Recall 21V782 affects 555 2008-2017 Buick Enclave and Traverse vehicles for a driver's air bag inflator defect. Repair is free at any franchised Buick dealer.
Buick is part of GM recall 21V782 covering 555 vehicles, including 2008-2017 Enclave SUVs and 2013-2017 Chevrolet Traverse SUVs, because the driver's air bag inflator can explode during deployment. Sharp metal fragments can strike the driver or other occupants, causing serious injury or death, and the dealer repair is free.
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What's wrong?
The driver front air bag inflator sits inside the steering wheel air bag module on affected Enclave and Traverse vehicles. In a crash, the inflator is supposed to release gas in a controlled burst so the air bag fills between the driver and the steering wheel. That controlled pressure is what lets the air bag cushion the driver instead of adding another hazard.
On these vehicles, the inflator came from a suspect manufacturing lot. Part traceability data and service records were used to identify vehicles that received one of those inflators as original equipment or during later service. During air bag deployment, the defective inflator can rupture instead of releasing gas normally. The remedy part uses an inflator that was not made in the suspect lot.
There is no warning sign before failure. The problem appears only when the driver air bag deploys, so an owner cannot rely on a light, sound, or change in how the vehicle drives.
Who's affected?
Covers Enclave SUVs from 2008-2017 and Traverse SUVs from 2013-2017, all tied to the front air bag.
| 2008 Buick Enclave | front air bag |
|---|---|
| 2008 Buick Enclave | front air bag |
| 2009 Buick Enclave | front air bag |
| 2009 Buick Enclave | front air bag |
| 2010 Buick Enclave | front air bag |
| 2010 Buick Enclave | front air bag |
| 2011 Buick Enclave | front air bag |
| 2011 Buick Enclave | front air bag |
| 2012 Buick Enclave | front air bag |
| 2012 Buick Enclave | front air bag |
| 2014 Buick Enclave | front air bag |
| 2014 Buick Enclave | front air bag |
| 2015 Buick Enclave | front air bag |
| 2015 Buick Enclave | front air bag |
| 2016 Buick Enclave | front air bag |
| 2016 Buick Enclave | front air bag |
| 2017 Buick Enclave | front air bag |
| 2017 Buick Enclave | front air bag |
| 2013 Buick Enclave | front air bag |
| 2013 Buick Enclave | front air bag |
| 2013 Chevrolet Traverse | front air bag |
| 2013 Chevrolet Traverse | front air bag |
| 2014 Chevrolet Traverse | front air bag |
| 2014 Chevrolet Traverse | front air bag |
| 2015 Chevrolet Traverse | front air bag |
| 2015 Chevrolet Traverse | front air bag |
| 2016 Chevrolet Traverse | front air bag |
| 2016 Chevrolet Traverse | front air bag |
| 2017 Chevrolet Traverse | front air bag |
| 2017 Chevrolet Traverse | front air bag |
| Units affected | 555 |
| Field incidents | NHTSA has logged 1 field incident to date. |
A matching year and model does not guarantee inclusion. Check your VIN to confirm whether this recall applies to your specific SUV.
What's the safety risk?
A driver air bag inflator can explode and send sharp metal fragments toward the driver or passengers, causing serious injury or death. There is no listed warning sign before rupture, so confirm your VIN and schedule the repair soon. Repair is free at any franchised Buick dealer.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 2008-2017 Buick Enclave or Chevrolet Traverse is included in this recall.
- Contact a franchised Buick dealer for Enclave service, or a franchised Chevrolet dealer for Traverse service, to schedule the free driver's air bag module replacement.
- Tell the dealer the driver air bag inflator can explode during deployment, and ask for the replacement module that fixes that defect.
- Bring the recall notice if you have it. If not, reference recall number 21V782 when you call.
- Call Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300 with questions about the recall or dealer scheduling.
What happens at the repair
At the dealer, a Buick technician replaces the driver's air bag module, which includes the inflator involved in this recall. The replacement parts and labor are covered under the recall, so there is no charge for the dealer repair. GM is not offering reimbursement for this campaign because the filing says owners would not have been aware of the issue before the recall.
| Reimbursement | No separate reimbursement |
|---|
Timeline
| October 7, 2021 | NHTSA published the recall |
|---|---|
| October 7, 2021 | Dealer notification began |
| October 7, 2021 | Dealer notification ended |
| November 22, 2021 | Interim owner notification (was planned for this date) |
| January 10, 2022 | Owner notification mailed |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 21V782?
Recall 21V782 covers 555 2008-2017 Buick Enclave and 2013-2017 Chevrolet Traverse vehicles with a driver's air bag inflator defect. The inflator can explode during deployment, sending sharp metal fragments toward the driver or other occupants. Dealers will replace the driver's air bag module for free.
What should I do if my 2008-2017 Buick Enclave or Chevrolet Traverse is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm your specific vehicle is included in recall 21V782. If it is, contact a franchised Buick or Chevrolet dealer to schedule the driver's air bag module replacement. Reference recall number 21V782 or GM recall number N212349040 when you call. The repair is free.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Federal recall law requires the manufacturer to repair the defect at no cost. For recall 21V782, GM dealers will replace the driver's air bag module free of charge at a franchised Buick or Chevrolet dealer.
What is the safety risk?
The risk is serious injury or death from an inflator explosion. In recall 21V782, the driver's air bag inflator can rupture during deployment and send sharp metal fragments into the cabin. Confirm your VIN, then schedule the free air bag module replacement if your vehicle is included.
What if I bought the Buick Enclave or Chevrolet Traverse used?
The free recall repair still applies. Recalls follow the VIN, not the original owner. If you never received the November 3, 2021 interim letter or the January 10, 2022 owner letter, check your VIN and call a franchised dealer with recall number 21V782.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/21V782000 |
|---|---|
| Buick customer service | 1-800-521-7300 |
| NHTSA recall # | 21V782 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 21V782000 |
Source documents
-
Download Recall Document (PDF) (PDF) - Download Recall Investigation Document (PDF) (PDF)
- Download Owner Notice (PDF)
- Download Misc. Document (PDF)
- Download Quarterly Report (PDF)
- Download Recall Report (PDF)
- Download Recall Document (PDF) (PDF)
- Download Recall Document (PDF) (PDF)
- Download Owner Notification Letter (PDF)
- Download Recall Acknowledgement (PDF)
This article is generated from NHTSA's primary recall filings and reviewed against the source on May 20, 2026. RecallNotify does not paraphrase NHTSA's consequence language; that text is reproduced as written above. Editorial standards →