2008 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 airbags problems

Updated from NHTSA data · How we count

96 owners have reported airbags problems with the 2008 Chevrolet Silverado 1500, 62% of all complaints about this model year. The typical problem appeared around 111,324 mi.

Airbags complaints
96
Crashes
9
Fires
0
Injuries
16
Related recalls
2
Median mileage
111,324 mi

Specific components reported

Airbags covers: Frontal, side and curtain airbags, sensors and warning lights.

ComponentComplaints
Air bags96

Airbags complaints across Chevrolet Silverado 1500 years

8200528220079648200943652011334120131544201592020171310201911202021812023212025
Airbags complaints by model year. The 2008 is highlighted.

Mileage when the problem appeared

1Under 10k110k–30k230k–60k960k–100k9100k–150k14150k+
Complaints that list mileage, grouped by odometer reading.

Related recalls

  • Recall 21V050000Feb 5, 20212,641,272 vehicles
    AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE

    General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2007-2011 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, Escalade EXT, Chevrolet Avalanche, Silverado 1500, Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Sierra 1500, Yukon, Yukon XL, and 2009-2011 Chevrolet Silverado 2500, Silverado 3500, GMC Sierra 2500 and Sierra 3500 vehicles 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." Additionally, GM is recalling certain 2007-2008 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, Escalade EXT, Chevrolet Avalanche, Silverado 1500, Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Sierra 1500, Yukon, Yukon XL vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia or "Zone B." 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.

    Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, resulting in serious injury or death.

    Remedy: 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 March 1, 2021. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020; Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006; and GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is N212328760.

  • Recall 21V052000Feb 5, 2021557,023 vehicles
    AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE

    General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2009 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, Escalade EXT, Chevrolet Avalanche, Silverado 1500, Silverado 2500, Silverado 3500, Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Sierra 1500, Sierra 2500, Sierra 3500, Yukon, and Yukon XL vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia or "Zone B." Additionally, GM is recalling certain 2007-2008 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, and Escalade EXT, Chevrolet Avalanche, Silverado 1500, Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Sierra 1500, Yukon, and Yukon XL vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming or "Zone C." 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.

    Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, resulting in serious injury or death.

    Remedy: 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 23, 2021. Second notification letters will be mailed once the remedy is available. Owner notification letters were mailed on September 20, 2021. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006, and GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is N212328780.

