Get Seats and Restraints -> Airbag System Guide for Chevrolet Silverado 1500 Light Truck 2023

Seats and Restraints

59

Torn or frayed seat belts can rip apart under

impact forces. If a belt is torn or frayed,

have it replaced immediately. If a belt is

twisted, it may be possible to untwist by

reversing the latch plate on the webbing.

If the twist cannot be corrected, ask your

dealer to fix it.

crash may have been stressed or damaged.

See your dealer to have the seat belt

assemblies inspected or replaced.

Warning

{

Do not bleach or dye seat belt webbing.

It may severely weaken the webbing. In

a crash, they might not be able to

provide adequate protection. Clean and

rinse seat belt webbing only with mild

soap and lukewarm water. Allow the

webbing to dry.

New parts and repairs may be necessary

even if the seat belt system was not being

used at the time of the crash.

Have the seat belt pretensioners checked if

the vehicle has been in a crash, or if the

airbag readiness light stays on after you

start the vehicle or while you are driving.

See Airbag Readiness Light 0 116.

Make sure the seat belt reminder light is

working. See Seat Belt Reminders 0 115.

Keep seat belts clean and dry. See Seat Belt

Care 0 59.

Replacing Seat Belt System Parts

after a Crash

Seat Belt Care

Keep belts clean and dry.

Airbag System

The vehicle has the following airbags:

Warning

{

Seat belts should be properly cared for and

maintained.

A crash can damage the seat belt system

in the vehicle. A damaged seat belt

system may not properly protect the

person using it, resulting in serious injury

or even death in a crash. To help make

sure the seat belt systems are working

properly after a crash, have them

.

A frontal airbag for the driver

.

A frontal airbag for the front outboard

passenger

Seat belt hardware should be kept dry and

free of dust or debris. As necessary, exterior

hard surfaces and seat belt webbing may be

lightly cleaned with mild soap and water.

Ensure there is not excessive dust or debris

in the mechanism. If dust or debris exists in

the system please see the dealer. Parts may

need to be replaced to ensure proper

.

A seat-mounted side impact airbag for the

driver

A seat-mounted side impact airbag for the

front outboard passenger

A roof-rail airbag for the driver and the

passenger seated directly behind the

driver

inspected and any necessary

replacements made as soon as possible.

After a minor crash, replacement of seat

belts may not be necessary. But the seat

belt assemblies that were used during any

functionality of the system.

60

Seats and Restraints

.

A roof-rail airbag for the front outboard

passenger and the passenger seated

directly behind the front outboard

passenger

Warning (Continued)

Warning

{

You can be severely injured or killed in a

crash if you are not wearing your seat

belt, even with airbags. Airbags are

designed to work with seat belts, not

replace them. Also, airbags are not

designed to inflate in every crash. In

some crashes seat belts are the only

restraint. See When Should an Airbag

Inflate? 0 62.

unnecessarily close to any airbag, as you

would be if sitting on the edge of the

seat or leaning forward. Seat belts help

keep you in position before and during a

crash. Always wear a seat belt, even with

airbags. The driver should sit as far back

as possible while still maintaining control

of the vehicle. The seat belts and the

front outboard passenger airbags are

most effective when you are sitting well

back and upright in the seat with both

feet on the floor.

All vehicle airbags have the word AIRBAG on

the trim or on a label near the deployment

opening.

For frontal airbags, the word AIRBAG is on

the center of the steering wheel for the

driver and on the instrument panel for the

front outboard passenger.

Wearing your seat belt during a crash

helps reduce your chance of hitting

things inside the vehicle or being ejected

from it. Airbags are “supplemental

restraints” to the seat belts. Everyone in

the vehicle should wear a seat belt

properly, whether or not there is an

airbag for that person.

For seat-mounted side impact airbags, the

word AIRBAG is on the side of the seatback

or side of the seat closest to the door.

Occupants should not lean on or sleep

against the door or side windows in

seating positions with seat-mounted side

impact airbags and/or roof-rail airbags.

