GM Recalled 1.9 Million Trucks and SUVs for Defective Takata Airbags

WASHINGTON — General Motors is recalling 1.9 million 2007-’11 trucks and SUVs for defective front-passenger Takata airbag inflators, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration announced on Thursday.

The vehicles are:

2007-’11 GMC Sierra 1500
2007-’11 GMC Yukon
2007-’11 GMC Yukon XL
2009-’11 Chevrolet Silverado 2500
2009-’11 Chevrolet Silverado 3500
2009-’11 GMC Sierra 2500
2009-’11 GMC Sierra 3500
2007-’11 Cadillac Escalade
2007-’11 Cadillac Escalade ESV
2007-’11 Cadillac Escalade EXT
2007-’11 Chevrolet Avalanche
2007-’11 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
2007-’11 Chevrolet Suburban
2007-’11 Chevrolet Tahoe

“In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the front airbags, these inflators may rupture due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling,” said NHTSA in its recall summary. “An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants, resulting in serious injury or death.”

GM said the affected vehicles are equipped with “unique Takata inflators made for GM’s vehicles.”

The automaker said it “believes these vehicles are safe to drive at this time,” in a statement on a new consumer website designed to help consumers with Takata recall concerns.

“As of May 2016, GM has had zero reports of inflators rupturing in these vehicles since the start of production,” GM said. “This covers an estimated 44,000 deployments.”

GM spokesman Tom Wilkinson told Edmunds: “We are aware of no injuries related to this preliminary recall.”

A third-party environmental study has been started by GM to simulate long-term temperature effects on inflator aging.

GM also is setting up a parts-return program that will collect and CT scan Takata inflators recovered from GM vehicles.

NHTSA said GM has not determined a remedy plan or provided a recall notification schedule.

GM said it will notify customers involved in the recall with next steps. The new GM consumer website will post updated information as it becomes available.

Owners can contact Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020 or GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782.

Edmunds says: GM dealers are waiting for parts in this recall. It’s best for customers to stay in close touch with their dealer or check the new GM/Takata website for the most up-to-date information.