GM Airbag Recall Impacts Nearly One Million Vehicles

About 995,000 Buick Enclave, Chevrolet Traverse, and GMC Acadia vehicles are part of a General Motors recall for blowing ARC airbags and require new driver airbag modules.

The airbag inflators installed in the ARC Automotive-manufactured 2014-2017 Buick Enclave, 2014-2017 Chevrolet Traverse, and 2014-2017 GMC Acadia could blow up even in small collisions.

In July 2015, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration began an investigation into the ARC Automotive airbag inflator, which was later expanded in August 2016.

Following injuries in Chrysler and Kia vehicles fitted with ARC airbags, safety regulators alerted NHTSA to airbag inflator issues in numerous car models.

A woman's chest was struck by the metal inflator from one airbag explosion, and another woman's face was hit by shrapnel. She spent more than three months in a trauma center after breaking her jaw three times.

None of the instances involved GM vehicles; instead, another ARC airbag inflator explosion in Canada resulted in the death of a woman.

But in March 2023, GM learned of an incident involving a 2017 Chevrolet Traverse and an exploding ARC airbag inflator. This collision was preceded by two ARC airbag explosions in Chevy Traverse automobiles.

Even after hiring a specialized airbag and inflator engineering firm, GM is still unsure of what is causing the ARC airbag inflators to explode. The three GM ruptured airbag incidents all involved the same inflator variety.

This recall expands on two earlier ARC airbag inflator recalls, which were issued in December 2021 and June 2022, respectively.

Mailings of the GM ARC airbag recall notices are scheduled for June 26, 2023. The driver-side airbag modules will be changed by General Motors dealers.

Customers of Buick, Chevrolet, and GMC Acadia may contact Buick Customer Service at 800-521-7300, 800-222-1020, and 800-462-8782, respectively, with any questions regarding the ARC airbag recall.