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 ↗2013 Buick Verano airbags problems
severe 15 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $1,100 · see airbags across all vehicles →
Complaints
15
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$1,100
2crashes
3injuries
When does it fail?
Of the 15 airbags complaints filed for the 2013 Buick Verano, 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
Among the 5 model years of Buick Verano in our records for airbags problems, this one ranks #2 by owner-complaint volume.
No new NHTSA airbags complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 4 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 replace the front passenger presence sensor to correct a customer concern on a service airbag light illuminated, the service airbag system message on the DIC, passenger airbag status indicator display OFF and DTC B0074 and B0081 set caused by an open or high resistance in the seat pad printed circuit.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗23520 Sepecial Coverage - On some vehicles, the Passenger Presence Sensor (PPS) Module wire may have been pinched in the seat trim during seat assembly or servicing. When the fault is active the Passenger Frontal Airbag is suppressed. The Service Airbag System telltale is illuminated, the Service Airbag System message is displayed on the Driver Information Center (DIC), and Front Passenger Airbag Status indicator will display OFF. The passenger would not have the benefit of the passenger airbag in the event of a collision if there was an active fault condition present at the time of deploy command.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗THIS ENGINEERING INFORMATION BULLETIN ANNOUCES THE END FOR NEED FOR INFORMATION FROM THE FIELD.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This informational bulletin provides information on Passenger Presence System (PPS) May Command Seat Belt Reminder Chime and Passenger Airbag Indicator On or Set DTC B101D When Electronic Devices or Conductive Objects are Placed on Front Passenger Seat
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
Owners of 2013 Buick Veranos describe a systemic problem with the airbag and occupant-detection systems that puts occupants at real risk. GM issued Bulletin 23520 in May 2016 acknowledging that the passenger presence sensor (PPS) module wire can be pinched during seat assembly, disabling passenger-side airbag deployment. Multiple owners report the service airbag warning light flickering on and off unpredictably throughout ownership, starting from year one on some vehicles, making diagnosis impossible when the light is not illuminated—a catch-22 dealers use to refuse service.
Most troubling are documented failures in actual collisions: one owner was injured in a head-on crash where the airbags never deployed at 51,000 miles; another experienced both airbag and seatbelt failure during a rear-end collision. Out-of-warranty owners face repair bills of $600 to $1,300 for module replacement or electrical diagnostics. GM knew of the defect but limited free coverage to 72,000 miles regardless of the safety-critical nature, denied recalls for affected VINs, and refused coverage to owners who had exceeded the mileage threshold. One owner reported related electrical gremlins—radio, backup camera, and gauge failures—stemming from moisture intrusion in sensor connectors that fried fuses and triggered cascading system warnings.
Same Buick Verano airbags reports on nearby years: 2012 · 2014 · 2016
Failure modes owners describe
Passenger Presence Module (PPM) Manufacturing Defect
The passenger presence sensor (PPS) module wire may be pinched during seat assembly or servicing, causing the module to fail intermittently or completely. This prevents the airbag system from detecting an occupant in the passenger seat and deploying the airbag in a collision.
When: Manufacturing issue present from assembly; typically surfaces between 51,000 and 121,000 miles; one bulletin issued 05/10/2016 for 2013-2016 model years
Symptoms owners cite: Service airbag warning light comes on intermittently or continuously; Airbag fails to deploy in collision; Light may turn off and on unpredictably, sometimes triggered by honking horn; Related electrical gremlins (radio, backup camera, speedometer, gauges intermittently non-functional)
Codes mentioned: Service airbag warning indicator, Passenger presence module fault
Repairs/costs cited: Warranty coverage limited to 72,000 miles from purchase despite ongoing issue; out-of-warranty repairs quoted between $600 and $879 for module replacement; $1,300 repair cost cited for electrical short from wet sensor causing module failure
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: GM Bulletin 23520 issued 05/10/2016; special coverage adjustment (expired); $100 credit offered in one case; manufacturer denies recall and charges full repair cost to customers exceeding mileage warranty even though defect is manufacturing-related
Airbag Non-Deployment in Collision
Airbags failed to deploy during actual head-on and rear-end collisions, resulting in occupant injuries. Defect directly compromises occupant safety in crash events.
When: At 51,000 miles (head-on collision); unknown mileage (rear-end collision with seatbelt failure)
Symptoms owners cite: Complete airbag failure to deploy during frontal head-on impact; Airbag failure to deploy during rear-end collision; Occupant sustained fractured ribs, knee injuries, shoulder injury
Codes mentioned: Airbag system inoperative
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicle towed by insurance after head-on collision; both vehicles destroyed in collision; repair status unknown for rear-end collision case
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Unknown in head-on case (manufacturer not notified); no manufacturer response documented for rear-end case
Intermittent Service Airbag Warning Light
Service airbag warning light activates intermittently on the instrument cluster with no clear trigger, making diagnosis difficult. Dealers report inability to diagnose or service the system when the warning is not actively illuminated.
