This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that have a Diagnostic Trouble Code B0081 in the Sensing and Diagnostic Module and Passenger Presence Sensor modules. Technician should inspect the Sensing and Diagnostic Module and Passenger Presence Sensor powers, grounds, and communication circuits at all in line connectors for fully seated, backed out terminals, and proper terminal tension using the correct test probes.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2011 Chevrolet Silverado airbags problems
critical 312 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $1,100 · see airbags across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
312
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$1,100
19crashes
33injuries
1fatality
When does it fail?
Of the 312 airbags complaints filed for the 2011 Chevrolet Silverado, 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 49% of every owner complaint on file for this vehicle — the dominant problem area across 11 categories tracked.
Owners have filed 312 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 Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that have a Diagnostic Trouble Code B0081 in the Sensing and Diagnostic Module and Passenger Presence Sensor modules. Technician should inspect the Sensing and Diagnostic Module and Passenger Presence Sensor powers, grounds, and communication circuits at all in line connectors for fully seated, backed out terminals, and proper terminal tension using the correct test probes.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗GM: AIR BAG WARNING LAMP ILLUMINATED, REPEAT HISTORY DTC B0083 0F- B0088 0F ON VEHICLES OPERATED IN AMARILLO TEXAS AREA. AN UPDATED SOFTWARE CALIBRATION HAS BEEN RELEASED TO ADDRESS THIS CONDITION. ALSO INCLUDED IN MODELS YEARS 2010-2012 MODEL:CADILLAC ESCALADE HYBRID; CHEVROLET SILVERADO HYBRID; CHEVROLET TAHOE HYBRID;GMC SIERRA DENALI; GMC SIERRA HYBRID;GMC YUKON HYBRID; GMC YUKON DENALI HYBRID.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗GM: THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT IS ON WITH STORED TROUBLE CODES DUE TO AN ELECTRO-MAGNETIC INTERFERENCE IN THE AMARILLO, TEXAS AREA. UPDATED 6/24/11. UPDATED 3/12/12.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗CHEVROLET/GMC: SEE DOCUMENT SEARCH BUTTON FOR OWNER LETTER. ON CERTAIN MODEL VEHICLES, A CONDITION WHERE ROOF RAIL AIRBAGS, MAY BEEN IMPROPERLY ROUTED ON RIGHT SIDE, RESULTING IN DEPLOYMENT.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
Owners of 2011 Chevrolet Silverado 1500s with Takata airbags describe two main problems. The most widespread complaint is unavailability of recall repair parts. Across dozens of reports, owners received recall notices (NHTSA 16V381000 or 21V050000/21V054000) but when they took trucks to dealers, parts were listed as unavailable or on backorder—a situation that persisted for years in many cases. Owners report being told repeatedly they would be contacted when parts arrived, only to face continued runarounds, lost appointment records, and refusals to service the vehicle.
The second failure mode involves the dashboard cracking around the passenger airbag area, with hairline fractures or complete busting of the dash panel. Owners report this began within the first 16,000–18,000 miles on new trucks. Dealers initially denied warranty coverage, claiming the dash "was made that way," then later demanded out-of-pocket replacement costs running into hundreds of dollars after the warranty expired.
In three confirmed crash events, airbags failed to deploy entirely when front-end collisions occurred. One owner reported curtain airbags deploying without warning while driving at 55 mph; their son died the following day. Owners also reported illuminated airbag warning lights persisting for years despite dealer visits, and service managers installing replacement airbags without owner consent, leaving vehicles with unresolved fault codes.
Same Chevrolet Silverado airbags reports on nearby years: 2008 · 2009 · 2010 · 2012 · 2013
Failure modes owners describe
Takata Airbag Inflator Recall—Parts Unavailable
Owners received NHTSA recall notices (16V381000, 21V050000, 21V054000) for defective Takata airbag inflators but dealers consistently reported parts unavailable for repair. This condition persisted across multiple years and repeated dealer visits. Multiple owners state manufacturers failed to provide timeline or remedy.
When: 2015–2018, most commonly reported 3–5 years after initial recall notice
Symptoms owners cite: Recall notice received but parts unavailable when scheduling repair; Repeated promises to call when parts arrive, calls never placed; Dealer records show no vehicle history despite prior service visits; Manufacturer unable to confirm availability timeline
Codes mentioned: NHTSA 16V381000, NHTSA 21V050000, NHTSA 21V054000, GM Recall #2049151
Repairs/costs cited: Free recall repair promised but could not be completed due to parts unavailability. Owners report no parts supplied to dealers for years. In some cases VIN tool confirms parts not available.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Recall issued by GM/Takata. GM stated vehicles currently safe to drive pending remedy availability. Takata filed Chapter 11 bankruptcy November 2017. GM and Takata engaged in ongoing litigation over responsibility. No final resolution offered owners during reported timeframe.
Dashboard Cracking Around Passenger Airbag
Passenger side dashboard panel cracks or busts, typically at the airbag seam. Starts as hairline fractures and progresses. Occurs early in vehicle life. Owners report Takata airbag inflator defect may relate to structural integrity issue.
