General Motors is recalling approximately 1.18 million Buick Enclave, GMC Acadia, Chevrolet Traverse, and Saturn Outlook crossovers over an issue that could potentially prevent airbags from deploying. The recall is part of GM’s just-completed comprehensive safety review resulting in three new recalls affecting 3.54 million vehicles.
The problem: the Lambda-based vehicles are equipped with a Service Air Bag warning light in the driver information center. Ignoring the active Service Air Bag warning light will eventually result in the non-deployment of the side impact restraints, which include driver and passenger seat-mounted side air bags, front center air bag (if equipped), and the seat belt pretensioners.
Affected vehicles: Buick Enclave and GMC Acadia from the 2008-2013 model years, Chevrolet Traverse from the 2009-2013 model years, and Saturn Outlook from the 2008-2010 model years.
Number of vehicles potentially affected: approximately 1.18 million.
The fix: dealers will remove the driver and passenger side air bag wiring harness connectors and splice and solder the wires together.
Comments
Something’s missing from the article here: “The problem: the Lambda-based vehicles are equipped with a Service Air Bag warning light in the driver information center. Ignoring the active Service Air Bag warning light will eventually result in the non-deployment of the side impact restraints, which include driver and passenger seat-mounted side air bags, front center air bag (if equipped), and the seat belt pretensioners.”
I believe the problem is that the warning light in the DIC may not trigger properly and that requires a fix. The article doesn’t connect the fact that a warning light is in the DIC with what is going awry with the light.
I had a similar problem with my G6, but in the Passenger Airbag Sensor panel where the wiring was deficient. It wouldn’t illuminate the off/on light indicator properly when someone was seated. This was actually bad at one point because I had a girlfriend that was right on the tipping point of the seat weight – and sometimes I had to restart the car to activate the airbag. Dealer fixed it under my GMPP extended warranty at no cost.
Worst GM Airbag Recall Ever: GM authorized some Pontiac dealers to add leather seats post-sale to G6s that were sitting on lots for too long. Unknowingly, this interfered with the airbag weight sensor. GM took the rare step of authorizing buy backs of any and all G6 units with dealer-upgraded seating. You could literally own the affected car for three years, call GM, and they’d take the car back. GM takes safety seriously today, folks.
I have a 2009 traverse and my service airbag keeps coming on is that part of the recall?
Not sure if they take safety seriously or not considering that the engine cuts power if the traction control thinks a sensor is dirty. ALL Traverse and Acadia owners should demand buyback because the vehicle is a safety issue from its low quality
I have had my 2012 Buick Enclave in twice in the past 2 months and it is going in again this week. The service air bag light keeps coming on, I take it in, they say they fix it, and three weeks later it comes back on. This is getting old.
My 20212 Travers has the same issue but I think I am making some headway on my own. i was flexing the plastic on the side of my drivers seat that holds the seat controls and have gotten the light to go off every time. This tells me there is a loose connection or a bad connection possible short. I was told my next part was going to cost over $300. to repair and it just felt like my GM dealer had been guessing until it went away. I haven’t pulled out my Haynes manual and looked under my seat yet but sure to this weekend.
The air bag in my 13 just came on Thursday.
What about the 2014 models? They don’t address this issue at all in the article or recalls.
Because GM already fixed this problem at the assembly line by installing different parts on 2014’s. Check to see what year yours was built in on the sticker attached to the driver door.
2014 is a different design
So I have a 2007 Saturn Outlook (first Year of production) and the air bag warning light alert is on. The press release states 2008-2013 not 2007. The car was the same as the 2008. Does this mean that 2007 Outlooks, Acadias and Enclaves are not included?
Please let me know
Just because the cars are “the same” doesn’t mean small changes in vendors or parts were not performed. GM updates hundreds of parts in most cars each year, even though the intent is to function identically. This is why a Sky Redline purchased in 2007 is under recall for the ignition switch issue, but a 2009 is not.
That is what it means.
Most likely there was a minor change made for 2008 and they did not validate the change properly. Perhaps a source or plant change.
I have a 2007 suburban that has the service airbag indicator light on. I called GM concerned that maybe the suburban needed to be looked into and recalled also after getting the run around and spending 106 dollars for diagnostic testing. GM still says it will take time and I should go ahead and pay to have it fixed they will only reimburse me if it is decided to recall the suburban too. However I dont have that kind of money to spend. I dont understand why it is so much trouble to fix my truck that has the same problem as other GM vehicles. I mean if I get in a wreck they could be sued if my airbags dont deploy and I or a family member is injured bc they are aware of the problem with my truck. Not everyone can fork out 300 dollars to fix a problem GM needs to take care of.
Issue is specific to the Lamda platform seats. Suburban is a completely different platform and setup.
But they are not covering 2007 outlook, acadia and Enclave which has the same problem that later models in the recall. I had tmy local GM dealership look at my air bag light on and they said that it is same issue that 2008-2010 saturn outlook has with a same exact part but my wife’s 2007 saturn oulook is not covered. I doubt they are going to cover the 07’s. I am trying to get it to 2017 (10 years) but I have a feeling I will have to buy what I should have bought in 2007. A Toyota….. never again I will buy a GM. I bought my 2004 nissan titan about 3 months after I bought the saturn. NO problem with the Nissan. BIG mistake buying a GM.
