Buick Enclave Airbag Problems

Owners have filed 770 complaints about air bags problems with the Buick Enclave — 31% of all Enclave complaints. The worst model years are 2014 (205), 2017 (145) and 2008 (113). Problems typically start around 80,000 miles. 8 related recalls have been issued.

770complaints
2014worst year
80ktypical miles
8related recalls
43crashes
2fires

Airbag complaints by model year

’08’09’10’11’12’13’14’15’16’17’18’19’20’21’22’23’24’2511396382110205105110145221111
Airbag complaints per model year, Buick Enclave.
YearComplaintsShare of year's complaintsTypical mileage
202513%14,000 miles
2024114%—
202315%—
202012%—
201925%8,000 miles
201823%83,000 miles
201714581%64,000 miles
201611078%127,000 miles
201510561%97,000 miles
201420570%90,000 miles
20131014%53,000 miles
20122116%75,000 miles
20113818%56,000 miles
201062%88,000 miles
200994%76,000 miles
200811321%85,000 miles

Which parts fail

  • Frontal
    6
  • Frontal › Sensor/control module
    5
  • Side/window
    2
  • SRS malfunction warning lamp/light
    2
  • Frontal › Driver side › Inflator module
    2
  • Sensor › Occupant classification › Front passenger
    1
  • Sensor › Occupant classification
    1

Components named in complaints (front, side and curtain air bags, sensors and inflators).

Mileage when the problem started

  • Under 25k
    3216%
  • 25k–50k
    2613%
  • 50k–75k
    3518%
  • 75k–100k
    4221%
  • 100k–150k
    5327%
  • 150k+
    126%

What owners report

The contact owned a 2017 Buick Enclave. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 20 MPH and then making a turn, a deer jumped out onto the road and after it was hit, the vehicle was sent into a marsh wetland. The contact stated that all the air bags failed to deploy and that the passenger side hit a tree and the driver side of the vehicle was partially in the pond. No warning lights had illuminated. There were no police on the scene, however, the fire department arrived and the contact was unsure if there was a report filed. There was no injury therefore no medical attention was required. After contacting the insurance company, the vehicle was towed and later deemed destroyed once an inspector was sent out. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 75,000.

2017 Enclave · 75,000 miles · Sep 2022 · crash

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 stated that the air bag warning light was illuminated intermittently. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the air bag sensor had failed and needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The failure mileage was 68,700. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

2017 Enclave · 69,000 miles · Oct 2023

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 contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the air bag warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic and the contact was advised to take the vehicle to the dealer. The dealer was made aware of the failure but confirmed that parts were not yet available. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 127,000. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

2016 Enclave · 127,000 miles · Dec 2023

The contact owns a 2016 Buick Enclave. The contact stated that a message indicating that the front passenger's side seat belt was not buckled and that the front passenger's side air bag was enabled was displayed, even though the front passenger's side seat was not occupied. Additionally, 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 manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The failure mileage was approximately 130,000. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

2016 Enclave · 130,000 miles · Oct 2023

The contact owns a 2015 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 contacted. The contact stated that the "Service Tire Monitor System" message was displayed. Additionally, the doors failed to lock and unlock while using the switch inside the vehicle. The vehicle had not been diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 100,000. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

2015 Enclave · 100,000 miles · May 2023

Takata recall. The contact owns a 2015 Buick Enclave. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V334000 (Air Bags) however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact stated that the air bag and control system warning lights had been displayed on the instrument panel. The contact stated that the vehicle was swaying from left to right while driving at 50 MPH or above. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 97,000. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

2015 Enclave · 97,000 miles · May 2023

The contact owns a 2014 Buick Enclave. The contact stated that while his wife was driving at unknown speeds in the snow, the brake pedal was applied, but the vehicle slid and crashed into an unknown vehicle. There were no warning lights illuminated. The air bags did not deploy. There was no reported fire or injuries. A police report was filed. The driver was able to drive away from the crash. 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 not contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. Parts distribution disconnect. The failure mileage was approximately 163,000.

2014 Enclave · 163,000 miles · Feb 2025 · crash

The contact owns a 2014 Buick Enclave. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds and decelerating to make a turn, the vehicle experienced a hard shift. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact stated that the failure had been recurring intermittently. The vehicle was taken to the dealer however, the failure could not be duplicated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where the same assessment was made, and the contact was informed that the vehicle was operating as designed. Additionally, 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 manufacturer was made aware of the failure. …

2014 Enclave · 38,000 miles · Jan 2015

Related recalls (8)

Air bags › Frontal › Driver side › Inflator module

NHTSA recall 23V-334 · May 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.

Remedy: Dealers will replace the driver's air bag module, free of charge. GM began mailing final owner letters February 23, 2024 and will continue mailing through December 2025.

Air bags › Frontal › Driver side › Inflator module

NHTSA recall 22V-246 · Apr 14, 2022 · 2,687 vehicles

General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2015 Buick Enclave, Chevrolet Traverse and GMC Acadia vehicles. The driver's air bag inflator may explode during deployment, due to a manufacturing defect.

Remedy: Dealers will replace the drivers air bag module, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed February 23, 2023. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300; Chevrolet customer service at…

Air bags › Side/window › Curtain

NHTSA recall 22V-210 · Mar 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.

Remedy: Dealers will replace the harness connector to the roof rail air bags, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on April 29, 2022.

Air bags › Frontal

NHTSA recall 21V-782 · Oct 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.

Remedy: Dealers will replace the driver's air bag module, free of charge. Interim owner notification letters were mailed on November 3, 2021. Owner notification letters were mailed on January 10, 2022.

Air bags › Sensor › Frontal impact

NHTSA recall 21V-472 · Jun 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.

Remedy: Dealers will update the air bag calibration software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on July 29, 2021.

Show 3 more recalls

Air bags › Critical fasteners

NHTSA recall 21V-246 · Apr 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.

Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and, if necessary, realign or replace the weld nuts, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on May 24, 2021.

Air bags › Side/window › Curtain › Inflator

NHTSA recall 20V-446 · Jul 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.

Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the suspect RRAB modules, free of charge. The recall began September 3, 2020.

Air bags › Side/window

NHTSA recall 14V-118 · Mar 17, 2014 · 1,176,407 vehicles

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2008-2013 Buick Enclave and GMC Acadia and 2009-2013 Chevrolet Traverse and 2008-2010 Saturn Outlook vehicles. In the affected vehicles, increased resistance in the driver and passenger seat mounted side impact air bag (SIAB) wiring harnesses may result in the SIAB and…

Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the affected harness connections with soldered connections, free of charge. The recall began on June 16, 2014.

Frequently asked questions

Which Buick Enclave years have airbag problems?

By NHTSA complaints, the 2014 (205), 2017 (145), 2008 (113), 2016 (110) and 2015 (105) model years. Airbag complaints make up 70% of all complaints for the 2014.

Is there a recall for Buick Enclave airbag problems?

Yes — 8 recalls, including 23V-334 (inflator module, May 10, 2023); 22V-246 (inflator module, Apr 14, 2022); 22V-210 (curtain, Mar 31, 2022). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers; check a specific car with the VIN recall check.

At what mileage do Buick Enclave airbag problems start?

Across all years, half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 80,000 miles; 29% happened before 50,000 miles.

What part fails most often?

Owners most often name the frontal (6 mentions), followed by the frontal › sensor/control module (5).

Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.