668 of the
6,468 complaints filed about the GMC Yukon
are about the airbag system —
10% of everything owners reported.
The worst model year for it is 2007.
The contact owns a 2008 GMC Yukon. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V050000 (Air Bags) and the vehicle was taken to the dealer for the recall repair; however, the dealer failed to repair the vehicle on the scheduled date and retained the vehicle without providing a loaner vehicle. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not notified of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure.
NHTSA complaint #11753971 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The driver's seat inboard airbag assembly and internal structural wiring harness failed due to a direct short circuit, completely deactivating the vehicle's supplemental restraint system. General Motors has a known engineering bulletin for this issue (#23-NA-085), noting that sharp internal seat frame components slice the airbag wiring harness. Rather than permanently fixing this structural design flaw while under warranty, dealership technicians repeatedly executed temporary, non-compliant field patches, including plastic zip-ties and Velcro tape inside the cushion. These temporary patches continuously failed, leaving the airbags disabled. Furthermore, the vehicle was sold under "Certified Pre-Owned" designation with an active, uncompleted 2020 manufacturer Customer Satisfaction Program Campaign (#N202310850-02) for this exact airbag circuit defect. Component failed & available for inspection: The driver's seat inboard airbag assembly and internal structural wiring harness failed due to a direct short circuit. The components are available for inspection inside the vehicle at the servicing dealership. Safety risk: Safety was put at extreme risk because active Diagnostic Trouble Code B14DC completely deactivates the airbags. This means the airbags may fail to deploy in a collision, leaving the driver completely unprotected in an accident. Confirmed by dealer: The problem has been explicitly reproduced and confirmed by an authorized franchise dealership across seven separate service visits spanning from August 2025 to June 2026. Inspected by manufacturer/others: The components have been physically inspected multiple times by authorized franchise dealership technicians acting on behalf of the manufacturer. Warning lamps & symptoms: The vehicle displays "Service Safety Restraint System" warning message on the dashboard. The warning lamp first appeared on August 26, 2025, at 78,472 miles while the vehicle was strictly within its CPO warranty
NHTSA complaint #11746089 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
1. Component / System Failed: The Supplemental Restraint System (SRS) / Driver’s Inboard Seat Airbag circuit has chronically failed, leaving the vehicle's primary safety restraint systems disabled. The faulty components and the physical service records documenting the failure are fully available for inspection upon request. 2. Safety Risk: The driver's safety and the safety of passengers are put at extreme, immediate risk. Whenever this failure occurs, the "Service Safety Restraint System" warning illuminates, which completely disables the airbag deployment system. Driving a heavy passenger vehicle (2021 GMC Yukon) without active driver-side airbag protection leaves the operator exposed to severe injury or fatality in the event of a collision. 3. Dealer Confirmation / Reproduction: The problem has been reproduced, diagnosed, and confirmed by an authorized dealership (Quirk GMC in Manchester, NH) on five separate occasions spanning from August 2025 to June 2026. 4. Inspections: The component has been repeatedly inspected by the manufacturer’s authorized dealer technicians at Quirk GMC. It has not yet been inspected by police or insurance representatives, as no crash has occurred. 5. Warning Lamps / Symptoms: The failure is preceded by the "Service Safety Restraint System" dashboard warning lamp and message illuminating. This symptom first appeared in August 2025 at 78,472 miles and has continuously reappeared shortly after every subsequent repair attempt made by the dealership, indicating a continuous, unresolved defect in the vehicle's safety manufacturing or a severe failure in the manufacturer's diagnostic repair procedures.
NHTSA complaint #11744515 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The contact owns a 2021 GMC Yukon. The contact stated that while driving approximately 50-60 MPH, the vehicle was shuddering abnormally. The message "Restraint Safety System" was displayed, and the air bag warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and advised the contact to file a complaint with the NHTSA Hotline. The failure mileage was approximately 138,000.
