RoadVitals

2004 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.
13
Latest Mar 31, 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.
6%
of 204 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.
6

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 2004 Chevrolet Suburban submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 13 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 Mar 31, 2026

Front passenger dash airbag spontaneously deployed without any inciting event. The vehicle is at the Team Chevrolet Goldsboro dealership. A case has been opened with General Motors Case Number XXX. No prior warning - it smoked for a few seconds then deployed. No prior warning lights.

NHTSA ID
11728354
Incident
Mar 27, 2026
AirbagsEngine
Filed Jan 3, 2023
1 injury reported

The contact owns a 2004 Chevrolet Suburban. The contact stated that while driving approximately 45 mph he noticed the temperature gauge increased to the high indicator. The engine coolant hot message was displayed. The contact stated that while attempting to pull over there was an abnormal popping noise and smoke was detected. The air bag warning light illuminated and the driver's side air bag deployed without impact or crash and struck the driver in the face, chest, and right hand. There was no medical attention provided, or a fire or police report filed. The vehicle was left on the side of the road. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 200,000.

NHTSA ID
11499926
Incident
Jan 3, 2023
Mileage
200,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Mar 27, 2019

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION, THE DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG DEPLOYED WITH FORCE. A YELLOW SUBSTANCE EMITTED INSIDE THE VEHICLE WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURRED. THE DEPLOYMENT OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING OR AN IMPACT. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 128,000.

NHTSA ID
11191828
Incident
Mar 7, 2019
Mileage
128,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Jul 24, 2015
2 injuries reported

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN. AFTER TURNING THE IGNITION KEY TO START THE ENGINE, BOTH THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAGS ERRONEOUSLY DEPLOYED. DURING THE INCIDENT, THE DRIVER SUSTAINED CHEST AND FACIAL BRUISES AND LACERATIONS. THE FRONT PASSENGER SUSTAINED BRUISES AND LACERATIONS TO BOTH ARMS AND HANDS. MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS NOT RECEIVED. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 160,000.

NHTSA ID
10736186
Incident
Jun 14, 2015
Mileage
160,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Jun 25, 2015

AIRBAG SYSTEM FAILED AND COMPONENTS NEED TO BE REPLACED...UPDATED 08/27/15 *BF

NHTSA ID
10730426
Incident
Mar 2, 2015
Mileage
150,000 mi
AirbagsDriver assistanceSteering
Filed Sep 8, 2011
1 injury reported

WITH CRUISE CONTROL ON AT 70MPH, ATTEMPTED TO CHANGE FROM LEFT TO RIGHT LANE. ANOTHER CAR SPED UP THE RIGHT LANE TO PASS ME. TURNED STEERING WHEEL BACK TO LEFT LANE AND SUDDENLY HAD NO CONTROL OVER STEERING, BRAKING AND THE STEERING WHEEL STARTED VIOLENTLY SHAKING. CAR ROLLED TWICE, OVER METAL MEDIAN AND TURNED 180 DEGREES FACING THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION ON THE INTERSTATE W/ ROOF CRUSHED IN. NEITHER SIDE OR FRONT AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. FRONT AND SIDES SMASHED IN AND FRAME BENT. VEHICLE WAS DEEMED TO BE TOTALED BY STATE FARM. HAVE BEEN DRIVING 40 YEARS AND HAVE NEVER HAD AN ACCIDENT IN MY LIFE. ONLY GOOD THING WAS THE SEATBELT HELD TIGHT AS I WAS HANGING UPSIDE DOWN WHEN THE CAR FINALLY STOPPED. THE DAY BEFORE THIS OCCURRED I NOTICED THAT THE STABILITY CONTROL SYSTEM WOULD RANDOMLY ENGAGE DURING STRAIGHT DRIVING ON A PERFECTLY DRY SURFACE. I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE BRAND NEW FROM THE DEALER IN 2004 AND THE CAR WAS METICULOUSLY MAINTAINED. (IT LOOKED BRAND NEW). *TR

NHTSA ID
10424360
Incident
Jul 29, 2011
Mileage
90,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Apr 20, 2007

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN. THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE DEALER, MACMAHON CHEVROLET, PERFORMED A DIAGNOSTIC AND FOUND NO FAILURES. HOWEVER, THEY WERE ABLE TO GET THE LIGHT TO DIM. THE FOLLOWING DAY THE FAILURE OCCURRED AND THE LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED FOR APPROXIMATELY A WEEK. THE LIGHT WOULD ILLUMINATE INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR ROUTINE MAINTENANCE ,AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE CENTER THAT SENDS THE SIGNAL FOR THE AIR BAGSWAS DAMAGED. THIS FAILURE WOULD PREVENT THE AIR BAGS FROM DEPLOYING IN A CRASH. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 80,000, AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000. *AK

NHTSA ID
10188417
Incident
Apr 20, 2007
Mileage
60,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Sep 29, 2005

DT: THE CONTACT HAS A 2004 SUBURBAN. IT HAS BEEN IN THE REPAIR SHOP 4-5 TIMES FOR AIR BAG PROBLEMS. THE AIR BAG LIGHT WOULD COME ON PERIODICALLY AND THEN IT WOULD STAY ON. IN MAY 05 THE DEALER REPLACED THE CONNECTORS. SINCE THEN THEY HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE AIR BAG ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE, AND THE COMPUTER THAT GOES TO THE AIR BAG ON DRIVER'S SIDE. THEY REPLACED THE CONNECTORS AGAIN LAST WEEK ON 8-17-05. THE CONTACT TALKED TO GM, AND THEY OFFERED HIM AN EXTENSION ON THE WARRANTY FOR THE AIR BAG. NO ONE WAS ABLE TO GIVE A DEFINITIVE ANSWER AS WHAT WAS CAUSING THE AIR BAG PROBLEM. *AK *NM

NHTSA ID
10134039
Incident
Aug 17, 2005
Mileage
29,569 mi
Airbags
Filed Jun 13, 2005
Crash reported

DT: VEHICLE WAS GOING ABOUT 35-40 MPH AND THE SIDE AND FRONT AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY DURING AN ACCIDENT. *AK

NHTSA ID
10125146
Incident
Jun 10, 2005
Airbags
Filed Mar 7, 2005
Crash reported1 injury reported

THE CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT IN HIS 2004 CHEVROLET SUBURBAN IN WHICH THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. AN OCCUPANT IN THE VEHICLE WAS INJURED WHEN THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *NM *SC *JB

NHTSA ID
10115547
Incident
Aug 3, 2004
AirbagsEngine
Filed Dec 29, 2004
Fire reported

UPON TURNING THE VEHICLE ON, THE AIR BAG DEPLOYED. THERE WAS A FIRE IN THE ENGINE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *JB

NHTSA ID
10105474
Incident
Dec 21, 2004
Airbags
Filed Oct 13, 2004
Crash reported1 injury reported

WHEN THE CONSUMER WAS HIT AT 30 MPH, THE SIDE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THERE WERE MINOR INJURIES. THE CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION.*JB

NHTSA ID
10096713
Incident
Aug 6, 2004
Mileage
3,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Sep 14, 2004

THE AIR BAG LIGHT WAS ON AND WILL NOT GO OFF. THE DEALER SERVICED THE VEHICLE FOUR TIMES. IT WAS DONE AGAIN TODAY, AND THE LIGHT WAS BACK ON. *AK *SC *JB

NHTSA ID
10087197
Incident
Aug 4, 2004
Mileage
11,253 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 .