Airbag complaints by model year
Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (front, side and curtain air bags, sensors and inflators).
Mileage when the problem started
What owners report
The contact owns a 2019 Buick Encore. The contact stated that while driving at 20-25 MPH, the vehicle was suddenly rear-ended when the other vehicle failed to stop at a stop sign. As a result, the vehicle spun around and hit the curb, and a stop sign where it came to a stop. The driver-side and passenger-side air bags did not deploy. After the impact, the contact received a notice on her phone that there was a problem with the air bag. The vehicle failed to restart after the crash. The contact went to the Urgent care clinic and was transported to the Hospital via ambulance. The contact suffered injuries to her neck. The contact's passenger was injured and waiting for a medical diagnosis. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to the contact's residence. The insurance company was pending an investigation. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. …
The contact owned a 2019 Buick Encore. The contact stated that while her daughter was driving at 35 MPH, another vehicle failed to yield at a left turn, driving northbound, and crashed into the contact's vehicle on the front driver's side. The air bags did not deploy upon impact. The contact's daughter and granddaughter were both injured and were later treated at the local hospital for soreness in various parts of their body. Both occupants sustained emotional trauma as a result of the accident. The other driver was also injured as a result of the accident and was transported to the hospital by ambulance; their injuries are unknown. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed from the scene to an independent tow yard, where it was deemed a total loss. Neither the dealer nor the manufacturer was notified of the failure. The vehicle was destroyed. …
The contact owns a 2018 Buick Encore. The contact stated while driving 35 mph, she depressed the brake pedal but it failed to stop the vehicle, causing her to rear-end a truck. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The air bags did not deploy. The contact did not sustain any injuries nor sought medical attention. A police report was filed. The contact was able to continue driving to her destination. The contact called the local dealer and made them aware of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The vehicle was taken to a collision center and had the front bumper repaired. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 15,000.
When crossing through an intersection at approximately 45mph, I was struck by another vehicle, speed unknown, who failed to stop at a stop sign. My vehicle was struck on the front passenger corner. My vehicle continued in a forward motion for several hundred feet. Both driver and front passenger wore seat belts, however the driver struck her head on steering wheel, loosing consciousness for several minutes. Side airbags deployed, however front air bags did not
While traveling at approximately 77 mph on the interstate, I was forced off the road by another vehicle, causing my car to collide with a cable barrier. The initial impact was to the front driver's side corner, and the vehicle then scraped along the driver's side against the barrier. Despite the high-speed impact, no airbags deployed. Component or System That Failed: The frontal airbag system failed to deploy. Safety Risk: The non-deployment of the airbags at this speed and impact angle posed a serious risk to my safety. The lack of airbag activation during a high-speed frontal crash greatly increased the likelihood of injury. Has the Problem Been Reproduced or Confirmed by a Dealer or Independent Shop? No. The vehicle has not yet been inspected by a dealership or repair facility, and the issue has not been confirmed or diagnosed by a professional. …
The contact owns a 2017 Buick Encore. The contact stated that while the front passenger's side seat was occupied, the seat belt chime reminder failed to engage while the front passenger's side seat belt was not buckled, and the message "Air Bag Off" was displayed. The contact stated that the failure had been recurring. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed that the front passenger's side seat presence module had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Numbers: 17V437000 (Air Bags, Seat Belts) and 16V651000 (Air Bags, Seat Belts); however, the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the dealer for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 45,000.
The airbags is displaying OFF despite who is sitting on it. It's been going on for about a year since start of COVID and it isn't turning ON. Also, the backup camera is not working properly and suddenly displaying very dark and not showing up properly.
Tamara recall: the frontal airbags and seatbelt pretensioners failed to deploy during a crash to both the front and rear of my vehicle. All side airbags deployed during the crash. I was stopped behind a vehicle at a red light when a drunken driver slammed into my 2016 Buick Encore. My vehicle was propelled forward into the car in front of me. The shoulder harness of my seatbelt did not lock to restrain me and my frontal airbags did not deploy. My car had no open recalls on it. I did the 2016 recall correction but I don't remember getting notified of the second recall. My cars service has been exclusively at a Buick dealership and don't recall ever being told or receiving any documentation reflecting correction for the 2017 recall. Either way, my car had no open recalls at the time of the crash.
Related recalls (3)
Air bags › Air bag/restraint control module
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2019 Buick Encore, Chevrolet Spark, Traverse, and Trax vehicles. The Sensing Diagnostic Module (SDM) on these vehicle may not have been turned off of "manufacturing mode," preventing the air bags from deploying in the event of a crash.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the SDM module to the correct mode, free of charge. The recall began November 6, 2018.
Air bags › Frontal › Sensor/control module-inactive
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2014-2016 Buick Lacrosse and Chevrolet Spark EV, Caprice PPV and SS vehicles, 2014-2017 Buick Encore and Chevrolet Corvette, Silverado 1500 and GMC Sierra 1500 vehicles, 2015-2016 Cadillac Escalade and Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Tahoe, Trax, Suburban and Silverado 2500 and…
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will reflash the SDM software. Vehicles that have had a previous air bag deployment will have the SDM replaced. These repairs will be performed free of charge.
Air bags
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2013 Buick Encore vehicles manufactured April 10, 2013, to May 8, 2013, and Chevrolet Spark vehicles manufactured December 30, 2012, to March 1, 2013.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger side front air bag, free of charge. The recall began on July 30, 2014.
NHTSA investigations
Desiccated Air Bag Inflator Rupture
From 2000 through 2017, Takata produced millions of air bag inflators using two types of phase-stabilized ammonium nitrate ("PSAN") propellant -- propellant 2004 and propellant 2004L. After prolonged exposure to high temperature cycles and humidity, inflators using propellant 2004 can degrade, causing the propellant to burn too quickly when ignited.
Frequently asked questions
Which Buick Encore years have airbag problems?
By NHTSA complaints, the 2015 (16), 2017 (13), 2019 (11), 2018 (10) and 2016 (7) model years. Airbag complaints make up 13% of all complaints for the 2015.
Is there a recall for Buick Encore airbag problems?
Yes — 3 recalls, including 18V-774 (air bag/restraint control module, Nov 1, 2018); 17V-437 (sensor/control module-inactive, Jul 10, 2017); 14V-298 (air bags, Jun 6, 2014). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers; check a specific car with the VIN recall check.
At what mileage do Buick Encore airbag problems start?
Across all years, half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 40,000 miles; 73% happened before 50,000 miles.
What part fails most often?
Owners most often name the sensor › occupant classification (1 mentions).
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.