Recall 18V291 affects 23,004 2015-2016 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 and Tahoe vehicles for seat belt pretensioner cable fatigue. Repair is free at any franchised Chevrolet dealer.
Chevrolet is recalling 23,004 2015-2016 Silverado 1500 and Tahoe police and special-service vehicles because the driver's seat belt pretensioner cable can fatigue and separate. If that cable breaks, the driver is not properly restrained in a crash, increasing injury risk; Chevrolet dealers will repair it free of charge.
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What's wrong?
The driver's seat-belt pretensioner cable in the 2015-2016 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 and Tahoe helps anchor the belt at the outboard side of the driver's seat. The pretensioner is the part that tightens the belt during a crash, so the cable has to stay connected and correctly routed beside the seat.
On affected Police Pursuit and Special-Service vehicles, the cable can be pushed forward as the driver gets in. In certain seat positions, the driver slides over the pretensioner and cable guide, bending the flexible steel cable sharply over the seat side shield. Repeated bending weakens the cable until it fatigues and separates.
Owners or fleet service staff can look for wear on the cable sleeve. That sleeve wear is the warning sign that the pretensioner cable has been stressed and needs dealer attention under recall 18V291.
Who's affected?
Includes Silverado 1500 pickups and Tahoe SUVs across the 2015 and 2016 model years, both tied to the front seat belt.
| 2016 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 | seat belt |
|---|---|
| 2015 Chevrolet Tahoe | seat belt |
| 2016 Chevrolet Tahoe | seat belt |
| 2015 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 | seat belt |
| Units affected | 23,004 |
| Field incidents | NHTSA has logged 9 field incidents to date. |
A matching year and model does not confirm inclusion. Check your VIN to confirm whether your specific vehicle is included.
What's the safety risk?
A fatigued or broken pretensioner cable can leave the driver improperly restrained in a crash, increasing injury risk. Wear on the cable sleeve is the warning sign to treat seriously. Ask the dealer to inspect it and schedule the recall repair soon. Repair is free at any franchised Chevrolet dealer.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 2015-2016 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 or Tahoe is included in this recall.
- Contact a franchised Chevrolet dealer to schedule the free pretensioner-cable and seat side-shield replacement that fixes driver seat belt cable fatigue.
- Bring the recall notice if Chevrolet mailed one. If not, reference recall number 18V291 when you call.
- Keep using the seat belt on every drive, and get the repair completed before returning the vehicle to police or special-service duty.
What happens at the repair
At the dealer, a Chevrolet technician replaces the driver's seat belt pretensioner cable and the seat side-shield. The work addresses the cable fatigue described in recall 18V291 and is free under the recall. If you already paid for a related seat belt pretensioner or seat side-shield repair before the recall work, Chevrolet's reimbursement plan submitted on May 19, 2017 covers eligible documented repairs. Ask Chevrolet customer service or the dealer how to submit the claim paperwork.
| Reimbursement | Reimbursement available |
|---|
Timeline
| May 3, 2018 | NHTSA published the recall |
|---|---|
| May 3, 2018 | Dealer notification began |
| May 3, 2018 | Dealer notification ended |
| June 19, 2018 | Owner notification mailed |
| June 19, 2018 | Interim owner notification (was planned for this date) |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 18V291?
Recall 18V291 covers 23,004 2015-2016 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 and Tahoe Police Pursuit and Special-Service vehicles. The driver's seat-belt pretensioner cable can fatigue and separate after repeated bending at the seat side shield. Chevrolet dealers replace the pretensioner cable and seat side shield for free.
What should I do if my 2015-2016 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 or Tahoe is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm your specific vehicle is included in recall 18V291. If it is, contact a franchised Chevrolet dealer to schedule replacement of the driver's seat-belt pretensioner cable and seat side shield. Reference recall number 18V291 or Chevrolet recall number 18156 when you call.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Federal recall law requires the manufacturer to complete the recall repair at no cost. Chevrolet dealers replace the affected driver's seat-belt pretensioner cable and seat side shield free of charge, including parts and labor.
What is the safety risk?
The risk is that the driver is not properly restrained in a crash if the pretensioner cable becomes fatigued or breaks. That increases injury risk for the driver. The repair path is clear: a Chevrolet dealer replaces the cable and seat side shield for free.
What if I bought the Chevrolet Silverado 1500 or Tahoe used?
The free recall repair still applies. Recall coverage follows the vehicle, not the first owner. Check your VIN to confirm whether your specific Silverado 1500 or Tahoe is included, then call a Chevrolet dealer and reference recall 18V291 or Chevrolet recall number 18156.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/18V291000 |
|---|---|
| Chevrolet customer service | 1-800-222-1020 |
| NHTSA recall # | 18V291 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 18V291000 |
Source documents
-
Download Recall Document (PDF) (PDF) - Download Owner Notice (PDF)
- Download Recall Report (PDF)
- Download Quarterly Report (PDF)
- Download Recall Acknowledgement (PDF)
This article is generated from NHTSA's primary recall filings and reviewed against the source on May 25, 2026. RecallNotify does not paraphrase NHTSA's consequence language; that text is reproduced as written above. Editorial standards →