Passenger frontal air bag inflator may explode
Defect Summary
General motors, llc (gm) is recalling certain 2012 cadillac escalade, escalade esv, escalade ext, chevrolet avalanche, silverado 1500, silverado 2500/3500, suburban, tahoe, gmc sierra 1500, sierra 2500/3500, yukon, and yukon xl originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of alabama, california, florida, georgia, hawaii, louisiana, mississippi, south carolina, texas, puerto rico, american samoa, guam, the northern mariana islands (saipan), and the u.s. Virgin islands or "zone a." these vehicles are equipped with non-desiccated passenger frontal inflators containing phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate (psan) propellant. these inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, high temperatures, and high temperature cycling.
Safety Consequence
An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, resulting in serious injury or death.
Corrective Action
Gm will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator with an alternate one, free of charge. interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk were mailed on february 22, 2021. second notification letters will be mailed once the remedy is available. owner notification letters were mailed on may 11, 2021. owners may contact cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006; chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020; and gmc customer service at 1-800-462-8782. gm's number for this recall is n212328770.
Similar Recalls
Other recalls from General Motors, Llc or involving Air Bags.
FAQ: Recall 21V051000
Your rights, the repair process, and what each field on this page means.
What is recall 21V051000?
NHTSA recall 21V051000 was issued by General Motors, Llc on February 5, 2021. It addresses: Passenger frontal air bag inflator may explode. The recall affects approximately 284,645 vehicles, with the defect involving the Air Bags component.
How do I get this recall repaired?
Contact any authorized General Motors, Llc dealer and reference NHTSA recall ID 21V051000 or the manufacturer campaign number N212328770. Under federal law, the repair is completely free regardless of vehicle age or owner history.
Is my vehicle included in this recall?
The only way to confirm is to look up your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. NHTSA's tool will tell you if VIN-by-VIN this exact recall applies.
How long do I have to get a recall repair done?
There is no expiration on most federal safety recalls. Even if your vehicle is years old and you bought it used, the manufacturer is required to perform the repair at no cost.
Where does the data on this page come from?
All information on this page is sourced directly from the U.S. Department of Transportation public dataset for NHTSA recalls. Last refreshed: 2026-05-22. For the most current official notice, visit nhtsa.gov/recalls.