2013 Chevrolet Volt airbags problems

Related recalls

• Recall 23V516000Jul 27, 2023767 vehicles
  AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE

  General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2013 Buick Verano, Chevrolet Camero, Sonic, and Volt vehicles. The driver-side air bag inflator may explode during deployment due to a manufacturing defect.

  Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, resulting in serious injury or death.

  Remedy: Dealers will replace the driver-side air bag module, free of charge. On some 2013 Volt vehicles, the steering wheel will be replaced as well, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed October 23, 2023. 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 N232413120.

What owners say

1. Filed Feb 26, 2026LAAirbagsElectrical SystemSeats & Seat Belts

   The passenger presence sensor is failing or failed because every time someone sit in there the airbag turns on and off repeatedly every 2-3 mins and gives a service airbag warning and if no one is sitting in the passenger seat then it just stays on. Could be really dangerous if a wreck happens while it’s glitching in the off mode and could cause death. Multiple people have had this problem with the volts and there is even a thing you can by to completely bypass the airbag…

   NHTSA complaint #11720796 · source
2. Filed Oct 25, 2025CAAirbags

   The passenger occupancy sensor gives a false positive. The only way I can get rid of the beeping is plug in the seatbelt. I have read on Reddit forums that this is a very common problem with 2013 volts, but for some reason there isn't a recall. This is a safety issue. Thank you!

   NHTSA complaint #11695594 · source
3. Filed Jul 28, 2025ILAirbagsSeats & Seat Belts

   Front passenger seat sensor intermittently fails, causing the Passenger Airbag indicator to switch to OFF (even if a passenger is present) with an accompanying "Service Airbag" message on the dashboard and illumination of the service airbag light. This occurs usually driving above 25mph, but can happen stationary, and lasts for anywhere from 5 seconds to a minute (more commonly shorter). The issue appears some weeks more than others, usually activating most days a week but…

   NHTSA complaint #11676789 · source
4. Filed Jan 17, 2025WAAirbags

   Passenger presence does not detect people in it and makes it unsafe for passenger without airbags. This got closed and was state that there was a Chevy program to fix this as cited in the closing . I have called all over Chevy and there is no one who knows anything about this at all. If you know it or if they just started it to make it go away, please tell with with whom I can contact within Chevy to start the process

   NHTSA complaint #11636406 · source
5. Filed Jul 19, 2024WAAirbags

   Repeats constantly..."service airbag". Appears to stop for somewhat variable lengths of time with passenger in front seat. Seems to be related to presence sensor.

   NHTSA complaint #11603460 · source
6. Filed Feb 27, 2024CAAirbagsSeats & Seat Belts

   I have a 2013 Volt. Passenger Presence pad in the passenger front seat caused the "Airbag Service" warning light. It is very common. So many people have suffered from it. It cost over $1000. But it is not a recall.

   NHTSA complaint #11574144 · source
7. Filed Jan 20, 2024WIAirbagsOther / UnknownSeats & Seat Belts

   The passenger side seat airbag sensor is malfunctioning. A message displaying “Service Airbag” comes up and the airbag light comes on. This happens numerous times during a typical drive (around 20 minutes) The airbag is turned off while the message and light is displayed. This issue has been occurring for about a year or two now. Starting around 90k miles, currently has 111k miles. I’ve done my research on this issue and many other Volt owners have this issue. Which is…

   NHTSA complaint #11566665 · source
8. Filed Sep 24, 2023NJAirbags

   Intermittent warning for front passenger airbag. Module saying service airbag comes on and off when front passenger is occupying seat. Just a quick anecdote just had car inspected warning does not appear while someone is occupying front seat, nor does it appear if someone is occupying rear seats.

   NHTSA complaint #11546243 · source
9. Filed Aug 26, 2023WAAirbagsSeats & Seat Belts

   The airbag for the passenger seat is faulty and turns off and on, took it to the dealership and they said it was a $1000 to fix it. Said it was a bad wiring harness

   NHTSA complaint #11540942 · source
10. Filed Aug 10, 2023OKAirbags

    Passenger airbag sensor intermittent error. Says service airbag. Goes off after someone has been sitting in vehicle and exits vehicle. Not reliably reproducible but seems to be happening with greater frequency.

    NHTSA complaint #11537677 · source
11. Filed Mar 13, 2023CAAirbagsSeats & Seat Belts

    According to NHTSA's own filing - Action PE19013 - GM's response to the action was to "establish a cost reduction program". I have now had this exact problem diagnosed, and repaired at a cost of $1,133. Neither GM, nor the Chevrolet dealership where I had the repair done had any information or provided and discounts or cost reduction. Either NHTSA has lied in its report, or GM has lied to NHTSA in order to close this incident. I should have the cost of this repair "reduced".

    NHTSA complaint #11511529 · source
12. Filed Dec 29, 2022CAAirbagsSeats & Seat Belts

    The passenger presence sensor module has developed a fault. The service airbag soon warning pops up when a front seat passenger gets out of the seat. I can manually recreate the problem by pressing down on the seat bottom cushion and then when I release pressure the warning reappears and then goes away after 10 seconds. I will now need to replace the module and get the vehicle reprogrammed, or find a junkyard seat and hope it doesn't have the same problem. You really should…

    NHTSA complaint #11499347 · source

Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Office of Defects Investigation public data. Complaints are submitted by owners and are not verified by NHTSA or by us; a complaint does not prove a defect exists. View this vehicle on NHTSA.gov Methodology