Problems · by component

2005 GMC Envoy air bags problems

33 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2005 GMC Envoy cite air bags, 5% of all 624 complaints for this model year. NHTSA also lists 1 recall on this component.

Complaints
33
5% of all complaints
Crashes
15
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
21
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the air bags

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“The contact owned a 2005 GMC Envoy. The contact stated that while driving approximately 30 MPH, another vehicle driven by a drunk driver swerved into the front of the vehicle, causing a front collision. The air bags failed to deploy. The contact hit his face again on the steering wheel, but did not seek medical assistance. The contact's wife, who was occupying the front passenger seat and wearing a seat belt, was severely injured and was transported to the hospital by ambulance. The contact's wife was diagnosed by a trauma surgeon. The contact's wife was diagnosed with a fractured right knee cap, right ankle bone chips and ligament damage, damaged left toes, a double bone bruise in the left knee, bruised seat belt mark. The contact's wife was hospitalized for 6 days and was admitted to a rehabilitation facility for 11 days. The contact stated that his wife was currently confined to a wheelchair. The contact's wife was currently awaiting a knee replacement. The vehicle was towed and totaled. A police report was filed. The dealer and the manufacturer were not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 270,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 28, 2025Air bagsCrash reportedODI 11651384
“On steering wheel where the GMC logo is . Melted/Melting from underneath. Some type of clear color gooey. Have been told it is seal for airbag. Also none of the chimes are not working at all example * seat belts, door,blinkers,dashboard chimes *dummy lights*,along with Bose stereo. Last issues are REAR VIEW MIRROR... KEEPS FALLING OFF. have taken to dealership SEVERAL TIMES! Now they are saying that I need to contact my auto insurance provider to put in claims.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 12, 2024Electrical system, Air bags, Visibility/wiperODI 11601561
“I purchased my envoy from a used car lot with no warning lights and no apparent safety concerns about 2 yrs ago other then what appeared to be a replaced front bumper cover and the vehicle was repainted the same color white, since then the brakes have intermittently not disengaged on one side or the other I believe it's the front brakes and seems to be worse after a longer drives and after bleeding the system the pedal would be firm and next day spongy feeling and going down rather far. Air bags did not deploy apon impact. It is available for inspiration although I am attempting to repair it after my accident the brakes are still as they were. I have tried both on as well as performance pads and rotors booster check valve and fluid replacement with no change. I was coming back from my daughter's dentist appointment it is 20 minutes away the roads were very slick with snow and sleet, I got off the hwy and coming through town I braked to slow from 45 to 35mph before crossing the intersection when I let off the brake the left side stayed engaged enough to cause the vehicle to pull to the left and I couldn't steer straight because of the snow and was forced to hit…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Dec 16, 2021Air bagsCrash reportedODI 11444000
