RoadVitals

2001 Chevrolet Suburban 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.
21
Latest Jul 2, 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.
5%
of 440 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.
18
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
23

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 2001 Chevrolet Suburban submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 21 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 Jul 2, 2015
Crash reported1 injury reported

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2001 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN. WHILE DRIVING AT 55 MPH UPHILL, THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THE VEHICLE HYDROPLANED. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF A PICK-UP TRUCK. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THERE WAS ONE INJURY THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 270,000.

NHTSA ID
10731772
Incident
Jun 18, 2015
Mileage
270,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Jul 2, 2015
Crash reported1 injury reported

MY SON WAS DRIVING AND REAR ENDED A MAN GOING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH. THE FRONT END SUSTAINED A GREAT DEAL OF DAMAGE, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE ENGINE BEING PUSHED BACK SEVERAL INCHES. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. MY SON SUSTAINED MINOR WHIPLASH TYPE INJURIES TO HIS NECK AND BACK.

NHTSA ID
10731769
Incident
Jun 15, 2015
Mileage
260,000 mi
Airbags
Filed May 18, 2014
Crash reported5 injuries reported

I WAS DRIVING ON MAY 12 FROM FILLMORE CA TO LAX AIRPORT I WAS ON FREEWAY 5 PASSING VALENCIA BY THE EXIT OF FREEWAY 14 WHEN A WHITE BAN HIT THEIR BRAKES I DID THE SAME THING BUT I THINK THE BRAKE OF MY CAR DID WORK PROPERLY AND I LOST CONTROL OF MY CAR SO I WENT TO THE LEFT LINE AND A GREY CIVIC HIT ME ON MY DRIVER SIDE BY THE FRONT TIRE I HAD MY TWO KIDS WITH ME THEY WERE SO SCARE BECAUSE I WAS BLINDING FROM MY HEAD MY AIR BAGS NEVER CAME ON IF YOU HAVE ANY PLEASE CALL [XXX]. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6) *JS

NHTSA ID
10592219
Incident
May 12, 2014
Mileage
144,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Jun 9, 2010
Crash reported4 injuries reported

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ON MAY 18, 2010, WHILE DRIVING AT 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE COLLIDED WITH AN ONCOMING VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE SUSTAINED EXTENSIVE DAMAGES AND WAS TOWED FROM THE SCENE. THE CONTACT AND PASSENGERS SUSTAINED INJURIES AND WERE TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT HAD NOT CALLED THE DEALERSHIP OR THE MANUFACTURER AT THE TIME OF THE COMPLAINT. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 105,000.

NHTSA ID
10335493
Incident
May 18, 2010
Mileage
105,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Nov 10, 2008
Crash reported

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN. ON NOVEMBER 6, 2008, THE CONTACT WAS INVOLVED IN A SERIOUS CRASH. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY AND THE ENTIRE FRONT END AND PASSENGER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE WERE DAMAGED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE CONTACT HAS PICTURES AND A POLICE REPORT. THERE WERE NO OTHER PASSENGERS IN THE VEHICLE AND THE CONTACT WAS WEARING HER SEAT BELT AT THE TIME. THERE WAS NO MAINTENANCE PERFORMED ON THE AIR BAGS PRIOR TO THE CRASH. THE SPEED WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.

NHTSA ID
10248294
Incident
Nov 6, 2008
Mileage
100,000 mi
AirbagsSteering
Filed Jan 5, 2008
Crash reported2 injuries reported

