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 ↗2013 GMC Sierra airbags problems
severe 41 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $1,100 · see airbags across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
41
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$1,100
4crashes
7injuries
When does it fail?
Of the 41 airbags complaints filed for the 2013 GMC Sierra, 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
Owners have filed 41 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.
Airbags accounts for 25% of all owner complaints filed against this vehicle, across 10 categories tracked.
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.
Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
The 2013 GMC Sierra has generated 41 complaints centered on airbag defects and related issues. The dominant pattern is a Takata inflator recall (Campaigns 21V053000 and 21V054000) where owners received notifications starting in 2016 but dealers still lack replacement parts years later—many have never received a completion notice or follow-up. Owners also report airbags deploying without impact at highway speed (causing facial injuries) and critically, complete failure to deploy in serious collisions (40–67 mph impacts with severe vehicle damage), leaving occupants unprotected and injured.
A widespread secondary issue is spontaneous dashboard cracking around airbag compartments, occurring as early as 29,000 miles on garage-kept vehicles, with no apparent cause. Owners cite safety concerns that cracked plastic will shatter and become projectiles if an airbag deploys. Warranty denials apply once the vehicle exceeds 36 months or 36,000 miles. One owner with a single-cab truck has no safe place to install a child car seat without exposing the child to an active passenger airbag, and GM refused to install a disable switch. Lastly, some owners report dashboard damage inflicted during recall repair work, with GM disclaiming responsibility via dealer letters.
Same GMC Sierra airbags reports on nearby years: 2010 · 2011 · 2014 · 2015
Failure modes owners describe
Takata Airbag Inflator Defect – Delayed Repair Parts Availability
Owners received Takata recall notifications (Campaigns 21V053000 and 21V054000) for defective passenger and driver airbag inflators prone to environmental degradation and potential metal-fragment deployment, but repair parts remain unavailable months or years after notice. Owners report being told by dealers that parts are not yet available and manufacturers stating they will notify owners when parts arrive, with no follow-up.
When: Recalls issued 2016–2021; owners waited months to years without part availability
Symptoms owners cite: Recall notification received but parts unavailable at dealer; Manufacturer advises to wait for parts notification; No repair completed despite recall notice
Codes mentioned: NHTSA Campaign 21V053000, NHTSA Campaign 21V054000
Repairs/costs cited: No repairs completed due to unavailable inflator assemblies; owners cite court proceedings delaying GM responsibility decisions
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA Campaign 21V053000 (Air Bags); NHTSA Campaign 21V054000 (Air Bags); GM issued recall notifications but advised owners parts not available; one dealer mentioned court proceedings delaying cost/responsibility determination
Airbag Inadvertent Deployment
Airbags deployed without any impact or collision. One case involved both driver and passenger airbags deploying while driving at highway speed; another involved all three airbags deploying at low speed. Owners sustained injuries (facial trauma, blurred vision, lockup of seat belts).
When: One failure at approximately 115,000 miles; one at unknown mileage during 70 mph driving
Symptoms owners cite: Driver and passenger airbags deployed without warning or impact; All airbags deployed without collision at 30–35 mph; Facial injuries and blurred vision reported
Codes mentioned: Takata defect
Repairs/costs cited: Takata inflator assembly failure; one vehicle not diagnosed or repaired; one GM engineer indicated parts failure after inspection
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: GM engineer inspected and indicated parts failure; no recall or TSB cited; vehicle not repaired
Airbag Failure to Deploy in Severe Crashes
Owners involved in high-impact collisions (40–67 mph crashes with multiple vehicle impacts or strikes) reported that airbags did not deploy. Vehicles sustained severe structural damage (crumpled front end, destroyed frame, $20,000+ in damages) yet airbags remained inactive. Owners sustained injuries including head lacerations, bruising, unconsciousness, and vehicle destruction.
When: Failures at 33,010 miles, 97,000 miles, 100,000 miles, and unknown mileage
Symptoms owners cite: No airbag deployment during 40 mph six-vehicle collision; No airbag deployment during 67 mph rear-passenger side impact; No airbag deployment during 47 mph mountain swerve with tree/boulder impacts; Vehicle extensively damaged but airbags inactive
Codes mentioned: Takata defect (presumed), Deployment sensor/circuit malfunction (inferred)
Repairs/costs cited: One vehicle required front-end and quarter-panel replacement; not repaired by owner; one vehicle destroyed and towed; one damaged $20,000 with installed grill guard (owner stated grill guard should not affect airbag deployment)
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: GM stated airbags 'operated as designed' in one case; manufacturer notified in others but no repair documented; no TSB or recall specific to non-deployment
Dashboard Cracking Around Airbag Compartments
Owners report spontaneous cracking of the dashboard, particularly around passenger and driver airbag compartments, with no known cause and no accident or misuse. Cracks appear early in vehicle life (as early as 29,000–42,000 miles) on vehicles stored in climate-controlled garages and carefully maintained. Owners cite safety concern that cracked dashboard material could splinter and become projectiles if airbags deploy.