When: Within 16,000–18,000 miles on new trucks; condition worsens over years
Symptoms owners cite: Hairline cracks appearing in dash panel upper left of passenger airbag; Dash panel lifting or busting at the airbag seam; Progressive cracking that worsens over time; Cracking visible when vehicle new or near new
Repairs/costs cited: Dash panel replacement required. Dealers initially denied warranty coverage. After warranty expiration, GM offered partial reimbursement ($590 cited in one complaint) but refused full coverage. Full replacement cost not stated by owners.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Initial denial under warranty (dealers claimed dash 'made that way'). Later acknowledgment of issue with partial reimbursement offer ($590). Owners report GM has not issued formal recall for cracked dash; one Facebook group cited with several thousand members documenting same problem. Issue noted as related to 07–13 GM trucks.
Airbag Warning Light Illumination (Persistent)
Service airbag warning light and/or airbag indicator light remains illuminated on dashboard. Reports span several years without resolution. Light comes on and off erratically in some cases. Associated with recall parts unavailability or failed dealer repair attempts.
When: 2015 onward; some cases running 3–4+ years unresolved
Symptoms owners cite: Service airbag light continuously or intermittently illuminated; Airbag indicator light on and off at will; Light remains lit even after dealer visits; OnStar vehicle diagnostics show active fault codes
Codes mentioned: Service Airbag System message, Airbag indicator illumination
Repairs/costs cited: Attempted repairs by installing replacement airbag inflators did not resolve light in at least one case. Sensor system reprogramming performed at independent shop without success. Dealer diagnostic noted but no solution offered.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No formal diagnostic or repair protocol provided to dealers. One owner reported recall-related inflator replacement installed without consent, creating unresolved fault state. Dealers unable to clear codes without parts availability.
Airbag Deployment Failure in Crash
Front airbags failed to deploy during front-end collision events. Owners involved in crashes (T-bone, head-on, wildlife impact) report no airbag activation despite severe damage and occupant injury. One case resulted in fatality.
When: At crash time; mileage 83,000–145,282 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Front end severely damaged in collision; No airbag deployment despite impact; Occupant injuries (whiplash, bruising, neck injury, torso injury) without restraint protection; Airbag warning light illuminated prior to crash in one case
Codes mentioned: NHTSA 16V381000, NHTSA 21V050000
Repairs/costs cited: One vehicle taken to independent shop; rims, grille, tires, headlight capsule replaced; airbag sensor system reprogrammed without resolving failure. Second vehicle required front seat and door repairs; airbag failure not diagnosed. Third vehicle (fatal case) towed to dealer, no repair attempted.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer not notified in most cases. Recall notice issued after crash in one instance. No determination of cause provided to owners. One crash resulted in child passenger whiplash/bruising; medical treatment received but no liability clarification from GM.
Unplanned Airbag Deployment (Curtain Airbags)
Curtain side airbags deployed without warning while vehicle traveling at highway speed. No collision or impact event triggered deployment. Occupant struck in head by deploying airbag.
When: While driving 55 mph; mileage 145,282
Symptoms owners cite: Curtain airbags deploy without external impact; Occupant reports airbag struck him on side of head; No warning or sensor indication prior to deployment
Codes mentioned: NHTSA 21V050000
Repairs/costs cited: None recorded. Occupant did not seek medical attention immediately but died the day after failure. Autopsy pending; cause of death not attributed to airbag by owner report.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Recall notice received by owner after failure. Dealer and manufacturer not made aware of deployment failure before death.
Synthesized from 312 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 12 most recent
Takata Recall. The contact owns a 2011 Chevrolet Silverado 1500. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V054000 (Air Bags) however, the part to the recall repair was unavailable. A dealer was not contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not…
Takata recall... I called the dealer about the recall. The service department said there is no replacement available at the time, gm will call when there is a replacement. What do we do in the mean time? Do we wait until something happens and then sue gm? I am curious because I don't want a loved one getting hurt or killed before the airbag is replaced.
Tl* takata recall. The contact owns a 2011 Chevrolet silverado 1500. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 16v381000 (air bags); however, the parts to do the repair were unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer was contacted at 800-222-1020 and stated that…
"takata recall". I contacted my dealership, vaden Chevrolet in savannah, ga on several occasions and they have failed to replace my takata airbag. They said there are no replacement parts available.
The dash has cracked at the passenger airbag and above the instrument cluster. May interfere with operation of airbag and become flying debris in an accident.
Large crack on upper left hand side of passenger side airbag dashboard. Truck used on hard surface roads. Truck is parked in garage. Crack showed up without malice. Concerned about possible dashboard shattering if and when airbag is deployed in the event of a collision causing harm to driver/passengers.
"takata recall" the dealership will not fix the airbag.
All 4 doors are rusting on the bottom edge (round seam). Cracks on dash on passenger and driver side starting from air bag and cracking outward. Oil pressure runs low and uses 1 quart of oil every 1500 - 2000 miles
Chevrolet does not have replacement airbags for 2011 chey silverado, despite the recall. Need information on how to find replacements asap.
Tl* takata recall. The contact owns a 2011 Chevrolet silverado 1500. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 16v381000 (air bags); however, the part to do the repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not notified. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms…
Had airbags trouble with your 2011 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 2011 Chevrolet Silverado?
It's a serious issue. 312 complaints have been filed, including 19 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 99 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most airbags failures cluster between 43,300 and 115,000 miles, with the median around 70,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 43,300; a quarter make it past 115,000. 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/2011/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.