This service bulletin provides information on Takata Air Bag Courtesy Transportation Reimbursement Program - Applicable to GM Recalls listed in bulletin.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2009 GMC Yukon airbags problems
severe 85 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $1,100 · see airbags across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
85
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$1,100
2crashes
5injuries
When does it fail?
Of the 85 airbags complaints filed for the 2009 GMC Yukon, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 25,000-50,000 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
Airbags accounts for 40% of every owner complaint on file for this vehicle — the dominant problem area across 7 categories tracked.
Owners have filed 85 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.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering airbags on this vehicle — documented repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall (it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.
This service bulletin provides information on Takata Air Bag Completion Rate Improvement Program - Applicable to GM Recalls 14491, 14735,15040, 15041, 15043,15044, 15045, 15046, 15406,15438, 15442, 15815, 15816,15817, 15818, 15826, 17009, 17476, 17477, 28810, 28811,17478, 18015, N192273760, N192278940, N212328760, N212328770, N212328780, N212328790, N212328800, N242437050, N242437060, N242437070.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that have an unwanted Stability Activation and/or a Service Stability message on the Driver Information Center. Technician may find a Diagnostic Trouble Code C0710. Technician should inspect for vehicles modifications before any in-depth diagnostics are performed.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that have an intermittent no crank, no start, or start stall concern with the security light coming on. Technician may find Diagnostic Trouble Codes B3055, B3060, and/or B3935. Technician should not replace any parts for this concern. If unable to duplicate the concern ask if the customer uses any Radio Frequency Identification Devices when the concern is present. Dealer should also direct their customers to the appropriate section in the Owner manuals that references that the device complies.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This technical bulletin provides a procedure to complete a terminal replacement or connector re connection to correct a condition of Diagnostic Information for Supplemental Inflatable Restraint (SIR) System, Intermittent AIR BAG Indicator/Lamp Illuminated with DTC(s) B0012, B0013, B0015, B0016, B0019, B0020, B0022, B0023, B0026, B0033, B0040, B0042 or B0044 Set (Inspect and Replace Connector Position Assurance (CPA) Retainer)
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
The 2009 GMC Yukon has two distinct airbag-related problems that owners describe in these complaints.
First, the dashboard cracks spontaneously around airbag openings, particularly on the passenger side. Owners report cracks appearing overnight with no accident or outside trauma, sometimes while vehicles sat garaged. Cracks radiate from airbag cutouts, grow 1–4 inches long, and develop sharp plastic edges. Multiple owners state the crack issue occurs on hundreds or thousands of other 2009 Yukons they found in online forums and Facebook groups. When airbags deploy in a crash, owners worry the sharp cracked plastic will either rupture the airbag itself, prevent proper deployment, or launch plastic shards into occupants. GM dealerships refuse to cover this as a warranty repair and tell owners they must pay $900–$1,200 to replace the entire dashboard.
Second, many vehicles carry outstanding Takata airbag inflator recalls (NHTSA campaigns 16V381000, 21V052000, 21V053000) issued in May 2016, but repair parts have never materialized. Owners report calling dealers repeatedly, being told parts are unavailable, and receiving no timeline for when they'll arrive. Some owners waited four-plus years with no remedy. Two owners reported that when involved in moderate-speed crashes, their airbags failed to deploy entirely, and one had the vehicle scrapped as "unrepairable" due to the unresolved recall. Interim instructions to not place passengers in front seats offer little practical help for families.
Same GMC Yukon airbags reports on nearby years: 2007 · 2008 · 2010 · 2011 · 2012
Failure modes owners describe
Dashboard cracking around airbag openings
Hard plastic dashboard material cracks spontaneously around passenger and driver side airbag cutouts, often spreading over time. Cracks originate from airbag edges and extend toward windshield, instrument cluster, or defogger vents. Owners report cracks appearing overnight or developing progressively while the vehicle was stationary or garaged.
When: Varies widely; some owners reported cracks within 2 weeks to months of purchase; others at 61,000-80,000 miles. Most occurred without accident or external trauma.
Symptoms owners cite: Visible cracks in dashboard radiating from airbag openings; Cracks typically 1-4 inches long; Sharp edges on cracked plastic; Rattling noise from loose dashboard pieces; Progressive widening of cracks over time; Cracks appear to extend toward windshield or ventilation areas
Repairs/costs cited: Owners cite complete dashboard replacement as the only repair option, with costs mentioned around $900-$1200. Dealerships decline to cover as warranty repair; some suggest dash covers as workaround (rejected by owners as unacceptable). Multiple dealers refused to address as safety concern.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: GM customer care told owners it is owner responsibility to replace entire dash. Dealers indicated this is not a covered repair. No recall issued for dashboard cracking itself.