For roof-rail airbags, the word AIRBAG is on

the ceiling or trim.

Airbags are designed to supplement the

protection provided by seat belts. Even

though today's airbags are also designed to

help reduce the risk of injury from the force

of an inflating bag, all airbags must inflate

very quickly to do their job.

Warning

{

Warning

{

Children who are up against, or very

close to, any airbag when it inflates can

be seriously injured or killed. Always

secure children properly in the vehicle. To

read how, see Older Children 0 70 or

Infants and Young Children 0 71.

Because airbags inflate with great force

and faster than the blink of an eye,

anyone who is up against, or very close

to, any airbag when it inflates can be

seriously injured or killed. Do not sit

(Continued)

Here are the most important things to know

about the airbag system:

Seats and Restraints

61

The driver frontal airbag is in the center of

the steering wheel.

There is an airbag readiness light on the

instrument cluster, which shows the airbag

symbol.

The system checks the airbag electrical

system for malfunctions. The light tells you

if there is an electrical problem. See Airbag

Readiness Light 0 116.

Driver Side Shown, Passenger Side Similar

The driver and front outboard passenger

seat-mounted side impact airbags are in the

side of the seatbacks closest to the door.

Where Are the Airbags?

The front outboard passenger frontal airbag

is in the passenger side instrument panel.

62

Seats and Restraints

Frontal airbags are designed to inflate in

moderate to severe frontal crashes to help

reduce the potential for severe injuries,

mainly to the driver's or front outboard

passenger's head and chest.

Warning (Continued)

do not attach or put anything on the

steering wheel hub or on or near any

other airbag covering.

Whether the frontal airbags will or should

inflate is not based primarily on how fast

the vehicle is traveling. It depends on what

is hit, the direction of the impact, and how

quickly the vehicle slows down.

Do not use seat accessories that block the

inflation path of a seat-mounted side

impact airbag.

Never secure anything to the roof of a

vehicle with roof-rail airbags by routing a

rope or tie‐down through any door or

window opening. If you do, the path of

an inflating roof-rail airbag will be

blocked.

Frontal airbags may inflate at different crash

speeds depending on whether the vehicle

hits an object straight on or at an angle,

and whether the object is fixed or moving,

rigid or deformable, narrow or wide.

Driver Side Crew Cab Shown, Passenger Side

Double and Regular Cabs Similar

The roof-rail airbags for the driver, front

outboard passenger, and second row

outboard passengers are in the ceiling above

the side windows.

Frontal airbags are not intended to inflate

during vehicle rollovers, rear impacts,

or many side impacts.

When Should an Airbag Inflate?

This vehicle is equipped with airbags. See

Airbag System 0 59. Airbags are designed to

inflate if the impact exceeds the specific

airbag system's deployment threshold.

Deployment thresholds are used to predict

how severe a crash is likely to be in time

for the airbags to inflate and help restrain

the occupants. The vehicle has electronic

sensors that help the airbag system

determine the severity of the impact.

Deployment thresholds can vary with

specific vehicle design.

In addition, the vehicle has advanced

technology frontal airbags. Advanced

technology frontal airbags adjust the

restraint according to crash severity.

Warning

{

If something is between an occupant and

an airbag, the airbag might not inflate

properly or it might force the object into

that person causing severe injury or even

death. The path of an inflating airbag

must be kept clear. Do not put anything

between an occupant and an airbag, and

(Continued)

Seat-mounted side impact airbags are

designed to inflate in moderate to severe

side crashes depending on the location of

the impact. These airbags may also inflate

in some moderate to severe frontal impacts.

Seat-mounted side impact airbags are not

Seats and Restraints

63

designed to inflate in rollovers or rear

impacts. A seat-mounted side impact airbag

is designed to inflate on the side of the

vehicle that is struck.

For airbag locations, see Where Are the

Airbags? 0 61.

Airbags should never be regarded as

anything more than a supplement to seat

belts.

How Does an Airbag Restrain?

What Will You See after an

Airbag Inflates?

