED THE FUSE BLOCK AND ALL IS OK. THOUGH FUSES WERE MELTED APART THEY STILL MADE CONTACT AND EASILY COULD HAVE STARTED A FIRE. I DRILLED HOLES INTO FENDER BRACES AND REDIRECTED THE WATER.

NHTSA ODI #11180076

20 miles · Dec 17, 2018
Electrical SystemEngine

IGNITION SWITCH INTERMITTENTLY STOPS WORKING. IT WILL CUT OFF WHILE DRIVING CITY STREETS AND AT HIGH SPEEDS AND THE LOCK BUTTONS WILL LOCK AND UNLOCK REPEATEDLY WHILE SHOWING THE TRUCK IN PARK, ALL WHILE GOING DOWN THE EXPRESSWAY. IT'S TERRIFYING. SOMETIMES IT WON'T START OR DO ANYTHING. BUT IF I JIGGLE IT THEN IT WILL STA…

Read full complaint

IGNITION SWITCH INTERMITTENTLY STOPS WORKING. IT WILL CUT OFF WHILE DRIVING CITY STREETS AND AT HIGH SPEEDS AND THE LOCK BUTTONS WILL LOCK AND UNLOCK REPEATEDLY WHILE SHOWING THE TRUCK IN PARK, ALL WHILE GOING DOWN THE EXPRESSWAY. IT'S TERRIFYING. SOMETIMES IT WON'T START OR DO ANYTHING. BUT IF I JIGGLE IT THEN IT WILL START. THIS HAS HAPPENED MULTIPLE TIMES WITH MULTIPLE DRIVERS. I HAD IT DIAGNOSED AND DID SOME QUICK ONLINE SEARCHES AND THIS SEEMS TO BE AN ISSUE WITH THESE TRUCKS.

NHTSA ODI #11162058

97,428 miles · Nov 8, 2018
Electrical SystemVisibilityFire

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY, THE DEFROSTER BECAME INOPERATIVE. GOODYEAR PERFORMED AN ASSESSMENT OF THE VEHICLE DURING ROUTINE MAINTENANCE AND STATED THAT THE WIRING HARNESS WITHIN THE DEFROSTER HOUSING HAD MELTED. BOB VALENTI CHEVROLET (3050, 72 JERRY BROWNE ROAD, MYSTIC…

Read full complaint

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY, THE DEFROSTER BECAME INOPERATIVE. GOODYEAR PERFORMED AN ASSESSMENT OF THE VEHICLE DURING ROUTINE MAINTENANCE AND STATED THAT THE WIRING HARNESS WITHIN THE DEFROSTER HOUSING HAD MELTED. BOB VALENTI CHEVROLET (3050, 72 JERRY BROWNE ROAD, MYSTIC, CONNECTICUT 06355, (860) 536-4931) WAS MADE AWARE OF FAILURE AND DIAGNOSED THAT THE BLOWER MOTOR, WIRING HARNESS, AND TRANSISTOR WERE FAULTY AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND PROVIDED THE CONTACT WITH CASE NUMBER: CAS-8-4809459254. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 97,428.

NHTSA ODI #11150101

250,000 miles · Aug 17, 2018
Electrical System

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500. IN ORDER TO START THE VEHICLE EVERY DAY, THE CONTACT HAD TO WIGGLE THE KEY INSIDE THE IGNITION SWITCH UNTIL IT STARTED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED FOR APPROXIMATELY ONE YEAR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER (WALKER BROS BUICK/CHEVROLET, 700 ERIE STREET, EDIMBORO, PA 16412), BUT…

Read full complaint

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500. IN ORDER TO START THE VEHICLE EVERY DAY, THE CONTACT HAD TO WIGGLE THE KEY INSIDE THE IGNITION SWITCH UNTIL IT STARTED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED FOR APPROXIMATELY ONE YEAR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER (WALKER BROS BUICK/CHEVROLET, 700 ERIE STREET, EDIMBORO, PA 16412), BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN A RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 250,000.

NHTSA ODI #11120714

Mileage unknown · Oct 23, 2017
Air BagsElectrical System

TAKATA RECALL, THE WARNING SEAT BELT LIGHT COMES ON WHEN STATIONARY AND WHILE DRIVING ON STREET HIGHWAY AND RESETS, I AM AFRAID THIS WILL ACTIVATE. I INFORMED DEALERSHIP BUT WAS INFORMED THERE WASN'T A RECALL FOR MY VEHICLE AND POSSIBLY ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS WITH AIR BAG ACTUATOR.

