Tl* the contact owns a 2015 Chevrolet silverado 1500. The contact stated that while driving approximately 25 MPH, the driver lost control of the vehicle and collided head on with a tree limb. During the incident, the roll sensors were activated causing both the driver and passenger side curtain air bags to erroneously deploy. No police report was taken. No injuries were reported. The manufacturer…
2015 Chevrolet Silverado airbags problems
severe 67 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $1,100 · see airbags across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
67
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$1,100
21crashes
23injuries
When does it fail?
Of the 67 airbags complaints filed for the 2015 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
Owners have filed 67 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 9 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
The failure pattern owners describe
The 2015 Silverado airbag complaints break into clear patterns. The most common issue is the airbag warning light tied to code B0081 in the passenger presence module—it triggers sporadically with no occupant in the seat, and GM dealerships can only apply dielectric grease and attempt a module relearn; the permanent fix (module replacement) sits blocked by parts unavailability in the U.S. market. When that warning is on, owners report being told no airbags will function.
A second group of owners experienced complete failure to deploy during high-impact collisions—T-bones, rear-end hits pushing them into a minivan, head-on crashes. These vehicles were included in recall 16V651000 for an airbag sensor software defect, yet owners either never got recall notices or the crashes happened before they could get the repair done. Several sustained serious injuries: broken ribs, spinal damage, internal bleeding.
The opposite problem also appears: airbags deploying on non-events. Owners report curtain and front airbags firing while hitting a small bump on a dirt road at 14–40 mph, or even while parked with the engine running. One happened post-recall repair. These link to NHTSA Campaign 21V504000 (Takata inflator defect in roof-rail airbags), which has been stalled by parts unavailability for months or over a year.
Seatbelts fail in tandem: they don't engage during collisions and lock permanently after erroneous airbag deployments, leaving occupants unable to release.
Same Chevrolet Silverado airbags reports on nearby years: 2012 · 2013 · 2014 · 2016 · 2017
Failure modes owners describe
Airbag warning light with passenger presence module malfunction
Airbag warning light appears intermittently during normal driving, often with no passenger in the seat. Diagnostic scans reveal code B0081, pointing to passenger presence module fault. Dealer attempts to clear the code and apply dielectric grease to connectors, but the light returns. Module replacement is the recommended repair, but GM reported parts unavailable in the U.S. market. Service advisors state that when the warning light is on, no airbags will function.
When: 38,500 miles; 5089 miles (new purchase); 66,500 miles; 58,380 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Airbag warning light appearing and disappearing intermittently; Warning light triggered with empty passenger seat; Audible warning dings without visible warning lights; No other warning signs prior to failure
Codes mentioned: B0081, B0081-00, B1000
Repairs/costs cited: Passenger presence module replacement recommended; parts unavailable in U.S. Dealer applied dielectric grease to connector and temporarily removed power to module to force relearning. Replacement cost cited as $967.70.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: GM assigned senior advisor to case; module relearning attempted; parts not available in U.S. market
Airbags fail to deploy in frontal collisions
In multiple collision scenarios—front-impact, rear-impact, and side-impact crashes with sufficient force to total the vehicle—front airbags did not deploy. Owners sustained injuries ranging from broken ribs and lacerations to spinal damage and internal injuries. No warning lights were present before the collision. Vehicles were included in recall 16V651000 (airbag sensor software defect) but owners either did not receive notice or the failure occurred before repair.
When: 1,000 miles; 14,000 miles; 62,000 miles; varying mileages
Symptoms owners cite: Complete absence of airbag deployment during high-impact collision; No warning light illuminated before collision; Cab filled with white powder-like smoke but no airbag deployment; Severe injury to occupants; Vehicle declared total loss
Codes mentioned: 16V651000 (airbag sensor software defect)
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicles totaled; no repairs performed. GM investigation on one vehicle concluded airbags functioned properly despite non-deployment.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA Campaign 16V651000 issued for airbag sensor software defect; owner states no recall notice received; GM investigation contradicted non-deployment evidence
Erroneous airbag deployment on low-impact or non-collision events
Airbags deploy without collision or with minimal impact—hitting a small bump on a dirt/gravel road, traveling on a paved roadway with no contact, parked vehicle with power on, or avoidance maneuvers with no impact. Deployments caused loss of vehicle control, run-off-road incidents, and injury to occupants. Some occurred after recall repair was completed. Dealers sometimes attributed deployment to rough road conditions.
