2022 GMC Acadia Air Bag Control Module Recall (21V702)
General Motors, LLC · 2 vehicles · Reported September 10, 2021
General Motors, LLC is recalling 2 2022 GMC Acadia vehicles. The sensing diagnostic module (SDM) may have been left in "manufacturing mode" and not activated at the assembly plant prior to shipment. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection." The air bags will not deploy with an unactivated SDM, increasing the risk of injury in a crash. Contact a dealer about the recall repair.
Recall 21V702 at a glance
| NHTSA campaign number | 21V702000 |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer recall number | N212344261 |
| Date reported to NHTSA | September 10, 2021 |
| Manufacturer | General Motors, LLC |
| Vehicles | 2022 GMC Acadia |
| Units affected | 2 |
| Component | Air Bags > Air Bag / Restraint Control Module |
| Safety risk | The air bags will not deploy with an unactivated SDM, increasing the risk of injury in a crash. |
| Fix | Available at dealers |
What is wrong with the 2022 GMC Acadia in recall 21V702?
The sensing diagnostic module (SDM) may have been left in "manufacturing mode" and not activated at the assembly plant prior to shipment.
General Motors, LLC. (GM) is recalling certain 2022 GMC Acadia vehicles. The sensing diagnostic module (SDM) may have been left in "manufacturing mode" and not activated at the assembly plant prior to shipment. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."
Is it safe to drive a 2022 Acadia with recall 21V702?
NHTSA has not told owners to stop driving, but the risk is real: The air bags will not deploy with an unactivated SDM, increasing the risk of injury in a crash.
NHTSA describes the risk this way: The air bags will not deploy with an unactivated SDM, increasing the risk of injury in a crash.
NHTSA has not issued a do-not-drive or park-outside warning for this recall. Still, get the repair done as soon as it is available, and stop driving if you notice symptoms related to the air bag and restraint control module.
Which vehicles are included in recall 21V702?
Recall 21V702 covers 2 vehicles: 2022 GMC Acadia.
NHTSA lists 2 vehicles in this campaign. Not every vehicle of these models and years is included, so check your VIN.
| Model years | Make | Model |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | GMC | Acadia |
What is the fix for the Acadia air bag control module recall?
Yes. The vehicles will be returned to the assembly plant for SDM activation.
The vehicles will be returned to the assembly plant for SDM activation. Both affected vehicles are still in dealer inventory and therefore no owner notification letters will be mailed. Owners may contact GMC 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is N212344261.
When was recall 21V702 announced?
General Motors, LLC reported recall 21V702 to NHTSA on September 10, 2021.
| Date | What happened |
|---|---|
| September 10, 2021 | General Motors, LLC filed the defect report with NHTSA; NHTSA assigned campaign 21V702000. |
This recall was filed 61 months ago. If your Acadia was built in that window, the VIN check below is the way to confirm it is included.
How do I check if my Acadia is part of recall 21V702?
Enter your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. If recall 21V702 is open on your Acadia, it will be listed there.
Enter your 17-character VIN at NHTSA’s recall lookup. It shows any open safety recall on your vehicle, including 21V702000. Your VIN is on the registration card, the insurance card, and the driver side of the dashboard where it meets the windshield. Recent recalls can take a few days to appear in the lookup.
What should Acadia owners do about recall 21V702?
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 21V702000 applies to your Acadia.
- Book the recall appointment with any authorized GMC 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 air bag and restraint control module 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 Acadia owners reporting to NHTSA?
Owners have filed 49 complaints with NHTSA about these vehicles since 2020, 2 of them about the air bags.
Too few NHTSA complaints about the air bags have been filed since recall 21V702 was reported (2) to say whether the fix is holding.
NHTSA’s public complaint database lists 49 owner complaints filed since 2020 for the vehicles in this recall, and 2 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.
- 2022 GMC Acadia: 49 complaints in total, 2 about the air bags
A few excerpts from owner complaints filed with NHTSA (unverified, lightly trimmed):
Since we purchased our 2022 Acadia 6/24/2022 we have had the warning "Service Safety Restraint System" pop up randomly. We have mentioned it numerous times over the years when the vehicle has been in for routine service at our local dealership.
2022 GMC Acadia owner, IA, NHTSA complaint 11757181, filed August 15, 2026
Vehicle in a motor vehicle accident, hit from behind with great force. Airbags did not deploy. Three occupants in vehicle. The frame was easily damaged of the vehicle causing it to be totaled out. This VIN was not marked apart of recall but yet it does show it is.
2022 GMC Acadia owner, AK, NHTSA complaint 11570447, filed February 7, 2024
Can recall 21V702 make my Acadia 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.
Recall 21V702000 does not automatically make your Acadia a lemon. California's Song-Beverly Act asks two questions: does a warranty defect substantially impair the vehicle's use, value or safety, and did the manufacturer fail to fix it in a reasonable number of tries (Civ. Code 1793.2(d))?
An air bag warning light that keeps coming back after a recall repair is worth documenting. Air bag defects are safety defects, and California law can require fewer repair attempts for them.
The recall repair is available at dealers. If it works, great. If the same symptom comes back, the recall visit is one repair attempt and the next visit is another.
California law presumes a reasonable number of attempts has been made if, within 18 months or 18,000 miles of delivery, the same problem was repaired two or more times for a defect likely to cause death or serious injury, four or more times for any covered defect, or the vehicle was out of service for repairs more than 30 days in total (Civ. Code 1793.22(b)). Some of these require written notice to the manufacturer. A claim can still succeed outside that window.
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 Acadia been back to the dealer for this problem?
Call 877-536-6620Other GMC Acadia recalls
Frequently asked questions about recall 21V702
Is the 21V702000 recall repair free?
Safety recall repairs are normally free at authorized dealers. Check the owner letter or ask the dealer to confirm before work begins.
How do I know if my Acadia is part of recall 21V702000?
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 21V702000 (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 GMC. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.