I have an 08 Outlook, car is fine. I take it in for service when needed. Fact is, your 07 is 8 years old now. All cars have issues. Anybody who claims otherwise is not being honest. Buy your Toyota, and they will hide their issues to save face like they did a few years back. Cars are complicated machines and sometimes parts fail. Like an earlier post said, the 07 likely has a different sourced part or it was put together differently than in 08.
Does anyone know what the details are in fixing this. Do they have to remove the seats? If so I’m sure I will end up with more problems after.
Do not know but had mine fixed and have no issues.
I have a 2013 Traverse. This recall wasn’t completely fixed until 4 service appointments! Finally they said it was because there was a voltage problem and they so they felt they needed to replace the air bag I had no problem with in the beginning until I took it in for the recall. Now…….my seat cooling feature never works! 3 times in the shop for it and still nothing. Very disappointed. Not liking I spent almost $40,000 on this car and they are making me want to trade it in…and not for a GM FOR SURE!
So blame the company for a cruddy service department they have no control over? Makes sense…
I have a 2012 Acadia and the air bag light will occasionally come on, when I ask the dealer about it they told me it will do that if you have your cell phone in the passenger seat!!
Now I just got recall notice in the mail but it stated they don’t have parts and will be notified when parts are available and then I can take it in!
That’s a new one!
I am just waiting for the parts now.
What about the problem where the metal power steering pipe is burning the aluminum air conditioning pipe because they are too close? When will it be a recall on that?
I wanted to add that it’s causing the air conditioner not to work.
Recalls are for safety items. Losing your air conditioning is not normally life threatening. Then again if you are in the desert it could be?
Problems with 2010 Buick enclave air conditioner it keeps loosing freon last time it was 1 pound low.
I have a 2014 Traverse and just got the same warning. This is my fifth problem with this vehicle and I am now like family at the dealership.
I have a 2007 Saturn outlook, with the SAME service air bag warning light on, it’s off and on whenever it feels like it, that’s a issue all of the Saturn outlooks have, so how can they narrow it down to certain years???….they need to give the 2007 a second look!!!
I have a 2010 traverse and this problem started to occur last week. I called to set up an appointment and was told there is no open recall on my vehicle. Im taking it in but a little concerned they are going to try to charge me for a problem that should be coming out of GMs pocket. 🙁 any idea why they would say there is no open recall when it took me all of 5min to type in the problem and this article popped up?
The recall for the airbags were done 2014 and my service airbag light came at 36,094 miles. Today, March 25th my car was serviced due to faulty wiring of airbag. My car has never been in an accident so why do I have to pay?
I have a 2013 Traverse, airbag light came on September 2015. The recall issue had already been taken care of in 2014, but this light came on in September and we were told we had to replace the airbag. We were charged $1200 and then two weeks later the light was on again. We took it to a non GM dealership it took two months to figure out what was going on. We spent $300 to fix the issue in November. April 2016 the light is on again. What will it take for GM to fix this situation correctly? I put my children in this car everyday and it kills me that it is unsafe. We are currently looking at trading it in and I will not be buying another GM.
I have a 2014 Chevy Traverse and my “Service Airbag” light came on recently. I have an appointment this weekend to have it checked out. Hopefully they can shed light on the situation since I haven’t been able to find any recalls/info on this model.
SMoore – What ended up being the problem? I’ve brought my 2014 Traverse 3 times so far!
I also have a 2014 traverse with 76,000 miles. The service air bag light came on yesterday. There are tons of complaints about the 2014 Traverse air bag light. 2013 recalled for the same issue. There is a bulletin that states they will fix it free of charge of the vehicle is under 72,000 miles or 5 years, which ever comes first. Meaning they know there is any issue but are refusing to announce an actual recall. Make sure you file your complaints with the NTHSB and notify the dealership in writing. This is a huge safety issue. This car is not safe to drive my children in.
The problem I’m having is the timing chain issue that has yet to be addressed by General motors. At 83 thousand miles an I bought it with 12 thousand miles so we where not able to get the extended warranty. So an SUV I am still paying on I get to spend 3000 more for a part there aware is faulty. This is a very large scale problem with the 3.6 letter engine.
I have a 2014 Chevy Traverse. This is 3rd time the SERVICE AIR BAG light is being serviced. Ive had issues on and off for 2 years. They are going to do the wire splicing this time. Other things were replaced in the past.
This recall should have extended to year 2014 Traverse.
I have a 2011 Chevy traverse a timing chain recall definitely needs to happen this is one of the major issues related to the problems in these vehicles and Acadia and more like these to recall a air bag is the least of my worriea I’m pissed that know these problems occur and would rather gove us a cheaper recall repair they need to fix this
I bought my 2015 Traverse 2 years ago. Have had a constant problem with the service airbag light since I bought it. I have found a fix just by moving the wiring under the passenger seat, but it is only temporary. Had a similar problem with a 2009 Traverse and they soldered a bad connection, under the seat, and the problem was solved. Why can’t this be solved the same way?