“WHILE PROCEEDING TO TAKE A LEFT TURN AFTER COMING TO A STOP AT A T INTERSECTION BOTH DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE CURTAIN AIRBAGS DEPLOYED ON THEIR OWN. THIS SCARED MY WIFE TO DEATH! IT CAUSED HER TO BUMP THE CURB WITH ONE IF THE TIRES ONLY, NO ACCIDENT. THANKFULLY SHE WAS OFF WORK AND THE KIDS WERE ALREADY AT SCHOOL AND NOT WITH HER AT THE TIME! I CALLED GM IMMEDIATELY AND REPORTED THIS. AN INVESTIGATION WAS CONDUCTED AND LASTED ABOUT 2 MONTHS. I WAS INFORMED THAT THE FINDINGS WERE CONFIDENTIAL AND THAT THEY WOULD NOT BE REPAIRING MY VEHICLE! YOU HAVE GOT TO BE KIDDING ME. MY WIFE SUFFERED A MINOR HEAD INJURY, SCARE OF HER LIFE NOT TO MENTION WE WERE NOT PROVIDED WITH A RENTAL, COMMUNICATIONS WERE POOR AT BEST WITH OUR CAR WORKER AT GM. SHE WAS EVEN OUT SICK FOR A WEEK, IT TOOK ME 4 DAYS FOR SOMEONE TO FINALLY TELL ME THAT. THE ENVOY IS A 2005 AND WAS BOUGHT NEW AND HAS BEEN WITH OUR FAMILY EVER SINCE. LOW MILEAGE JUST TURNING 100K. VERY WELL CARED FOR. I AM FLOORED THAT GM IS NOT REPAIRING OUR BABY! I HAVE SEEN MANY REPORTS OF THE SAME ONLINE. I TRULY FEEL GM IS DECEIVING THE PUBLIC TO A BIGGER PROBLEM. HENCE THE REASON THEY STATED THE FINDINGS ARE CONFIDENTIAL.…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 12, 2020Air bagsODI 11317798
“MY VEHICLE WHEN PURCHASED WAS ALTERED FROM CLOTH SEATS TO LEATHER BY THE DEALERSHIP WHERE PURCHASED. 3 DAYS AGO MY CAR IS SIGNALING ME TO SERVICE AIRBAG WHILE DRIVING THE CAR OR IN IDLE. SO I IMMEDIATELY TOOK IT TO A CERTIFIED MECHANIC AT MEINEKE AND WAS TOLD THAT THIS IS A MANUFACTURER DEFECT AND THERE IS A RECALL FOR THIS ON MY YEAR, MAKE & MODEL SUV. I CALLED GM ON 11/29/2019 AND WAS TOLD BY A SUPERVISOR NAMED ANGEL THERE HAS BEEN NO RECALLS BY THEIR MANUFACTURER AND THERE IS NOTHING MORE SHE CAN DO ABOUT THE MATTER. I CANNOT DRIVE MY CAR LIKE THIS KNOWING THIS CAN BE POTENTIALLY HARMFUL AND HAZARDOUS.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Nov 29, 2019Power train, Air bags, EngineODI 11282890
“MY ACCIDENT WAS MAY 25TH 2018, MY BACK PASSENGER WENT OFF OF A SOFT SHOULDER THROWING ME INTO 2 TREES, I HIT FIRST ONE AND SEATBELT CAME APART BUT STILL OVER ONE SHOULDER HITTING SECOND TREE AND ONLY THING THAT SAVED ME WAS MY RIGHT FOOT WAS UNDER THE BRAKE AND NOT ON IT, I HIT MY HEAD ON WINDSHIELD CAUSING ME TO HAVE VISION PROBLEMS, SEVERE WHIPLASH, AND RSD IN RIGHT LEG, I HAVE TO HAVE CANE, WALKER, OR POWERCHAIR, MY HUSBAND WANTS A DIVORCE BC OF MY DEPRESSION, MY KIDS GET FUSTRASTED BC I FORGET I SAID SOMETHING AND I CONTINUE TO REPEATEDLY SAY THING, I NEVER HAD NONE OF THIS WRONG WITH ME TILL THIS ACCIDENT AND MONIQUE HILL IN CLAIMS SAYS NONE OF MY INJURIES NOR MY FAMILY PROBLEMS HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH GENERAL MOTORS AND I DIDN'T HIT SENSORS, I NEVER HAD A SEATBELT ON BUT IF THAT WAS THE CASE THAT DING SOUND WOULDN'T HAVE STOPPED! MY LIFE HAS COMPLETELY CHANGED AND I'M LOSING MY FAMILY BC OF A ACCIDENT”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 29, 2019Air bags, Seat belts, Fuel/propulsion systemCrash reportedODI 11172835

Showing 6 of 33 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Oct 30, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Related recalls

1 recall on this component

Air bags: frontal

Free remedy

CERTAIN VEHICLES ORIGINALLY BUILT WITH CLOTH SEATS THAT WERE EQUIPPED WITH AN AUTOMATIC AIR BAG PASSENGER SENSING SYSTEM AND LATER REUPHOLSTERED WITH AFTERMARKET LEATHER SEAT COVER KITS ARE INVOLVED. TESTING HAS INDICATED THAT THE AFTERMARKET LEATHER SEAT COVERS CAN CAUSE THE PASSENGER SENSING SYSTEM TO MALFUNCTION.

Air bagsReported Oct 31, 2006NHTSA 06V417000
Data from NHTSA Recalls API · synced Oct 30, 2026

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