# GMC Sierra airbag warning light: complaints, recalls and what to do **Verdict:** Drive to a shop this week - **Owner complaints:** 18 - **Most complaints:** 2015 (6) - **Related recalls:** 12 - **Verdict:** This week ## Quick answer NHTSA has 18 owner complaints about the airbag warning light on the GMC Sierra (2015-2026 models), most for the **2015** model year (6). There are **12 recalls** for related parts; check yours by VIN. Drive to a shop this week: The car is mechanically safe to drive, but the airbags may not deploy in a crash, so get it diagnosed soon rather than ignoring it. ## GMC Sierra airbag warning light complaints by model year | Model year | Complaints mentioning the airbag light | All complaints that year | Share | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 2015 | 6 | 818 | 1% | | 2017 | 3 | 431 | 1% | | 2019 | 1 | 658 | 0% | | 2020 | 1 | 484 | 0% | | 2021 | 5 | 599 | 1% | | 2022 | 1 | 603 | 0% | | 2024 | 1 | 380 | 0% | Counts are complaints filed with NHTSA whose description mentions this light. They show where owners have had trouble, not a failure rate: popular years collect more complaints simply because more cars are on the road. ## GMC Sierra recalls related to the airbag warning light **[26V611000](https://www.nhtsa.gov/recalls?nhtsaId=26V611000)** (2016-2017 models, reported 2026-09-24): A detached end cap or inflator rupture can allow compressed gas to escape and project the end cap or fragments of the inflator into the vehicle, increasing the risk of injury. **Remedy:** Dealers will replace both RRAB modules, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed October 21, 2026. **[26V325000](https://www.nhtsa.gov/recalls?nhtsaId=26V325000)** (2018 models, reported 2026-05-21): A detached end cap or inflator rupture can allow compressed gas to escape and project the end cap or fragments of the inflator into the vehicle, increasing the risk of injury. **Remedy:** Dealers will replace both RRAB modules, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 24, 2026. **[26V166000](https://www.nhtsa.gov/recalls?nhtsaId=26V166000)** (2018 models, reported 2026-03-19): A detached end cap or inflator rupture can allow compressed gas to escape and project the end cap or fragments of the inflator into the vehicle, increasing the risk of injury. **Remedy:** Dealers will replace the left and right-side RRAB modules, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 16, 2026. **[25V432000](https://www.nhtsa.gov/recalls?nhtsaId=25V432000)** (2018 models, reported 2025-06-26): A detached end cap or inflator rupture can allow compressed gas to escape and project the end cap or fragments of the inflator into the vehicle, increases the risk of injury or crash. **Remedy:** Dealers will replace the left and right side RRAB modules, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 23, 2025. **[24V756000](https://www.nhtsa.gov/recalls?nhtsaId=24V756000)** (2018 models, reported 2024-10-10): A separated inflator end cap or inflator rupture can allow compressed gas to escape, resulting in the end cap or other components being propelled into the vehicle, increasing the risk of injury or crash. **Remedy:** Dealers will replace the left and right side RRAB modules, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 8, 2024. **[21V504000](https://www.nhtsa.gov/recalls?nhtsaId=21V504000)** (2015-2016 models, reported 2021-07-01): A separated inflator end cap or inflator rupture can allow compressed gas to escape, resulting in the end cap or other components being propelled into the vehicle, increasing the risk of injury or crash. **Remedy:** Dealers will replace the left and right side RRAB modules, free of charge. Interim owner notification letters informing owners of the safety risk were mailed on August 18, 2021. Owners will receive a second notice when the remedy is available. Phase I owner notification letters were mailed on May 5, 2022. Phase II... **[20V736000](https://www.nhtsa.gov/recalls?nhtsaId=20V736000)** (2015-2016 models, reported 2020-11-25): If the end cap separates from the inflator, the compressed gas will escape and the end cap can be propelled into the vehicle, increasing the risk of injury or a crash. **Remedy:** GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the RRAB modules on the left and/or right side, free of charge. Interim owner notification letters were mailed on December 22, 2020. **[20V446000](https://www.nhtsa.gov/recalls?nhtsaId=20V446000)** (2020 models, reported 2020-07-30): If the diffuser separates from the inflator during deployment, RRAB performance may be degraded, increasing the risk of injury in a crash. **Remedy:** GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the suspect RRAB modules, free of charge. The recall began September 3, 2020. **[18V868000](https://www.nhtsa.gov/recalls?nhtsaId=18V868000)** (2019 models, reported 2018-12-06): In the event of a crash, an air bag that does not inflate properly can increase the risk of injury. **Remedy:** GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger side air bag module, free of charge. The recall began on December 18, 2018. **[17V437000](https://www.nhtsa.gov/recalls?nhtsaId=17V437000)** (2015-2017 models, reported 2017-07-10): A failure of the front air bags or seat belt pretensioners to deploy in the event of a crash necessitating deployment increases the risk of injury to the driver and front passenger. **Remedy:** GM will notify owners, and dealers will reflash the SDM software. Vehicles that have had a previous air bag deployment will have the SDM replaced. These repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began on August 4, 2017. **[16V651000](https://www.nhtsa.gov/recalls?nhtsaId=16V651000)** (2015-2017 models, reported 2016-09-08): A failure of the front air bags or seat belt pretensioners to deploy in the event of a crash necessitating deployment increases the risk of injury to the driver and front passenger. **Remedy:** GM will notify owners, and dealers will reflash the SDM software. Vehicles