This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that have an intermittent no crank, no start, or start stall concern with the security light coming on. Technician may find Diagnostic Trouble Codes B3055, B3060, and/or B3935. Technician should not replace any parts for this concern. If unable to duplicate the concern ask if the customer uses any Radio Frequency Identification Devices when the concern is present. Dealer should also direct their customers to the appropriate section in the Owner manuals that references that the device complies.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2009 Saturn Sky airbags problems
moderate 33 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $1,100 · see airbags across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
33
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$1,100
When does it fail?
Of the 33 airbags complaints filed for the 2009 Saturn Sky, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 25,000-50,000 mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
What stands out
Owners have filed 33 airbags complaints with NHTSA against this vehicle, but no formal recall covers the issue — the federal record reflects what manufacturers have admitted, not everything owners are reporting.
No new NHTSA airbags complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 3 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering airbags on this vehicle — documented repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall (it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.
This technical bulletin provides a procedure to complete a terminal replacement or connector re connection to correct a condition of Diagnostic Information for Supplemental Inflatable Restraint (SIR) System, Intermittent AIR BAG Indicator/Lamp Illuminated with DTC(s) B0012, B0013, B0015, B0016, B0019, B0020, B0022, B0023, B0026, B0033, B0040, B0042 or B0044 Set (Inspect and Replace Connector Position Assurance (CPA) Retainer)
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This informational bulletin provides Information on Passenger Presence Sensing System (PPS or PSS) Concerns with Custom Upholstery, Accessory Seat Heaters or Other Comfort Enhancing Devices
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗14314 - Special Coverage. Certain 2009 Chevrolet Cobalt, Pontiac G5, Solstice, Saturn Sky, and 2008-2009 Chevrolet HHR SS vehicles may have a condition in which the steering wheel airbag coil wires to the driver airbag may become chafed on a sharp edge of the steering wheel horn plate. In vehicles with this condition, the airbag indicator lamp may be continuously or intermittently illuminated in the instrument panel cluster, and DTC codes B0012 or B0013 may be stored in the Supplemental Inflatable Restraint (SIR) system. If this condition is not corrected and a chafed wire were to ground to the horn plate, the driver airbag may not deploy in the event of a vehicle crash. Dealers are to insta
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗CHEVROLET/PONTIAC/SATURN: TSB CONTAINS AN OWNER NOTIFICATION LETTER. SELECT DOCUMENT SEARCH BUTTON BELOW. DRIVER SIDE AIRBAG, ON A SHARP EDGE OF STEERING WHEEL HORN PLATE, WILL BECOME CHAFED DUE TO STEERING WHEEL AIRBAG COIL WIRES AND CAUSES AIRBAG NOT TO DEPLOY, IF NOT CORRECTED. MODEL 2008-09 HHR SS, 2009 COBALT, G5, SOLSTICE, SKY.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
The passenger airbag system fails chronically on these cars. The culprit is a pressure-sensitive tape sensor bonded to the underside of the passenger seat; it becomes brittle and cracks as it ages. When it fails, the service airbag light comes on, the airbag shuts off, and there's no repairing the tape—the whole seat has to be replaced for $800 to $1,400. Owners report failures as early as 14,000 miles, even on vehicles driven sparingly.
GM issued a recall (NHTSA 17V061000) in 2017 but only applied a reinforcement tape, not a real fix. Replacement parts were scarce and unavailable for months. Most owners say the new sensor fails again within 1–2 years anyway. Some dealers couldn't complete the recall at all due to parts shortages.
The pattern is clear: a temporary band-aid recall, unavailable parts, permanent repairs deferred to owners, and high odds of repeat failure. Several owners report the airbag light came on right after ignition recall service. Owners describe this as a known issue across Saturn Sky and Pontiac Solstice forums, with hundreds affected, yet no comprehensive safety recall has been issued.
Same Saturn Sky airbags reports on nearby years: 2007 · 2008
Failure modes owners describe
Passenger seat occupancy sensor tape failure
The passenger weight sensor (pressure-sensitive material affixed to seat bottom) becomes brittle with age and cracks, disabling the airbag and triggering a service light. The sensor tape cannot be repaired—it is bonded to the seat, so the entire seat must be replaced. No new parts have been manufactured since the vehicle went out of production in 2009, meaning all available replacement sensor tapes are old stock and prone to rapid failure even when new.
When: 14,000 to 80,000 miles; some failures reported on low-mileage vehicles (5,000–20,000 miles); timing varies widely
Symptoms owners cite: Service airbag light illuminated on instrument panel; Passenger airbag OFF indicator displayed even when seat is occupied; Passenger-side airbag disabled and will not deploy in a collision
Repairs/costs cited: Entire seat replacement required; $800–$1,400 depending on dealer. Replacement sensors fail again in most cases within 1–2 years of repair.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA Campaign 17V061000 (Takata recall) issued but only provides temporary reinforcement tape fix, not a permanent repair. Replacement parts were unavailable for an extended period. GM refused permanent repairs on some vehicles after temporary fix applied.