NHTSA ODI #11035699

17,000 miles · Jan 27, 2017
Electrical System

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, THE VEHICLE AUTOMATICALLY SHIFTED TO SECOND GEAR, FORCING THE CONTACT TO SLOW DOWN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE FIRST AND SECOND S…

Read full complaint

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 20 MPH, THE VEHICLE AUTOMATICALLY SHIFTED TO SECOND GEAR, FORCING THE CONTACT TO SLOW DOWN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE FIRST AND SECOND SOLENOIDS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A TRANSMISSION SHOP WHERE THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 17,000.

NHTSA ODI #10947963

900 miles · Nov 10, 2016
Electrical System

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE STARTED WAS DEAD. A REBUILT STARTER WAS INSTALLED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STARTER HAD BE…

Read full complaint

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE STARTED WAS DEAD. A REBUILT STARTER WAS INSTALLED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STARTER HAD BEEN REPLACED APPROXIMATELY THREE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 900.

NHTSA ODI #10925322

Mileage unknown · Oct 3, 2016
Air BagsElectrical SystemStructure

TO YOUR COMPANY OFFERING TO PUT A USED ENGINE IN A USED VEHICLE. THEN PURCHASING A 2011 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500, AND HAVING NUMEROUS ELECTRICAL ISSUES. YOU HAD ASKED ME TO GIVE YOUR DEALERSHIP A SECOND CHANCE TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM WITH MY 2011 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500. WITH THE AMOUNT OF UNPROFESSIONAL DEMEANOR THAT I EXPERIEN…

Read full complaint

TO YOUR COMPANY OFFERING TO PUT A USED ENGINE IN A USED VEHICLE. THEN PURCHASING A 2011 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500, AND HAVING NUMEROUS ELECTRICAL ISSUES. YOU HAD ASKED ME TO GIVE YOUR DEALERSHIP A SECOND CHANCE TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM WITH MY 2011 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500. WITH THE AMOUNT OF UNPROFESSIONAL DEMEANOR THAT I EXPERIENCED PRIOR I DECIDED TO GIVE YOUR COMPANY A SECOND CHANCE TO RECTIFY THE PROBLEM.

NHTSA ODI #10911252

Mileage unknown · Sep 15, 2016
Electrical System

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE KEY FAILED TO TURN OVER TO START THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS UNABLE TO BE DRIVEN DUE TO THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT LATER RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 14V827000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) AND 16V381000 (AIR BAGS), AND NEED…

Read full complaint

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE KEY FAILED TO TURN OVER TO START THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS UNABLE TO BE DRIVEN DUE TO THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT LATER RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 14V827000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) AND 16V381000 (AIR BAGS), AND NEEDED THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI #10906885

Official recalls

4

21V050000 · Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module

Feb 5, 2021

General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2007-2011 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, Escalade EXT, Chevrolet Avalanche, Silverado 1500, Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Sierra 1500, Yukon, Yukon XL, and 2009-2011 Chevrolet Silverado 2500, Silverado 3500, GMC Sierra 2500 and Sierra 3500 vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U.S. Virgin Islands or "Zone A." Additionally, GM is recalling certain 2007-2008 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, Escalade EXT, Chevrolet Avalanche, Silverado 1500, Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Sierra 1500, Yukon, Yukon XL vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia or "Zone B." These vehicles are equipped with non-desiccated passenger frontal inflators containing phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate (PSAN) propellant. These inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, high temperatures, and high temperature cycling.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, resulting in serious injury or death.

Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator with an alternate one, free of charge. Interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk were mailed on February 22, 2021. Second notification letters will be mailed once the remedy is available. Owner notification letters were mailed on March 1, 2021. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020; Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006; and GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is N212328760.

21V054000 · Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module

Feb 5, 2021

General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2014 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Silverado 2500, Silverado 3500, Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Sierra 2500, Sierra 3500, Yukon, and Yukon XL vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of AL, CA, FL, GA, HI, LA, MS, SC, TX, PR, AS, GU, the MP, and VI or "Zone A." Additionally GM is recalling certain 2011-2014 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Silverado 2500, Silverado 3500, Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Sierra 2500, Sierra 3500, Yukon, Yukon XL and 2011-2013 Cadillac Escalade EXT, Chevrolet Avalanche, Silverado 1500, and GMC Sierra 1500 vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of AZ, AR, DE, DC, IL, IN, KS, KY, MD, MO, NE, NV, NJ, NM, NC, OH, OK, PA, TN, VA, and WV or "Zone B." Additionally, GM is recalling certain 2010-2014 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Silverado 2500, Silverado 3500, Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Sierra 2500, Sierra 3500, Yukon, and Yukon XL and 2010-2013 Cadillac Escalade EXT, Chevrolet Avalanche, Silverado 1500, and GMC Sierra 1500 vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of AK, CO, CT, ID, IA, ME, MA, MI, MN, MT, NH, NY, ND, OR, RI, SD, UT, VT, WA, WI, and WY or "Zone C." These vehicles are equipped with non-desiccated passenger frontal inflators containing phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate (PSAN) propellant. These inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, high temperatures, and high temperature cycling.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, resulting in serious injury or death.

Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator with an alternate one, free of charge. Interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk were mailed on February 25, 2021. Second notification letters will be mailed once the remedy is available. Owner notification letters were mailed to 40 VIN owners on May 11, 2021. A second owner notification letter was mailed to all other owners on January 24, 2022. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020; Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006; and GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is N212328800.

11V007000 · Suspension:rear:axle:spindle

Jan 6, 2011

GENERAL MOTORS IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2011 CADILLAC ESCALADE, ESCALADE ESV, ESCALADE EXT; CHEVROLET AVALANCHE, COLORADO, EXPRESS, SILVERADO, SUBURBAN, TAHOE; AND GMC CANYON, SIERRA, SAVANA, YUKON AND YUKON XL VEHICLES. THE REAR AXLE CROSS PINS WERE NOT PROPERLY HEAT TREATED AND COULD FRACTURE AND BECOME DISPLACED WITHIN THE REAR AXLE. SHOULD THE PIN SHIFT OUT OF POSITION, IT COULD CREATE AN INTERFERENCE CONDITION AND CAUSE THE REAR AXLE TO LOCK.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THE DRIVER MAY NOT BE ABLE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND A CRASH COULD OCCUR WITHOUT WARNING.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW REAR AXLE CROSS PIN FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JANUARY 11, 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CADILLAC AT 1-866-982-2339, CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438, GMC AT 1-866-996-9463 AND AT THE OWNER CENTER AT WWW.GMOWNERCENTER.COM.

10V643000 · Suspension:rear:axle:spindle

Dec 17, 2010

GENERAL MOTORS IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2011 CADILLAC ESCALADE EXT, CHEVROLET AVALANCHE, SILVERADO LD AND GMC SIERRA LD VEHICLES. THE REAR AXLE CROSS PINS WERE NOT PROPERLY HEAT TREATED AND COULD FRACTURE AND BECOME DISPLACED WITHIN THE REAR AXLE. SHOULD THE PIN SHIFT OUT OF POSITION, IT COULD CREATE AN INTERFERENCE CONDITION AND CAUSE THE REAR AXLE TO LOCK.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THE DRIVER MAY NOT BE ABLE TO MAINTAIN DIRECTIONAL CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND A CRASH COULD OCCUR WITHOUT WARNING.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW REAR AXLE CROSS PIN FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JANUARY 11, 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CADILLAC AT 1-866-982-2339, CHEVROLET AT 1-800-630-2438, GMC AT 1-866-996-9463 AND AT THE OWNER CENTER AT WWW.GMOWNERCENTER.COM.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

2

DP22005 · Pedestrian Alert Sounds

Opened Jan 27, 2023 · Closed Aug 7, 2023

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Electrical System:propulsion System

NHTSA received a petition on or about July 18, 2022, requesting that Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 141 be applied to all electric and hybrid vehicles operating in the United States. The petition can be reviewed at NHTSA.gov under ODI Number 11486072. FMVSS 141 establishes performance requirements for pedestrian alert sounds for motor vehicles. The standard applies to hybrid and electric vehicles that have a gross vehicle weight rating of 4,536 KG or less or are defined as low-speed vehicles. The standard became fully applicable to all such vehicles manufactured on or after March 1, 2021.On January 27, 2023, NHTSA opened Defect Petition (DP) 22-005 to evaluate the subject matter described in the petition. On June 24, 2023 and as supplemented on June 25, 2023, the petitioner notified NHTSA he was withdrawing his petition. The petitioner indicated that, based on his review of data, there is no justification for asserting potential benefits that could be derived from actions sought by my petition. Based on the petitioner's withdrawal, DP22-005 is closed. Closure of this DP does not represent a determination by NHTSA regarding the subject matter of the petition.

EA21002 · Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture

Opened Sep 17, 2021 · No close date supplied

Status: open (inferred from source dates) · Air Bags:frontal:driver Side:inflator Module; Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module

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.

Additional source detail variants (2)

Air Bags:frontal:driver Side:inflator Module

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.

Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module

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.