Buick, Chevrolet Vehicles' Air Bags May Not Deploy

NHTSA campaign 18V774000 · Reported Nov 1, 2018 · General Motors LLC

high How serious is it? About this label

If the air bags do not deploy in the event of a crash, it can increase the risk of injury. The notice does not tell owners to stop driving.

Key facts

NHTSA campaign number	18V774000
Reported to NHTSA	Nov 1, 2018
Manufacturer	General Motors LLC
Part affected	AIR Bags
Vehicles covered	4 model/year combinations, model years 2019
Do-not-drive advisory	No
Park-outside advisory	No
Repair	Free at any franchised dealer

What's wrong, in plain English

On certain 2019 Buick Encore, Chevrolet Spark, Traverse, and Trax vehicles, the computer module that controls the air bags may have been left switched to a factory 'manufacturing mode' instead of being switched over to normal driving mode before the vehicle was sold. While the module is in that mode, the air bags will not deploy if the vehicle is in a crash.

What you should do

1. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see if your vehicle is included.
2. Contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300 or Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020 to schedule the reprogramming.
3. The repair is free.

Where do I find my VIN, and what do I tell the dealer?

Your VIN is the 17-character code on the lower left of the windshield, on your registration and usually on your insurance card. Enter it at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether this recall is still open on your car. When you call the dealer, say you have an open safety recall and give them NHTSA campaign number 18V774000. More in how recalls work.

Affected vehicles (4)

2019 Buick Encore
2019 Chevrolet Spark
2019 Chevrolet Traverse
2019 Chevrolet Trax

Who to contact

Buick — official Buick recall lookup

Customer service: 1-800-521-7300

Chevrolet — official Chevrolet recall lookup

Customer service: 1-800-222-1020

Any franchised dealer for the brand can do the repair. Phone numbers are taken from manufacturer sites and recent NHTSA notices; if one has changed, the number in your own recall letter is the one to use.

The bigger picture

Buick Air Bag Recalls Cover Deployment and Warning Light Problems · all 5 Buick recalls in this area
Chevrolet Air Bag Recalls Cover Deployment, Sensors, and Mounting Problems · all 19 Chevrolet recalls in this area

Other Chevrolet Traverse recalls

Mar 16, 2023Cadillac, Chevy, GMC SUVs Transmission Half-Shaft Failurehigh
Feb 2, 2023Chevrolet Blazer And Traverse Half-Shaft Can Separatehigh
Mar 31, 2022Buick Enclave, Chevy Traverse Side Air Bag Wiringhigh
Oct 18, 2021Chevy Traverse wheelchair vans: transmission leak riskcritical
Jun 24, 2021Chevrolet Traverse and Buick Enclave got wrong airbag softwarehigh
Apr 8, 2021Chevrolet Traverse Side Curtain Airbags May Be Loosehigh

All 13 Traverse recalls

Official notice

Component: AIR BAGS
Summary: 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.
Safety risk: If the air bags do not deploy in the event of a crash, it can increase the risk of injury.
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. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300 and Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is 18365.

Verify your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov. Recall repairs are free of charge by law.