Buick Enclave airbag problems, 2016–2027
259 of the 591 complaints owners filed with NHTSA about the Buick Enclave 2016–2027 name the airbags (NHTSA’s “Air Bags” heading — airbags, their sensors and warning lights). The loudest years: 2017 (145), 2016 (110), 2019 (2). Filed under the same heading across these years: 6 recall campaigns. Every figure is a linked federal record; none is a failure rate, none a repair cost, and none a verdict on one car.
Buick Enclave airbag problems by model year
Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer communicationsOne row per model year on file, newest first. A year marked in depth has its own page: the complaints, the owners’ words and every document under this heading for that year.
| Model year | Complaints naming the airbags | Share of the year’s | Typically at | On file under the heading | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2027 | 0 | — | — | — | the year → |
| 2026 | 0 | — | — | — | the year → |
| 2025 | 0 | — | — | — | the year → |
| 2024 | 1 | 14% | — | — | the year → |
| 2023 | 1 | 5% | — | — | the year → |
| 2022 | 0 | — | — | 1 recall | the year → |
| 2021 | 0 | — | — | 2 recalls | the year → |
| 2020 | 0 | — | — | 1 recall | the year → |
| 2019 | 2 | 5% | — | — | the year → |
| 2018 | 0 | — | — | — | the year → |
| 2017 in depth | 145 | 81% | — | 3 recalls | the record → |
| 2016 in depth | 110 | 78% | — | 2 recalls | the record → |
Two things the counts carry that are not the car: how many of each year were sold, and how long each has been on the road — an older year out-counts a newer one before anything is wrong with it. The share column is the honest comparison across years: what part of that year’s complaints named the airbags. Nothing here is a rate.
When the airbag complaints were filed, and at what mileage
Source: NHTSA complaint databaseFiled per calendar year, every model year together: 2017: 1 · 2018: 2 · 2019: 2 · 2020: 1 · 2022: 1 · 2023: 86 · 2024: 151 · 2025: 12 · 2026: 3
Across the model years, half of the 14 owners who gave an odometer reading reported the airbag problem between 14,000 and 83,000 miles. A median of reports, not the life of a part.
In owners’ own words
Source: NHTSA complaint databaseFiled with NHTSA by the people who own these cars, about the airbags, from the model years with the most to say. Quoted as written, with anything identifying removed; unverified reports — what was said, not a finding that it was true.
Takata Recall. The contact owns a 2017 Buick Enclave. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V334000 (Air Bags) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair.
Takata recall. The contact owns a 2017 Buick Enclave. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V334000 (Air Bags) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair.
The contact owns a 2016 Buick Enclave. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V334000 (Air Bags) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The dealer was made aware of the issue.
The contact owns a 2016 Buick Enclave. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V334000 (Air Bags) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair.
The passenger side seat air bag exploded and burned my daughter’s back while she was getting into the car. The car was in park and auto started. My son was sitting in the back seat behind her while this happened. She has 1st and 2nd degree burns and thankfully my son is okay. The car has been sitting in my driveway since that day.
What is on file about the airbags, across the years
Source: NHTSA recalls, investigations and manufacturer communicationsRecall campaigns filed under this heading, any model year
- 23V334000 CriticalMay 10, 2023 · 995,085 vehicles
- General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2014-2017 Buick Enclave, Chevrolet Traverse, and GMC Acadia vehicles. The driver's air bag inflator may explode during deployment, due to a manufacturing defect.
- 22V210000 HighMar 31, 2022 · 89 vehicles
- General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2020-2022 Chevrolet Traverse and 2021-2022 Buick Enclave vehicles. The harness connector to the left or right side roof rail air bag may have incompatible electrical terminals, which could prevent the air bags from deploying in a crash.
- 21V782000 CriticalOct 7, 2021 · 555 vehicles
- General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2008-2017 Buick Enclave and 2013-2017 Chevrolet Traverse vehicles. The driver's air bag inflator may explode during deployment, due to a manufacturing defect.
- 21V472000 HighJun 24, 2021 · 6 vehicles
- General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2021 Chevrolet Traverse and Buick Enclave vehicles. During service by dealers, certain vehicles may have received incorrect air bag calibration software that may affect frontal airbag deployment.
- 21V246000 HighApr 8, 2021 · 108 vehicles
- General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2010-2015, 2017 Buick Enclave, 2010-2019 Chevrolet Traverse, and 2011-2016 GMC Acadia vehicles. The side curtain air bags may not be properly attached.
- 20V446000 HighJul 30, 2020 · 769 vehicles
- General Motors, LLC. (GM) is recalling certain 2020 Buick Enclave, Cadillac XT5 and XT6, Chevrolet Blazer, Silverado 1500, 2500 and 3500 and Traverse and GMC Acadia and Sierra 1500, 2500 and 3500 vehicles. The diffuser component of the Roof-Rail Air Bag (RRAB) inflator may not have been properly crimped to the inflator and could separate from the inflator during air bag deployment.
Common questions
Source: NHTSA complaint database, recalls and manufacturer communicationsWhich Buick Enclave years have the most airbag complaints?
2017, 145; 2016, 110; 2019, 2. Raw counts, and an older year has had longer to collect them; by share of each year's own complaints the loudest is the 2017 (81%).
Is there a recall for the airbags on the Buick Enclave?
Yes — 6 campaigns are filed under this heading across these model years: 23V334000 (2017), 22V210000 (2022), 21V782000 (2017), 21V472000 (2021). A recall is matched by VIN, and applies to specific years; check yours at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
When do airbag problems show up on the Buick Enclave?
Owners who gave an odometer reading reported it at a median of 51,000 miles across the model years; half of them between 14,000 and 83,000. That is when reports cluster, not the life of a part.
What does NHTSA's "Air Bags" heading cover?
Airbags, their sensors and warning lights. Owners choose the heading when they file, so it says which area of the vehicle the complaint is about, not which part failed.