General Motors (GM) have identified a safety issue affecting certain Chevrolet and GMC vehicles. This issue involves a defect in the roof-rail airbag (RRAB) inflator, which could pose a serious risk to the safety of drivers and passengers. The defect may cause the inflator to malfunction, potentially resulting in the separation of the inflator’s end cap or a split in its sidewall. If this happens, the airbag system may not deploy as intended, increasing the risk of injury in the event of a crash or other incident.
Affected Vehicle Models
The following models are impacted by this recall due to the potential defect in the RRAB inflators:| 2018 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 |
| 2018-2019 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 |
| 2018-2019 Chevrolet Silverado 3500 |
| 2018 GMC Sierra 1500 |
| 2018-2019 GMC Sierra 2500 |
| 2018-2019 GMC Sierra 3500 |
How the Issue Was Discovered
GM became aware of this problem in August 2024, after receiving reports of four incidents where RRAB inflators ruptured in vehicles from another manufacturer. These reports raised concerns about a possible defect in the inflator system, prompting GM to initiate its own investigation. During this investigation, GM found evidence of a similar incident involving a 2018 Chevrolet Silverado 2500, which was equipped with the same type of inflators.
In this particular case, the vehicle was parked and unoccupied when the RRAB inflator on the right side ruptured. Photos confirmed the inflator malfunctioned while the truck was idle, reinforcing concerns about the integrity of the RRAB system. GM is continuing its investigation to determine the exact cause of the failure.
Steps Taken by GM
On October 3, 2024, GM’s Safety Field Action Decision Authority (SFADA) determined that a safety recall was necessary. This recall affects vehicles that were built using RRAB inflators from the same production lot as the Chevrolet Silverado 2500 involved in the initial incident. As of now, GM has not received any further reports of similar incidents involving its vehicles.
What Owners Need to Know
To address this issue, GM dealers will replace the left and right roof-rail airbag modules in the affected vehicles. This recall is part of GM’s proactive efforts to ensure vehicle safety and prevent potential accidents resulting from defective inflators.
For reference, GM has assigned this recall the number N242474500, and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has labeled it as campaign number 24V-560.