Takata airbag inflator recall—parts unavailability
NHTSA Campaign 16V381000 and related campaigns (21V052000, 21V053000) issued for Takata passenger airbag inflator deterioration. Multiple owners received recall notices but could not obtain repair parts for years after recall issuance. Dealers consistently reported parts unavailable from manufacturer.
When: Recall issued May 27, 2016. Reports of parts unavailability continued through 2018 and beyond, with some owners noting 4+ years elapsed without remedy.
Symptoms owners cite: Recall notification received; Parts unavailable at dealership; Manufacturer unable to provide delivery date for parts; Some vehicles eventually deemed unrepairable (scrapped)
Codes mentioned: NHTSA 16V381000, NHTSA 21V052000, NHTSA 21V053000
Repairs/costs cited: No repair parts available. One owner reported dealership stating it would never be able to repair airbags, decreasing trade-in value by $6,000-$7,000. Another owner had vehicle scrapped due to unrepairable recall status.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA Campaign 16V381000, 21V052000, 21V053000 recall issued for Takata inflator deterioration. Manufacturer (GM) stated remedy was in progress but never delivered parts. Owners instructed 'do not place passenger in seat' or 'disengage airbag' as interim measures.
Airbag non-deployment in crashes
Two owners reported head-on and side-impact collisions at moderate speeds where airbags failed to deploy despite sufficient crash severity. One incident involved steering wheel fracture and vehicle destruction; the other caused rollover of other vehicle. No warning lamps illuminated prior to failures.
When: At crash mileage 69,000 miles (one incident); other incident timing not specified.
Symptoms owners cite: Complete failure to deploy during head-on collision at 40 mph; Complete failure to deploy during side-impact at 35 mph; Steering wheel fractured; No airbag warning light illuminated before crash; Vehicle sustained severe damage
Repairs/costs cited: One vehicle towed to dealer for diagnosis; one vehicle towed to yard (insurance inspection). No repair cost cited because vehicles were total losses.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Related to NHTSA Campaign 16V381000 (Takata inflator recall). One owner had not received recall notification despite VIN being in the campaign. Manufacturer eventually aware of issue but no repair performed.
Service Airbag warning light illumination
Airbag warning light flashes on startup or remains on during normal operation. One owner reported light coming on each engine start; another noted light activation coinciding with dashboard cracking and Takata recall status.
When: Timing variable; one owner reported light activating each startup after recall notification received.
Symptoms owners cite: Service airbag light flashing or illuminated on startup; Light persists during normal driving
Repairs/costs cited: No repair information provided by owners. One owner requested free diagnostic checkup and airbag replacement.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Related to Takata recall campaign. No specific manufacturer guidance provided in narratives.
Synthesized from 85 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 7 most recent
Noticed the dash cracking by the air bag in september 2020 and now is cracking on driver side hump behind steering wheel.
"takata recall" repair still pending...need a fix as takata is filing for bk
2009 GMC yukon xl, 61000 miles. Dash around the airbag and all over the instrument cluster has cracked in multiple places. This vehicle has not been in any accidents and has never been driven off road. It has always been garaged. This is a very common problem with Chevy/GMC trucks. If the airbag deploys there is a very good chance that pieces of the dash will pose a significant hazard to the…
Takata recall. Recall notice was received over a year ago but no remedy is available yet.
Tl* the contact owns a 2009 GMC yukon. The contact received a recall notice for NHTSA campaign number: 16v381000 (air bags). The contact called sisk motor inc (2739 w ferguson rd, mt pleasant, tx 75455, (903) 572-6696) and was informed that the parts were pending and not available. The contact spoke with the manufacturer and was provided with the same information as the dealer. The contact had…
Like the other 9000 people identified on facebook among other forums, the dash on my yukon is cracked. I am concerned about putting my family in this vehicle. This is a product defect. I wouldn't mind spending the money to put a new one in, but I dont have the confidence the new dash will last any longer. Cracking happens right near the passenger airbag and right in front of the drivers…
Noticed huge crack in dash for no apparent reason. Common issue on 2007-2013 vehicles I'm finding out. Concerned with danger of plastic shards causing serious injury if airbags are deployed. Vehicle had never been in accident and has low milage and kept up well. Gm has offered little help. *js
Had airbags trouble with your 2009 GMC Yukon?
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 2009 GMC Yukon?
It's a meaningful issue. 85 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $1,100.
At what mileage does the airbags typically fail?
Across the 38 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most airbags failures cluster between 61,000 and 99,897 miles, with the median around 78,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 61,000; a quarter make it past 99,897. 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/2009/GMC/Yukon.
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.