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2008 Chevrolet Avalanche Airbags Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the airbag system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Airbags reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
132
Latest Aug 7, 2024
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
51%
of 258 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
7
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
8

What this page shows

Reports naming the air-bag system — deployment behaviour, inflators, sensors and warning lights. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2008 Chevrolet Avalanche submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 132 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming airbag

The 25 most recent of 132, in the owner's own words

Airbags
Filed Aug 7, 2024

The contact owns a 2008 Chevrolet Avalanche. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V050000 (Air Bags); however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.

NHTSA ID
11607118
Incident
Feb 5, 2021
AirbagsElectrical
Filed Jun 26, 2023

Both air bags deployed for no reason driver and passenger

NHTSA ID
11528962
Incident
Jun 26, 2023
Airbags
Filed Mar 15, 2022

The contact owns a 2008 Chevrolet Avalanche. The contact stated while driving 60 MPH, the driver’s side air bag deployed inadvertently without the vehicle being involved in a crash. The passenger’s side air bag also deployed and shattered the passenger’s side windshield. The contact pulled over safely and then the side curtain air bag on the driver's side deployed. The contact was aware that the "Service Air Bags" light would intermittently flash on and off; however, the warning light was not illuminated at time of the air bag deployments. Additionally, the passenger’s side curtain air bag had also deployed. The contact had not taken the vehicle to the local dealer. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 190,000.

NHTSA ID
11456886
Incident
Mar 15, 2022
Mileage
190,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Aug 13, 2021
Crash reported

2008 CHEVROLET AVALANCHE. CONSUMER STATED THAT THE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY DURING AUTO ACCIDENT.

NHTSA ID
11428986
Incident
Jun 27, 2021
AirbagsBody & structure
Filed Apr 1, 2021

AFTER A COUPLE OF YEARS MY VEHICLE DEVELOPED SEVERAL CRACKS IN THE DASH, ESPECIALLY AROUND THE AIRBAG. YESTERDAY I HAD THE AIRBAG RECALL PERFORMED. AS A RESULT OF THE REPAIR, THE CRACKS ARE NOW BROKEN PIECES. I NOW FEAR THAT IN THE EVENT OF AN AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT, SHARDS OF SHARP PLASTIC WILL BE THROWN INTO THE AIR AND COULD POTENTIALLY RESULT IN SEVERE INJURY.

NHTSA ID
11405930
Incident
Mar 31, 2021
Mileage
62,600 mi
Airbags
Filed Mar 27, 2021

CRACKED DASHBOARD DEFECT. I ASKED THE MANUFACTURER (GM) WHAT HAPPENS TO A CRACKED DASHBOARD DURING A COLLISION? THEIR RESPONSE WAS BASICALLY NHTSA DECIDES WHAT A SAFETY CONCERN IS. WELL, I RECENTLY CHATTED WITH NTHSA ONLINE AND ASKED THE QUESTION, WHAT HAPPENS TO A CRACKED DASHBOARD DURING A COLLISION? NTHSA RESPONSE TO ME WAS, THAT WOULD BE A QUESTION FOR THE MANUFACTURER SINCE THEY ARE THE ONES WHO CONDUCT THE CRASH TESTS. APPARENTLY NO ONE KNOWS WHAT HAPPENS TO A DEFECTIVE DASHBOARD DURING A COLLISION, I IMAGINE SHRAPNEL IMPALING INTO MY FACE OR MY CHILDREN'S FACE. WE ALL KNOW GM WOULD RATHER PAY FAMILIES FOR THE BURNING DEATHS OF THEIR LOVED ONES RATHER THAN ISSUE A RECALL FOR THEIR DEFECTIVE PRODUCT BECAUSE IT'S CHEAPER..... I SUGGEST THE AUTHORITY "NTHSA" HOLD THE MANUFACTURER ACCOUNTABLE FOR DEFECTS REGARDLESS OF PRESSURE FROM WASHINGTON REPRESENTATIVES THAT MAY PUT PRESSURE ON NTHSA TO HAVE LESS STRINGENT STANDARDS JUSR SO A COMPANY CAN MAKE MORE PROFITS AND THROW MORE MONEY INTO SOME ASSHATS COFFER. THAT'S THE ONLY LOGICAL EXPLANATION AS TO WHY DEFECTS ARE NOT REMEDIED. I ASKED AGAIN, WHAT HAPPENS TO A CRACKED DASHBOARD DURING A COLLISION? WHO IS GOING TO ANSWER THAT QUESTION? WHO IS GOING TO DECIDE IF THAT'S A SAFETY CONCERN? WHO SETS THE STANDARD FOR SAFETY? WHAT'S THE MINIMAL ACCEPTABLE DEATH RATE DUE TO VEHICLE DEFECTS? WHAT'S THE MINIMAL ACCEPTABLE HUMAN DEFORMATION, HANDICAPPED RATE DUE TO VEHICLE DEFECTS? I LOOK FORWARD TO HAVING THOSE QUESTIONS ANSWERED AND NOT JUST REFERRED TO AN ONLINE RESOURCE THAT DOESN'T ANSWER THESE QUESTIONS SPECIFICALLY.