What owners say

  1. Filed Aug 3, 2026ILAirbags
    The truck was parked in the driveway not running. My husband took his lunch box out of the front seat,closed the door and the airbag deployed. He then went to the driver's side to see if it would still start so he could drive it to work the next day and be able to schedule repairs the drivers side then deployed knocking him onto the ground injuring his neck ,he was seen in ER after that.
    NHTSA complaint #11754541 · source
  2. Filed Jul 27, 2026MOAirbagsSeats & Seat Belts
    I had the recall #09184 regarding the faulty air bag for my Chevy Silverado. I took my truck to Chevy dealership in Marshfield mo. They were supposed to fix the airbags and bc the air bags deployed without an accident the seat belts locked up. They did not fix the seat belts. Making my Trunk unable to pass state inspection. They refused to fix the full issue.
    NHTSA complaint #11753101 · source
  3. Filed Jun 3, 2026TXCrash1 injuredTowedAirbags
    At a stop avoided hitting a truck pulling trailer I may have hit trailer not sure but I hit a pole . I was on my way to national guard ema took me hit the steering wheel needed stitches below my lip and glue above my lip my feet are lose and my knees crack bottom dash and my wrist is injured. Not sure if police report was made police were on site they towed my truck to b&m towing in giddings Texas paid $500 to tow company and another $500 to bring it to my home in San Antonio
    NHTSA complaint #11741915 · source
  4. Filed Mar 2, 2026NC2 injuredAirbags
    I was driving down a main road near the Piedmont triad international airport having a casual conversation with my passenger. I went to make a left turn into a Sheetz gas station when all of a sudden the passenger airbag deployed, without warning or wreck. The passenger hand flew up into windshield and cracked the windshield. The Immediately after the passenger airbag deployed without warning the airbag in the steering wheel deployed and my arm was slung into the driver side…
    NHTSA complaint #11721579 · source
  5. Filed Feb 24, 2026OR1 injuredAirbags
    My son was sitting in our Silverado waiting for the truck to warm up before he left for work. As he was sitting there both driver and passenger side air bags deployed. It hit my son in the head. The truck has never been in an accident. It doesn't have a branded title. There doesn't seem to be a logical explanation for why this happened.
    NHTSA complaint #11720247 · source
  6. Filed Feb 10, 2026HIAirbagsElectrical System
    There is a recall number 09184C that only pertains to certain states but I live in a wet state also not listed and the carpet under my seat held moisture and now my airbag control module totally disintegrated from being in moisture for so long, they won't accept my truck in for inspection or repair
    NHTSA complaint #11717082 · source
  7. Filed Jan 3, 2026TXAirbags
    Airbags deployed without collision or any bumps or anything. I was pulling out of parking space in public parking lot. I turned my wheel to the left and the airbags deployed.
    NHTSA complaint #11708503 · source
  8. Filed Sep 18, 2025278,000 miGACrash1 injuredTowedAirbags
    The contact owned a 2008 Chevrolet Silverado. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 70 MPH and making a right downhill turn, he crashed into the rail guard before impacting a tree where the vehicle came to a stop. No warning lights were illuminated. No air bags deployed. The contact was concerned about whether the air bags should have deployed for the type of impact experienced. The contact stated that the Driver's side seat belt had locked. The local dealer…
    NHTSA complaint #11688082 · source
  9. Filed May 15, 2025ORAirbagsSeats & Seat BeltsVisibility & Wipers
    The passenger airbag randomly just blew up and destroyed my windshield are vision was impaired couldn’t see couldn’t hear cuz our ears where ringing and toxic chemicals and particles where flying around in the car from it blowing up. We had a 3 year old in the truck and my bestfriend. Are safety was definitely put at risk we where on the freeway and like I said we couldn’t see anything and windshield was completely shattered and none of us could hear a thing something…
    NHTSA complaint #11661328 · source
  10. Filed Jan 7, 2025CAAirbags
    Truck was purchased in June 8, 2021. I have had zero accidents , was assured it was not a salvage vehicle it displayed no warning lights I begin to received the notices, the warning light started to come on from time to time, took the truck to our local Gosche Chevy Dealer. I was informed that it has an airbag for a 2500 Truck and they will not replace it. I have not been in any accident with this vehicle. What am I to do, as I am a retired cancer /heart issues stricken…
    NHTSA complaint #11634541 · source
  11. Filed Dec 30, 2024ALAirbagsOther / Unknown
    My vehicle has a recall on it ,I no longer feel safe driving it so I will like to have my vehicle replace with a new vehicle, that doesn't have safety hazard or recall
    NHTSA complaint #11633135 · source
  12. Filed Oct 30, 2024178,002 miMOAirbagsElectrical System
    The contact owns a 2008 Chevrolet Silverado 1500. The contact stated that the vehicle was taken to the dealer to be repaired under NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V050000 (Air Bags); however, the contact was informed that the instrument panel failed to allow access to the odometer and the recall repair was denied. The dealer informed the contact that for the recall repair to be completed, an odometer reading was required. The contact stated that the instrument panel was functioning…
    NHTSA complaint #11622744 · source

Other 2008 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 problem areas

  • Body & Structure (24)
  • Electrical System (22)
  • Other / Unknown (21)
  • Engine (11)
  • Suspension (9)
  • Transmission & Drivetrain (6)
  • Fuel, Hybrid & EV Propulsion (4)
  • Seats & Seat Belts (4)
  • Acceleration & Cruise Control (2)
  • Driver Assistance & Safety Tech (2)
  • Visibility & Wipers (1)
  • Brakes (1)
  • Lighting (1)

Back to all 2008 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 problems →

Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Office of Defects Investigation public data. Complaints are submitted by owners and are not verified by NHTSA or by us; a complaint does not prove a defect exists. View this vehicle on NHTSA.gov Methodology