Problems · by component

2003 GMC Envoy air bags problems

51 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2003 GMC Envoy cite air bags, 8% of all 642 complaints for this model year. NHTSA also lists 2 recalls on this component.

Complaints
51
8% of all complaints
Crashes
36
Reported by owners
Fires
2
Reported by owners
Injuries
38
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the air bags

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“MY WIFE WAS SITTING IN THE BACKSEAT AND THE BACK DOOR FLEW OPEN ON THE HIGHWAY. I HAVE ALSO NOTICED THE OTHER BACK DOOR IS NOT CLICKING SHUT AND THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 11, 2020Air bags, StructureODI 11324152
“MY SPOUSE WAS DRIVING DOWN S/B ON RT 313 @ RT 290 MARYLAND. HE HIT A DEER AND ROLLED MY ENVOY AND THE AIR BAGS NEVER DEPLOYED. MY SON WAS IN FRONT PASSAGER SET WITH A SET BELT ON AND WHEN THE ENVOY ROLLED HIS SET BELT DID NOT HOLD HIM ON. MY SPOUSE TOLD ME THE ANIT-LOCK BREAKS DID NOT ENGAGE WHEN HE SLAM ON THE BREAKS .”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Nov 30, 2019Air bags, Seat belts, Service brakesCrash reportedODI 11283031
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2003 GMC ENVOY. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH AND ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A LEFT TURN, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO THE FRONT END OF ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES THAT DID NOT REQUIRE MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DECLARED TOTALED BY THE INSURANCE COMPANY AND TOWED FROM THE SCENE. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 300,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 11, 2018Air bagsCrash reportedODI 11093358
“AIR BAG LIGHT STAYS ON CAN NOT OPEN REAR DOOR FROM INSIDE OF VEHICLE ALL 4 CIGGERETE LIGHTERS DO NOT WORK DRIVERS SIDE WINDOW GETS STUCK GOING UP AND DOWN. NO MANUAL ENCLOSED WITJ PURCHSE.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 6, 2018Electrical system, Air bags, Unknown or otherODI 11092085
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 GMC ENVOY. WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Feb 23, 2016Air bagsODI 10837741
“WHILE TRAVELING 55 MILES PER HOUR ON ICY ROADS MY VEHICLE LOST CONTROL AND HIT A GUARD RAIL, THEN A TELEPHONE PHONE WHICH WAS KNOCKED OVER CAUSING IT TO ROLL 3 TIMES. THE VEHICLE IS A TOTAL LOSS. DURING THE ACCIDENT NONE OF THE AIRBAGS WERE DEPLOYED. AS TRAUMATIC AS THE ACCIDENT WAS I FEEL THEY SHOULD OF WENT OFF.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Dec 1, 2015Air bagsCrash reportedODI 10807803

Showing 6 of 51 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Oct 28, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Related recalls

2 recalls on this component

Air bags: inflator module

Free remedy

ON CERTAIN MINI VANS, PASSENGER AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, SOME OF THESE VEHICLES HAVE A DRIVER'S SIDE AIR BAG THAT MAY NOT DEPLOY AS DESIGNED. IN ADDITION, THE AIR BAG INFLATOR COULD RUPTURE.

Air bagsReported Feb 14, 2003NHTSA 03V051000

Air bags: frontal

Free remedy

CERTAIN PASSENGER, MINI VANS, AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES HAVE AN AIR BAG INFLATOR ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE THAT COULD FRACTURE AT A WELD DURING A DEPLOYMENT.

Air bagsReported Aug 9, 2002NHTSA 02V222000
Data from NHTSA Recalls API · synced Oct 28, 2026

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.