NHTSA complaint #11744561 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
My 6 year old son and I were coming down the road and came up on 2 deer and I was coming up on a sharp curve and when I hit my brakes my steering wheel LOCKED up completely and the steering wheel is so bent where I tried my best to control it but I failed and we hit a tree head on. Broke my nose and my sons leg broke in between the back seat air bag and door air bag
NHTSA complaint #11735916 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The contact owns a 2015 GMC Yukon. The contact stated that while driving at 40 MPH, the rear brakes became inoperable, causing the steering wheel to seize, with no warning lights illuminated. Due to the failure, the vehicle crashed into a tree. The contact and the contact’s child sustained injuries and were transported to a local emergency room for medical treatment. The contact suffered a broken nose and a chest fracture. The contact’s child sustained a broken leg due to deployment of the passenger-side air bag. The contact stated that the air bags deployed during the crash; however, the driver’s air bag failed to deploy. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to the contact’s residence. The dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was not available.
NHTSA complaint #11735658 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I was driving a dirt road in snow went to make a right turn onto road at a downhill angle and the airbags deployed on the side curtains all the way from front to rear
NHTSA complaint #11725676 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Purchased new August 29, 2025 On 12/3/25- Mileage 4495. Took vehicle in for first maintenance service. Tire rotation and oil change. On 1/7/26- Reported grinding noise we had began noticing when starting vehicle. Engine light Service ESC. Service Traction control. Reported to Ben Mynatt GM. On 1/8/26 Mileage 7120- Took Yukon in for service due to grinding noise. Due for 6 module updates and 3 stand alone updates. On 2/16/26 Noticed ticking noise when heat in on high. Scheduled service for 2/26. On 2/24/26 Smell from car, oil reporting low. Dip stick completely dry. Sent email and photos to Ben Mynatt Service. On 2/26/26 Took vehicle in for service. Service advised to start oil consumption test. Ordered blower motor for the squealing noise. Cyl 3 misfire. Was told by the dealer, possibly needs engine 2/27/26 Took Vehicle in for service Check engine light on. Bearing inside blower motor and blower motor replaced. Replaced coil cyl 3 Tire Rotation 2/28/26 Car shaking, smoking, engine light on. Terrible smell from exhaust. Engine light came on, Service ESC, Service Traction Control, Forward Collision Unavailable, Reduced Acceleration Drive with Care Alert. GMC Alert: Service the engine and transmission system immediately alert, Engine Light on. Vehicle Approx miles. Codes misfires to cylinder 3. Took vehicle right to Service Dept. Codes Cleared. Replaced coil on cyl 3 March 7th - Mileage 11,200 Car shaking vigorously! Engine light flashing. Loud knocking coming from vehicle. GMC alert: Service the engine and transmission system immediately alert. Emission system- service now. Engine and Transmission System Service now. Service antilock braking, Stabilitrack stability control systems and airbag system. Service Air Bag System. Emailed to Service March 9th. Took vehicle in. Cylinder 3 & 8 misfire code cold start rough idle code. Oil consumption using approx1 qt of oil/500 miles. Vehicle unsafe risk of engine seizure, fire risk and loss of acceleration is extreme danger
NHTSA complaint #11724693 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Vehicle: 2021 GMC Denali Mileage: ~48,000 miles Purchase Price: $62,000 Issue: Airbags & crash sensors failed to deploy Complaint Text: I am filing a safety complaint regarding my 2021 GMC Denali. I was involved in a rear-end collision at approximately 45 mph, where I struck another vehicle straight on from behind. The impact was severe enough to total my vehicle, yet no airbags deployed, and no forward collision warning or crash sensor systems activated. This is especially concerning because this vehicle was previously involved in a front-end collision (not my fault) and underwent extensive repairs. I was assured all systems were repaired and functioning properly. Additionally, my vehicle had completed recall work related to safety systems prior to this crash. This is the second front-end crash involving this vehicle where airbags failed to deploy. Given the speed and severity of the impact, airbags should have deployed. The failure of these systems placed my life at serious risk. The vehicle has since been totaled and taken by insurance, but I am requesting that this failure be formally investigated as a potential safety defect in the airbag and sensor systems. I am extremely concerned that the vehicle’s safety systems were either defective or not properly restored following repairs and recalls.
NHTSA complaint #11706440 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
the passenger-side frontal airbag inflators, The determination was made that the propellant in these inflators may degrade after long-term exposure to high humidity and temperature cycling, which could cause the inflator to rupture during a deployment.
