2007 Chevrolet Silverado 3500

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.

IN A LETTER DATED AUGUST 27, 2008, GENERAL MOTORS CORP. (GM) NOTIFIED NHTSA THAT IT WILL CONDUCT A SAFETY RECALL (NHTSA RECALL NUMBER 08V-441) TO ADDRESS A SAFETY RELATEDDEFECT THAT CAN RESULT IN ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE IN APPROXIMATELY 850,000 VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A HEATED WINDSHIELD WASHER FLUID OPTION.THE SUBJECT VEHICLES OF THIS INVESTIGATION COMPRISE OVER THREE-QUARTERS OF THE RECALL POPULATION. ACCORDING TO GM, A SHORT CIRCUIT ON THE PRINTED CIRCUIT BOARD FOR THE WINDSHIELD WASHER FLUID HEATER MODULE MAY OVERHEAT THE CONTROL-CIRCUIT GROUND WIRE. THIS MAY CAUSE OTHER ELECTRICAL FEATURES TO MALFUNCTION, CREATE AN ODOR OR CAUSE SMOKE AND IN RARE CASES IT MAY CAUSE A FIRE.AS A REMEDY, GM DEALERS WILL INSTALL A WIRE HARNESS WITH AN IN-LINE FUSE. IN ADDITION TO THE SUBJECT VEHICLES, SEVERAL OTHER GM MODELS WITH THE HEATED WINDSHIELD WASHER FLUID OPTION ARE INCLUDED IN RECALL 08V-441: MY 2006-2008 BUICK LUCERNE (MANUFACTURED AUGUST 2005 THROUGH NOVEMBER 2007); MY 2008 BUICK ENCLAVE (MANUFACTURED FEBRUARY 2007 THROUGH APRIL 2007); MY 2006-2008 CADILLAC DTS (MANUFACTURED MAY 2007 THROUGH NOVEMBER 2007); MY 2007-2008 SATURN OUTLOOK (MANUFACTURED AUGUST 2006 THROUGH APRIL 2007); AND MY 2007-2008 GMC ACADIA (MANUFACTURED AUGUST 2006 THROUGH APRIL 2007) VEHICLES.GM IS INSTRUCTING OWNERS TO TAKE THEIR VEHICLE TO A DEALER FOR SERVICE IF THEY EXPERIENCE SYMPTOMS OF WINDSHIELD WASHER HEATER MODULE SHORT CIRCUITS. GM'S RECALL RESOLVES THE SAFETY DEFECT CONCERNS PURSUED BY THIS INVESTIGATION.THIS ENGINEERING ANALYSIS IS CLOSED.

IN RESPONSE TO AN INFORMATION REQUEST LETTER SENT BY THE OFFICE OF DEFECTS INVESTIGATION(ODI) DURING PRELIMINARY EVALUATION PE08-010, GM PROVIDED ODI WITH 41 ALLEGATIONS OF NON-CRASH ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRES INCLUDING 16 ALLEGATIONS OF FIRES ORIGINATING WITH THE IGNITION IN THE OFF POSITION.ONE OF THE FIRES WAS DETERMINED TO BE CAUSED BY AN ARSON EVENT.ODI HAS ALSO RECEIVED 5 REPORTS, 4 OF WHICH ARE OF DUPLICATIVE OF REPORTS PROVIDED BY GM, ALLEGING NON-CRASH ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRES IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES.IN TOTAL, ODI IS AWARE OF 41 NON-CRASHENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRES IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES THAT ARE UNRELATED TO ARSON.EIGHT OF THE 41 FIRE ALLEGATIONS ALSO ALLEGE PROPERTY DAMAGE AS A RESULT OF THE FIRES.THIS PRELIMINARY EVALUATION HAS BEEN UPGRADED TO AN ENGINEERING ANALYSIS (EA08-010) TO FURTHER ASSESS THE SCOPE, FREQUENCY, ORIGIN AND CAUSE OF THE ALLEGED NON-CRASH RELATED ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRES IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES.

The contact owned a 2007 Chevrolet Silverado. The contact stated that while driving at 65 MPH, the contact noticed smoking coming from the under the front vehicle. The contact mention he pulled over the right side of the road, turned the vehicle off and then exited the vehicle and opened the hood of the vehicle and noticed flames coming from the back of the engine. No injuries were sustained. No medical attention. The contact dialed 911 and there no police report filed. The fire department extinguished the fire. The vehicle was not destroyed. The vehicle was towed to a local tow lot. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified. The approximate failure mileage was 377,000.

NHTSA ID

11741817

Incident

Jun 2, 2026

Mileage

377,000 mi

I purchased my new 2007 Chevy duramax diesel with an already installed fabtech lift kit. My pitman arm has snapped 3 times since I purchased my truck leaving me with complete steering loss. I have had to replace all steering components several times. My truck is unsafe due to a fabtech lift kit that the dealer installed before I purchased it. Led Schwab was the installer. I have several complaints with nhtsa and vsh.

NHTSA ID

11631074

Incident

Jun 1, 2010

Rattling noise in intermediate shaft of steering column and key tumbler is sticky

NHTSA ID

11539906

Incident

Aug 14, 2023

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 CHEVROLET SILVERADO 3500. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE REFUELING, DIESEL FUEL SPRAYED BACK OUT OF THE FILLER NECK. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED THAT THE DESIGN OF THE FILLER NECK TO THE FUEL TANK WAS DEFECTIVE. A DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO REACH THE MANUFACTURER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 285,064.

NHTSA ID

11349178

Incident

Aug 1, 2017

Mileage

285,064 mi

WHILE DRIVING AT ABOUT 35 MPH, I HAD TO STOP FOR A GARBAGE TRUCK DOING A TRASH PICKUP. WHEN I APPLIED THE BRAKES ON MY PICKUP, THE BRAKES TOTALLY FAILED AND I NEARLY DROVE ANOTHER CAR INTO THE BACK OF THE GARBAGE TRUCK. THAT AVERTED CRASH WOULD CERTAINLY HAVE KILLED THE CAR'S DRIVER. I AVOIDED A CRASH BY A RAPID TURN INTO THE ONCOMING LANE JUST AS A CAR COMING TOWARD ME CLEARED THE OPPOSING LANE. MY TRUCK HAS BEEN MAINTAINED PROFESSIONALLY AND THE BRAKE FAILURE WAS A GREAT SHOCK TO ME. MY TRUCK IS A 2007 CHEVY SILVERADO 3500 DUALLY.

NHTSA ID

11254791

Incident

Jul 8, 2019

Mileage

150,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, STEERING WHEEL SHAKES, SLIGHTLY, YET NOTICEABLY. ANY SPEED. THE SHAKE IS CONSISTENT, FEELS WORSE WHEN TURNING OR(DRIFTING) RIGHT I ON FREEWAY. HAVE HAD STEERING GEAR BOX, PITMAN ARM, AND ROAD FORCE BALANCING PERFORMED, TO NO RELIEF. UPON SELF INSPECTION, LEFT WHEEL SEEMS (TIGHTER) AND NOT AS LOOSE TO HAND MANIPULATION, RIGHT WHEEL IS NOTICEABLY LOOSE WITH SLIGHT NOISE INDICATIVE TO A LOOSE OR WORN TIE ROD. VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED NEW. IT HAS BEEN TO 5 GM DEALERSHIPS TO ATTEMPT A FIX OF THIS PROBLEM. A LAWSUIT WAS FINALIZED APRIL 2019. GM WAS FORCED TO COMPENSATE OWNER YET NO FIX WAS PERFORMED.

NHTSA ID

11194479

Incident

May 13, 2017

Mileage

5 mi

TAKATA RECALL MY DASHBOARD HAS CRACKED IN THREE DIFFERENT SPOTS 2 AROUND PASSENGERS AIR BAG ONE OVER GAGE CLUSTER. NOT SURE IF CAR WAS IN MOTION OR SITTING WHEN IT HAPPEN.

NHTSA ID

11091186

Incident

Jun 14, 2015

Mileage

230,000 mi

"TAKATA RECALL" - I RECEIVED MY LETTER REGARDING THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG RECALL DATED JULY 2015. I CONTACTED CORPORATE HEADQUARTERS AND THEY WERE NO HELP AND KEPT TELLING ME THE VEHICLE WAS "SAFE" TO DRIVE EVEN THOUGH THE LETTER SAYS DISCHARGE OF THE AIRBAG COULD CAUSE "INJURY OR DEATH TO OCCUPANTS." ON 2/15/17 I TOOK THE VEHICLE IN TO BLADE CHEVROLET AND ASKED THEM TO FIX THE RECALL. THEY JUST DOCUMENTED THAT THE PART IS NOT AVAILABLE. IT IS GOING ON TWO YEARS NOW - THIS IS UNREASONABLE. I CAN'T USE THE TRUCK FOR INTENDED USE - EXTENDED CAMPING TRIPS - OR EVEN SELL IT FOR TOP DOLLAR WITH A SAFETY RECALL THAT IS NOT BEING FIXED.

NHTSA ID

10955042

Incident

Jul 1, 2015

This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician that some owners of Heavy Duty Trucks and Utilities may ask if they can lower their tire pressures. Tire pressures being set to the "Tire and Loading Label" will ensure the safe handling and ride characteristics of the truck and should not be lowered.

This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that have an intermittent no crank, no start, or start stall concern with the security light coming on. Technician may find Diagnostic Trouble Codes B3055, B3060, B3935, C0750, C0755, C0760, C0765, and/or C0775.

This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that may have a bump feel or clunk noise at a stop or on launch. Dealer should communicate to the customer this condition is a normal operating characteristic

This PI communicates the requirement to provide a pico file to receive diagnostic assistance from TAC.

This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about the use of J-35616-64B and Mini 50 terminal test probe, replacement terminals, and terminated leads.

This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about the use of J-35616-64B and Mini 50 terminal test probe, replacement terminals, and terminated leads.