GM’s Takata Airbag Recall Won’t Cover Cracked Dashboards
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As GM Authority reported back in November, General Motors has decided to follow through on a massive recall ordered by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to replace potentially dangerous Takata airbag inflators. Now, GM has made a point of telling dealers not to replace cracked dashboards on any of the affected vehicles.
As we covered previously, General Motors has reluctantly agreed to recall roughly 7 million vehicles worldwide that may be equipped with dangerous Takata airbag inflators. Affected vehicles include the 2007 through 2014 model years of the following models:
- Chevy Silverado
- Chevy Silverado HD
- Chevy Avalanche
- Chevy Tahoe
- Chevy Suburban
- GMC Sierra
- GMC Sierra HD
- GMC Yukon
- GMC Yukon XL
- Cadillac Escalade
The Takata airbag recall is the largest automotive recall in U.S. history, with over 100 million affected vehicles worldwide across a wide range of makes and models. The issue pertains to faulty Takata airbag inflator devices, which could rupture and send shrapnel into the cabin when activated. The design fault has been attributed to dozens of deaths worldwide.
General Motors has announced it will now follow through on the recall, despite petitioning the NHTSA on several occasions to avoid the recall, citing internal research that affected GM vehicles did not pose a threat to customers. However, the automaker points out that Takata airbag recall will not cover potentially cracked or warped dashboards.
“Due to age and environmental exposure, some vehicles may display warping or cracking around the passenger airbag opening in the upper instrument panel area,” reads a recent GM bulletin distributed to dealers. “Inspect this area with the customer at the time of the vehicle repair order write up. If warping or cracking is found, inform the customer that the condition is not covered by this recall, nor is it caused by the airbag service procedure. This warping or cracking condition will not affect the passenger side airbag deployment.”
As GM Authority has covered before, the dashboard on GM’s GMT900 vehicles, including the Chevy Avalanche, Tahoe, Silverado, and Suburban, as well as the GMC Yukon and Sierra, are prone to cracking. The issue is so widespread, there are viral YouTube videos on the subject and entire Facebook groups dedicated to discussing the issue.
Unfortunately, as the above bulletin points out, the cracked dashboards are not part of the Takata airbag recall, which means affected customers won’t get a new dash with the replacement airbag, no doubt leading to disappointment for those customers hoping for a new dash in their affected GM vehicle.
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My 2007 Avalanche dash cracked on the passenger side after a few years. It has since cracked on the driver’s side. First of all it’s plastic so the armor all comment is ridiculous. Blaming the customer is ridiculous as well. It’s a crappy design and yes its cosmetic but it shouldn’t be happening with the frequency it has.
But this article buried the lead. Point is my 24 year old vehicle has finally been recalled and I can get the airbag that was promised 4 to5 years ago.
“GM reluctantly agreed to recall roughly 7 million vehicles worldwide that may be equipped with dangerous Takata airbag inflators.”
Thanks for nothing GM.
I bet Mary Barra’s family doesn’t have to worry about “dangerous Takata airbag inflators” leaving terrible facial, neck and hands scarring. They’ll get a new ride AFTER the inflator has been replaced AND examined…..
You guys can’t read. This issue has never happened with a GM vehicle because the parts are different and installed differently.
My buick isnt on any list but 3 days ago airbag exploded while car was parked. My pior brother got it in the face. Not only do i have opened dash expising airbag it shattered yes shattered my windshield.
Seems like neither the government , GM, or any other maker has a complete handle on these air bags exploding. Glsd no one was hurt.
How do we go about following up with a class action lawsuit against general motors?
Why would someone expect to get a new dash board on an old vehicle? This wear out, just like. Show or cloths come on people use common sense! FYI GM did not make the airbags and the issue was on toyota vehicles originally and the government is making GM replace theirs just in case for safety your old dashboard is not the problem. Suing a company is not the answer because the cost just gets passed on tho the customers and jobs are lost in the process need more money go work for it. Stop making attorneys rich and cost of living more expensive for ourselves!
My 96 k1500 truck with 233k still has the original dashboard in it without any cracks or issues. Gm really seemed to have gone downhill after 2007 .
Ive had many cars over the last 50 years.
None of the dashs have cracked.
All were Jap or European models, though.
The main thing to prevent it is to always park in the shade.
Always!
And, use a sun deflector in the front window.
The sun is what kills the interior of a vehicle.
Thats my take here.
Do this, and you wont have the problem.
Period.
Please, Jap is a pejorative! Its Japanese.
So, when are they actually going to start fixing the air bags?
I left GM for a Honda Pilot. I will not be going back. The quality is outstanding. Approaching 65K miles the Pilot has made one trip to our Honda dealer to replace the Takata air bag. In and out in an hour.
My wife left GMC for RAM because of ride quality with air/coil springs and the luxury interior in RAM. It tows her horses safely and easily.
I thought we settled this issue a while back . Let me clear it up . They (G M) Do Not Care period ! Unless we ALL organize and go after them as a group . So buy what you want and shut your pie hole . Unless that is, you want to go after the A holes as a powerful group . Just say n …..for some pi..ed off friends .
Just took my Tahoe in to have airbag replaced. I had one small crack in my dash. Picked it up this afternoon and entire dash is a DISASTER! Cracks everywhere and huge gap where they broke it apart from inside panel. They did not inform me about this possibility when I dropped it off.
The dealer is paid by gm to replace the air bag and gm has stated they won’t honor the pos chicom crack prone plastic they installed in thousands upon thousands of vehicles. All they had to do was to add some ultraviolet protection to the plastic formula. This is why I cannot in good conscience recommend a gm product to anyone. gm blows off customer unhappiness. My Chevy truck is also cracked and also has a recall on the airbag but they have cleverly covered their asses by making you pay one way or another. The loss in value due to the cracked dash is significant.
GM knew about the air bag’s since 2014 and still no fix kinda strange who paid who off the what kind of kick back the NHTSA
GM should be forced to buy back every vehicle and pay the people from the what the vehicle’s value was back in 2014
Barra’s gm doesn’t appear to care about customers who are already in the driver seat. The trade off here is what customer wants to take their vehicle for an airbag swap when their cheap Chinese made dashboard is already very prematurely cracked all to hell and then when the hack gets inside your vehicle to replace the bag the are going to finish off your already severely compromised dash panel. Simply piss poor customer appreciation which show’s gm doesn’t particularly care if you buy gm again or not because they are all in for the Chinese market.
You’re preaching to the choir brother. Until a large number of dissatisfied buyers join together to shout long and loud the deaf big bro’s at GM will continue to ignore this and many more issues.
Another reason why GM customer loyalty is 49% and Toyota and Honda about 80%. Count me as a long time GM buyer who won’t buy GM again. Currently Tesla, Ram, Honda in our garage.