The contact owns a 2018 Chevrolet Silverado 1500. The contact stated while driving approximately 45 - 50 MPH, there was an explosion on the passenger’s side of the vehicle followed by a cloud of white smoke. The driver's side seat belt had loosened and failed to retract. The contact noticed a message on the instrument panel stating "Service Restraint System" at the time of the explosion. The…
2018 Chevrolet Silverado airbags problems
severe 11 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $1,100 · see airbags across all vehicles →
Complaints
11
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$1,100
2crashes
3injuries
When does it fail?
Of the 11 airbags complaints filed for the 2018 Chevrolet Silverado, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 100,000-125,000 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.
The failure pattern owners describe
Buyer takeaway: The 2018 Silverado 1500 has serious documented airbag issues ranging from spontaneous canister ruptures to complete non-deployment in crashes. Some dealers cite parts unavailability and multiple complaints reference safety recalls that don't apply to all VINs—get a full airbag system inspection and diagnostic scan before buying used.
Owners of 2018 Chevy Silverado 1500s report a wide range of airbag system failures. Some units have experienced spontaneous canister ruptures without deployment—one owner's passenger-side canister exploded at 50 mph, filling the cabin with smoke while the airbag itself never deployed. Two separate owners report roof rail airbags deploying on their own while parked, with no collision event.
Multiple complaints involve airbags that fail to deploy when they should. One owner struck a deer at 25 mph with zero airbag response and sustained injuries; another was in a 45 mph crash where neither the airbags nor seat belt pretensioners deployed, resulting in a broken back. A third owner at 66,000 miles saw a "Service Restraint System" warning and was told at the dealer the airbags will not deploy.
Electrical faults are common. Owners report continuous "Service Restraint System" warnings, steering wheel airbag circuit faults (code B0013-04 for high resistance), and one case where the warning lights caused the truck not to start. One dealership reported parts unavailable as of September 2022. The airbag module on at least one truck won't connect to other vehicle systems; that owner notes a recall exists for the same module on other VINs but not theirs.
Same Chevrolet Silverado airbags reports on nearby years: 2015 · 2016 · 2017 · 2021
Failure modes owners describe
Spontaneous airbag canister rupture
Airbag canister exploded while vehicle was in motion without the airbag deploying. Incident caused white smoke, loose seat belt, and 'Service Restraint System' warning; vehicle was not included in Takata recall.
When: 118,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: explosion on passenger side; white smoke in cabin; driver seat belt loosened and failed to retract; 'Service Restraint System' message displayed; interior lights and flashers remained illuminated
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer diagnosed canister explosion; vehicle not repaired
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Not included in Takata Recall
Roof rail airbags deploying without impact
Passenger and driver side roof rail airbags independently deployed while vehicle was parked with no passengers in rear seats and no collision event.
When: 65,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: both roof rail airbags deployed while parked; no collision or impact event
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicle not diagnosed or repaired; insurance declined coverage
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer offered to buy back vehicle; complaint referenced NHTSA Campaign 24V756000 (Air Bags) but VIN not included
Airbag non-deployment on collision
Airbags failed to deploy during a collision with a deer at 25 MPH. Occupants sustained injuries (minor chest/stomach injuries and chin bruises) that went untreated.
When: 50,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: airbags did not deploy during impact; smoke filled vehicle; occupants sustained injuries without airbag protection
Repairs/costs cited: Insurance requested repair estimate; no dealer diagnostic performed
Steering wheel airbag electrical fault
Intermittent 'Safety Restraint System' warning that became continuous. Diagnostic scan revealed steering wheel airbag deployment loop high resistance fault. Horn also stopped working. Vehicle under 25,000 miles but over 3 years old, potentially out of warranty.
When: under 25,000 miles, over 3 years old
Symptoms owners cite: intermittent 'Safety Restraint System' warning messages; warning message became continuous; horn stopped working; high resistance detected in steering wheel airbag deployment circuit
Codes mentioned: B0013-04 Steering wheel airbag deployment loop stage 2 - High resistance
Airbag non-deployment on high-speed collision with seat belt pretensioner failure
During a 45 MPH crash, both airbags and seat belt pretensioners failed to deploy. Vehicle was totaled and occupant sustained a broken back. Cause of failure not determined.
When: 18,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: airbags did not deploy on impact; seat belt pretensioners failed; occupant sustained broken back
Airbag module electrical disconnection
Airbag module not connecting to other vehicle modules. Owner reports recall exists for this module on other VINs but not for their vehicle.
Symptoms owners cite: airbag module disconnected from vehicle modules
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Recall on module for other VINs but not for complainant's VIN
Airbag warning lights and restraint system malfunctions
Multiple instances of 'Service Restraint System' warning lights appearing on dashboard, in one case accompanied by inability to start vehicle and loss of all dashboard lights. In another, airbag warning light on continuously with dealer stating airbags will not deploy; parts unavailable at dealership as of September 2022.
When: 66,556 miles (one case); 91,007 miles (another case)
Symptoms owners cite: 'Service Restraint System' warning message displayed; airbag warning light on; dashboard lights flickering on and off; vehicle would not start; airbags would not deploy per dealer diagnosis
Repairs/costs cited: One dealer replaced air grille shutter, noted air bag module needed replacement but vehicle not repaired; another dealership stated parts unavailable as of 9/21/2022
Synthesized from 11 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 1 most recent
Had airbags trouble with your 2018 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 2018 Chevrolet Silverado?
It's a meaningful issue. 11 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?
Based on the 11 complaints filed, airbags issues most often appear around 63,511 miles. Some report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 with no symptoms. Maintenance habits matter — vehicles that received timely fluid services and were not regularly overworked tend to last longer.
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/2018/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.