2021 Chevrolet Traverse Frontal Impact Recall (21V472)
General Motors, LLC · 6 vehicles · Reported June 24, 2021
General Motors, LLC is recalling 6 2021 Buick Enclave; 2021 Chevrolet Traverse vehicles. During service by dealers, certain vehicles may have received incorrect air bag calibration software that may affect frontal airbag deployment. Air bags that do not deploy as intended can increase the risk of injury. Dealers will make the repair free of charge.
Recall 21V472 at a glance
| NHTSA campaign number | 21V472000 |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer recall number | N212340220 |
| Date reported to NHTSA | June 24, 2021 |
| Manufacturer | General Motors, LLC |
| Vehicles | 2021 Buick Enclave; 2021 Chevrolet Traverse |
| Units affected | 6 |
| Component | Air Bags > Sensor > Frontal Impact |
| Safety risk | Air bags that do not deploy as intended can increase the risk of injury. |
| Fix | Available at dealers |
What is wrong with the 2021 Chevrolet Traverse in recall 21V472?
During service by dealers, certain vehicles may have received incorrect air bag calibration software that may affect frontal airbag deployment.
General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2021 Chevrolet Traverse and Buick Enclave vehicles. During service by dealers, certain vehicles may have received incorrect air bag calibration software that may affect frontal airbag deployment.
Is it safe to drive a 2021 Traverse with recall 21V472?
NHTSA has not told owners to stop driving, but the risk is real: Air bags that do not deploy as intended can increase the risk of injury.
NHTSA describes the risk this way: Air bags that do not deploy as intended can increase the risk of injury.
There is no do-not-drive order on this campaign. If your Traverse shows warning lights or behaves differently in a way that involves the frontal impact, have it checked before driving further.
Which vehicles are included in recall 21V472?
Recall 21V472 covers 6 vehicles: 2021 Buick Enclave; 2021 Chevrolet Traverse.
NHTSA lists 6 vehicles in this campaign. Not every vehicle of these models and years is included, so check your VIN.
| Model years | Make | Model |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | Buick | Enclave |
| 2021 | Chevrolet | Traverse |
What is the fix for the Traverse frontal impact recall?
Yes. Dealers will update the air bag calibration software, free of charge.
Dealers will update the air bag calibration software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on July 29, 2021. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020 and Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300. GM's number for this recall is N212340220.
When was recall 21V472 announced?
General Motors, LLC reported recall 21V472 to NHTSA on June 24, 2021.
| Date | What happened |
|---|---|
| June 24, 2021 | General Motors, LLC filed the defect report with NHTSA; NHTSA assigned campaign 21V472000. |
| July 29, 2021 | Owner notification letters mailed (per NHTSA). |
This recall was filed 64 months ago. If your Traverse was built in that window, the VIN check below is the way to confirm it is included.
How do I check if my Traverse is part of recall 21V472?
Enter your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. If recall 21V472 is open on your Traverse, 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 Traverse 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 Traverse owners do about recall 21V472?
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 21V472000 applies to your Traverse.
- Call a Chevrolet dealer and schedule the recall repair. Ask how long the repair takes and whether parts are in stock.
- 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 frontal impact 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 Traverse owners reporting to NHTSA?
Owners have filed 114 complaints with NHTSA about these vehicles since 2020, 3 of them about the air bags.
Too few NHTSA complaints about the air bags have been filed since recall 21V472 was reported (3) to say whether the fix is holding.
NHTSA’s public complaint database lists 114 owner complaints filed since 2020 for the vehicles in this recall, and 3 of them involve the air bags. 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 Traverse: 89 complaints in total, 3 about the air bags
- 2021 Buick Enclave: 25 complaints in total, 0 about the air bags
A few excerpts from owner complaints filed with NHTSA (unverified, lightly trimmed):
While going around 40mph I approached a stopped vehicle and tried to come to a stop. At this time my braking system failed, speeding the car up instead of slowing it down, this resulted in my car rear ending another vehicle.
2021 Chevrolet Traverse owner, MS, NHTSA complaint 11691105, filed October 2, 2025
What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? My wife and daughter were both involved in a car accident.
2021 Chevrolet Traverse owner, NH, NHTSA complaint 11731364, filed April 15, 2026
I was hit by another car who ran the red light. No airbag deployment at all, in serious crash. Whole front end hit without airbags going off.
2021 Chevrolet Traverse owner, MD, NHTSA complaint 11597270, filed June 27, 2024
Can recall 21V472 make my Traverse 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.
Owners often ask whether this frontal impact recall means their Traverse qualifies as a lemon. Not by itself. Song-Beverly looks at whether a defect covered by the warranty substantially impairs use, value or safety and was not fixed after a reasonable number of repair attempts (Civ. Code 1793.2(d)).
Air bag defects are hidden until the moment they matter most. A recall repair may replace an inflator or sensor, but if warning lights return or the system faults again, that is a repeat repair for a safety defect.
A remedy is available. Many vehicles are fixed on the first try. If the problem returns after the recall repair, or the 2021 Chevrolet Traverse 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 Traverse 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 Traverse been back to the dealer for this problem?
Call 877-536-6620Other Chevrolet Traverse recalls
Frequently asked questions about recall 21V472
Is the 21V472000 recall repair free?
Yes. Safety recall repairs are done free of charge at authorized dealers.
How do I know if my Traverse is part of recall 21V472000?
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.
What if my air bag light stays on after the recall repair?
Go back to the dealer. A warning light that returns means the system may not deploy correctly, and the visit is another repair attempt for a safety defect.
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 21V472000 (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.