2013 Buick Verano recalled for risk of exploding airbag inflator

INDIANA – GM has issued a product safety recall for certain units of the 2013 Buick Verano that were built with a frontal driver-side airbag inflator containing a defect that could result in an internal canister exploding dangerously when the airbag inflates during a collision.

The problem affects 2013 Buick Verano vehicles the deployment of the driver-side airbag could result in the inflator bursting and creating a shrapnel hazard because of a defect.

GM says a total of 767 vehicles in total are affected by the recall in the United States, which includes 43 individual units of the 2013 Buick Verano.

Affected vehicles: 

Detonation of the ammonium nitrate propellant during a collision may cause overpressure in the inflator of the driver-side air bag module, causing a part to burst and send sharp pieces of metal through the 2013 Buick Verano interior at high speed, potentially resulting in injury or death.

A repair is available free of charge for affected 2013 Buick Verano units. The fix consists of removing the driver-side airbag module and inflator and installing a new component in its place from a non-defective batch of airbag modules.

Units of the 2013 Buick Verano built with air bag inflators from other parts lots are not affected by the recall and are not eligible for a fix. GM tracked down the exact Verano vehicles built with the defective inflators by using the information in manufacturing records and part trace data.

Owners will be mailed a notification letter on September 11th, 2023 informing them of the GM recall of the 2013 Buick Verano and letting them know about the available fix.

The current owners of 2013 Buick Verano vehicles with concerns or questions can contact either Tri-Shield customer service or the NHTSA for more info, using the numbers listed below and referencing the recall identifier as needed:

Contacts:

  • GM recall number: N232413120
  • Buick customer service number: 1-800-422-8425
  • NHTSA campaign number: 23V516000
  • NHTSA recall number: 23V-516
  • NHTSA safety hotline: 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153)