After frontal and seat-mounted side impact

airbags inflate, they quickly deflate, so

quickly that some people may not even

realize the airbags inflated. Roof-rail airbags

may still be at least partially inflated for

some time after they inflate. Some

In moderate to severe frontal or near frontal

collisions, even belted occupants can contact

the steering wheel or the instrument panel.

In moderate to severe side collisions, even

belted occupants can contact the inside of

the vehicle.

Roof-rail airbags are designed to inflate in

moderate to severe side crashes depending

on the location of the impact. In addition,

these roof-rail airbags may inflate during a

rollover or in a severe frontal impact.

Roof-rail airbags are not designed to inflate

in rear impacts. Both roof-rail airbags may

inflate when either side of the vehicle is

struck or if the sensing system predicts that

the vehicle is about to roll over on its side,

or in a severe frontal impact.

Airbags supplement the protection provided

by seat belts by distributing the force of the

impact more evenly over the

components of the airbag module may be

hot for several minutes. For location of the

airbags, see Where Are the Airbags? 0 61.

occupant's body.

Rollover capable roof-rail airbags are

In any particular crash, no one can say

whether an airbag should have inflated

simply because of the vehicle damage or

repair costs.

The parts of the airbag that come into

contact with you may be warm, but not too

hot to touch. There may be some smoke

and dust coming from the vents in the

deflated airbags. Airbag inflation does not

prevent the driver from seeing out of the

windshield or being able to steer the

vehicle, nor does it prevent people from

leaving the vehicle.

designed to help contain the head and chest

of occupants in the outboard seating

positions in the first and second rows. The

rollover capable roof-rail airbags are

designed to help reduce the risk of full or

partial ejection in rollover events, although

no system can prevent all such ejections.

What Makes an Airbag Inflate?

In a deployment event, the sensing system

sends an electrical signal triggering a release

of gas from the inflator. Gas from the

inflator fills the airbag causing the bag to

break out of the cover. The inflator, the

airbag, and related hardware are all part of

the airbag module.

But airbags would not help in many types

of collisions, primarily because the

occupant's motion is not toward those

airbags. See When Should an Airbag Inflate?

0 62.

64

Seats and Restraints

off using the controls for those features.

If any of these systems are damaged in the

crash they may not operate as normal.

include airbag modules and possibly other

parts. The service manual for the vehicle

covers the need to replace other parts.

The vehicle has a crash sensing and

diagnostic module which records

information after a crash. See Vehicle

Data Recording and Privacy 0 439 and

Event Data Recorders 0 440.

Let only qualified technicians work on the

airbag systems. Improper service can

mean that an airbag system will not work

properly. See your dealer for service.

Warning

{

When an airbag inflates, there may be

dust in the air. This dust could cause

breathing problems for people with a

history of asthma or other breathing

trouble. To avoid this, everyone in the

vehicle should get out as soon as it is

safe to do so. If you have breathing

problems but cannot get out of the

vehicle after an airbag inflates, then get

fresh air by opening a window or a door.

If you experience breathing problems

following an airbag deployment, you

should seek medical attention.

.

Warning

{

A crash severe enough to inflate the

airbags may have also damaged

important functions in the vehicle, such

as the fuel system, brake and steering

systems, etc. Even if the vehicle appears

to be drivable after a moderate crash,

there may be concealed damage that

could make it difficult to safely operate

the vehicle.

Passenger Sensing System

The vehicle has a passenger sensing system

for the front outboard passenger position.

The passenger airbag status indicator will

light on the overhead console when the

vehicle is started.

Use caution if you should attempt to

restart the engine after a crash has

occurred.

The vehicle has a feature that may

automatically unlock the doors, turn on the

interior lamps and hazard warning flashers,

and shut off the fuel system after the

airbags inflate. The feature may also

activate, without airbag inflation, after an

event that exceeds a predetermined

threshold. After turning the ignition off and

then on again, the fuel system will return to

normal operation; the doors can be locked,

the interior lamps can be turned off, and

the hazard warning flashers can be turned

In many crashes severe enough to inflate

the airbag, windshields are broken by

vehicle deformation. Additional windshield

breakage may also occur from the front

outboard passenger airbag.

