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2011 Chevrolet Silverado 2500

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2011 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 81.

About this comparison →

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

57 reports with mileage · 47 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 40 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Power Train. Review the 10 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 9 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

2 crash reports2 fire reports2 injury reports

What owners actually said

104 reports
99,567 miles · Aug 19, 2016
Engine

P140A-EXHAUST GAS RECIRCULATION (EGR) COOLER BYPASS POSITION SENSOR EXCEEDED LEARNING LIMIT THERE IS A SPECIAL COVERAGE ON THE EGR BYPASS VALVE FOR 10 YEARS OR 120,000 MILES CONDITION- ON SOME 2011 MODEL YEAR CHEVROLET SILVERADO 3500 HD OR 2011 GMC SIERRA HD VEHICLES, THE SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT MAY ILLUMINATE DUE TO AN …

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P140A-EXHAUST GAS RECIRCULATION (EGR) COOLER BYPASS POSITION SENSOR EXCEEDED LEARNING LIMIT THERE IS A SPECIAL COVERAGE ON THE EGR BYPASS VALVE FOR 10 YEARS OR 120,000 MILES CONDITION- ON SOME 2011 MODEL YEAR CHEVROLET SILVERADO 3500 HD OR 2011 GMC SIERRA HD VEHICLES, THE SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT MAY ILLUMINATE DUE TO AN INOPERATIVE EXHAUST GAS RECIRCULATION (EGR) COOLER BYPASS VALVE. SPECIAL COVERAGE ADJUSTMENT- THIS SPECIAL COVERAGE COVERS THE CONDITION DESCRIBED ABOVE FOR A PERIOD OF 10 YEARS OR 120,000 MILES (193,000 KM), WHICHEVER OCCURS FIRST, FROM THE DATE THE VEHICLE WAS ORIGINALLY PLACED IN SERVICE, REGARDLESS OF OWNERSHIP. DEALERS ARE TO REPLACE THE EGR COOLER BYPASS VALVE. THE REPAIRS WILL BE MADE AT NO CHARGE TO THE CUSTOMER. I HAVE THE SAME ENGINE BUT MY TRUCK IS A 2500 HD AND THEY WILL NOT COVER IT! THERE IS NO DIFFERENCE IN A 2500 AND 3500 EXCEPT ONE LEAF SPRING!

NHTSA ODI #10897048

Mileage unknown · Aug 9, 2016
Air BagsUnknown Or Other

DASH IS CRACKING IN SEVERAL PLACES.

NHTSA ODI #10894397

126,000 miles · Jul 23, 2016
Power Train

AT 75000 STARTING HAVE PROBLEMS WITH TRANSMISSION ALWAYS DOWN SHIFTING. AT 126000 TORQUE CONVERTER CAME APART AND CAUSED DAMAGE TO THE TRANSMISSION PUMP AND BELL HOUSING. THE TRUCK WAS BEING DRIVEN IN BOTH SITUATIONS.0

NHTSA ODI #10887936

21,261 miles · May 12, 2016
Seat Belts

ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS THE DRIVE'S SEAT BELT HAS TOTALLY "RELEASED" WHILE DRIVING ALONG THE HIGHWAY WHILE I AND OTHER FAMILY MEMBERS HAVE DRIVING ALONG. THESE INADVERTENT RELEASES WERE REPORTED TO MY VEHICLES DEALER (T & C CHEVROLET, ASHLAND, OREGON) ON MAY 27,.2016 AT 21261 MILES. DEALER SAID THEY COULD NOT FIND ANY DEFECT. THE …

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ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS THE DRIVE'S SEAT BELT HAS TOTALLY "RELEASED" WHILE DRIVING ALONG THE HIGHWAY WHILE I AND OTHER FAMILY MEMBERS HAVE DRIVING ALONG. THESE INADVERTENT RELEASES WERE REPORTED TO MY VEHICLES DEALER (T & C CHEVROLET, ASHLAND, OREGON) ON MAY 27,.2016 AT 21261 MILES. DEALER SAID THEY COULD NOT FIND ANY DEFECT. THE VEHICLE PRESENTLY HAS APPROXIMATELY 32000 MILES AND THE DRIVER'S SEAT BELT STILL RELEASES AT UNPREDICTABLE TIMES. THIS SITUATION HAS ME VERY CONDERNED ABOUT MY AND OTHERS SAFETY IF SOMETHING UN-TOWARD HAPPENS.