NOVEMBER 2004 I HAD AN AUTO ACCIDENT, I WAS DRIVING HOME LATE AT NIGHT AFTER MY HUSBAND AND I HAD BEEN OUT TO DINNER WITH A FRIEND ON LEAVE FROM THE MILITARY. WE WERE ON THE WAY TO PICK OUR KIDS UP FROM MY PARENTS AND IT WAS MISTING OUTSIDE. I WAS ON A 4 LANE HIGHWAY TRAVELING SOUTHBOUND ON THE FAR INSIDE LEFT HAND LANE, THE NEXT THING I KNEW I WAS FACING THE POLICE STATION HEAD-ON AT 35 MPH. I TRIED TO CORRECT THE WHEEL AND MY HUSBAND ALSO GRABBED THE WHEEL AND TRIED TO CORRECT IT, DIDN'T WORK I THINK THE WHEEL BROKE BECAUSE WE CRASHED INTO THE POLICE STATION. I HAD TO KICK MY DOOR OPEN AND RUN INSIDE TO HAVE THEM CALL AN AMBULANCE, MY HUSBAND WAS PINNED AGAINST THE WALL, HIS FACE BUSTED THE PASSENGER WINDOW OUT, AND THE DASH,THE RADIO AND GLOVE BOX WAS IN OUR LAP AND THE WINDSHIELD SHATTERED. WE WERE WEARING SEATBELTS AND THE FRONT AND SIDE WAS TOTALED BUT THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE ONLY WORKING DOORS WERE THE BACK HATCH AND THE REAR DRIVER SIDE DOOR, THE PASSENGER DOOR WAS CAVED IN ON MY HUSBAND AND HE WAS FORCED ACROSS THE CONSOLE HE HAD TO BE PULLED FROM THE AUTO. HE WAS TRANSPORTED TO THE ER AND ENDED UP MISSING WEEKS OF WORK FROM HIS INJURIES , I REFUSED TREATMENT WITH ONLY MY KNEE AND FOOT HURT. I WAS FOUND NOT AT FAULT AND NO TICKECTS WERE WROTE. WE HAD BEEN HAVING FRONT END PROBLEMS THAT CHEVY MECHANICS AND OTHER MECHANICS COULD NOT EXPLAIN. YES THEY SAW AND HEARD THE PROBLEM BUT DIDN'T KNOW HOW OR HAVE A WAY TO FIX IT,I BELIEVE THAT IS WHY WE CRASHED SOMETHING WITH THE FRONT END. I REPORTED TO THE POLICE THAT MY HUSBAND GRABBED THE WHEEL TRYING TO CORRECT IT BUT THEY WROTE IT AS HE GRABBED ME CAUSING THE WRECK; NEEDLESS TO SAY I CORRECTED THE ERROR BUT THEY DIDN'T CORRECT THEIR REPORT. I CONTACTED CHEVY ABOUT THE INCIDENT AND WANTED TO KNOW WHY MY AIRBAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY, THEY CALLED ME ON A SUNDAY BUT NOTHING WAS EVER DONE. *CN

NHTSA ID
10213769
Incident
Nov 14, 2004
Mileage
105,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Apr 17, 2006
Crash reported2 injuries reported

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH ANOTHER VEHICLE STRUCK THE CONTACT IN THE SIDE AT ABOUT 40 MPH. THE VEHICLE TURNED SIDEWAYS IN AN INTERSECTION AND THE SIDE IMPACT AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CONTACT AND DRIVER OF THE OTHER VEHICLE, WHILE WEARING SEAT BELTS, SUSTAINED INJURIES. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED NECK/LEFT SHOULDER, BACK,KNEES, AND LOWER LEG INJURIES, AND WAS TAKEN BY AMBULANCE TO A LOCAL HOSPITAL WHERE SHE WAS TREATED AND RELEASED. THE POLICE TOOK A REPORT AT THE SCENE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED BY THE INSURANCE AGENCY. THE MANUFACTURER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND DETERMINED THE SEVERITY OF THE ACCIDENT DID NOT WARRANT SIDE IMPACT AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT. *AK

NHTSA ID
10155531
Incident
Jan 14, 2006
Mileage
59,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Jan 24, 2005
Crash reported

DURING A 60 MPH FRONTAL VEHICLE COLLISION, THE FRONT AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED. *JB *SC

NHTSA ID
10105430
Incident
Dec 12, 2004
Mileage
57,200 mi
Airbags
Filed Feb 14, 2004

AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT COMES ON AND STAYS ON WHEN VEHICLE WAS AT IDLE. CAME ON 1 WEEK TO THE DAY THAT THE ABS MODULE SHORT-CIRCUITED AND FAILED RESULTING IN A $765.00 REOAIR BILL. VEHICLE IN OPERATION FOR ONLY 28 MONTHS WITH 45,000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE.*AK

NHTSA ID
10058172
Incident
Feb 14, 2004
Mileage
45,450 mi
AirbagsBrakesEngine
Filed Jan 15, 2004
Crash reported