When: Cracks reported between 29,000 and 70,000 miles; one owner noted only 6,000 miles out of warranty
Symptoms owners cite: Cracks in dashboard above steering wheel; Cracks adjacent to passenger airbag compartment; Cracks in upper dash area spanning from driver to passenger side; Spontaneous cracking without impact or thermal shock
Codes mentioned: Dashboard material defect
Repairs/costs cited: Owners denied warranty replacement under 36-month/36,000-mile warranty if over limit; dealers declined to replace during airbag recall service; one owner cited dealer refusal to align cracked pieces properly during airbag recall work; replacement cost estimates $300 and up; full dashboard replacement required per one owner
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: GM customer service stated cracks are 'not a safety issue while driving' and denied warranty coverage once vehicle exceeded 36-month/36,000-mile threshold; no recall issued for dashboard defect; one dealership provided letter stating dealer and manufacturer not responsible for dashboard damage incurred during recall repair
Airbag Warning Light Illumination Post-Recall Repair
After completing Takata airbag recall repair (Campaign 21V054000), the airbag warning light illuminated, indicating a system malfunction. Vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired.
When: Failure occurred after recall repair completed February 25, 2021; unknown mileage
Symptoms owners cite: Airbag warning light illuminated after recall service; No previous warning light reported before recall
Codes mentioned: Airbag system fault (driver attention required lamp)
Repairs/costs cited: No diagnosis or repair attempted; dealer not contacted by owner
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No manufacturer response documented
Passenger Airbag Incompatibility with Child Car Seats – No Disable Option
Owner with single-cab truck (no rear bench seat) has LATCH anchors on passenger seat designed for child car seats, but no airbag-disable switch or mechanism to deactivate passenger airbag when child is in seat. NHTSA guidelines and manual warn against placing car seat in front passenger seat, yet the vehicle's design forces the choice between violating safety guidance or having no safe place for a child. Owner declined by GM to install a disable switch even at owner's expense, citing liability concerns.
When: Safety concern identified at time of vehicle use with grandchild; vehicle age not specified
Symptoms owners cite: Passenger airbag cannot be disabled while child car seat is occupied; Vehicle equipped with LATCH anchors on passenger seat; Single-cab design (no rear seat option for child restraint)
Repairs/costs cited: GM refused to install airbag-disable switch; owner completed federal liability waiver form
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: GM directed owner to place car seat in rear seat; when owner stated no rear seat exists, GM offered no alternative solution; refused to install disable switch at owner's expense citing liability; GM acknowledges LATCH anchors and passenger-seat design but provides no reconciliation with airbag safety risk
Dashboard Damage During Takata Airbag Recall Repair
During airbag recall service (Campaign 21V054000), the dealer cracked the passenger-side dashboard while removing/replacing the airbag. In one case, the crack was clearly visible after service; in another case, pieces did not align properly after reinstallation. Dealer and manufacturer refused responsibility for damage, citing a letter from the manufacturer stating neither party is liable for damage incurred during recall repair.
When: Damage discovered immediately after recall repair service; one at approximately 70,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Crack appeared on passenger dashboard after airbag replacement; Poor alignment of dashboard pieces after reinstallation
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer declined to repair dashboard damage; one dealer provided manufacturer letter absolving both dealer and manufacturer of responsibility; owner feels vehicle is now unsafe
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: GM provided letter to dealer stating neither manufacturer nor dealer responsible for dashboard damage during recall repair
Persistent Airbag Warning Light – No Diagnosis or Repair
Airbag indicator light remained illuminated for at least two years. Vehicle was taken to dealer but not diagnosed or repaired.
When: At 120,000 miles; persistent for at least 2 years
Symptoms owners cite: Airbag indicator lamp remained illuminated continuously
Codes mentioned: Airbag system fault indicator
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicle taken to Vince Webb Cadillac of Pensacola but not diagnosed or repaired
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No manufacturer contact documented
Synthesized from 41 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 4 most recent
Tl* the contact owns a 2013 GMC sierra 1500. The contact stated that the air bag indicator remained illuminated for at least two years. The vehicle was taken to vince webb Cadillac of pensacola (5651 pensacola blvd, pensacola, fl 32505, (850) 912-9372), but was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified. The failure mileage was 120,000.
The dashboard has severe cracks in front of the driver above the instrument panel and also around the passenger airbag. These cracks are resulting from a poor design and not from any accident or misuse. This is a well known issue with this vintage of truck and has affected many owners. This is a safety concern because in the event of a accident that deploys the airbags, the manufacturers…
Installing a child restraint system on the passenger side of truck. If the airbag went off it would injure or kill the child. The vehicle is equipped to hook up a car seat. There is no device to turn off the airbag when a child is in their seat. Nobody mentioned this when purchasing this vehicle that you should not install a car seat. Went to michigan state police car seat expert and the sarge…
I received a recall notice in july 2016, I inquired at the dealership about having the recall done. I was told that they do not have the parts during my first inquiry. On my 2nd inquiry, I was told that gm was awaiting court proceedings to be resolved regarding gm's responsibility and/or cost. Since then to date, my dashboard at the area of the passenger airbag has cracked and I still have not…
Had airbags trouble with your 2013 GMC Sierra?
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 2013 GMC Sierra?
It's a meaningful issue. 41 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 22 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most airbags failures cluster between 42,053 and 97,000 miles, with the median around 60,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 42,053; a quarter make it past 97,000. 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/2013/GMC/Sierra.
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.