Passenger airbag suppression module failure
The passenger seat airbag suppression/occupancy module fails or malfunctions, preventing the system from recognizing occupancy and disabling airbag deployment. Owners report this as a distinct module replacement issue, separate from or following the sensor tape failure.
When: Varies; reported after recall work in some cases (less than 2,500 miles post-recall)
Symptoms owners cite: Service airbag warning light on; Passenger airbag system disabled; Module diagnostically identified as the failure point
Repairs/costs cited: $700–$1,200 to replace module. Owners report that replacement modules are prone to failing again.
Recall (17V061000) repair inadequacy and parts unavailability
GM issued NHTSA Campaign 17V061000 (Takata recall) to address airbag issues on these vehicles. The remedy consists of installing only a reinforcement (tape) over the faulty system rather than replacing the faulty component. Replacement parts for permanent repair were unavailable for extended periods after recall notification. Even when recall work was completed, the underlying sensor continued to fail shortly after, leaving owners responsible for costly permanent repairs ($1,100–$1,400).
When: Recall issued 2017; parts unavailable through at least 2018; failures reported 1–2 years post-recall work
Symptoms owners cite: Service airbag light remains on or reappears after recall work; Passenger airbag OFF indicator persists; No permanent resolution achieved
Codes mentioned: NHTSA Campaign 17V061000
Repairs/costs cited: Temporary reinforcement tape applied under recall; permanent repair (seat/module replacement) deferred to owner at $800–$1,400 cost. Parts not available for extended period; some dealers unable to complete recall at all.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA Campaign 17V061000 (temporary fix only). GM refused permanent repairs on some vehicles post-recall. Parts distribution delays; VIN tool confirmed parts unavailable on multiple occasions.
Service airbag light persistence after ignition recall
Owners who had the ignition switch replaced under a separate recall (GM Recall 17036) reported that the service airbag light appeared immediately or shortly after the ignition work was completed, or the light persisted despite ignition replacement. This suggests a potential cross-system issue or that the ignition work exacerbated an underlying airbag sensor problem.
When: Within days to weeks after ignition recall service
Symptoms owners cite: Service airbag light illuminates on dash after ignition recall work; Light does not extinguish with battery reset; Passenger airbag system disabled
Repairs/costs cited: Subsequent diagnosis points to sensor or module replacement at owner expense.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: GM Recall 17036 (ignition); no acknowledgment of airbag light issue as part of recall remedy or known consequence.
Synthesized from 33 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 15 most recent
Vehicle only has 5000 miles on it purchased new in 2009 has ignition problem and airbag service problem
A few days ago the pass air bag light came on even tho the pass seat was occupied.
Ignition was replaced under recall and now the passenger air bag light is on and will not go out and passenger side airbag is inop. ABS Ecm failed and replacement cost was $1300.00. This is a known issue and should be investigated. Thank you [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Tl* takata recall. The contact owns a 2009 Saturn sky. The contact stated that the air bag warning indicator remained illuminated while driving various speeds. The vehicle was taken to gwatney Chevrolet (1301 tp white dr, jacksonville, ar 72076, (501) 295-4448) and stated that the contact would be responsible for the repair cost. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired due to the cost. The…
I was turning into my subdivision and as I entered a curve in the road my hand hit the key fob and the ignition turned off. I stopped as quick as possible and put the car in park and restarted the engine. Immediately the check engine and have air bags serviced lights came on and stayed on. I recently had the ignition replaced under recall but the lights stayed on. *tr
I took my 2009 Saturn sky redline to a gm dealer on 9/18/2018 for gm recall 17036. They performed the work (installed reinforcement), but less than 2 years later, with less than 2500 miles since the repair, the "service airbag" light came on. On 9/2/2020, I took it back to the dealer, who says the passenger seat sensor must be replaced, at a cost to me of $1182. This is a safety issue for which…
Passenger airbag indicator light is on. Diagnostics indicate module must be replaced ($700.00 to $1100.00). Research indicates a replacement module may fail again.
Air bag light on passenger side has been on since 50,000 miles. Tested at dealer and it is the sensor system in the seat. To replace it it takes about 800 dollars.
The air bag sensor in my vehicle came on two days after dealer repaired the ignition recall. And I took it back and was informed that it would have to be replaced at my expense . Service manager informed me that is very common in this vehicle. I have owned gm vehicles for 25 years and never had a problem like this. In fact I have a 01 durmax that has 375 thousand miles and air bags system has…
Passenger seat airbag sensor inoperable. Makes whole airbag system inoperable. With adult riding passenger in the passenger seat, passenger airbag off light is illuminated.
Had airbags trouble with your 2009 Saturn Sky?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the airbags problem on the 2009 Saturn Sky?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 33 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $1,100 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the airbags typically fail?
Across the 23 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most airbags failures cluster between 23,228 and 56,000 miles, with the median around 42,500. A quarter of owners report trouble before 23,228; a quarter make it past 56,000. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $1,100 for airbags repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to airbags?
No active recalls currently cover airbags issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2009/Saturn/Sky.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.