2021-2022 Buick Encore GX Equipment Stand Recall (21V440)
General Motors, LLC · 135,400 vehicles · Reported June 10, 2021
General Motors, LLC is recalling 135,400 2021-2022 Buick Encore GX; 2021-2022 Chevrolet Trailblazer vehicles. The emergency jack, if not positioned as directed in the vehicle owner's manual, can fracture while in use. A fractured jack can cause the vehicle to collapse, increasing the risk of injury. Dealers will make the repair free of charge.
Recall 21V440 at a glance
| NHTSA campaign number | 21V440000 |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer recall number | A212335470 |
| Date reported to NHTSA | June 10, 2021 |
| Manufacturer | General Motors, LLC |
| Vehicles | 2021-2022 Buick Encore GX; 2021-2022 Chevrolet Trailblazer |
| Units affected | 135,400 |
| Component | Equipment > Mechanical > Accessory Scissor / Screw / Bottle Jack / Lift > Stand |
| Safety risk | A fractured jack can cause the vehicle to collapse, increasing the risk of injury. |
| Fix | Available at dealers |
What is wrong with the 2021-2022 Buick Encore GX in recall 21V440?
The emergency jack, if not positioned as directed in the vehicle owner's manual, can fracture while in use.
General Motors, LLC. (GM) is recalling certain 2020-2022 Buick Encore GX and 2021-2022 Chevrolet Trailblazer vehicles. The emergency jack, if not positioned as directed in the vehicle owner's manual, can fracture while in use.
Is it safe to drive a 2021-2022 Encore GX with recall 21V440?
NHTSA has not told owners to stop driving, but the risk is real: A fractured jack can cause the vehicle to collapse, increasing the risk of injury.
NHTSA describes the risk this way: A fractured jack can cause the vehicle to collapse, increasing the risk of injury.
There is no do-not-drive order on this campaign. If your Encore GX shows warning lights or behaves differently in a way that involves the stand, have it checked before driving further.
Which vehicles are included in recall 21V440?
Recall 21V440 covers 135,400 vehicles: 2021-2022 Buick Encore GX; 2021-2022 Chevrolet Trailblazer.
NHTSA lists 135,400 vehicles in this campaign. Not every vehicle of these models and years is included, so check your VIN.
| Model years | Make | Model |
|---|---|---|
| 2021-2022 | Buick | Encore GX |
| 2021-2022 | Chevrolet | Trailblazer |
What is the fix for the Encore GX equipment stand recall?
Yes. Dealers will replace the jack, free of charge.
Dealers will replace the jack, free of charge. Interim owner notification letters informing owner of the safety risk are expected to be mailed July 26, 2021. A second notice will be mailed once remedy parts become available. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300 or Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is A212335470.
When was recall 21V440 announced?
General Motors, LLC reported recall 21V440 to NHTSA on June 10, 2021.
| Date | What happened |
|---|---|
| June 10, 2021 | General Motors, LLC filed the defect report with NHTSA; NHTSA assigned campaign 21V440000. |
| July 26, 2021 | Interim owner notification letters scheduled (per NHTSA). |
This recall was filed 64 months ago. If your Encore GX was built in that window, the VIN check below is the way to confirm it is included.
How do I check if my Encore GX is part of recall 21V440?
Enter your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. If recall 21V440 is open on your Encore GX, it will be listed there.
The fastest check is NHTSA’s VIN lookup. Type in the 17 characters from your registration or insurance card. Because only some 2021-2022 Encore GX vehicles are included, the VIN check is the only reliable way to know. A brand-new recall may take several days to show up.
What should Encore GX owners do about recall 21V440?
Check your VIN, schedule the free recall repair, and keep a repair order for every dealer visit.
- Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to confirm recall 21V440000 applies to your Encore GX.
- Book the recall appointment with any authorized Buick dealer. Ask up front whether parts are available and how long the vehicle will be there.
- Keep a copy of every repair order. Check that each one lists your complaint, the mileage, and the dates in and out.
- Keep a simple log of any stand symptoms with dates and mileage. Video of a warning light or the problem happening is strong evidence.
- Count the days the vehicle is at the dealer. Days out of service add up toward California's 30-day presumption.
- If the recall repair does not fix it, or the vehicle keeps going back for the same issue, talk to a lemon law attorney.
What are Encore GX owners reporting to NHTSA?
Owners have filed 388 complaints with NHTSA about these vehicles since 2020, 108 of them about the other equipment.
Since recall 21V440 was reported on June 10, 2021, owners have filed 106 complaints with NHTSA about the other equipment on these vehicles. 13 of them (12%) describe the same problem happening more than once or coming back after a repair attempt.
How we counted: we matched NHTSA owner complaints for the model years in this recall that list the other equipment and were received on or after June 10, 2021, then flagged narratives that describe a repeat failure or a problem returning after a dealer repair, recall service or software update. Data from NHTSA, accessed October 1, 2026. Complaints are unverified owner reports and may involve a related other equipment issue rather than this exact defect; automated text matching can miss or misread some reports.
NHTSA’s public complaint database lists 388 owner complaints filed since 2020 for the vehicles in this recall, and 108 of them involve the other equipment. Complaints are reports from owners and have not been verified by NHTSA, but a high count for the same component is a sign the problem is widespread.
- 2021 Chevrolet Trailblazer: 193 complaints in total, 56 about the other equipment
- 2022 Chevrolet Trailblazer: 110 complaints in total, 35 about the other equipment
- 2021 Buick Encore GX: 53 complaints in total, 8 about the other equipment
- 2022 Buick Encore GX: 32 complaints in total, 9 about the other equipment
Examples of what owners have reported to NHTSA (unverified excerpts):
The contact owns a 2021 Chevrolet Trailblazer. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V440000 (Equipment) however, the part to the recall repair was unavailable. The contact took the vehicle to the local dealer and it was confirmed that the part was not available.
