2019 Buick Encore Air Bags May Not Deploy in Crash - Recall
General Motors recalls 2019 Buick Encore vehicles with air bags that may not deploy in crashes. Owners must contact GM for free reprogramming of the SDM module.
Use caution until it’s fixed
If the air bags do not deploy in the event of a crash, it can increase the risk of injury.
What happened, in plain English
General Motors is recalling certain 2019 Buick Encore vehicles because air bags might not deploy during a crash. This could increase injury risk if the air bags fail to inflate when needed. Read more at govinfonow.com/recall/1223579-2019-buick-encore-air-bags-may-not-deploy-in-crash.
Source Summary by GovInfoNow · govinfonow.com/recall/1223579-2019-buick-encore-air-bags-may-not-deploy-in-crash · Updated October 7, 2026 · Official notice: NHTSA #18V774000
Cite this page
“2019 Buick Encore Air Bags May Not Deploy in Crash - Recall.” GovInfoNow, updated October 7, 2026. https://govinfonow.com/recall/1223579-2019-buick-encore-air-bags-may-not-deploy-in-crash. Based on NHTSA recall #18V774000 (https://www.nhtsa.gov/recalls?nhtsaId=18V774000).
Why it’s dangerous
The Sensing Diagnostic Module (SDM) on these vehicles may not be turned off from "manufacturing mode." This prevents air bags from deploying properly in a crash, increasing injury risk.
Who’s affected
Owners of 2019 Buick Encore vehicles are affected. Drivers and passengers in these vehicles face the highest risk if the air bags fail to deploy during a crash.
How to tell if you have this one
Check for 2019 Buick Encore vehicles. The recall covers specific models with the SDM module not properly configured for air bag deployment.
- Brand
Buick- Category
Vehicle
What to do — step by step
Contact GM Customer Service
Call 1-800-521-7300 or 1-800-222-1020 to schedule free reprogramming of the SDM module.
What NHTSA says to do
GM will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the SDM module to the correct mode, free of charge. The recall began November 6, 2018. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300 and Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is 18365.
How this recall unfolded
Recall timeline
2 dated steps over 10 months.
- NHTSA received the defect report
- Recall began
Dates from the agency record only; steps without a date are left out.
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Where this comes from
The facts (hazard, remedy, dates, manufacturer) are pulled from the official NHTSA recall record. The plain-language summary and step-by-step checklist are written by GovInfoNow to make the official notice easier to act on — they don’t replace it.
- Official source: NHTSA Recall #18V774000 (January 11, 2018)
- Plain-language summary written by qwen3:4b on October 7, 2026, from the official record above. Not reviewed by a person — if it conflicts with the NHTSA notice, the notice is correct. Report an error on this page.
- GovInfoNow is an independent service and is not a government agency. We republish official NHTSA recall data; we don’t issue, amend or administer recalls.