When: Occurring since vehicle purchase (70,000+ miles range); continues intermittently for years
Symptoms owners cite: Service airbag light flashes or comes on at random intervals; Light may stay illuminated briefly (seconds to minutes) then disappear; No specific conditions correlate to warning activation; Dealership unable to perform diagnostic when warning is not active
Codes mentioned: Service airbag warning light, Intermittent fault condition
Repairs/costs cited: Dealerships refuse to service or diagnose system unless warning light is actively illuminated at time of visit; no repairs completed in documented cases due to intermittency
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Recalls exist for some 2013 Verano airbag issues but do not include all affected vehicles; affected vehicles with out-of-warranty status receive no manufacturer support
Passenger Airbag Disabled by Faulty Occupancy Detection
The passenger presence detection system malfunctions, either failing to detect a passenger seated in the passenger seat or incorrectly detecting an occupied seat when it is empty. This disables the passenger airbag or prevents proper seat occupancy monitoring.
When: Affecting vehicles at 70,000+ miles; present over multiple years of ownership
Symptoms owners cite: Service passenger airbag light comes on continuously when anyone sits in passenger seat; Airbag light remains off and fasten seatbelt light flashes/chimes when passenger seat is empty; Passenger occupancy detection inverted or non-functional
Codes mentioned: Service passenger airbag, Occupant detection fault
Repairs/costs cited: $600 diagnostic fee charged by dealership to confirm passenger presence module fault; module replacement cost estimated $600-$879
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No recalls issued for affected VINs; manufacturer offers no coverage; vehicles out of warranty receive only denial of service
Electrical Short in Airbag System Causing Cascade Failures
Water intrusion or manufacturing defect in airbag-related electrical components (such as rear side sensors) causes shorts that blow fuses, disabling not only the airbag system but also other vehicle systems (radio, backup camera, speedometer, gauges).
When: Occurring early in ownership (reported from year one of ownership); one case at approximately 3,000 miles over warranty expiration
Symptoms owners cite: Service airbag warning appears alongside multiple other system warnings; Radio, backup camera, speedometer, and gauges fail simultaneously; Rear side sensor moisture intrusion detected
Codes mentioned: Service airbag warning, Electrical system fault, Fuse failure
Repairs/costs cited: Electrical short diagnosis cost $300+; full repair including sensor and electrical circuit estimated $1,300 when out of warranty; customer responsible for full cost despite manufacturing origin
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Acknowledged as 'known manufacturing safety defect' by dealership but warranty denied at 3,000 miles over 60-month/100,000-mile limit; no manufacturer compensation offered
Seatbelt Locking Failure During Collision
Front passenger seatbelt fails to lock into place during a rear-end collision, leaving occupant unrestrained. This failure occurred concurrently with airbag non-deployment.
When: During rear-end collision; unknown vehicle mileage
Symptoms owners cite: Seatbelt did not lock into place during rear-end collision; Seatbelt locking mechanism non-functional; Cannot lock front passenger seatbelt in normal driving conditions
Codes mentioned: Seatbelt assembly fault
Repairs/costs cited: No repair documented; seatbelt malfunction occurred during collision event
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: None documented
Synthesized from 15 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 3 most recent
Airbag system failure and warning constantly on the vehicle. GM knows of the issue but will not offer a recall, instead only an expired special coverage adjustment. The part involved is the passenger present sensor (PPS)module. That reference number is : N15202352 Release date November 2016. Airbags on Buick veranos will not deploy with this well known issue. Gms own words. Force a recall, my…
1) warning icon to check air bag keeps coming on while the car is in motion 2) cannot lock front passenger seatbelt
Periodically the driver 'service air bag' light comes on for no reason. It only stays on for a few moments up to a few minutes. Sometimes when I honk the horn the light goes off. Took it to the shop and the tech said if the light is not on he couldn't check the problem. I noticed there was a recall notice on my make and model, but not on my VIN number for the same problem. Tech said if the…
Had airbags trouble with your 2013 Buick Verano?
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 2013 Buick Verano?
It's a meaningful issue. 15 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?
Based on the 15 complaints filed, airbags issues most often appear around 65,967 miles. Some report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 with no symptoms. Maintenance habits matter — vehicles that received timely fluid services and were not regularly overworked tend to last longer.
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/2013/Buick/Verano.
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.