Recall 14V117 covers 303,013 2009-2014 GMC Savana and Express vans for insufficient passenger instrument-panel impact protection. Repair is free at any franchised GMC dealer.
GMC is recalling 303,013 2009-2014 Savana and Express vans with front passenger air bags because the instrument panel above the passenger air bag does not absorb enough impact in a frontal crash below the air bag deployment threshold. An unbelted front passenger faces an increased risk of injury, and the dealer repair will be free once available.
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What's wrong?
The front passenger air bag on 2009-2014 Savana and Express vans is part of the restraint system for the passenger seat. In a frontal crash severe enough to trigger deployment, the air bag cushions the passenger. In a frontal impact below the deployment threshold, the instrument panel above the air bag still has to absorb energy if an unbelted passenger's head strikes it.
On affected vans, that section of the instrument panel does not absorb the impact as required. The problem is not an air bag that deploys at the wrong time. It is the surface above the passenger air bag, which fails to provide enough protection in a specific frontal-impact situation when the air bag has not deployed.
There is no warning sign before failure. The issue is in crash protection, so normal driving will not give a sound, light, smell, or dashboard message that tells you the panel is less able to absorb an impact.
Who's affected?
Savana and Express van lines span the full 2009-2014 range, with the front air bag listed for every included year and model.
| 2009 GMC Savana | front air bag |
|---|---|
| 2012 Chevrolet Express | front air bag |
| 2009 Chevrolet Express | front air bag |
| 2010 Chevrolet Express | front air bag |
| 2014 GMC Savana | front air bag |
| 2010 GMC Savana | front air bag |
| 2011 Chevrolet Express | front air bag |
| 2012 GMC Savana | front air bag |
| 2011 GMC Savana | front air bag |
| 2013 Chevrolet Express | front air bag |
| 2013 GMC Savana | front air bag |
| 2014 Chevrolet Express | front air bag |
| Units affected | 303,013 |
The year and model narrow the scope, but the VIN decides. Check your VIN to confirm whether your specific van is included.
What's the safety risk?
In a crash below the air bag deployment threshold, an unbelted front passenger has a higher injury risk. Use the seat belt on every trip and have the passenger instrument panel recall repair handled through the dealer. Repair will be free at any franchised GMC dealer once available.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 2009-2014 Savana or Express van is included in this recall.
- Contact a franchised GMC dealer and ask whether recall number 14V117 is open for your VIN.
- Schedule the free passenger instrument panel modification that improves front passenger impact protection below the air bag deployment threshold.
- Bring the recall notice if you have it, or give the dealer recall number 14V117 when you call.
- Ask GMC customer service at 1-800-630-2438 if the dealer cannot confirm the repair path for your VIN.
What happens at the repair
At the dealer, a GMC technician modifies the passenger instrument panel above the passenger air bag. The work addresses the panel area involved in the recall, where the filing says impact absorption was not sufficient for an unbelted front passenger in certain frontal crashes below the air bag deployment threshold. The dealer repair will be free once available, with parts and labor covered under the recall.
Timeline
| March 17, 2014 | NHTSA published the recall |
|---|---|
| May 19, 2014 | Owner notification mailed |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 14V117?
Recall 14V117 covers 303,013 2009-2014 GMC Savana and Express vans with front passenger air bags and a 10,000-pound-or-less gross vehicle weight rating. The passenger instrument panel fails an interior-impact safety standard, raising injury risk for an unbelted front passenger in certain frontal crashes.
What should I do if my 2009-2014 GMC Savana or Express is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm your specific van is included in recall 14V117. If it is, contact a franchised GMC dealer and ask for the passenger instrument panel recall repair. Reference recall number 14V117 when you call. The dealer repair is free.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Federal recall law requires the manufacturer to repair the defect at no cost, and GM's remedy says dealers will modify the passenger instrument panel free of charge. Parts and labor are covered at a franchised GMC dealer.
What is the safety risk in recall 14V117?
The risk is increased injury to an unbelted front passenger in a frontal crash below the air bag deployment threshold. In that crash condition, the passenger's head can strike the instrument panel above the air bag area without enough impact absorption.
What if I bought my GMC van used?
The free recall repair still applies. Federal recall law requires manufacturers to honor open safety recalls regardless of ownership history. Check your VIN to confirm whether your specific van is included, then call a franchised GMC dealer and reference recall number 14V117.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/14V117000 |
|---|---|
| GMC customer service | 1-800-630-2438 |
| NHTSA recall # | 14V117 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 14V117000 |
Source documents
-
Download Recall Document (PDF) (PDF) - Download Recall Investigation Document (PDF) (PDF)
- Download Recall Document (PDF) (PDF)
- Download Owner Notification Letter (PDF)
- Download Owner Notice (PDF)
- Download Quarterly Report (PDF)
- Download Defect / Noncompliance Notice (PDF) (PDF)
- Download Recall Acknowledgement (PDF)
This article is generated from NHTSA's primary recall filings and reviewed against the source on June 2, 2026. RecallNotify does not paraphrase NHTSA's consequence language; that text is reproduced as written above. Editorial standards →