that have had a previous air bag deployment will have the SDM replaced. These repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began on October 13, 2016. **[15V830000](https://www.nhtsa.gov/recalls?nhtsaId=15V830000)** (2016 models, reported 2015-12-10): If the SDM housing fractures, water may get into SDM causing it to malfunction and hinder the proper deployment of the air bags in the event of a crash, thereby increasing the risk of occupant injury. **Remedy:** GM will notify owners, and dealers will have the mounting stud repositioned and the SDM replaced, free of charge. The recall began December 2, 2015. Recall repairs are free at any GMC dealer. Enter your 17-character VIN at [nhtsa.gov/recalls](https://www.nhtsa.gov/recalls) to see whether yours is still open. ## What GMC Sierra owners report - "My airbag lamp also illuminated and is now on. Upon researching this issue, it refers to potential failure of seatbelts and/or airbags. I have an appointment tomorrow at the dealership to have them diagnose the issue." -- owner of a 2024 GMC Sierra, complaint filed 2025 - "Check brake system, check srs, check parking brake and check engine light flashing came on at the same time. The problem has been reproduced at a mechanics shop and has been determined that cylinder 6 is dead." -- owner of a 2021 GMC Sierra, complaint filed 2026 - "I receive at random times the warning in the DIC (driver information center) on the dash of my car together with an air bag warning light. I have had this happen sometimes frequently and sometimes not for a thousand miles. I have taken it in at least 8 times, some parts were replaced in seat belt, but it continues..." -- owner of a 2020 GMC Sierra, complaint filed 2022 Excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly cleaned for reading. They are owners' own accounts and have not been verified. ## What the airbag warning light means The airbag or SRS light means the airbag computer found a fault and may have turned off some or all airbags. The car drives normally, but you may not have airbag protection in a crash. Common causes include a loose connector under a seat, a worn clock spring in the steering wheel, and a seat belt buckle sensor. Have it diagnosed soon and check for open airbag recalls. The most common causes, on any make: 1. **Loose or damaged connector under a seat** (common) 2. **Worn clock spring in the steering wheel** (common) 3. **Passenger occupant sensor fault** (less common) 4. **Seat belt buckle or pretensioner fault** (less common) Full causes, what to do and how to reset it: [Airbag (SRS) warning light](/warning-lights/airbag). ## Frequently asked questions ### Is there a recall for the GMC Sierra airbag light? Yes. NHTSA lists 12 related recalls (26V611000, 26V325000, 26V166000, 25V432000, 24V756000, 21V504000, 20V736000, 20V446000, 18V868000, 17V437000, 16V651000, 15V830000) covering 2015-2020 models. Recall repairs are free; check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see if yours is open. ### Which GMC Sierra years have the most airbag light complaints? In NHTSA's database the 2015, 2017 and 2021 Sierra model years have the most complaints mentioning the airbag warning light, with 6 for 2015. Complaint counts reflect how many cars were sold as well as how often problems happen. ### Is it safe to drive a GMC Sierra with the airbag light on? Drive to a shop this week. The car is mechanically safe to drive, but the airbags may not deploy in a crash, so get it diagnosed soon rather than ignoring it. Do not try to repair airbag parts yourself, because an accidental deployment can cause serious injury. ### How do I check if my GMC Sierra has an open recall? Enter the 17-character VIN from your dashboard or registration at nhtsa.gov/recalls, or ask any GMC dealer. Open recalls are fixed free of charge, even if you are not the first owner. ## Sources - [NHTSA: Vehicle safety complaints and recalls (api.nhtsa.gov)](https://www.nhtsa.gov/nhtsa-datasets-and-apis) - [NHTSA: Check for recalls by VIN](https://www.nhtsa.gov/recalls) ## Other GMC Sierra warning lights - [ABS warning light](https://diagxcar.com/warning-lights/abs/gmc-sierra): 37 complaints - [Brake warning light](https://diagxcar.com/warning-lights/brake/gmc-sierra): 206 complaints - [Check engine light](https://diagxcar.com/warning-lights/check-engine/gmc-sierra): 540 complaints - [Coolant temperature warning light](https://diagxcar.com/warning-lights/coolant-temperature/gmc-sierra): 58 complaints - [Oil pressure warning light](https://diagxcar.com/warning-lights/oil-pressure/gmc-sierra): 57 complaints - [Power steering warning light](https://diagxcar.com/warning-lights/power-steering/gmc-sierra): 212 complaints - [Traction control light](https://diagxcar.com/warning-lights/traction-control/gmc-sierra): 180 complaints ## Airbag (SRS) warning light on other models - [Subaru Forester](https://diagxcar.com/warning-lights/airbag/subaru-forester): 280 complaints - [Nissan Altima](https://diagxcar.com/warning-lights/airbag/nissan-altima): 250 complaints - [Ford Explorer](https://diagxcar.com/warning-lights/airbag/ford-explorer): 205 complaints - [Nissan Rogue](https://diagxcar.com/warning-lights/airbag/nissan-rogue): 163 complaints - [Honda Accord](https://diagxcar.com/warning-lights/airbag/honda-accord): 90 complaints - [Jeep Wrangler](https://diagxcar.com/warning-lights/airbag/jeep-wrangler): 88 complaints - [Ram 1500](https://diagxcar.com/warning-lights/airbag/ram-1500): 77 complaints - [Volkswagen Tiguan](https://diagxcar.com/warning-lights/airbag/volkswagen-tiguan): 75 complaints - [Jeep Cherokee](https://diagxcar.com/warning-lights/airbag/jeep-cherokee): 71 complaints - [Chevrolet Traverse](https://diagxcar.com/warning-lights/airbag/chevrolet-traverse): 69 complaints ## GMC Sierra - [GMC Sierra specs and mpg by year](https://diagxcar.com/vehicles/gmc-sierra) --- Source page: https://diagxcar.com/warning-lights/airbag/gmc-sierra Updated: 2026-11-04 General information, not a substitute for a qualified mechanic.