According to documents submitted by the Detroit-based car manufacturer to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, only six vehicles have been equipped with potentially faulty airbag inflators. A defect in the manufacturing process may hinder the proper deployment of the airbag’s second stage in high-speed collisions, thereby increasing the risk of harm.
Due to this manufacturing flaw, the affected inflators do not fill the airbag as swiftly and completely as intended for the second-stage activation. In this context, the second stage refers to the inflation of the airbag at high pressure to safeguard the occupant’s chest and abdomen during the most severe accidents. The first stage is designed for head and neck protection.
The attached document identifies ARC Automotive Inc. of Knoxville, Tennessee, as the supplier of the entire driver airbag module, which carries part number 20928235 in General Motors’ parts system. General Motors is currently investigating the underlying cause behind the improper deployment of the second stage.
General Motors initiated the investigation on December 1, 2023, prompted by the discovery of a driver airbag inflator that failed to activate the second stage during laboratory testing. On January 2, 2024, GM was informed of two additional inflators that also failed laboratory testing. Thus far, there have been no reported incidents in the field related to the improper deployment.
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Dealers have already received instructions to replace the entire airbag modules, including the inflators, rather than just the faulty components. The suspect modules must be returned to Autoliv. Owners will receive notifications via first-class mail by no later than March 25, 2024. The attached report does not provide any vehicle identification numbers (VINs). Owners can attempt to enter their 17-character VIN on the NHTSA’s website, but it is important to note that GM’s Global Warranty Management system is more up to date. Therefore, it is advisable to contact the nearest dealer to determine if their GMT900-series pickup truck or SUV is subject to a recall.
The K2XX series replaced the GMT900 platform, which General Motors subsequently replaced with the T1XX. The T1XX was specifically developed for large trucks and sport utility vehicles, serving as the foundation for models ranging from the entry-level Silverado 1500 WT to the luxurious Escalade-V.
For the 2024 model year, the light-duty Silverado starts at a price of $36,800 in the United States. It boasts a towing capacity of up to 13,300 pounds (6,033 kilograms) and a payload capacity of 2,260 pounds (1,025 pounds). The Chevrolet Tahoe, on the other hand, is priced higher, with starting prices at $56,200 for the LS trim level with two-wheel drive.
Due to its longer wheelbase, the Suburban carries a $3,000 higher price tag compared to the Tahoe. Both the Tahoe and Suburban underwent updates for the 2025 model year, although pricing details are currently unavailable.
According to the Source autoevolution.com