.

Airbags are designed to inflate only once.

After an airbag inflates, you will need

some new parts for the airbag system.

If you do not get them, the airbag

United States

system will not be there to help protect

you in another crash. A new system will

Seats and Restraints

Warning (Continued)

65

Whenever possible, children aged 12 and

under should be secured in a rear seating

position.

Never put a rear-facing child restraint in

the front seat, even if the airbag is off.

If securing a forward-facing child restraint

in the front outboard passenger seat,

always move the seat as far back as it

will go. It is better to secure child

Never put a rear-facing child seat in the

front. This is because the risk to the

rear-facing child is so great, if the airbag

inflates.

Canada

The words ON and OFF, or the symbols for

on and off, will be visible during the system

check. When the system check is complete,

either the word ON or OFF, or the symbol

for on or off, will be visible. See Passenger

Airbag Status Indicator 0 116.

restraints in the rear seat. Consider using

another vehicle to transport the child

when a rear seat is not available.

Warning

{

A child in a rear-facing child restraint can

be seriously injured or killed if the

passenger frontal airbag inflates. This is

because the back of the rear-facing child

restraint would be very close to the

inflating airbag. A child in a

forward-facing child restraint can be

seriously injured or killed if the passenger

frontal airbag inflates and the passenger

seat is in a forward position.

If the vehicle does not have a rear seat that

will accommodate a rear-facing child

restraint, a rear-facing child restraint should

not be installed in the vehicle, even if the

airbag is off.

The passenger sensing system turns off the

front outboard passenger frontal airbag

under certain conditions. No other airbag is

affected by the passenger sensing system.

The passenger sensing system is designed to

turn off the front outboard passenger

frontal airbag if:

The front outboard passenger seat is

unoccupied.

The system determines an infant is

present in a child restraint.

A front outboard passenger takes his/her

weight off of the seat for a period

of time.

The passenger sensing system works with

sensors that are part of the front outboard

passenger seat and seat belt. The sensors

are designed to detect the presence of a

properly seated occupant and determine if

the front outboard passenger frontal airbag

should be allowed to inflate or not.

Even if the passenger sensing system has

turned off the passenger frontal airbag,

no system is fail-safe. No one can

guarantee that an airbag will not deploy

under some unusual circumstance, even

though the airbag is turned off.

(Continued)

.

According to accident statistics, children are

safer when properly secured in a rear seat

in the correct child restraint for their weight

and size.

66

Seats and Restraints

When the passenger sensing system has

turned off the front outboard passenger

frontal airbag, the OFF indicator will light

and stay lit as a reminder that the airbag is

off. See Passenger Airbag Status Indicator

0 116.

4. Reinstall the child restraint following the

directions provided by the child restraint

manufacturer and refer to Securing Child

Restraints (With the Seat Belt in the

Center Front Seat) 0 93 or

Securing Child Restraints (With the Seat

Belt in the Rear Seat) 0 86 or

Warning

{

If the airbag readiness light ever comes

on and stays on, it means that

something may be wrong with the airbag

system. To help avoid injury to yourself

or others, have the vehicle serviced right

away. See Airbag Readiness Light 0 116

for more information, including important

safety information.

The passenger sensing system is designed to

turn on the front outboard passenger frontal

airbag anytime the system senses that a

person of adult size is sitting properly in the

front outboard passenger seat.

Securing Child Restraints (With the Seat

Belt in the Front Passenger Seat) 0 90.

Make sure the seat belt retractor is

locked by pulling the shoulder belt all

the way out of the retractor when

installing the child restraint, even if the

child restraint is equipped with a seat

belt lock off. When the retractor lock is

set, the belt can be tightened but not

pulled out of the retractor.

If the On Indicator Is Lit for a Child

Restraint

When the passenger sensing system has

allowed the airbag to be enabled, the ON

indicator will light and stay lit as a reminder

that the airbag is active.