AFTER TAKING MY TRUCK IN FOR A COMPLETE FUEL SYSTEM CLEANING SERVICE, I STARTED TO HEAR A RATTLING SOUND EVERY TIME I TURNED ON THE AC. I TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP (CAPITAL CHEVROLET IN MONTGOMERY, ALABAMA) THINKING THAT THEY FORGOT TO TIGHTEN UP SOMETHING -- ONLY TO FIND OUT I NEED A NEW AC COMPRESSOR. I OVERHEARD THE SERVICE TECHNICIAN SAY THAT THERE IS A BULLETIN OUT ON THIS. I CALLED THE 800# BUT HAVE NOT GOTTEN A RESPONSE IN OVER A WEEK. I WAS TOLD BY 2 INDEPENDENT SERVICE MECHANICS THAT THIS IS A MAJOR PROBLEM WITH THAT THE SUBURBAN AND TAHOE!!! DECEMBER 2002. ATTEMPTED TO STOP SUDDENLY. BRAKES LOCKED AND THE CAR WENT INTO A TERRIBLE SKID. WAS UNABLE TO CONTROL THE BRAKES BY PUMPING. THE CAR EVENTUALLY SKIDDED OFF THE ROAD INTO A DITCH CAUSING TREMENDOUS FRONT-END DAMAGE. AIR BAGS NEVER DEPLOYED. CAR WAS GOING ABOUT 25 MILES/HOUR WHEN BRAKES WERE APPLIED.

NHTSA ID
10070819
Incident
Dec 15, 2002
Mileage
55,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Dec 10, 2003
Crash reported

WHILE DRIVING, ANOTHER MOTORIST FAILED TO STOP AT A RED LIGHT AND THE CONSUMER HIT HIM ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE AND THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *AK *SC *JB

NHTSA ID
10046437
Incident
Oct 8, 2003
Mileage
62,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Oct 10, 2003
Crash reported

WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A HEAD ON COLLISION AND AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *AK

NHTSA ID
10042734
Incident
Sep 27, 2003
Airbags
Filed Sep 4, 2003

WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 65MPH ON THE HIGHWAY AND WITHOUT PRIORWARNING AIR BAG LIGHT APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD.*AK

NHTSA ID
10038249
Incident
Sep 4, 2003
Airbags
Filed Apr 28, 2003
Crash reported

THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION, AND THE NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. *JB

NHTSA ID
10017673
Airbags
Filed Jul 19, 2002
Crash reported

AT 45MPH VEHICLE CRASHED. UPON IMPACT, AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. CAUSE UNKNOWN. DEALER NOTIFIED.*AK

NHTSA ID
8014347
Incident
Jul 10, 2002
AirbagsBrakes
Filed Jul 8, 2002

WHILE THE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING THE ABS BRAKE PEDAL GOES TO THE FLOOR WITHOUT WARNING RESULTING IN TOTAL BRAKE LOSS. *YH

NHTSA ID
566427
AirbagsBody & structureVisibility
Filed Apr 9, 2002
Crash reported3 injuries reported

WHILE DRIVING AT 45 MPH CONSUMER T BONED ANOTHER VEHICLE, AND THEN SPUN OUT OF CONTROL, AND RAN INTO A DITCH. UPON IMPACT, NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. CONTACTED DEALER, AND THE DEALER WAS NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING. *AK *YH

NHTSA ID
8007135
Incident
Nov 26, 2001
Airbags
Filed Feb 14, 2002
Crash reported1 injury reported

CONSUMER HAD A FRONT COLLISION AT 35-40 MPH, AND NEITHER AIRBAG DEPLOYED. CONSUMER SUFFERED NECK/ BACK AND KNEE INJURIES. VEHICLE AT DEALERSHIP AT THIS TIME. PLEASE ADD FURTHER DETAILS.*AK

NHTSA ID
8004064
Incident
Feb 5, 2002
Airbags
Filed Jun 25, 2001
Crash reported2 injuries reported

FRONT AIRBAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY DURING A HEAD ON COLLISION AT 30 MPH. FINAL DAMAGE ESTIMATE UNKOWN DUE TO PENDING SAFETY INVESTIGATION. *AK

NHTSA ID
747375
Incident
May 24, 2001
Airbags
Filed Mar 21, 2001
Crash reported1 injury reported

NO DEPLOYMENT OF THE AIR BAG DURING ACCIDENT CAUSING THE CONSUMER TO JAM HIS HAND ON THE STEERING WHEEL AND TO INJURE HIS BACK. NLM

NHTSA ID
560449
Airbags
Filed Feb 7, 2001
Crash reported1 injury reported

COSNUMER WAS DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 35-40 MPH, WENT OFF ROAD TO AVOID ONCOMING VEHICLE, RAN INTO DITCH HEAD ON, AND HIT A TREE. VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. UPON IMPACT, DUAL AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, CAUSING MINOR INJURIES.*AK

NHTSA ID
879983
Incident
Dec 27, 2000

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 .