NHTSA complaint #11691942 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
“Service safety restraint” light comes on and the dealership cannot pin point exactly what the issue is without taking the entire seat and air bag out. It’s come on 3 times. First time was linked to the overhead console needing replaced. Months later the light came on again and a seat harness connection was bad. It was replaced and light was off. 8 months later the light is back on again and they replaced the connection again and the light is off for now. This is a safety issue and should be a recall!
NHTSA complaint #11691222 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I was read ended at a stop light. The other drive fell asleep. She was in a 3.25 ton dodge ram going 45-55 mph. She never touched her brakes. She pushed me into the car in front of me. Air bags never deployed . My car is totaled. The driver’s car hit so hard the front of her car was in my third row of seats. I was taken to the hospital for chest pains since the seatbelt was the only thing that saved me .
NHTSA complaint #11683727 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The contact owned a 2021 GMC Denali. The contact stated that while his wife was driving at 25 MPH, the vehicle lost power steering. The vehicle failed to turn and crashed into a tree. There were no reported injuries. There were no warning lights. The contact stated that the failure was related to NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V455000 (Steering). The vehicle was taken to his residence. There was no police report filed, airbag deployment, or fire. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The insurance company deemed the vehicle to be a total loss. The manufacturer was contacted, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 67,000.
NHTSA complaint #11657167 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
My vehicle showing service safety restraint system and airbag light . When check with dealer code b14dc has appeared ( Driver inboard seat side air bag high control).
NHTSA complaint #11651383 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
As I have owned several GMC Yukons in the past, I was familiar with their dashboards cracking even when still under warranty. However, when my 2014 Yukon dashboard cracked, just out of warranty, I was shocked at the cost to replace and install a new dashboard. Thus, the replacement dashboard and labor charge to install it was simply unfeasable. As the dashboard continued to crack during the summer, an alternative mentioned to me by a mechanic at the GMC dealership was a "glued on cover called a dashskin." I purchased a Dashskin for about $125 and, following the instructions, glued the Dashskin over my existing dashboard. The Dashskin had an opening for the airbag and did not appear to impede the execution of the airbag should it be initiated. I've made two attempts to have the attached recall on the airbag satisfied but, on both occasions, GMC informed me that the dashboard would require removal. In my case, the dashboard and Dashskin would be unusable and I would be back to purchasing a very expensive dashboard. I know that there has been a longterm, ongoing lawsuit against GMC regarding their cracking dashboards, but have no idea of the results. However, their airbag recall coupled with their inferior dashboards should be their expense, not mine.
NHTSA complaint #11623661 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I received a safety recall notice for my vehicle and scheduled an appointment for repair, #N212328790. Upon arriving, the dealer advised me there was a very small crack in the dash and if the dash cracked during the removal or installation, GM would NOT reimburse for any damage to the dash. The default was with the manufacturer and if they didn't replace it correctly, I'd be out serious money to replace and maintain the value of the vehicle.
NHTSA complaint #11605190 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The brakes are hard to push to come to a stop. I brought it to a mechanic and he said it was my vacuum pump. The air bag light comes on when you hit a hard bump in the road.
NHTSA complaint #11605247 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
There are apparently a couple of faults affecting the SRS and leading to a periodic airbag light and "Service SRS" warning. GM has issued/revised a few Service Bulletins related to this warning. Some are related to software, some are related to overhead wiring, some are related to the clock spring in the steering wheel, and some are related to the driver's side airbag module. My understanding is that when the SRS warning appears, all airbags are disabled and GM says we drive our vehicles at our own risk. To my knowledge this has affected several models of approximately 2021-2023 GMC (Yukon and Sierra) and Chevrolet (Tahoe, Suburban, Silverado) SUVs and trucks.
NHTSA complaint #11596378 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The contact owns a 2021 GMC Yukon. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed and completing a turn, the forward warning collision system alarm sounded, but the vehicle failed to activate automatic emergency braking. As a result, the vehicle collided with another vehicle ahead. The air bags did not deploy. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who diagnosed a failure with the ABS. The vehicle was not repaired. A police report was not filed, and no injuries were reported. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.
NHTSA complaint #11586839 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.