Recall 21V052 covers 557,023 2007-2009 Chevrolet vehicles for passenger air bag inflators with degraded propellant. Free repair once Chevrolet opens it.
Chevrolet recall 21V052 covers 557,023 2007-2009 Suburban, Avalanche, Tahoe, Silverado 1500, and related vehicles with passenger frontal air bag inflators that can explode after long-term heat and humidity exposure. Sharp metal fragments can strike occupants and cause serious injury or death; the Chevrolet dealer repair will be free once Chevrolet opens the final remedy.
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What's wrong?
The passenger frontal airbag inflator in the 2007-2009 Chevrolet trucks and SUVs sits inside the passenger airbag module. In a crash where the passenger frontal airbag deploys, the inflator produces gas that fills the airbag so it can cushion the passenger side of the cabin. That job depends on the inflator housing staying intact while pressure builds.
These recalled vehicles use a non-desiccated inflator with phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate propellant. Non-desiccated means there is no drying agent inside to help control moisture. After long-term exposure to high humidity, high heat, and repeated temperature cycling, the propellant can break down. During airbag deployment, that degraded propellant can create too much internal pressure and rupture the inflator instead of sending gas cleanly into the airbag.
There is no warning sign before failure. The inflator problem is inside the sealed airbag module, so a driver is not given a noise, smell, warning light, or handling change before a deployment.
Who's affected?
The scope crosses Chevrolet, Cadillac, and GMC nameplates, with the same front air bag component listed for each vehicle.
| 2008 Chevrolet Suburban | front air bag |
|---|---|
| 2007 Cadillac Escalade Esv | front air bag |
| 2007 Cadillac Escalade Ext | front air bag |
| 2009 Chevrolet Avalanche | front air bag |
| 2008 Chevrolet Avalanche | front air bag |
| 2007 Chevrolet Avalanche | front air bag |
| 2009 Chevrolet Suburban | front air bag |
| 2009 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 | front air bag |
| 2008 GMC Yukon Xl | front air bag |
| 2009 GMC Sierra 3500 | front air bag |
| 2007 Chevrolet Suburban | front air bag |
| 2008 Cadillac Escalade Esv | front air bag |
| 2007 GMC Yukon Xl | front air bag |
| 2009 GMC Yukon Xl | front air bag |
| 2009 Cadillac Escalade Ext | front air bag |
| 2008 Cadillac Escalade Ext | front air bag |
| 2009 Chevrolet Silverado 3500 | front air bag |
| 2009 GMC Sierra 2500 | front air bag |
| 2009 Cadillac Escalade Esv | front air bag |
| 2007 GMC Yukon | front air bag |
| 2007 Chevrolet Tahoe | front air bag |
| 2007 Cadillac Escalade | front air bag |
| 2007 GMC Sierra 1500 | front air bag |
| 2007 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 | front air bag |
| 2008 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 | front air bag |
| 2008 Chevrolet Tahoe | front air bag |
| 2008 GMC Sierra 1500 | front air bag |
| 2008 GMC Yukon | front air bag |
| 2008 Cadillac Escalade | front air bag |
| 2009 Cadillac Escalade | front air bag |
| 2009 Chevrolet Tahoe | front air bag |
| 2009 GMC Yukon | front air bag |
| 2009 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 | front air bag |
| 2009 GMC Sierra 1500 | front air bag |
| Units affected | 557,023 |
| Field incidents | NHTSA has logged no field incidents to date. |
The year and model narrow the scope, but the VIN decides. Check your VIN to confirm whether your specific vehicle is included.
What's the safety risk?
An inflator rupture can send sharp metal fragments into the driver or other occupants, causing serious injury or death. There is no warning sign to rely on before the inflator fails, so confirm whether your VIN is included and follow dealer instructions. Repair will be free at any franchised Chevrolet dealer once Chevrolet opens it.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 2007-2009 Chevrolet, Cadillac, or GMC vehicle is included in this recall.
- Wait for Chevrolet's final remedy notice before scheduling the passenger front air bag inflator replacement.
- Contact a franchised Chevrolet dealer with recall number 21V052 and ask whether final remedy scheduling has opened for your VIN.
- Keep the passenger seat empty until the free inflator replacement is complete.
- Call Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020 with questions about recall number 21V052.
What happens at the repair
This recall is still marked as interim, so do not treat the final repair as schedulable until GM opens it. Once available, a Chevrolet technician will remove the front passenger air bag inflator and install an alternate inflator. The final dealer repair will be free once available, with parts and labor covered under the recall. Call the Chevrolet dealer with your VIN and GM recall number N212328780 so the service desk can confirm the current repair status and parts path.
Timeline
| February 5, 2021 | NHTSA published the recall |
|---|---|
| February 5, 2021 | Dealer notification began |
| February 5, 2021 | Dealer notification ended |
| March 1, 2021 | Interim owner notification (was planned for this date) |
| September 20, 2021 | Owner notification mailed |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 21V052?
Recall 21V052 covers 557,023 2007-2009 Chevrolet vehicles with passenger frontal air bag inflators that can explode after long-term heat and humidity exposure. Sharp metal fragments can strike occupants and cause serious injury or death. Dealers will replace the inflator for free once the remedy is open.
What should I do if my 2007-2009 Chevrolet vehicle is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm your specific vehicle is included in recall 21V052. If it is, contact a franchised Chevrolet dealer and reference GM recall number N212328780. The dealer will replace the front passenger air bag inflator for free once the remedy is open.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Federal recall law requires the manufacturer to repair the defect at no cost. For recall 21V052, GM says dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator with an alternate inflator free of charge.
What is the safety risk?
The risk is an inflator explosion inside the passenger frontal air bag module. If the inflator ruptures, sharp metal fragments can strike the driver or passengers, causing serious injury or death. Confirm your VIN, then follow the dealer's repair instructions.
What if I bought this Chevrolet used?
The free recall repair still applies. A used vehicle can be included if its VIN falls within recall 21V052, including vehicles tied to the listed state zones. Check your VIN, then call a franchised Chevrolet dealer with the recall number.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/21V052000 |
|---|---|
| Chevrolet customer service | 1-800-222-1020 |
| NHTSA recall # | 21V052 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 21V052000 |
Source documents
-
Download Owner Notice (PDF) - Download Recall Document (PDF) (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 →