Enclave

Make
Buick
Segment
SUV

Not long ago, GM issued a recall for a handful of Chevrolet Traverse and Buick Enclave models. According to the automaker, a faulty terminal in the side curtain airbags could, at worst, result in the airbags not deploying in an accident. In total, just 89 units are affected - but the problems don't end there. Supply chain issues mean General Motors doesn't have the parts to repair these vehicles, which is concerning.

But the bad news hasn't stopped rolling in for the automotive conglomerate yet. The NHTSA has announced that 2,687 examples of the 2015 Traverse, Enclave, and the GMC Acadia have been recalled due to a problem with the driver's airbag. Worryingly, the inflator has the potential to explode during deployment, which could lead to catastrophic consequences.

The defect could send metal fragments flying into the vehicle's interior upon deployment, which could result in serious injury or death. Thankfully, the percentage of cars with the defect is estimated at just 1%. 542 examples of the MY2015 Enclave produced between November 5, 2014 and Jan 28, 2015 are affected, along with 962 units of the 2015 GMC Acadia built between October 29, 2014, and March 26, 2015.

The Traverse is the most affected, with a total of 1,183 2015 models produced between November 5, 2014, and March 24, 2015. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed by May 30, 2022. Customers will be instructed to bring their affected vehicles into GM dealerships, which will replace the driver's side airbag module. Naturally, this will be carried out at no cost to the owner.

While the recall batch is relatively small, General Motors would do well to remember the horrific Takata airbag scandal. More than 100 million vehicles across the globe were fitted with faulty inflators which could potentially send sharp metal fragments into the cabin. Sadly, over 400 people have been injured while a further 28 people have lost their lives because of the defect.

General Motors must be tripping over itself to rectify the aforementioned safety issues. It's not the only recall currently plaguing the brand. 740,581 examples of the previous-gen GMC Terrain have been recalled for headlight glare issues. We hope GM can quickly solve the airbag issues, as this is the exact kind of problem that can tarnish a reputation. With luck, the carmaker won't have any supply issues this time around.