The passenger sensing system is designed to

turn off the front outboard passenger

frontal airbag if the system determines that

an infant is present in a child restraint. If a

child restraint has been installed and the ON

indicator is lit:

For some children, including children in child

restraints, and for very small adults, the

passenger sensing system may or may not

turn off the front outboard passenger

frontal airbag, depending upon the person's

seating posture and body build. Everyone in

the vehicle who has outgrown child

restraints should wear a seat belt

5. If, after reinstalling the child restraint

and restarting the vehicle, the ON

indicator is still lit, turn the vehicle off.

Then slightly recline the vehicle seatback

and adjust the seat cushion,

if adjustable, to make sure that the

vehicle seatback is not pushing the child

restraint into the seat cushion.

1. Turn the vehicle off.

2. Remove the child restraint from the

vehicle.

3. Remove any additional items from the

seat such as blankets, cushions, seat

covers, seat heaters, or seat massagers.

properly — whether or not there is an

airbag for that person.

Also make sure the child restraint is not

trapped under the vehicle head restraint.

If this happens, adjust the head restraint.

See Head Restraints 0 43.

Seats and Restraints

67

6. Restart the vehicle.

that the child restraint locking feature is

engaged. Use the following steps to allow

the system to detect that person and enable

the front outboard passenger frontal airbag:

Warning

{

The passenger sensing system may or may

not turn off the airbag for a child in a child

restraint depending upon the child’s size.

It is better to secure child restraints in the

rear seat. Consider using another vehicle to

transport the child when a rear seat is not

available. Never put a rear-facing child

restraint in the front seat, even if the ON

indicator is not lit.

If the front outboard passenger airbag is

turned off for an adult-sized occupant,

the airbag will not be able to inflate and

help protect that person in a crash,

resulting in an increased risk of serious

injury or even death. An adult-sized

occupant should not ride in the front

1. Turn the vehicle off.

2. Remove any additional material from the

seat, such as blankets, cushions, seat

covers, seat heaters, or seat massagers.

3. Place the seatback in the fully upright

position.

outboard passenger seat, if the passenger

airbag OFF indicator is lit.

If the Off Indicator Is Lit for an

Adult-Sized Occupant

4. Have the person sit upright in the seat,

centered on the seat cushion, with legs

comfortably extended.

Additional Factors Affecting System

Operation

5. If the shoulder portion of the belt is

pulled out all the way, the child restraint

locking feature will be engaged. This

may unintentionally cause the passenger

sensing system to turn the airbag off for

some adult-sized occupants. If this

happens, unbuckle the belt, let the belt

go back all the way, and then buckle the

belt again without pulling the belt out

all the way.

Seat belts help keep the passenger in

position on the seat during vehicle

maneuvers and braking, which helps the

passenger sensing system maintain the

passenger airbag status. See “Seat Belts”

and “Child Restraints” in the Index for

additional information about the importance

of proper restraint use.

A thick layer of additional material, such as

a blanket or cushion, or aftermarket

equipment such as seat covers, seat heaters,

and seat massagers can affect how well the

passenger sensing system operates. We

recommend that you not use seat covers or

other aftermarket equipment except when

6. Restart the vehicle and have the person

remain in this position for two to

three minutes after the ON indicator

is lit.

If a person of adult size is sitting in the

front outboard passenger seat, but the OFF

indicator is lit, it could be because that

person is not sitting properly in the seat or

68

Seats and Restraints

.

Front seats, including stitching, seams,

or zippers

Seat belts

Steering wheel, instrument panel,

overhead console, ceiling trim, or pillar

garnish trim

approved by GM for your specific vehicle.

See Adding Equipment to the

Airbag-Equipped Vehicle 0 68 for more

information about modifications that can

affect how the system operates.

Warning

{

.

For up to 10 seconds after the vehicle is

turned off and the battery is

disconnected, an airbag can still inflate

during improper service. You can be

injured if you are close to an airbag

when it inflates. Avoid yellow connectors.

