The contact owns a 2012 Chevrolet Volt. The contact stated while operating the vehicle, the front passenger’s side air bag warning light remained illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer who determined that the front passenger’s side air bag Passenger Sensor System was faulty and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact was informed that the part to repair the…
2012 chevrolet Volt airbags problems
severe 77 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $1,100
Complaints
77
Recalls
0
Crashes
2
Avg fix
$1,100
What owners are reporting 7 most recent
My 2012 Chevrolet Volt has had a failure with the passenger air bag presence sensor. As a result, the passenger air bag indicator has been going on and off intermittently while someone is riding in the passenger seat. This has been happening since 2017. It has gotten worse over time and is usually off when it should be on. My passengers no longer feel safe. This is a failure that could result in…
AIRBAG LIGHT COMES ON WHEN EVEN THE SLIGHTEST PRESSURE IS PLACED ON THE PASSENGER SEAT. I WAS TOLD THAT REPLACING THE SENSOR IN THE SEAT IS THE ONLY REMEDY, AND THAT IS REPAIR IS NOT COVERED BY WARRANTY. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE THAT IS KNOWN TO GM.
VEHICLE DISPLAYING SERVICE AIRBAG WARNING. WAS TOLD BY DEALER THE PASSENGER AIRBAG WILL NOT DEPLOY UNLESS A $1000 PART IS ORDERED AND INSTALLED. THIS IS A CRITICAL SAFETY DEVICE AND SHOULD BE COVERED AS A SAFETY RECALL. THIS WARNING APPEARS UPON STARTING THE VEHICLE AND REMAINS ON. THE DEALER STATED THE PASSENGER SENSING MODULE SHORTED OUT INTERNALLY. THE VEHICLE CURRENTLY HAS 124K MILES ON I…
The passenger seat occupancy sensor is malfunctioning and needs replaced.
THIS ISSUE APPEARS TO BE RELATED TO AN OPEN INVESTIGATION (PE19013). AIRBAG WARNING DISPLAYED AFTER PASSENGER HAS EXITED THE VEHICLE ('SERVICE AIRBAG'). APPEARS TO BE CAUSED BY FAULTY PASSENGER PRESENCE SENSOR. FAULT CLEARED WHEN VEHICLE IS TURNED OFF/ON. DEALER (PARADISE CHEVROLET, VENTURA, CA) ADVISED THAT PASSENGER PRESENCE AND AIRBAG SYSTEMS HAVE AN 'INTERNAL FAULT' (B0074, B0081) WHICH DE…
THE AIR BAG SENSOR WARNING LIGHT IS ON AND AIR BAG WILL NOT WORK FOR PASSENGER SEATS. PER THE DEALERSHIP THERE IS AN ISSUE WITH THE AIRBAG SENSOR THAT THEY ARE AWARE OF THE COST OF REPAIR IS 800. TO REPLACE THE AIRBAG SENSOR MODULE. THEY SAID PLACING A CELL PHONE OR LAPTOP ON THE SEAT CAUSES THE MALFUNCTION BUT THERE IS NO RECALL AT THIS POINT. I CAN'T BELIEVE PLACING AN ELECTRONIC ON A SEAT CAUSE…
Common questions
How serious is the airbags problem on the 2012 chevrolet Volt?
It's a meaningful issue. 77 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $1,100.
At what mileage does the airbags typically fail?
Mileage data is limited for this issue. Owners report failures across a wide range, suggesting cause is more about driving conditions and maintenance than mileage alone.
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.
Other problem areas on this vehicle
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. 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.
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