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 ↗2015 GMC Acadia airbags problems
moderate Owners of the 2015 GMC Acadia have filed 104 NHTSA complaints about the airbags, typically surfacing around 108,284 miles at roughly $1,100 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See airbags across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
104
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$1,100
| Model year | airbags complaints |
|---|---|
| 2011 Acadia | 21 |
| 2012 Acadia | 29 |
| 2013 Acadia | 26 |
| 2014 Acadia | 226 |
| 2015 Acadia (this page) | 104 |
| 2016 Acadia | 129 |
| 2017 Acadia | 71 |
| 2019 Acadia | 3 |
4crashes
1injury
What stands out
Airbags accounts for 40% of every owner complaint on file for this vehicle — the dominant problem area across 10 categories tracked.
Owners have filed 104 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 informational bulletin provides information on the inboard seat airbag is mounted in this area and creates a slightly different contour of the seat causing an appearance concern, and that this should be considered normal and no parts should be replaced for this concern.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This informational bulletin provides information on Passenger Presence System (PPS) May Command Seat Belt Reminder Chime and Passenger Airbag Indicator On or Set DTC B101D When Electronic Devices or Conductive Objects are Placed on Front Passenger Seat
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗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
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗BUICK/GMC/CHEVROLET: A MESSAGE IS DISPLAYED IN DRIVER INFORMATION CENTER (DIC), SERVICE AIR BAG, AND AIRBAG LIGHT ON WITH MANY CODES, COULD BE CAUSED BY HIGH RESISTANCE AND CRIMPING OF TERMINALS. MODEL 2014-15 ENCLAVE, TRAVERSE, ACADIA.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
The 2015 GMC Acadia faces a critical Takata airbag defect (recall 23V334000, issued May 2023) involving driver-side inflators that can explode during deployment, sending sharp metal fragments through the cabin. Owners report that as of late 2024—over a year and a half after notification—GM still has not provided replacement parts to dealers. Multiple owners confirm dealers and GM customer service state parts are unavailable with no timeline for supply. One owner waited months, then called in March 2024 with no update available; another received false information that parts were ready.
Beyond the recall, owners describe recurring air bag warning lights tied to electrical wiring defects in the air bag circuits. These failures recur even after dealer wire repairs; one owner serviced the vehicle five times since July 2020 for air bag issues. A TSB from 2015 addresses a connector wiring defect that can disable the driver-side airbag—owners note GM knew of this condition but did not conduct proactive inspections under warranty.
Less commonly, owners report a seat occupancy sensor failure that triggered an airbag deployment at 35–40 MPH with no crash, and in one case, rear airbags deployed independently while the vehicle was in the shop. One owner's airbags failed to deploy during an actual crash, resulting in facial injuries. A dashboard plastic panel detached and struck the driver during a malfunction on a vehicle that had already been serviced under the recall.
Same GMC Acadia airbags reports on nearby years: 2012 · 2013 · 2014 · 2016 · 2017
Failure modes owners describe
Driver airbag inflator defect (Takata) - recall 23V334000
Manufacturing defect in driver-side airbag inflator can explode during deployment, ejecting sharp metal fragments into the cabin. Affects 2014-2017 Buick Enclave, Chevrolet Traverse, and GMC Acadia models. Owners allege the recall was issued May 2023 but replacement parts remain unavailable over a year later, leaving vehicles unrepaired.
When: Recall issued May 2023; owners report no remedy parts available as of 2024
Symptoms owners cite: Service air bag warning light illuminated; Inflator explosion during deployment with metal fragment ejection; Airbag failed to deploy during actual crash; Dashboard damage and injuries from airbag deployment failures
Codes mentioned: NHTSA Campaign 23V334000, NHTSA Campaign 22V246000
Repairs/costs cited: Recall specifies free replacement of driver airbag module by dealers. However, multiple owners report that replacement parts have not been made available; dealers confirm parts unavailable with no timeline. One owner reported paying $632.82 labor for wire connector repair to address related electrical wiring failure (TSB from 2015).
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA Campaign 23V334000 (air bag inflator replacement); GM customer service states no remedy available, parts not yet produced, slow rollout cited by owners to manage costs. One TSB on file for connector wiring (dated 2015) addressing seat airbag sensor electrical failures.
Air bag warning light with electrical wiring failure
Air bag warning light illuminates intermittently or continuously due to electrical wiring defects in air bag circuits. Owners report recurrent failures even after dealer repair attempts, with some vehicles serviced multiple times for the same issue.
