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GMC air bag recalls: roof-rail inflators and sensor module faults
GMC's dominant air bag problem is the roof-rail inflator in 2018 Sierra 1500 and 2019 Sierra 2500/3500 crew cabs: the end cap can detach or the sidewall rupture, and GM has ordered the same module replacement four times — October 2024, June 2025, March 2026 and a May 2026 expansion. A 2020 recall separately covered poorly crimped roof-rail inflator diffusers on 2020 Sierra 1500, 2500, 3500 and Acadia. The rest are sensing and diagnostic module faults: the 2018 Terrain's module failing to power down, a 2022 Acadia shipped in manufacturing mode, and Canyon AT4X AEV software that can deploy a second stage when only the first is intended. The 2023 Terrain may also fail to switch the passenger bag off for a child.
Warning signs to watch for
- An air bag warning light behaving oddly — or, in the 2021 gateway module recall, failing to warn you of an air bag fault at all
- In a 2023 Terrain, the front passenger air bag staying enabled with a small child or child restraint in the seat
- Most of these defects show nothing at all beforehand; the failure only appears in a crash
- Nothing about the roof-rail inflator or the passenger air bag module is visible from inside the cab
Is it safe to keep driving?
None of the eleven GMC air bag notices tells owners to stop driving or park outside, including the repeated roof-rail inflator recalls on 2018 and 2019 Sierra crew cabs. GM describes the 2019 Sierra 1500 passenger air bag and the Canyon software defect as safe to drive with, since the risk only appears in a crash. The one behavioral change worth making now is in the 2023 Terrain: keep children and child restraints in the back seat until the passenger presence system is replaced. Book the free repairs promptly.
What the free repair involves
Everything here is free. For the roof-rail recalls dealers replace both left and right RRAB modules; the 2020 campaign replaces the suspect modules. The 2019 Sierra 1500 gets a new passenger air bag module and the 2023 Terrain a new passenger presence system. Software fixes cover the 2018 Terrain and Canyon SDM reprogramming, with the 2021 gateway update available at a dealer or over the air.
Severity at a glance
| Severity | Recalls |
|---|---|
| high | 8 |
| medium | 3 |
Models affected most
Every recall in this group
| Date | Recall | Severity |
|---|---|---|
| 2026-05-21 | Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra roof airbag recall expanded | high |
| 2026-03-19 | Chevrolet Silverado and GMC Sierra roof airbag can rupture | high |
| 2025-12-11 | GMC Canyon passenger airbag may inflate too forcefully | medium |
| 2025-06-26 | Chevrolet Silverado, GMC Sierra roof airbag may burst apart | high |
| 2024-10-10 | Silverado and Sierra crew cabs: roof airbag can burst | high |
| 2022-12-15 | Chevy Equinox, GMC Terrain passenger airbag may not switch off | high |
| 2021-09-10 | GMC Acadia airbags may not deploy in a crash | high |
| 2021-06-10 | GM SUVs and cars: airbag warning light may not work | medium |
| 2020-07-30 | GM Trucks and SUVs May Have Weak Roof Airbags | medium |
| 2018-12-06 | Chevy Silverado and GMC Sierra passenger airbag may not inflate | high |
| 2018-05-24 | GMC Terrain Airbags May Not Work After Restart | high |
Common questions
My Sierra already had its roof-rail air bags replaced — why another recall?
GM has issued the roof-rail inflator recall repeatedly on 2018 Sierra 1500 and 2019 Sierra 2500 and 3500 crew cabs, expanding it again in May 2026. An earlier repair does not mean your VIN is clear — check it with GMC at 1-888-988-7267.
Which of these GMC air bag recalls can be fixed over the air?
Only the 2021 communications gateway module recall, which affects the air bag warning light on GM models including the Yukon and Yukon XL. That software can be installed by a dealer or arrive over the air. Every other remedy needs a dealer visit.
Can I put my child in the front seat of a 2023 GMC Terrain?
Not until the passenger presence system is replaced. On Terrains with ventilated front passenger seats the system may fail to disable the front air bag for a small child or child restraint, so keep children and child seats in the rear.
A recall applies only to specific vehicles. Check your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.