The problem
Certain passenger, Mini vans, and sport utility vehicles have an air bag inflator on the driver's side that could fracture at a weld during a deployment.
The risk
Pieces of the inflator could strike and injure vehicle occupants and the air bag cushion would not inflate fully, reducing the capability of the bag to protect the driver.
The fix
Dealers will inspect, and replace, if necessary, the air bag module assembly on the driver's side. Owner notification began August 15, 2002. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact Buick at 1-800-521-7300, Cadillac at 1-800-458-8006, Chevrolet at 1-800-222-1020, GMC at 1-800-462-8782, Oldsmobile at 1-800-442-6537, or Pontiac at 1-800-762-2737.
Recall details
| NHTSA campaign | 02V-222 (02V222000) |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer number | 02032 |
| Manufacturer | General Motors, LLC |
| Component | Air bags › Frontal |
| Report date | August 9, 2002 |
| Owners notified | August 15, 2002 |
| Vehicles affected | 133,221 |
| Initiated by | Manufacturer |
Vehicles covered
- 2002 Buick Lesabre
- 2003 Buick Lesabre
- 2002 Buick Rendezvous
- 2003 Buick Rendezvous
- 2002 Cadillac Deville
- 2003 Cadillac Deville
- 2002 Chevrolet Impala
- 2003 Chevrolet Impala
- 2002 Chevrolet Monte Carlo
- 2003 Chevrolet Monte Carlo
- 2002 Chevrolet Trailblazer
- 2003 Chevrolet Trailblazer
- 2002 Chevrolet Venture
- 2003 Chevrolet Venture
- 2002 GMC Envoy
- 2003 GMC Envoy
- 2002 Oldsmobile Aurora
- 2003 Oldsmobile Aurora
- 2002 Oldsmobile Bravada
- 2003 Oldsmobile Bravada
- 2002 Oldsmobile Silhouette
- 2003 Oldsmobile Silhouette
- 2002 Pontiac Bonneville
- 2003 Pontiac Bonneville
- 2002 Pontiac Montana
- 2003 Pontiac Montana
Owner complaints about the air bags
- 2002 Buick Lesabre airbag problems 37
- 2003 Buick Lesabre airbag problems 21
- 2002 Buick Rendezvous airbag problems 24
- 2003 Buick Rendezvous airbag problems 7
- 2002 Cadillac Deville airbag problems 26
- 2003 Cadillac Deville airbag problems 25
- 2002 Chevrolet Impala airbag problems 47
- 2003 Chevrolet Impala airbag problems 39
- 2002 Chevrolet Monte Carlo airbag problems 20
- 2003 Chevrolet Monte Carlo airbag problems 11
- 2002 Chevrolet Trailblazer airbag problems 102
- 2003 Chevrolet Trailblazer airbag problems 57
Frequently asked questions
Is the recall 02V-222 repair free?
Yes. Buick dealers will fix the problem at no cost: Dealers will inspect, and replace, if necessary, the air bag module assembly on the driver's side. Owner notification began August 15, 2002. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free…
How do I know if my car is included?
Not every vehicle of the listed model years is affected — the recall covers 133,221 vehicles built in a certain window. Check your 17-character VIN with our VIN recall check or at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
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.