When: 5,089 miles (new purchase); 9,300 miles; 14 mph on gravel; 25,000 miles; 40 mph dirt road; low/unknown speeds; 100,000 miles; parked
Symptoms owners cite: Side curtain and/or front airbags deploy without collision; Deployment triggered by small road bump or rough terrain; Deployment while parked; No warning light before deployment; Sudden loss of vehicle control leading to off-road crash; Roll sensors falsely activated; Seatbelts permanently locked after deployment
Codes mentioned: 21V504000 (Takata recall for roof-rail airbag inflator defect)
Repairs/costs cited: One vehicle: warranty voided by GM third-party evaluator due to aftermarket 4-inch lift kit, despite no documentation linking kit to deployment. Seatbelts rendered inoperable and locked. Interior panels and headliner damaged. Owner disputes the causal link.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA Campaign 21V504000 (Takata inflator defect) issued; GM denied warranty claim on lifted vehicle; one vehicle repaired after one year; GM stated vehicle functioned as designed on rough road incident; one post-recall deployment occurred
Delayed recall repair due to parts unavailability
Owners received recall notification for NHTSA Campaign 21V504000 (roof-rail airbag inflators, Takata defect) but dealers confirmed parts were not available. Manufacturer exceeded reasonable timeframe for repair. Multiple owners report being unable to schedule repair and express concern about driving vehicle with known defect. No actual failures reported in these cases, but owners feel at risk.
When: Recall received in 2021; no actual failure mileages reported
Symptoms owners cite: Recall notification received; Parts unavailable at local dealer; Manufacturer provides no firm timeline for parts availability; Owners unable to schedule repair; Concern about driving vehicle with known defect
Codes mentioned: 21V504000 (Takata roof-rail airbag inflator)
Repairs/costs cited: No repairs completed. Multiple dealers and other dealers confirm parts unavailable. One owner reports vehicle was eventually repaired after approximately one year.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA Campaign 21V504000; GM notified of issue; manufacturer provided no alternate dealers or firm timeline; case opened but no further assistance provided
Seatbelt failure accompanying airbag non-deployment
In collision events where airbags failed to deploy, front shoulder seatbelts also failed to engage or retract properly. One seatbelt seized in the fully extended position and could not be retracted. Another was locked permanently tight after an erroneous airbag deployment. Owners sustained injuries partly attributed to seatbelt failure.
When: 6 weeks old; 268,000 miles; during erroneous deployment events
Symptoms owners cite: Shoulder seatbelt fails to engage during collision; Seatbelt remains fully extended and will not retract; Seatbelt locks permanently tight (guitar string tight) after airbag deployment; Both front seatbelts contain small charge that permanently locks them; Occupant unable to release from locked seatbelt without tools
Codes mentioned: 16V651000 (includes seat belt component)
Repairs/costs cited: One owner had to use a large screwdriver to beat the seatbelt release to unlock it. Seatbelts rendered unusable after airbag deployment.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA Campaign 16V651000 covers both airbags and seatbelts; State Farm investigating vehicle as total loss
Synthesized from 67 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 3 most recent
The contact owns a 2015 Chevrolet Silverado 1500. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V504000 (Air Bags) however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The local dealer was contacted, and it was confirmed that the part was not available. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was…
The contact owns a 2015 Chevrolet Silverado. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V504000(Air Bags) and would like to be removed from the recall distribution list. The local dealer and manufacturer were contacted.
Had airbags trouble with your 2015 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 2015 Chevrolet Silverado?
It's a meaningful issue. 67 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 24 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most airbags failures cluster between 14,000 and 67,000 miles, with the median around 38,500. A quarter of owners report trouble before 14,000; a quarter make it past 67,000. 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/2015/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.