They are probably part of the airbag

system. Be sure to follow proper service

procedures, and make sure the person

performing work for you is qualified to

do so.

The ON indicator may be lit if an object,

such as a briefcase, handbag, grocery bag,

laptop, or other electronic device, is put on

an unoccupied seat. If this is not desired,

remove the object from the seat.

.

Inner door seals, including speakers

Your dealer and the service manual have

information about the location of the airbag

modules and sensors, sensing and diagnostic

module, and airbag wiring along with the

proper replacement procedures.

Warning

{

Stowing articles under the passenger seat

or between the passenger seat cushion

and seatback may interfere with the

proper operation of the passenger

sensing system.

In addition, the vehicle has a passenger

sensing system for the front outboard

passenger position, which includes sensors

that are part of the passenger seat. The

passenger sensing system may not operate

properly if the original seat trim is replaced

with non-GM covers, upholstery, or trim; or

with GM covers, upholstery, or trim

designed for a different vehicle. Any object,

such as an aftermarket seat heater or a

comfort-enhancing pad or device, installed

under or on top of the seat fabric, could

also interfere with the operation of the

passenger sensing system. This could either

prevent proper deployment of the passenger

airbag(s) or prevent the passenger sensing

Adding Equipment to the

Airbag-Equipped Vehicle

Adding accessories that change the vehicle's

frame, bumper system, height, front end,

or side sheet metal, may keep the airbag

system from working properly.

Servicing the Airbag-Equipped

Vehicle

Airbags affect how the vehicle should be

serviced. There are parts of the airbag

system in several places around the vehicle.

Your dealer and the service manual have

information about servicing the vehicle and

the airbag system. To purchase a service

manual, see Publication Ordering

The operation of the airbag system can also

be affected by changing, including

improperly repairing or replacing, any parts

of the following:

Airbag system, including airbag modules,

front or side impact sensors, sensing and

diagnostic module, or airbag wiring

.

Information 0 437.

Seats and Restraints

Warning (Continued)

69

system from properly turning off the

passenger airbag(s). See Passenger Sensing

System 0 64.

Airbag System Check

The airbag system does not need regularly

scheduled maintenance or replacement.

Make sure the airbag readiness light is

working. See Airbag Readiness Light 0 116.

make sure the airbag systems are

working properly after a crash, have

them inspected and any necessary

replacements made as soon as possible.

If the vehicle has rollover roof-rail airbags,

see Different Size Tires and Wheels 0 385 for

additional important information.

Caution

If a snow plow is added to the vehicle, the

airbags should still work properly. The

airbag systems were designed to work

properly under a wide range of conditions,

including snow plowing with vehicles that

have the optional snow plow prep package

(RPO VYU). Do not change or defeat the

snow plow's “tripping mechanism.” If you

do, it can damage the snow plow and the

vehicle, and may cause an airbag

If an airbag inflates, you will need to

replace airbag system parts. See your dealer

for service.

If an airbag covering is damaged, opened,

or broken, the airbag may not work

properly. Do not open or break the airbag

coverings. If there are any opened or

broken airbag coverings, have the airbag

covering and/or airbag module replaced.

For the location of the airbags, see Where

Are the Airbags? 0 61. See your dealer for

service.

If the airbag readiness light stays on after

the vehicle is started or comes on when you

are driving, the airbag system may not work

properly. Have the vehicle serviced right

away. See Airbag Readiness Light 0 116.

deployment.

If the vehicle must be modified because you

have a disability and have questions about

whether the modifications will affect the

vehicle's airbag system, or if you have

questions about whether the airbag system

will be affected if the vehicle is modified for

any other reason, call Customer Assistance.

See Customer Assistance Offices 0 432.

Replacing Airbag System Parts

after a Crash

Warning

{

A crash can damage the airbag systems

in the vehicle. A damaged airbag system

may not properly protect you and your

passenger(s) in a crash, resulting in

serious injury or even death. To help

(Continued)

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