GM has filed six safety recalls in 2026 that cover the Chevrolet Silverado 1500. The newest, filed on September 24, is the only one this fall. It covers 2016–2017 crew cabs whose roof-rail air bag inflators can rupture. The rest of the year's Silverado 1500 recalls cover more roof-rail air bags on 2018 trucks, a transfer case part missing on some 2026 4WD trucks, a transmission software fix for 2020–2022 models and a missing digital owner's manual. Every repair is free at a Chevrolet dealer.
Silverado 1500 recalls in 2026
We checked NHTSA's recall database for every Silverado 1500 model year from 2014 through 2027. These are all the 2026 campaigns that include the 1500, newest first:
| NHTSA campaign | GM no. | Silverado 1500 years | Vehicles | Problem |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 26V611000 | N262569920 | 2016–2017 (crew cab) | 1,559 (725 Silverado 1500) | Roof-rail air bag inflator can rupture |
| 26V325000 | N262557310 | 2018 | 4,315 | Roof-rail air bag inflator can rupture (expands 26V166) |
| 26V289000 | N262557620 | 2026 (4WD) | 66 | Missing transfer case part can lock the wheels |
| 26V166000 | N262549710 | 2018 | 2,819 | Roof-rail air bag inflator can rupture |
| 26V114000 | N252540430 | 2026 | 5,861 | Electronic owner's manual not downloaded |
| 26V083000 | N252516560 | 2020–2022 | 1,055 | Transmission valve can fail and lock the rear wheels |
The vehicle counts are NHTSA's totals for each whole campaign. Most of the campaigns also include GMC Sierra 1500s and, in some cases, heavy-duty pickups or GM SUVs. Only the fall air bag recall gives a separate count for the Silverado 1500.
Fall 2026: 2016–2017 Silverado roof-rail air bag recall (26V611000)
The roof-rail air bags sit above the headliner on both sides of the cab. On affected trucks, the end cap can separate from the inflator or the inflator's wall can split. Either way, compressed gas escapes, and the end cap or other pieces can be thrown into the cabin and hurt anyone inside.
GM's filing traces the problem to two supplier defects that occurred together: a small crack in the inflator canister plus a little water left inside after washing, which caused the metal to corrode and crack over time. The recall began after the owner of a 2016 Silverado 1500 reported in July 2026 that the left roof-rail air bag ruptured shortly after they started driving. The occupants reported ringing in their ears, and GM says it knows of no other ruptures from this inflator lot.
- Trucks: crew cabs only. NHTSA lists 723 2016 Silverado 1500s built April 30 to May 11, 2016, and two 2017 models. Regular and double cabs are not affected.
- Fix: dealers replace both the left and right roof-rail air bag modules.
- Owner letters: NHTSA's recall record says they were mailed October 21, 2026. GM's original filing had estimated November 9.
See our 2016 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 and 2017 Silverado 1500 pages for specs.
2018 Silverado roof-rail air bag recalls (26V166000, 26V325000)
The same kind of inflator failure led to two earlier recalls of 2018 Silverado 1500 crew cabs. These recalls also cover the 2018 Sierra 1500 and 2019 heavy-duty trucks. The March campaign covered 2,819 vehicles, and the May expansion added another 4,315. The fix is the same: new roof-rail air bag modules on both sides. Owner letters went out on April 16 and June 24, 2026. Specs for the affected year are on our 2018 Silverado 1500 page.
2026 Silverado 1500 transfer case recall (26V289000)
On some 2026 Silverado 1500s with 4WD, a part may be missing from the transfer case. That can lock the front or rear wheels without any warning to the driver. GM tells owners not to drive these trucks until they are repaired. Dealers will inspect the transfer case and replace it if needed. The recall covers 66 vehicles across GM's full-size trucks and SUVs, and owner letters went out on May 18, 2026.
2020–2022 Silverado transmission recall (26V083000)
This recall is a follow-up to an earlier one. Some 2020–2022 Silverado 1500s that were fixed under recall 24V797 may have been repaired incorrectly. As a result, the transmission control valve can still fail and lock the rear wheels. Dealers will inspect the trucks and update the transmission control software. Letters were mailed March 6, 2026. See our 2020 and 2021 Silverado 1500 pages.
2026 Silverado owner's manual recall (26V114000)
On some 2026 GM vehicles, including the Silverado 1500, the radio was not set at the factory to download the electronic owner's manual. Without the manual, the trucks fail federal standard FMVSS 208. Dealers reset the radio so the manual downloads automatically.
How to check your Silverado for recalls
- Enter your truck's 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. The search lists every open safety recall for that truck, and the VINs for all six campaigns above are already searchable.
- Call Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020 or any Chevrolet dealer to book the free repair.
Oil capacity, tire sizes and the full recall history for each model year are on our Chevrolet Silverado 1500 specs page.