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2010 Chevrolet Traverse airbags problems
severe
Owners of the 2010 Chevrolet Traverse have filed 26 NHTSA complaints about the airbags at roughly $1,100 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of September 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.See airbags across all vehicles →
General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2010-2015, 2017 Buick Enclave, 2010-2019 Chevrolet Traverse, and 2011-2016 GMC Acadia vehicles
Unsecured side curtain air bags may not perform as intended, increasing the risk of injury.
Fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and, if necessary, realign or replace the weld nuts, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on May 24, 2021. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, and GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is N202321200.
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2008-2013 Buick Enclave and GMC Acadia and 2009-2013 Chevrolet Traverse and 2008-2010 Saturn Outlook vehicles
Failure of the side impact air bags and seat belt pretensioners to deploy in a crash increase the risk of injury to the driver and front seat occupant.
Fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the affected harness connections with soldered connections, free of charge. The recall began on June 16, 2014. Buick owners may contact the owner center at 1-800-521-7300, Chevrolet owners at 1-866-694-6546, Saturn at 1-800-553-6000, and GMC owners at 1-866-996-9463. GM's number for this recall is 14030. Note: Vehicles repaired as part of Customer Satisfaction Campaign 10085 and special coverage 10335 have already had the subject condition repaired and therefore are not included in the safety recall.
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.
Service BulletinPIC5650JJul 2021
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.
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)
This informational bulletin provides Information on Passenger Presence Sensing System (PPS or PSS) Concerns with Custom Upholstery, Accessory Seat Heaters or Other Comfort Enhancing Devices
15536 - SPECIAL COVERAGE. CERTAIN 2008 2013 BUICK ENCLAVE, 2008-2013 GMC ACADIA, 2008-2010 SATURN OUTLOOK, AND 2009-2013 CHEVROLET TRAVERSE VEHICLES WERE RECALLED TO ADDRESS CORROSION AND/OR LOOSE CRIMPS IN THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER-SEAT MOUNTED SIDE-IMPACT AIRBAG (SIAB) WIRING-HARNESS CONNECTORS, WHICH COULD CAUSE AN INCREASE IN RESISTANCE THAT MAY DISABLE THE SIAB, FRONT-CENTER AIRBAG, IF EQUIPPED, AND SEAT-BELT PRETENSIONERS. GM HAS RECEIVED REPORTS THAT, IN SOME CASES, THE REQUIRED REPAIR MAY HAVE BEEN INCORRECTLY PERFORMED BY THE DEALER SERVICE TECHNICIAN. THE GM RECALL NUMBER WAS N14030 (GFPE NUMBER N-140030) NHTSA RECALL 14V118. DEALERS ARE TO REMOVE THE SECTION OF THE WIRE WITH THE
BUICK/GMC/SATURN/CHEVROLET: TSB CONTAINS AN OWNER'S NOTIFICATION LETTER. SELECT DOCUMENT SEARCH BUTTON BELOW. SOME VEHICLES ARE EXPERIENCING, ON DRIVER AND PASSENGER SEAT MOUNTED SIDE IMPACT AIRBAG (SIAB) WIRING HARNESS CONNECTORS, LOOSE OR CORRODED CRIMPS, THAT IS CAUSING RESISTANCE THAT CAN DISABLE FRONT CENTER AIRBAG AND SEAT BELT PRETENSIONERS. MODEL 2008-13 ENCLAVE, OUTLOOK, TRAVERSE, ACADIA.
Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
Owners report three distinct categories of failure in the 2010 Traverse airbag system. The most serious: airbags did not deploy during actual crashes where impact was significant enough to total the vehicle or cause fractures and head trauma. One owner was struck from behind at a traffic light while also being pushed into the vehicle ahead; another was hit head-on while turning into a parking lot at 30 mph; a third suffered a crushed driver's door from a side impact. In all cases, no airbag protection occurred during crashes that caused owner injuries and vehicle destruction.
Opposite problem: airbags deployed without any crash. Side curtain airbags fired while the vehicle sat idle at a traffic light, during a routine highway merge, and when the vehicle slid off the road with zero impact or damage. One owner hit a deer with no car damage; only the steering wheel and passenger dash airbags deployed.
Chronic warning light issues plague many examples. Owners report airbag lights that stay on constantly or flicker intermittently starting around 37,500 miles and persisting through 79,000+ miles. Dealership diagnostics cleared codes or blamed loose connectors, but lights reappeared the next day or immediately. Manufacturer campaigns (14V118000, 15536) do not cover all VINs, and recall parts are reportedly unavailable. Seat belt lockup and failure to retract after deployment added injury risk in at least two cases.