NHTSA ODI #10864667

41,209 miles · Apr 26, 2016
EngineTraction Control System

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 2500. WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH, THE ENGINE JERKED AND SHOOK AS THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT, REDUCE ENGINE POWER, AND SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE THE THROTTLE BODY AND HARNESS WERE REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE F…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 2500. WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH, THE ENGINE JERKED AND SHOOK AS THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT, REDUCE ENGINE POWER, AND SERVICE TRACTION CONTROL LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE THE THROTTLE BODY AND HARNESS WERE REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 41,209.

NHTSA ODI #10861567

61,000 miles · Mar 2, 2016
Power Train

TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE AND EGR VALVE NEEDS REPLACED AT 61,000 MILES.

NHTSA ODI #10839403

79,000 miles · Jan 11, 2016
Unknown Or Other

DASH IS CRACKING AROUND AIR BAG COVER.

NHTSA ODI #10819556

22,807 miles · Oct 13, 2015
Wheels

VIBRATION FOR THE REAR OF THE TRUCK HAD BEEN DOING THIS SINCE NEW. TOOK IT TO THE DEALER THEY BALANCED THE TIRES IN 7 MAR 2012. NO CHANGE VIBRATION STILL THERE. TOOK IT TO DISCOUNT TIRE REBALANCED STILL NO GO. I WROTE IT OFF THINKING THIS WAS NORMAL FOR 2500 SERIES TRUCKS. AUG 2015 I UPGRADED THE RIMS TO FORGED J RATED 6,600LB…

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VIBRATION FOR THE REAR OF THE TRUCK HAD BEEN DOING THIS SINCE NEW. TOOK IT TO THE DEALER THEY BALANCED THE TIRES IN 7 MAR 2012. NO CHANGE VIBRATION STILL THERE. TOOK IT TO DISCOUNT TIRE REBALANCED STILL NO GO. I WROTE IT OFF THINKING THIS WAS NORMAL FOR 2500 SERIES TRUCKS. AUG 2015 I UPGRADED THE RIMS TO FORGED J RATED 6,600LBS AND TIRES TO H RATED 4,940LBS. BECAUSE OF THE HIGHER AIR PRESSURE THIS MADE THE VIBRATION WORSE. I PUT THE TRUCK ON JACK STANDS AND RAN IT IN GEAR TO TROUBLE SHOOT THE PROBLEM. WHAT I FOUND BOTH REAR AXLE HUBS ARE WARPED CAUSING THE WHEELS TO WOBBLE SEVERELY. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER THEY INITIALLY DID NOT WANT TO LISTEN TO ME AND I HAD A VIDEO OF IT. THEY FINALLY LOOKED AT THE VIDEO AND WENT TO CHECK OUT THE TRUCK. AN HOUR LATER THEY CALL PAYING THE TRUCK WAS READY FOR PICKUP. THEY TOLD ME IT WAS ONLY OUT .015THS. I A TRAINED MECHANIC AND THIS IS SIMPLY BS. I CAN SEE THE WOBBLE WITH BY BARE EYES THAT'S MORE THAN .O15 THOUSANDS. ON TOP OF THAT IT'S NOT COVERED UNDER THE WARRANTY. THE TRUCK HAD 96000 PLUS MILES ON IT ATT. THE DEALER DID NOT DOCUMENT THIS AND BASICALLY WROTE IT OFF. I HAVE A VIDEO OF THIS BUT IT'S TOO BIG TO SEND AND IT'S IN WMV FORMAT. PLEASE GIVE ME AN ADDRESS AND POINT OF CONTACT SO I CAN SEND YOU THE CD. THE VIDEO SAYS IT ALL THIS IS A FACTORY DEFECT PLAIN AND SIMPLE.

