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 Chevrolet Impala airbags problems
severe Owners of the 2013 Chevrolet Impala have filed 13 NHTSA complaints about the airbags, typically surfacing around 65,000 miles at roughly $1,100 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See airbags across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
13
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$1,100
| Model year | airbags complaints |
|---|---|
| 2009 Impala | 168 |
| 2010 Impala | 65 |
| 2011 Impala | 30 |
| 2012 Impala | 14 |
| 2013 Impala (this page) | 13 |
| 2014 Impala | 26 |
| 2015 Impala | 21 |
| 2016 Impala | 13 |
| 2017 Impala | 17 |
6crashes
6injuries
When does it fail?
Of the 13 airbags complaints filed for the 2013 Chevrolet Impala, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 50,000-75,000 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
No new NHTSA airbags complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 6 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 ↗SUMMARY TO BE PROVIDED ON A FUTURE DATE.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
Owners of the 2013 Chevrolet Impala describe multiple categories of airbag failure. The most serious complaint pattern is airbags not deploying during crashes: one owner hit a guardrail at 72 mph in a rollover and sustained a compression fracture when no bags deployed; another rear-ended a vehicle at 60 mph with minor injuries; a third hit a truck at 25 mph with unknown injuries; a fourth experienced a side-impact crash; and a fifth was in a three-car collision where bags remained stowed. Impact speeds ranged from 25 to 72 mph across mileages of 26,000 to 110,000 miles.
Additionally, owners report the airbag warning light staying illuminated during normal operation, with dealership diagnostic attempts unable to pinpoint the cause. One owner notes that the passenger-side airbag consistently fails to activate when a passenger is seated, happening repeatedly. A separate complaint documents side airbags deploying spontaneously at 45 mph on the highway with no collision.
Manufacturer notification occurred in several cases, with one owner citing a possible link to NHTSA electrical recall 14V355000, though parts were reportedly unavailable. No documented recalls or service bulletins directly address airbag deployment failures in this model and year.
Same Chevrolet Impala airbags reports on nearby years: 2010 · 2011 · 2012 · 2014 · 2015
Failure modes owners describe
Airbags fail to deploy in frontal/side collision impacts
Multiple owners report airbags not deploying during moderate to high-speed collisions. Incidents include rear-end crashes at 60 mph, front-end collisions at 25 mph, side-impact crashes, and a multi-vehicle collision. Impact speeds ranged from 25 to 72 mph. The non-deployment resulted in occupant injuries requiring medical attention in several cases, including compression fractures and bruising.
When: 60,000–110,000 miles; across various ages of vehicle ownership
Symptoms owners cite: Airbags do not deploy during frontal impact; Airbags do not deploy during side impact; Airbags do not deploy during rollover; Airbags remain stowed despite crash severity
Repairs/costs cited: No repairs documented. One vehicle was totaled; another was initially not taken to dealer for diagnostic testing. One owner reports vehicle was repaired but specifics unknown.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA case number 9-5465890807 filed in at least one instance. Owner #4 speculated possible connection to NHTSA Campaign 14V355000 (Electrical System) with unavailable parts. Manufacturer notified in multiple cases with no documented recall or remedy issued for airbag non-deployment.
Airbag warning light illuminated; no deployment issue identified
Owners report persistent illumination of the airbag warning light on the instrument cluster while driving. In at least one case, the dealership attempted diagnosis but could not identify the underlying cause, leaving the issue unresolved.
When: 46,000–27,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Airbag warning light constantly illuminated during operation; No functional airbag deployment issues noted by owners at time of report
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicle taken to dealer for diagnosis but failure could not be determined; vehicle not repaired.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer notified in one case. No recall or TSB documented.
Passenger-side airbag will not activate with occupant present
Owner reports that the passenger-side airbag consistently fails to turn on when the passenger seat is occupied, occurring every time a passenger rides in the vehicle.
When: Unspecified mileage
Symptoms owners cite: Passenger-side airbag does not activate with occupant seated; Recurring issue on every passenger journey
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Owner notes awareness of older recall for Impalas up to 2010 model year but unclear if 2013 covered.
Side airbags deploy without collision
Owner reports all side airbags deployed during normal highway driving at 45 mph with no collision impact or other triggering event.
When: Unspecified mileage
Symptoms owners cite: Side airbags deploy spontaneously during highway driving; No collision or impact preceding deployment
Synthesized from 13 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 1 most recent
The air bags did not deploy when I was the middle car in a three car collission
Had airbags trouble with your 2013 Chevrolet Impala?
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 Chevrolet Impala?
It's a meaningful issue. 13 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?
Across the 12 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most airbags failures cluster between 52,000 and 91,380 miles, with the median around 65,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 52,000; a quarter make it past 91,380. 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/2013/Chevrolet/Impala.
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.