Recall 21V051 affects 284,645 2012 Chevrolet vehicles for passenger air bag inflators that can explode. Repair will be free once available.
Chevrolet is recalling 284,645 2012 Silverado 1500, Tahoe, Suburban, Avalanche, and related GMC and Cadillac vehicles because the passenger frontal air bag inflator can explode after long exposure to heat and humidity. An inflator explosion can send sharp metal fragments toward occupants, and the dealer repair will be free once Chevrolet makes it available.
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What's wrong?
The passenger frontal airbag inflator in these 2012 Chevrolet trucks and SUVs is the metal canister inside the passenger airbag module. In a crash that calls for passenger airbag deployment, the inflator burns propellant to create gas and fill the airbag quickly enough to cushion the front passenger.
On included Silverado 1500, Tahoe, Suburban, Avalanche, and related models, the inflator contains non-desiccated phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate propellant. Long exposure to high humidity, high heat, and repeated temperature cycling breaks down that propellant. If the airbag deploys after that degradation, the inflator is at risk of rupturing and sending metal fragments into the cabin. The replacement inflator removes that non-desiccated ammonium nitrate propellant.
There is no warning sign before failure. The vehicle will not give a reliable light, sound, smell, or driving symptom that tells you the passenger inflator has degraded.
Who's affected?
The scope spans Chevrolet, GMC, and Cadillac truck and SUV nameplates, all tied to the same front air bag inflator module.
| 2012 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 | front air bag |
|---|---|
| 2012 Chevrolet Silverado 3500 | front air bag |
| 2012 GMC Yukon | front air bag |
| 2012 Cadillac Escalade | front air bag |
| 2012 Cadillac Escalade Esv | front air bag |
| 2012 GMC Sierra 3500 | front air bag |
| 2012 Chevrolet Avalanche | front air bag |
| 2012 GMC Sierra 1500 | front air bag |
| 2012 Chevrolet Tahoe | front air bag |
| 2012 Chevrolet Suburban | front air bag |
| 2012 GMC Sierra 2500 | front air bag |
| 2012 GMC Yukon Xl | front air bag |
| 2012 Cadillac Escalade Ext | front air bag |
| 2012 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 | front air bag |
| Units affected | 284,645 |
A matching year and model does not guarantee inclusion. Check your VIN to confirm whether this recall applies to your specific vehicle.
What's the safety risk?
An air bag inflator explosion can send sharp metal fragments into the driver or other occupants, causing serious injury or death. There is no warning sign before failure, so confirm whether your VIN is included and plan the dealer visit once the remedy opens. Repair will be free at any franchised Chevrolet dealer once available.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 2012 Chevrolet, GMC, or Cadillac vehicle is included in this recall.
- Watch for the final owner letter before scheduling the free passenger air bag inflator replacement.
- Call Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-458-8006 with questions, and reference recall number 21V051 when you call.
- Avoid using the front passenger seat until the inflator replacement is complete.
- Bring the recall notice to a franchised Chevrolet dealer once the remedy opens.
What happens at the repair
The final dealer repair is still under development, so do not treat this as a repair that every dealer can complete now. Once GM opens the remedy, at the dealer, a Chevrolet technician will replace the front passenger air bag inflator with an alternate inflator, free under the recall. Parts and labor are covered. Until the remedy is open, use the owner letter or the dealer service desk to confirm the current repair status for your VIN.
Timeline
| February 5, 2021 | NHTSA published the recall |
|---|---|
| February 5, 2021 | Dealer notification began |
| February 5, 2021 | Dealer notification ended |
| March 1, 2021 | VIN-searchable in NHTSA's database — Check your VIN to see whether this recall applies to your specific vehicle. |
| March 1, 2021 | Interim owner notification (was planned for this date) |
| May 11, 2021 | Owner notification mailed |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 21V051?
Recall 21V051 covers 284,645 2012 Chevrolet vehicles with passenger frontal air bag inflators that can explode after long exposure to heat and humidity. The recall applies to vehicles originally sold or registered in Zone A locations. Chevrolet dealers will replace the passenger air bag inflator for free once the repair is open for the VIN.
What should I do if my 2012 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm your specific truck is included in recall 21V051. If it is, contact a franchised Chevrolet dealer and ask whether the passenger air bag inflator replacement is open for your VIN. Reference recall number 21V051 when you call.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Federal recall law requires the manufacturer to repair the safety defect at no cost. For recall 21V051, Chevrolet dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator with an alternate inflator free of charge once the remedy is available for the VIN.
What is the safety risk in recall 21V051?
The safety risk is sharp metal fragments from an exploding passenger frontal air bag inflator. NHTSA campaign 21V051 states that those fragments can strike the driver or other occupants, causing serious injury or death. Check your VIN, then ask the dealer about the repair path for your vehicle.
What if I bought this 2012 Chevrolet vehicle used?
The free recall repair still applies. Recall coverage follows the vehicle, not the first owner. If you bought the vehicle used or never received the mailed notice, check your VIN to confirm inclusion in recall 21V051 and reference that recall number when you call the dealer.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/21V051000 |
|---|---|
| Chevrolet customer service | 1-800-458-8006 |
| NHTSA recall # | 21V051 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 21V051000 |
Source documents
-
Download Recall Document (PDF) (PDF) - Download Owner Notice (PDF)
- Download Misc. Document (PDF)
- Download Quarterly Report (PDF)
- Download Recall Document (PDF) (PDF)
- Download Recall Document (PDF) (PDF)
- Download Owner Notification Letter (PDF)
- Download Recall Report (PDF)
- Download Recall Acknowledgement (PDF)
This article is generated from NHTSA's primary recall filings and reviewed against the source on May 23, 2026. RecallNotify does not paraphrase NHTSA's consequence language; that text is reproduced as written above. Editorial standards →