Third-generation Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra trucks built in 2016 and 2017 face a new roof-rail airbag recall affecting 1,559 vehicles.
General Motors is recalling 1,559 Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra trucks because the roof-rail airbag inflators can crack and rupture, sending metal fragments flying inside the cabin. The recall covers 2016 and 2017 Silverado 1500 and HD models, plus the Sierra 1500 and HD from the same years.
The trucks in question were built between April 30 and May 11, 2016. NHTSA estimates just 1 percent of the recall population actually carries the defect, a small slice, but the potential consequence is serious enough that GM is replacing parts on every truck in the batch.
According to NHTSA recall 26V611, the roof-rail airbag inflators in the affected trucks may carry manufacturing flaws: a small crack in the inflator canister combined with a bit of water left inside after the washing process. On their own, either issue might be harmless.
GM says the two problems together are the real danger. Trapped moisture can trigger stress-corrosion cracking that slowly eats away at the canister wall. If the inflator eventually ruptures, compressed gas escapes and the end cap or other components can turn into projectiles inside the cabin.
2019 Chevrolet Silverado
This isn’t GM’s first run at this specific defect. The automaker already addressed a similar roof-rail airbag problem earlier this year under a separate recall covering tens of thousands of vehicles, filed as NHTSA 26V166, then expanded under 26V325. This new filing, 26V611, pulls in another batch GM says it didn’t catch the first time.
The defect came to GM’s attention after a 2016 Silverado 1500 owner called the automaker on July 20, 2026, reporting what sounded like a rupture in the left-side roof-rail airbag just after starting to drive. The occupants said their ears were ringing afterward.
GM inspected the truck on August 28 and found a split in the inflator’s sidewall, along with damage to the headliner and the vehicle’s roof. The automaker says it isn’t aware of any other ruptures tied to the same inflator lot, and no other injuries have been reported.
The fix is straightforward. Dealers will replace both the left- and right-side roof-rail airbag modules at no cost to owners, and GM expects to start notifying affected customers on November 9, 2026, though owners can check their VIN now to see if their truck is on the list.
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The recall population breaks down across several model years and trims. It includes 723 2016 Silverado 1500s, 292 2016 Silverado 2500s, and 33 2016 Silverado 3500s, alongside two 2017 Silverado 1500s.
On the GMC side, the recall covers 329 2016 Sierra 1500s, 145 2016 Sierra 2500s, and 33 2016 Sierra 3500s, plus two 2017 Sierra 1500s. The small 2017 counts suggest only a handful of trucks from that model year slipped through with the same inflator batch.
This marks yet another chapter in a defect that has repeatedly plagued the third-generation Silverado and Sierra trucks, the generation that ran before the fourth-gen Silverado 1500 and Sierra 1500 for the 2019 model year. GM has already racked up a sizable recall count in 2026, with 80,000 vehicles recalled across its lineup this year alone before this latest filing.
GM unveiled the next generation of Silverado and Sierra trucks earlier this year, with MY2027 models expected to reach dealers later this year. The automaker is reportedly taking extra steps to improve powertrain quality and durability on the new trucks, following scrutiny over the outgoing 6.2-liter L87 V8.
Airbag defects aren’t unique to GM’s lineup this year. Land Rover recently recalled roughly 250,000 SUVs for a separate airbag issue, while Ford issued its own recall covering 140,000 trucks for an unrelated headliner wiring problem. For now, Silverado and Sierra owners from the affected model years just need to watch their mail for a notification letter or check their VIN directly through NHTSA’s recall lookup tool.
Other Recent Recalls:
Source:
NHTSA
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