NHTSA ID
11405141
Incident
Aug 8, 2008
AirbagsElectrical
Filed Mar 16, 2021

THE DASHBOARD HAS CRACKED AROUND THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER AND THE AIR BAG. CAUSING SAFETY HAZARDS. IT IS OBVIOUSLY A FLAWED DESIGN GM REFUSES TO OWN UP TO. THE VEHICLE ALSO HAS SOME ELECTRICAL ISSUE THAT CAUSES THE TRUCKS TO COME TO A STOP ON THE INTERSTATE.

NHTSA ID
11403385
Incident
Mar 20, 2019
Mileage
125,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Feb 9, 2021

RECEIVED NOTICE OF RECALL MANY YEARS AGO. REMEDY HAS NEVER BEEN COMPLETED AFTER MANY CALLS TO MANUFACTURER, DEALER AND NHTSA OVER MANY YEARS. THE EXCUSE IS ALWAYS THAT THE REPLACEMENT PART IS NOT AVAILABLE. THIS IS DISGRACEFUL SINCE WE ARE AT RISK FOR SEVERE INJURY OR EVEN DEATH.

NHTSA ID
11395365
Incident
Feb 1, 2010
Mileage
10,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Jan 18, 2021

DASH TOP CRACKED IN TWO SPOTS ONE BY AIRBAG

NHTSA ID
11388664
Incident
Dec 2, 2020
Airbags
Filed Dec 3, 2020

IN JULY 2016 GM SENT ME A NOTICE OF A RECALL (RECALL 49151) FOR DEFECTIVE AIRBAGS THAT COULD CAUSE INJURY. I HAVE CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAY THEY HAVE NOT GOT TO ME VEHICLE OR THAT GM HAS NOT PROCEEDED ON THIS AN I HAVE HEARD NOTHING AS OF TOAD THAT I WOULD BE CONTACTED WHEN THE PARTS ARE AVAILABLE. I HAVE HEARD NOTHING AS OF TODAY

NHTSA ID
11377766
Incident
Aug 8, 2016
Mileage
95,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Nov 24, 2020

TURNED CAR ON AIRBAG LIGHT SENSOR CAME ON. IT STAYS ON ALL THE TIME NOW

NHTSA ID
11376109
Incident
Jun 1, 2019
Mileage
89,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Nov 10, 2020

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET AVALANCHE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V383000 (AIR BAGS) HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE RECALL REPAIR WAS NOT YET AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER HAD EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. AN UNKNOWN DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND CONFIRMED THAT PARTS WERE NOT YET AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.*DT *TR

NHTSA ID
11373925
Incident
Nov 10, 2020
Airbags
Filed Oct 27, 2020

WE HAD A BLOWOUT ON OUR 2008 CHEVY AVALANCHE. WHEN THE TIRE BLEW OUT, ALL THE SIDE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. NO CRASH HAPPENED! ONLY A TIRE BLOWING!! GOING LESS THAN 10MPH.

NHTSA ID
11366641
Incident
Oct 27, 2020
Mileage
259,108 mi
Airbags
Filed Aug 13, 2020

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET AVALANCHE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V381000 (AIR BAGS) HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE RECALL REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT CONTACTED THE DEALER NICK CRIVELLI CHEVROLET - ADDRESS: 294 STATE AVE, BEAVER, PA 15009, PHONE: (727) 264-0803) WHERE IT WAS CONFIRMED THAT THE PART WAS NOT YET AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAGS WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID
11349074
Incident
May 27, 2016
Mileage
130,000 mi
AirbagsBody & structure
Filed Jul 8, 2020

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET AVALANCHE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V383000 (AIR BAGS) HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE RECALL REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. BARKER BUICK GMC (2030 IRELAND GROVE RD, BLOOMINGTON, IL 61704, (309) 319-6877) WAS CONTACTED AND IT WAS CONFIRMED THAT PARTS WERE NOT YET AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DASHBOARD WAS CRACKED ON THE DRIVER SIDE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE. *BF CONSUMER STATED 1 INCH OF WINDSHIELD AND AROUND FRONT AIR BAG THE PAD WAS RAISED.*JB

NHTSA ID
11338231
Incident
Jul 8, 2019
AirbagsBody & structure
Filed Jun 27, 2020