NHTSA ODI #10781847

85,000 miles · Jul 13, 2015
Seat Belts

MY DRIVERS SIDE SEAT BELT STARTED TO RETRACT VERY SLOWLY. NOW IT HARDLY RETRACTS AT ALL. IT GETS CAUGHT IN THE DOOR WHEN YOU CLOSE IT NOW. THE WOREST THING IS YOU HAVE OPEN YOUR DOOR TO FREE IT. NOT VERY SAFE IF YOU HAVE STARTED TO DRIVE AWAY... DEALER WOULD NOT FIX UNDER ANY OF MY WARRENTIES.

NHTSA ODI #10733793

30,210 miles · Sep 23, 2014
Vehicle Speed Control

ON 09/22/2014 AT APPROXIMATELY 1610HRS I WAS TRAVELING SOUTH ON I-95 IN THE STATE OF MAINE. I ATTEMPTED TO EXIT THE HIGHWAY NEAR SIDNEY, ME. I TAPPED ON THE BRAKE TO CANCEL THE CRUISE CONTROL. AS I BRAKED MY VEHICLE ATTEMPTED TO SPEED UP. WHEN I APPLIED THE BRAKE MY VEHICLE DOWN SHIFTED AND ATTEMPTED TO MAINTAIN ITS SPEED. …

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ON 09/22/2014 AT APPROXIMATELY 1610HRS I WAS TRAVELING SOUTH ON I-95 IN THE STATE OF MAINE. I ATTEMPTED TO EXIT THE HIGHWAY NEAR SIDNEY, ME. I TAPPED ON THE BRAKE TO CANCEL THE CRUISE CONTROL. AS I BRAKED MY VEHICLE ATTEMPTED TO SPEED UP. WHEN I APPLIED THE BRAKE MY VEHICLE DOWN SHIFTED AND ATTEMPTED TO MAINTAIN ITS SPEED. THIS SITUATION NEARLY CAUSED ME TO HAVE AN ACCIDENT AND TOOK AGGRESSIVE BRAKING TO STOP THE VEHICLE. ON 09/23/2014 I ATTEMPTED TO HAVE THIS SITUATION DOCUMENTED AT FRANK GALOS CHEVORLET IN SACO, ME. THEY REFUSED TO DOCUMENT THE PROBLEM. I CALLED GENERAL MOTORS AT 1-800-222-1020 AND HAD THE PROBLEM DOCUMENTED. COMPLAINT # [XXX]. THIS INCIDENT COULD HAVE BEEN A NEAR DEATH OR SERIOUS INJURY ACCIDENT. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ODI #10638562

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.

18V267000 · Equipment

Apr 26, 2018

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2009-2014 Chevrolet Silverado HD and GMC Sierra HD, 2009 GMC Topkick 5000, 6000, 7000 and 8000 Series and Isuzu F Series, and 2009-2018 Chevrolet Express, and GMC Savana vehicles, equipped with certain Plastic-Handle Fire Extinguishers or Push Button 'Pindicator' Fire Extinguishers. These extinguishers may become clogged, preventing the extinguisher from discharging as expected or requiring excessive force to activate the extinguisher. Additionally, in certain models, the nozzle may detach from the valve assembly with enough force that it could cause injury and also render the product inoperable. For a full list of the affected fire extinguisher models visit: https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2017/RMISC-17E062-5427.pdf

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: In the event of a fire, if the fire extinguisher does not function properly, it can increase the risk of injury.

Remedy: GM will notify owners, instructing them to contact Kidde to get a replacement fire extinguisher, free of charge. The recall began June 11, 2018. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782, and Isuzu customer service at 1-866-441-9638. GM's number for this recall is 18146.

14V407000 · Electrical System

Jul 2, 2014

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2007-2011 Chevrolet Silverado HD 2500/3500 trucks manufactured January 18, 2007, to June 22, 2011, and GMC Sierra HD 2500/3500 trucks manufactured January 22, 2007, to June 21, 2011, and equipped with an auxiliary battery. Owners may unknowingly draw too much current through the vehicle's trailer harness resulting in the melting of fusible link for the auxiliary battery.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: If the fusible link melts it may come into contact with adjacent components, damage the electrical center cover, the nearby wiring harness conduit and other vehicle components, increasing the risk of a fire.

Remedy: GM will notify owners and dealers will replace the jumper harness with one that includes a 40 amp inline fuse, and provide the owner with supplemental Owner Manual information, free of charge. The recall began on August 29, 2014. 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 14260.

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

1

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.