Vehicle recall 21V050000 · February 5, 2021
Chevrolet Avalanche, Cadillac Escalade and 12 more models
These inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, high temperatures, and high temperature cycling.
Source: NHTSA data as of September 22, 2026. Last refreshed Sep 23, 2026, 2:43 AM UTC.
- Summary
- General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2007-2011 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, Escalade EXT, Chevrolet Avalanche, Silverado 1500, Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Sierra 1500, Yukon, Yukon XL, and 2009-2011 Chevrolet Silverado 2500, Silverado 3500, GMC Sierra 2500 and Sierra 3500 vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U.S. Virgin Islands or "Zone A." Additionally, GM is recalling certain 2007-2008 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV, Escalade EXT, Chevrolet Avalanche, Silverado 1500, Suburban, Tahoe, GMC Sierra 1500, Yukon, Yukon XL vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in the states of Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia or "Zone B." These vehicles are equipped with non-desiccated passenger frontal inflators containing phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate (PSAN) propellant. These inflators may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, high temperatures, and high temperature cycling.
- Consequence
- An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, resulting in serious injury or death.
- Remedy
- GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator with an alternate one, free of charge. Interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk were mailed on February 22, 2021. Second notification letters will be mailed once the remedy is available. Owner notification letters were mailed on March 1, 2021. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020; Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006; and GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is N212328760.
- Notes
- Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.
Recall details
- NHTSA campaign
- 21V050000
- Reported to NHTSA
- February 5, 2021
- Filed by
- General Motors, LLC
- Manufacturer campaign
- N212328760
- Owner notification
- March 1, 2021
- Vehicles potentially affected
- 2,641,272
- Initiated by
- NHTSA’s Office of Defects Investigation
- Components
- Air bags › Frontal › Passenger side › Inflator module
Vehicles covered
As listed by NHTSA. A recall usually covers only some vehicles of each model and year, often a production date range.
- Cadillac Escalade (2007-2011): 2011, 2010, 2009, 2008, 2007
- Cadillac Escalade ESV (2007-2011): 2011, 2010, 2009, 2008, 2007
- Cadillac Escalade EXT (2007-2011): 2011, 2010, 2009, 2008, 2007
- Chevrolet Avalanche (2007-2011): 2011, 2010, 2009, 2008, 2007
- Chevrolet Silverado 1500 (2007-2011): 2011, 2010, 2009, 2008, 2007
- Chevrolet Silverado 2500 (2009-2011): 2011, 2010, 2009
- Chevrolet Silverado 3500 (2009-2011): 2011, 2010, 2009
- Chevrolet Suburban (2007-2011): 2011, 2010, 2009, 2008, 2007
- Chevrolet Tahoe (2007-2011): 2011, 2010, 2009, 2008, 2007
- GMC Sierra 1500 (2007-2011): 2011, 2010, 2009, 2008, 2007
- GMC Sierra 2500 (2009-2011): 2011, 2010, 2009
- GMC Sierra 3500 (2009-2011): 2011, 2010, 2009
- GMC Yukon (2007-2011): 2011, 2010, 2009, 2008, 2007
- GMC Yukon XL (2007-2011): 2011, 2010, 2009, 2008, 2007
Has your Cadillac been repaired?
Recalls here come from NHTSA’s records for the model and year. Not every vehicle of a model is included in every recall, and this site can’t see whether a repair has been done. Only a VIN lookup can tell you that.
NHTSA’s VIN search doesn’t show recalls that were already repaired, recalls more than 15 years old, or some small manufacturers’ recalls. A Cadillac dealer can also check your VIN. Recall repairs are free.