We were traveling down interstate 10 in mobile, al. It was a foggy night and the the road was damp. The truck spun sideways and regained traction heading head on into a concrete barrier. It hit the solid concrete barrier head on at 55 miles per hour. The bumper and frame of the truck was crushed. The concrete barrier was not broken. The airbags on the truck did not deploy. Both the driver…
2005 Chevrolet Silverado airbags problems
critical 78 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $1,100 · see airbags across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
78
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$1,100
17crashes
20injuries
1fatality
When does it fail?
Of the 78 airbags complaints filed for the 2005 Chevrolet Silverado, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 150,000+ mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
What stands out
Owners have filed 78 airbags complaints with NHTSA against this vehicle, but no formal recall covers the issue — the federal record reflects what manufacturers have admitted, not everything owners are reporting.
No new NHTSA airbags complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 14 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
The failure pattern owners describe
Buyer takeaway: 2005 Chevrolet Silverado airbag systems are prone to sensor failures that disable the entire airbag assembly, with repair costs of $400–$3,000 and no manufacturer warranty coverage; some sensors fail due to water intrusion, and several crash reports document complete non-deployment, so budget for potential out-of-pocket sensor replacement or accept driving without airbag protection.
Front airbag sensor failures dominate complaints in this cluster. Owners describe the service airbag light illuminating with no warning, typically between 30,000 and 100,000 miles, disabling the entire airbag system until parts are replaced. The most cited part is impact sensor 15103522 (later superseded by 10370149). One owner documented water intrusion into the sensor housing during wet winters in Ohio—the sensor design apparently traps moisture that freezes, expands, and damages the unit.
Repair costs range from $250 to over $800, with dealers charging $400–$3,000 depending on labor and parts. Owners report dealer diagnostic difficulty; some technicians misidentify the problem, recommending full airbag replacement when connector cleaning or sensor replacement is the actual fix. A few narratives mention a TSB (Technical Service Bulletin) addressing connector corrosion in the left kick panel.
Several crash reports document airbag non-deployment during moderate-to-severe impacts (40–65 mph head-on and angular collisions). In these incidents, the airbag system was either already disabled by a sensor fault or failed to deploy during the accident itself. Driver injuries range from lacerations and broken bones to fatal outcomes.
Owners uniformly report no recall despite finding "numerous online reports" of the same sensor failure across 2003–2011 GM trucks and SUVs. GM customer service consistently denies warranty coverage once vehicles exceed 100,000 miles or warranty expiration.
Same Chevrolet Silverado airbags reports on nearby years: 2006 · 2007 · 2008
Failure modes owners describe
Front impact sensor failure with airbag system disablement
Impact sensors (primarily part 15103522, later 10370149) fail without warning, illuminating the service airbag light and deactivating the entire airbag system. Owners report the light comes on during normal operation, often at low to moderate mileage. One owner documented water intrusion into the sensor housing during freezing weather, where moisture trapped inside froze and expanded, damaging the sensor.
When: Typically 30,000–100,000 miles; one owner reported failure at 35,000 miles with the vehicle only 4 years old
Symptoms owners cite: Service airbag warning light illuminates; Airbag system disabled until sensor replaced; Light may come on intermittently or remain constantly lit; No mechanical symptoms affecting truck operation
Codes mentioned: B0104 (front right sensor), Check airbag fault codes (unspecified)
Repairs/costs cited: Sensor replacement $250–$400 at dealer; labor $87–$200 per hour; total repair cost $400–$3,000 depending on facility. Some owners report difficulty getting correct diagnosis; dealers occasionally recommend full airbag replacement when sensor replacement is sufficient. One owner reported self-repair with aftermarket sensor at $90.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: GM customer service denies warranty coverage once vehicle exceeds 100,000 miles or warranty period expires. No recall issued despite widespread complaints. One owner mentions GM issued a TSB for connector corrosion in the left kick panel (cleaning or connector replacement may resolve some cases).
Airbag non-deployment during collision
Multiple owners report airbags failing to deploy during moderate-to-severe crashes (40–65 mph head-on and angular impacts). In some cases, the airbag system light had been illuminated before the crash, indicating a pre-existing sensor fault. In other cases, deployment failure occurred without prior warning light. One crash resulted in fatal injuries; others caused serious head trauma, broken bones, and multiple hospitalizations.
When: Failure mileage ranges from 60,000 to 281,000 miles; no consistent pattern
Symptoms owners cite: Airbags do not deploy during moderate-to-severe frontal impact; Occupants strike dashboard/steering wheel; Service airbag light was on before some crashes, not before others
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicles were totaled or heavily damaged in crashes; none were repaired post-accident. Dealer diagnostic on one vehicle stated sensors were 'too weak to deploy.'
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer notified in several cases but offered no diagnosis or assistance. One case noted 'the manufacturer was not able to diagnose the failure.'
Intermittent airbag warning light and connector issues
Airbag warning light comes on intermittently or remains lit without clear cause. In some cases, dealers report wiring failure for the sensor under the passenger seat or driver-side airbag connection issues. One owner cleaned a corroded connector under the left kick panel (per GM TSB) and the light cleared; it recurred about a year later. Another owner visited a dealer 5 times over 19 days before the issue was resolved.
When: Mileage varies widely; one owner at 50,000 miles, another at 81,000 miles with light on 'for several years'
Symptoms owners cite: Service airbag light illuminates intermittently or constantly; Light may clear after vehicle restart, then return; Noise heard under dashboard before light came on (one report)
Repairs/costs cited: Connector cleaning or replacement per TSB may resolve without full sensor replacement. One owner self-diagnosed a corroded connector, cleaned it, and light cleared; recurrence required recleaning.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: GM issued TSB for connector corrosion. Dealers and independent shops have inconsistent knowledge of this fix; some recommend full airbag/sensor replacement when cleaning would suffice.
Airbag system disabled with no affordable repair path
Owners report the airbag system becomes inoperable due to sensor or connector faults, but repair costs ($250–$850) are prohibitively expensive, especially for used-vehicle owners. Many choose to drive without airbag protection rather than pay the repair bill, creating a safety gap. Owners express frustration that this is a 'known' GM defect affecting thousands of 2003–2011 trucks and SUVs, yet no recall has been issued.
When: Cost-driven decisions occur at any mileage once the sensor fails; owners report the problem is 'common' from low mileage (30k–40k) onward
Symptoms owners cite: Service airbag light on; dealer states airbags will not deploy in a crash; Owner opts not to repair due to cost; Vehicle continues in service with non-functional airbags
Repairs/costs cited: Repair quoted at $250–$850+ at dealers; independent mechanics report similar costs. Aftermarket sensor noted at $90 but availability unclear.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No recall. GM denies warranty claims outside coverage period. Owners report calling GM customer service with no resolution; one owner escalated to CEO level without success.
Synthesized from 78 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 1 most recent
Had airbags trouble with your 2005 Chevrolet Silverado?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the airbags problem on the 2005 Chevrolet Silverado?
It's a serious issue. 78 complaints have been filed, including 17 reports involving a crash and 1 fatality(ies). We've classified it as critical based on NHTSA's reported outcomes.
At what mileage does the airbags typically fail?
Across the 62 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most airbags failures cluster between 49,000 and 120,000 miles, with the median around 77,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 49,000; a quarter make it past 120,000. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $1,100 for airbags repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to airbags?
No active recalls currently cover airbags issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2005/Chevrolet/Silverado.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.