2021 Chevrolet Trailblazer owner, FL, NHTSA complaint 11435362, filed October 4, 2021
The contact owns a 2021 Chevrolet Trailblazer. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V440000 (Equipment). The contact called a local dealer and was informed that the only resolution for the recall would be to remove the jack stand inside the vehicle. The contact was informed that the jack stand would not be replaced.
2021 Chevrolet Trailblazer owner, WA, NHTSA complaint 11441358, filed November 22, 2021
Found standing water in spare tire well. Back seat constantly wet, growing mold. The whole back area is moldy, mold under driver seat. My back passenger door seal has mold and water. Seat belts in back, MOLD. I had to wear a mask just to drive to the store.
2021 Chevrolet Trailblazer owner, OR, NHTSA complaint 11636360, filed January 16, 2025
Can recall 21V440 make my Encore GX a lemon in California?
Not by itself. A recall repair that fails, or repeat dealer visits for the same defect, can support a California lemon law claim.
A recall by itself does not make a car a lemon. Under California's Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act, what matters is whether a defect covered by the warranty substantially impairs the vehicle's use, value or safety, and whether the manufacturer or its dealers fixed it within a reasonable number of attempts (Civ. Code 1793.2(d)).
What matters for a lemon law claim is not the recall label but whether the defect substantially impairs the 2021-2022 Buick Encore GX and whether the dealer can fix it in a reasonable number of tries.
A remedy is available. Many vehicles are fixed on the first try. If the problem returns after the recall repair, or the 2021-2022 Buick Encore GX has needed other repairs for the same defect, those visits count toward a lemon law claim.
For the first 18 months or 18,000 miles, California presumes the manufacturer had enough chances if the Encore GX went in two or more times for a defect likely to cause death or serious injury, four or more times for the same defect, or spent more than 30 days in the shop (Civ. Code 1793.22(b)). Direct notice to the manufacturer is required for some of these. The presumption is a shortcut, not the only path to a claim.
An owner who prevails in a lemon law case can recover reasonable attorney fees and costs from the manufacturer (Civ. Code 1794(d)). You pay nothing, win or lose. We are paid only if you win, and the manufacturer pays our fees, including in settlements. If a case is lost, our firm covers the costs.
In our cases, a recall repair visit counts as a repair attempt, and it's strongest when the owner complained about the problem before the recall came out. A recall shows the defect is real and that enough owners reported it for the manufacturer to issue a fix.
The biggest mistake I see is waiting too long. The mileage offset starts at your first repair visit for the problem, so the sooner you take it in, the better. If the problem comes and goes, take it in when it happens. You can't go back to that date later.
If you get a recall notice, call a lemon law attorney right away. You may have taken the car in for the same problem before and forgotten, or there may be other recalls related to it.
Jacob Shayesteh, Esq. (SBN 362320), Founder and Managing Attorney. Quotes lightly edited for clarity. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
Has your Encore GX been back to the dealer for this problem?
Call 877-536-6620Other Buick Encore GX recalls
Frequently asked questions about recall 21V440
Did the recall 21V440 fix work?
Since recall 21V440 was reported on June 10, 2021, owners have filed 106 complaints with NHTSA about the other equipment on these vehicles. 13 of them (12%) describe the same problem happening more than once or coming back after a repair attempt. If your vehicle still has the problem after the recall repair, go back to the dealer, get a repair order, and talk to a lemon law attorney.
Is the 21V440000 recall repair free?
Yes. Safety recall repairs are done free of charge at authorized dealers.
How do I know if my Encore GX is part of recall 21V440000?
Enter your 17-character VIN in NHTSA's recall lookup at nhtsa.gov/recalls, or call a dealer. The VIN is on your registration, insurance card and the lower corner of the windshield.
Does a recall mean my car is a lemon?
Not on its own. A lemon law claim depends on whether a covered defect keeps coming back or keeps the vehicle out of service. A recall repair that fails, or repeat visits for the same problem, can support a claim.
What should I keep for a possible lemon law claim?
Keep every repair order, the recall owner letter, your purchase or lease contract, and notes on dates, mileage and symptoms. Make sure each dealer visit is written up, even when the dealer says it cannot find a problem.
Does the recall fixing my car mean I have no case?
Not necessarily. Even if the recall repair fixed it, you may still have a case, and a car that's a year or more old can still qualify.
Do used cars qualify for California lemon law?
We take certified pre-owned, demo and dealer vehicles. Since the California Supreme Court's Rodriguez decision in 2024, ordinary used cars generally do not qualify.
How long does a recall lemon law case take?
Recall-related cases typically resolve in one to three months from your first call. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
What does a lemon law attorney cost?
You pay nothing, win or lose. We are paid only if you win, and the manufacturer pays our fees, including in settlements. If a case is lost, our firm covers the costs.
Sources
- NHTSA recall record 21V440000 (recall report and owner letters are posted there)
- NHTSA complaints and recalls data, accessed October 1, 2026
- California Civil Code 1793.2 and 1793.22
Attorney advertising. America’s Lemon Lawyer is a trade name of Wynn Law Group, APC. Responsible attorney: Jacob Shayesteh, Esq. (SBN 362320). This page is general information, not legal advice. America’s Lemon Lawyer is not affiliated with NHTSA or Buick, Chevrolet. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.