When: Mileage range 67,000–140,000 miles; failures ongoing despite prior repairs
Symptoms owners cite: Service air bag warning light illuminated intermittently or continuously; Console message 'SERVICE AIRBAG SOON' displayed; Driver-side airbag disabled or partially disabled; Electrical wiring failure diagnosed by dealers
Codes mentioned: Air bag circuit electrical wiring failure
Repairs/costs cited: Dealers diagnosed electrical wiring needing replacement; repairs performed but failures recurred. One owner paid $632.82 labor-only charge for wire connector resoldering; owner alleges GM knew of this condition via TSB dated 04/07/2015 but did not proactively inspect/repair under warranty.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: TSB available (dated 2015) addressing seat airbag connector wiring issue; however, owners report manufacturer declined to inspect or assist after recall repair was performed.
Airbag sensor failure (seat occupancy/impact sensor)
Airbag sensors fail or malfunction, causing warning lights and potential deployment failures. One owner's code reader indicated sensor failure; another reported airbag deployed without impact or crash.
When: Mileage 140,000 miles (spontaneous deployment case); 66,590 miles (warning light case)
Symptoms owners cite: Air bag warning light illuminated; Airbag deployed without impact or crash; Code reader showed sensor failure in seat occupancy/impact sensor
Codes mentioned: Seat airbag sensor failure
Repairs/costs cited: One owner felt airbag deployed inside driver seat at 35–40 MPH with no crash; dealer did not diagnose or repair. No repair notes provided for sensor replacement cases.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer contacted in one case; referred owner to NHTSA Hotline. No warranty coverage or repair assistance documented.
Dashboard damage from airbag deployment failure
Hard plastic piece detached from dashboard above radio and struck driver during airbag system malfunction. Failure occurred twice within minutes on same drive. Vehicle had previously been repaired under recall 23V334000 before current owner purchased it.
When: 139,884 miles; occurred after recall repair (September 2024)
Symptoms owners cite: Loud sound from vehicle; Service air bag warning light illuminated; Hard plastic piece detached from dashboard above radio; Plastic striking driver's head; Hole left in dashboard
Codes mentioned: NHTSA Campaign 23V334000 (prior repair documented)
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicle not diagnosed or repaired by independent mechanic or dealer following incident. No repair cost provided.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Vehicle was previously repaired under recall 23V334000 in September 2024. Failure recurred after that repair.
Rear airbags deploying independently
Rear airbags deployed independently without crash or impact while vehicle was in for service. Occurred during third repair attempt for air bag warning sensor failure.
When: 18,000 miles; occurred during third service visit for airbag warning sensor
Symptoms owners cite: Service air bag warning indicator illuminated; Rear airbags deployed independently
Codes mentioned: Air bag warning sensor failure (prior diagnosis)
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicle was not repaired following rear airbag deployment. First repair was air bag warning sensor replacement; failure recurred, requiring additional service.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer was notified of the failure. No response details provided.
Synthesized from 104 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 8 most recent
The contact owns a 2015 GMC Acadia. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V334000 (Air Bags) however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The manufacturer was contacted, and it was confirmed that the part was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The local dealer was made…
The contact owns a 2015 GMC Acadia. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V334000 (Air Bags) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not…
The contact owns a 2015 GMC Acadia. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V334000 (Air Bags) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The dealer was made aware of the issue and confirmed that parts were not yet available. The manufacturer was…
no incident yet but i have contacted gm several times to come to my home and complete the repair as there website states they will , parts are available but they refused to come out and fix this faulty airbag i . cannot get to dealer myself because of health issues. just letting you know in case my airbag explodes and im not here to tell.
2015 GMC acadia. Consumer writes in regard to safety recall 22v-246.
The contact owns a 2015 GMC Acadia. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V334000 (Air Bags) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was made aware of the issue and confirmed that parts were not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer…
The contact owns a 2015 GMC Acadia. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V334000 (Air Bags) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a…
Look on the original report here. “Airbag module” “If the driver airbag deploys may result in injury or death.” It’s been since May 10, 2023 and no replacement or solution.
Had airbags trouble with your 2015 GMC Acadia?
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 GMC Acadia?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 104 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $1,100 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the airbags typically fail?
Across the 14 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most airbags failures cluster between 63,500 and 136,000 miles, with the median around 108,284. A quarter of owners report trouble before 63,500; a quarter make it past 136,000. 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/GMC/Acadia.
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.