Same Chevrolet Traverse airbags reports on nearby years: 2009 · 2011 · 2012 · 2013
Failure modes owners describe
Airbag fails to deploy in impact
Frontal and side airbags did not deploy during vehicle crashes with significant impact force, resulting in owner injuries and vehicle destruction.
When: During crash events; mileage range 60,000–103,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: No airbag deployment during frontal collision; No side airbag deployment during side-impact collision; Owner injuries including head trauma, chest/back injuries, and fractures
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicles were totaled and towed to salvage; no repairs documented
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA Campaign 14V118000 (airbags) applicable to some but not all affected vehicles
Airbag warning light illuminates intermittently or constantly
Airbag/service airbag warning light on dashboard illuminates and stays on or comes on intermittently without clear cause or deployment event.
When: Light onset between 37,500–79,000 miles; some cases at startup
Symptoms owners cite: Airbag warning light on continuously or intermittently; Service airbag message displayed; Light does not clear or recurs after dealership diagnostic attempts
Codes mentioned:Check engine light (concurrent in one case)
Repairs/costs cited: Dealership diagnostics unable to identify root cause in some cases; connector under driver's seat suspected in one case; one owner charged over $100 for diagnosis of loose cable that reoccurred; some recalls have unavailable parts
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA Campaign 15536 may apply but not to all VINs; manufacturer pending investigation in at least one case; recall parts unavailable per some owners
Airbag deploys without impact or minimal/no collision
Side curtain or frontal airbags deploy spontaneously while vehicle is idle, during normal driving, or in low-impact/non-impact events such as sliding off road.
When: At traffic light (idle), during highway merge at 55–60 mph, during low-speed slide; mileage 26,000–167,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Side curtain airbags deploy while stationary at traffic light; Both side curtain airbags deploy during highway lane merge without collision; Side airbags deploy when vehicle slides off road with no impact or damage; Airbags deploy on low-speed collision (hitting deer; only steering wheel and passenger dash deployed)
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicle in one case still awaiting diagnostic results; no repairs completed in others
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: VIN in one case included in NHTSA Campaign 14V118000; others not diagnosed
Passenger seat airbag warning light stays on
Passenger side airbag warning light remains illuminated; dealer advised replacement of passenger side airbag module.
When: 69,999 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Passenger side airbag warning light constantly illuminated
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer advised passenger side airbag module replacement required; vehicle not repaired
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Vehicle not included in NHTSA Campaign 14V118000; manufacturer notified
Airbag light comes on and off intermittently when passenger sits in front passenger seat or when they get out; dealership cleared loose cable but issue recurred.
When: Multiple years of occurrence
Symptoms owners cite: Airbag light comes on when passenger sits in front passenger seat; Light goes off when passenger leaves seat; Issue intermittent and does not reproduce reliably during dealer inspection
Repairs/costs cited: Dealership charged over $100 to diagnose; identified and attempted fix of loose cable; issue reoccurred the next day
Seat belt fails to function properly with airbag deployment
Seat belt mechanisms lock or malfunction when airbags deploy; one owner reported serious chest bruising from seat belt lockup during airbag deployment; another reported seat belts failed to prevent head contact with windshield or locked up after airbag deployment.
When: At time of airbag deployment events
Symptoms owners cite: Seat belt locks up during airbag deployment causing serious chest bruising; Front driver and passenger seat belt locking mechanisms will not retract after deployment; Seat belt failed to prevent driver's head from hitting windshield during collision
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA Campaign 14V266000 and 10V375000 (seat belts) apply to some vehicles; parts unavailable per recall notices
Vehicle stall concurrent with airbag sensor issues
Vehicle stalled at low speed while airbag sensor warning was illuminated; engine may need replacement per dealer assessment.
When: 54,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle stalls while traveling at 35 mph; Airbag sensor illuminated prior to stall event; Vehicle stalls sporadically during acceleration
Repairs/costs cited: Technician indicated engine may need replacement; further diagnosis required
Synthesized from 26 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer
allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting
1 most recent
airbags
· filed 12/28/2016
Tl* the contact owns a 2010 Chevrolet traverse. While driving various speeds, the check engine warning indicator illuminated. The failure recurred intermittently. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the air bag system failed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 79,000.
Had airbags trouble with your 2010 Chevrolet Traverse?
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 2010 Chevrolet Traverse?
It's a meaningful issue. 26 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?
Mileage data is limited for this issue. Owners report failures across a wide range, suggesting cause is more about driving conditions and maintenance than mileage alone.
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?
Yes — 2 active recall(s) cover airbags issues on this vehicle. Recall fixes are always free regardless of mileage or warranty status. Use the VIN decoder at the top of the page to check if your specific vehicle is affected.
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/2010/Chevrolet/Traverse.
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.