DASH PAD HAS SEVERE CRACKING AND 1.5 IN HOLE...CONCERNED ABOUT HOLE AROUND PASSENGER AIR BAG !! DASH PAD HAS CRACKED AND OPENED UP OVER INSTRUMENT PANEL!! THIS ALL AFFECTS THE DEPLOYMENT OF THE FAULTY TAUKARTY AIR BAG IN A CRASH! THIS HAS BEEN AN ONGOING ISSUE SINCE OWNERSHIP OF VEHICLE AND HAS JUST WORSENED WITH TIME.. TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT OR TURN IT INTO A LEMON!! *TR

NHTSA ID
11331201
Incident
Jun 10, 2020
Mileage
79,000 mi
AirbagsBody & structureEngine
Filed Jun 17, 2020

STRESS FRACTURE IN FRONT DASH PAD AROUND AIR BAG COVER... EXTREMELY NOISE LIFTERS ON STARTUP ! *TR

NHTSA ID
11329390
Incident
Sep 15, 2019
Mileage
80,000 mi
Airbags
Filed May 15, 2020

RECEIVED AIR BAG RECALL FROM GM JULY 2016. CALLED DEALERSHIP NO SOLUTION. WAITING ON GM RESOLVE ISSUE. MAY 2020 AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT IS ON. CALLED DEALERSHIP...WILL NOT REPAIR. CALLED GM CUST CARE WAITING ON ARBITRATION WITH TAKATA. DOCUMENTING THE UNSAFE CONDITION OF THIS VEHICLE WHILE NO RESPONSIBLE PARTIES ARE TAKING ACTION TO REPAIR/REPLACING AIRBAG SYSTEM TO MAKE THE CAR SAFE TO DRIVE. *TR

NHTSA ID
11324664
Incident
May 12, 2020
Mileage
54,500 mi
AirbagsDriver assistance
Filed Mar 14, 2020

WHILE IN OPERATION AT 55 MPH THE ENGIN POWER WAS REDUCED AFTER THREE SERVICE APPOINTMENTS REPAIR ATTEMPTS. REDUCED POWER MODE IS A CONDITION INSERTED BY THE ENGINE CONTROLS MODULE AS A RESULT OF THE FLY BY WIRE CONNECTION. THE RESULT WAS A QUICK SPEED REDUCTION TO 20 MPH AS MAX SPEED. DOT REQUIRES 45 MPH, UNSAFE!

NHTSA ID
11318044
Incident
Feb 13, 2020
Mileage
200,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Feb 26, 2020

TAKATA RECALL #16V381 - MANUFACTURER RECALL #2049151 I DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW THERE CAN BE A RECALL WITH NO REMEDY. I WANT MY PASSENGER TO BE SAFE IN MY CAR BUT GM WILL NOT FIX IT. WHAT CAN I DO? I HAVE BEEN WAITING AND WORRYING SINCE 2016 FOR A REPLACEMENT AIRBAG.

NHTSA ID
11311638
Incident
May 27, 2016
Airbags
Filed Jan 4, 2020

MY VEHICLE HAS A TAKATA AIRBAG. I HAVE INQUIRED MY LOCAL DEALER TO SCHEDULE A REPLACEMENT FOR ALMOST THREE (3) YEARS. THE ONLY THING THEY HAVE TOLD ME IS THAT A REMEDY IS NOT YET AVAILABLE. SEEMS ODD AS OTHERS I KNOW HAVE GOTTEN THEIR AIRBAG REPLACED.

NHTSA ID
11297116
Incident
Jan 1, 2017
Mileage
150,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Jan 3, 2020

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET AVALANCHE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTIFICATION FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V381000 (AIR BAGS). THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE CONTACT CALLED MAHER CHEVROLET (2901 34TH ST N. ST, PETERSBURG, FL 33713, (727) 290-4314) AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID
11296928
Incident
Jun 14, 2016
Airbags
Filed Oct 31, 2019

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET AVALANCHE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V381000 (AIR BAGS). THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO ED BOZARTH CHEVROLET (2001 S HAVANA ST, AURORA, CO 80014, (720) 746-2716) AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE PARTS WERE PENDING AND NOT AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID
11277280
Incident
Jun 1, 2016
Airbags
Filed Oct 29, 2019

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET AVALANCHE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V383000 (AIR BAGS). THE CONTACT STATED THAT CARFAGNO CHEVROLET (LOCATED AT 1230 E RIDGE PIKE, PLYMOUTH MEETING, PA 19462, (706) 653-7420) EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE AND STATED THAT THE PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE FOR THE REPAIR. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.

NHTSA ID
11276902
Incident
Feb 1, 2017
Airbags
Filed Oct 25, 2019

TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 CHEVROLET AVALANCHE. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V381000 (AIR BAGS). THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE AND WAS NOT ABLE TO CONFIRM WHEN THE PARTS WERE TO BECOME AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.*PM*JB

NHTSA ID
11271097
Incident
May 27, 2016

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

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Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .