RoadVitals

2021 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 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.
20
Latest Aug 12, 2026
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.
3%
of 781 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.
11
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 2021 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 20 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

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

AirbagsBrakesSeat belts
Filed Aug 12, 2026
Crash reported

Turned from [XXX] into my street, about 9 houses down, i could not brake or turn steering wheel. Ended up hitting 2 cars, the problem was that the air bags did not deploy and the seat belt did not lock. truck was totalled. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID
11756532
Incident
May 4, 2026
Airbags
Filed Jun 3, 2026

Air bag light was on , took to dealership because this was absolutely a safety hazard! The left front crash sensor is defective.

NHTSA ID
11741787
Incident
May 29, 2026
Airbags
Filed May 29, 2026
Crash reported2 injuries reported

25 to 30 MPH front end collision with no air bag deployment. During repair it showed airbags deployed although none were out.

NHTSA ID
11740959
Incident
Apr 15, 2026
Airbags
Filed Feb 20, 2026
Crash reported2 injuries reported

The vehicle involved is a Chevrolet Silverado 1500. During a collision, the vehicle sustained a front-left (driver-side) impact which caused it to spin and subsequently strike the rear. Despite the severity of the initial impact and secondary rear collision, the Supplemental Restraint System (SRS), including the front and side airbags, did not deploy. The failure of the airbag system increased the risk of injury to all occupants, including a minor child. Without deployment of the front or side airbags during a front-left impact and secondary rear collision, occupants were exposed to direct impact forces that airbags are designed to help mitigate. There were no airbag or SRS warning lights, dashboard messages, or other indications of a malfunction prior to the collision. The concern regarding the airbag system arose only after the incident occurred. Following the collision, the vehicle was inspected by law enforcement and insurance representatives, and documentation is available. The issue has not been reproduced, as it occurred during the collision event.

NHTSA ID
11719476
Incident
Dec 15, 2025
Airbags
Filed Jan 1, 2026
Crash reported

I was in an accident that resulted in being hit on the passenger side and then colliding with a traffic light pole. My concern is I hit the pole head on and my airbags never deployed

NHTSA ID
11708236
Incident
Dec 30, 2025
AirbagsElectricalSeat belts
Filed Dec 29, 2025
Crash reportedFire reported

A week or two before I took my truck into decorah Chevy isr because tailgate was going up and down all by itself while I was driving or parked without me by it. They said it was just the latch button . So they fixed it they said and still my blinker lights would just come on and then I hit a deer and my seatbelt did not latch and my airbags didn't deploy even though my app says they did. I'm wondering if all three are connected with electrical . Either way my air bags did not deploy and my truck has extensive damage and my seatbelt didn't lock ,

NHTSA ID
11707687
Incident
Dec 23, 2025
AirbagsSeat belts
Filed Dec 25, 2025

I was in an accident my seatbelts did not lock and OnStar was called , it says my airbags were deployed I could smell a smell but nothing deployed

NHTSA ID
11706995
Incident
Dec 23, 2025
AirbagsBrakesDriver assistance
Filed Dec 15, 2025
Crash reported

The brake stopped working. I just bought the car two months ago.

NHTSA ID
11705001
Incident
Dec 4, 2025
AirbagsEngineSteering
Filed Jun 7, 2025

I was on my way home from work on [XXX] coming around the lakes with no median or shoulder when the engine in my 2021 Silverado started rattling, temperature gauge started going up, and losing power. Within a matter of minutes my truck shut off leaving me stranded in the middle of a four lane highway with no safe location to stop. The engine wouldn’t even turn over to try and crank back up so I could get the truck out of the road. After help getting my truck to a safe location I noticed oil and antifreeze leaking out of the bottom side of the engine. This truck was at Love Chevrolet for engine failure on 8/14/24 and was told it was fixed and was never told about ongoing issues with this particular 6.2 engine. I found out a few weeks ago while trying to trade my truck in to Jim Browne Chevrolet dealer that my particular truck the 2021 Chevrolet Silverado High Country with the 6.2 engine had known issue with the engine locking up and was afraid to take my truck in on trade due to his service manger going through this same experience. So I paid top dollar for a high end Chevrolet truck to be stuck with not being able to trade it and now not being able to drive it. I called the dealer and was told that my trucks vin number was not part of the recall for this issue but there are trucks that are the same year, model, and engine type that are covered under this recall. I’m now stuck making a 850 a month payment on a 58000 dollar truck that I can’t drive and can’t afford to replace an engine. Any help would be greatly appreciated. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID
11665471
Incident
Jun 6, 2025
Airbags
Filed May 20, 2025
Crash reported1 injury reported

Airbags did not deploy after a collision based accident

NHTSA ID
11662124
Incident
May 2, 2025
Airbags
Filed Feb 13, 2025
Crash reported1 injury reported

The contact owns a 2021 Chevrolet Silverado 1500. The contact stated that while driving approximately 20 MPH, the vehicle crashed into a parked vehicle. During the crash, the front passenger side of the vehicle was severely damaged but the air bag did not deploy. The driver sustained an injured nose, mild concussion, bottom tooth damage, and back and neck pains. No medical treatment was needed. A police report was taken at the scene and the vehicle was later towed away. The cause of the failure was not determined. The manufacturer and local dealer were contacted but no assistance was offered. The manufacturer's air bag department declined assistance due to the air bag failure not being reported promptly. The failure mileage was 23,000.

NHTSA ID
11642543
Incident
Mar 23, 2024
Mileage
23,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Dec 16, 2023
Crash reported2 injuries reported

Airbag failure to deploy. Vehicle didn't deploy airbags at a head on side collision, metal bumper got pushed in and front tow hook got bent, Impact was detected by iPhone crash detection.

NHTSA ID
11560393
Incident
Dec 11, 2023
AirbagsBrakesPowertrain (other)
Filed Mar 9, 2023

My safety system service warning comes on for about 30 seconds and then goes back off. This has happened about 4 times now. The transmission causes my truck to shake randomly. My pulley is going out and the local dealer said they wouldn't replace is under warranty(even though my warranty was still is effect) because they said it looked like someone sprayed tire cleaner under the hood(I bought it from the same dealership that I took it to for this service.) The brake seem to shake already when coming to a stop. They seem as if they are wearing prematurely.

NHTSA ID
11510983
Incident
Mar 9, 2023
Airbags
Filed Feb 18, 2023
Crash reported

I had a head on crash on 2/14/23. The other driver was moving in excess of 50mph. The hit was center of the front bumper pushing the bumper and radiator in to the engine compartment. No air bag deployment. However the Onstar system activated immediately.

NHTSA ID
11508000
Incident
Feb 14, 2023
AirbagsSeat belts
Filed Dec 27, 2021

Every so ofter I get an audible and visual alert telling me to Service Seat Safety Restraint System as well as the airbag light on the dashboard. This lastest incident is probably the 8th time it has happened since Ive brought the truck new

NHTSA ID
11445111
Incident
Dec 16, 2021
Airbags
Filed Nov 23, 2021

Service safety restraint system with airbag light comes on then goes away this happens when going into a turn.

NHTSA ID
11441525
Incident
Nov 15, 2021
Mileage
6,937 mi
Airbags
Filed Nov 19, 2021

Safety restraint t system failure - airbag lights on and airbags advised will not deploy if in accident

NHTSA ID
11441109
Incident
Nov 19, 2021
Airbags
Filed Jun 22, 2021

PURCHASED NEW, WITHIN A COUPLE OF DAYS THE srs SUPPLEMENTAL RESTRAINT SYSTEM LIGHT CAME ON THE INFO CENTER IN DASH AND WOULD FLASH ON AND OFF WITH THE AIRBAG LIGHT ON (RED) IT WOULD DO THIS FOR 15-30 SECONDS AND THEN "RESET" AND THEN LIGHTS WOULD GO OFF. WAS INCONSISTENT BUT SCARED MY WIFE, SO I TOOK THE TRUCK BY THE DEALER AND THEY SAID IT WAS NOT A HARD CODE IN THE SYSTEM AND MAY BE A BUG IN THE SYSTEM AND KEEP AN EYE ON IT...WELL A FEW MORE DAYS AFTER IT FINALLY SET A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HARD CODE AND WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER THE NEXT DAY. FOUND OUT IF THE LIGHT COMES ON THE AIR BAGS ARE NOT ACTIVATED, NICE ONE GM. SO AFTER 3 DAYS THEY CHANGED THE CLOCK SPRING IN THE STEERING COLUMN AND THEN FIND 3 HARD CODES FOR ENGINE MISFIRES. ALL BEFORE THE 1ST OIL CHANGE...COME ON MAN THIS IS 2021 SO WHILE ITS IN THE 2ND TIME THE GUY HAS TO ORDER THE PART THEY DENT THE DOOR AND SCRATCH THE PAINT AND NOW IT BACK FOR 2 MORE WEEKS FOR PAINT AND BODY AND INFOTAINMENT SYSTEM ISSUES UPDATES POOR QUALITY AND HEADACHES. BUT WIFE STILL FEELS UNSAFE WITH THE AIR BAG FAILURE ISSUES.

NHTSA ID
11421809
Incident
May 1, 2021
Airbags
Filed Jun 8, 2021

The air bag light and service restraint message came up constantly, it seem like it would self clear, then come right back. Truck had only 250 miles on it when it started, it is still at the dealer waiting for parts. They told me it was because of corrosion (in a brand new truck)

NHTSA ID
11420118
Incident
May 28, 2021
Airbags
Filed Jan 26, 2021

I HIT A COUPLE OF PALM TREES AND AN OAK TREE AND THE AIR BAGS DIDN'T GO OFF.. HUGE CONCERN DO I WANT TO BUY ANOTHER ONE?

NHTSA ID
11390093
Incident
Jan 23, 2021
Mileage
1,200 mi

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.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .