RoadVitals

1997 Chevrolet Silverado 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.
8
Latest Jan 17, 2015
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 272 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.
4
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
3

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 1997 Chevrolet Silverado submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 8 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

Airbags
Filed Jan 17, 2015
1 injury reported

PARKED IN MY DRIVEWAY WARMING UP, BAG ENGAGED. LEFT EAR HURT BY BLAST AND RINGING IN LEFT EAR. *TR

NHTSA ID
10676254
Incident
Jan 17, 2015
Mileage
144,289 mi
Airbags
Filed May 18, 2004
Crash reported1 injury reported

WHILE DRIVING, THE CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONT END COLLISION. UPON IMPACT, THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. AS A RESULT OF THE DEPLOYMENT, THE AIR BAGS BURNED THE CONSUMERS FACE AND ARMS. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *JB

NHTSA ID
10073818
Incident
May 18, 2004
Airbags
Filed Feb 19, 2003

INFLATER MODULE. THE CONSUMER STATED THE INFLATOR MODULE WAS DESIGNED POORLY. THE WIRES BREAK DUE TO WEAR IN THE STEERING WHEEL, PROBABLY FROM TILTING OF STEERING WHEEL. THIS CAUSES THE AIR BAG COMPUTER TO SHORT OUT. *JB

NHTSA ID
10009117
Incident
Feb 3, 2003
AirbagsInterior & seats
Filed Jul 19, 2002

WHILE DRIVING AT 5 MPH, THE FRONT PASSENGER'S SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED, HITTING THE CONSUMER. CONTACTED DEALER, WHO WAS NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING. *AK THE DEALER DISCOVERED THAT THE MODULE MALFUNCTION WAS DUE TO WATER DAMAGE. AFTER FUTHER DISMANTLING THE CONSOLE IN ORDER TO REPAIR, IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT THE WATER DAMAGE WAS DUE TO A LEAK IN THE LEFT COWL AREA. CONSUMER FEELS THAT GMC SHOULD BE LIABLE FOR NOT HAVING ADEQUATE SEALING TO PREVENT WATER FROM SEEPING INTO THE COWL AREA. *SCC

NHTSA ID
8014331
Incident
May 2, 2002
Airbags
Filed Feb 23, 2001
Crash reported1 injury reported

CONSUMER WAS DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, APPLIED BRAKES BUT VEHICLE DID NOT STOP IN TIME,AND REAREND VEHICLE IN FRONT. UPON IMPACT, DUAL AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, CAUSING BACK AND NECK INJURIES. *AK

NHTSA ID
881237
Incident
Feb 5, 2001
AirbagsTransmission
Filed Apr 14, 1999
Crash reported

NO DEPLOYMENT OF THE AIRBAGS DURING FRONTAL IMPACT COLLISION, TOTALING CAR HIT 1ST, THEN HITTING ANOTHER CAR IN FRONT OF IT. *MJS

NHTSA ID
705602
Incident
Apr 2, 1999
AirbagsBrakes
Filed Jan 11, 1999
Crash reported

ABS BRAKE FAILURE; WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES TRUCK SLOWED DOWN A LITTLE, BUT DID NOT COME TO A COMPLETE STOP, CAUSING DRIVER TO REAREND ANOTHER VEHICLE. THIS HAPPENED ON DRY PAVEMENT, NO INCLEMENT WEATHER. DRIVER HAD PLENTY OF BRAKING DISTANCE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY WHEN THIS HAPPENED. THE TRUCK WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WITH MAJOR BUMPER DAMAGE. *AK

NHTSA ID
833323
Incident
Jan 6, 1999
Airbags
Filed Aug 4, 1998

VEHICLE DOES NOT HAVE A DRIVER'S OR PASSENGER 'S AIRBAGS OR STANDARD PASSENGER ON/OFF SWITCH. MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK

NHTSA ID
825317

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

Brakes63Steering59Visibility38Transmission32Fuel system24Engine21Interior & seats20Suspension19Electrical13Driver assistance8Tires & wheels8

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .