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2013 Chevrolet Traverse airbags problems
severe
Owners of the 2013 Chevrolet Traverse have filed 19 NHTSA complaints about the airbags, typically surfacing around 75,500 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
Q1 37kmed 76kQ3 95kn=13
Complaints
19
Recalls
1
Avg fix
$1,100
airbags complaints on the Chevrolet Traverse, by model year
Of the 19 airbags complaints filed for the 2013 Chevrolet Traverse,
here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 0-25,000 mi.
0-25k
1 (50%)
25-50k
0 (0%)
50-75k
0 (0%)
75-100k
1 (50%)
100-125k
0 (0%)
125-150k
0 (0%)
150k+
0 (0%)
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 7 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2008-2013 Buick Enclave and GMC Acadia and 2009-2013 Chevrolet Traverse and 2008-2010 Saturn Outlook vehicles
Failure of the side impact air bags and seat belt pretensioners to deploy in a crash increase the risk of injury to the driver and front seat occupant.
Fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the affected harness connections with soldered connections, free of charge. The recall began on June 16, 2014. Buick owners may contact the owner center at 1-800-521-7300, Chevrolet owners at 1-866-694-6546, Saturn at 1-800-553-6000, and GMC owners at 1-866-996-9463. GM's number for this recall is 14030. Note: Vehicles repaired as part of Customer Satisfaction Campaign 10085 and special coverage 10335 have already had the subject condition repaired and therefore are not included in the safety recall.
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.
Service BulletinPIC5650JJul 2021
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.
This informational bulletin provides information on the inboard seat airbag is mounted in this area and creates a slightly different contour of the seat causing an appearance concern, and that this should be considered normal and no parts should be replaced for this concern.
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)
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
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
Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
2013 Traverse owners report persistent airbag warning light issues that often recur even after dealer repairs. Many describe the "Service Airbag" light coming on intermittently or staying permanently illuminated. Several owners report the light was supposedly fixed under recall 14V118 or through warranty service, only to see the same problem reappear within months. Underlying problems cited include corroded modules in the rear bumper area, faulty wiring harnesses under the driver and passenger seats, loose or damaged connectors, and sensor malfunctions. One owner's airbag failed to deploy during an actual accident despite advance warning light issues. Another reports that light illuminates when driver seat moves back and forth, and going away only after wiggling the wiring harness under the seat.
Owners also describe related electrical faults occurring simultaneously—key fob failures, blind spot detection system lights, engine temperature gauge failures, entire instrument panel blackouts, and starting difficulties. One owner notes the dealership told them corrosion in the rear-bumper modules is unavoidable due to moisture exposure. Costs cited range from diagnostic fees to $1,664 for module and harness replacement, often out of pocket since the vehicle is beyond 36,000-mile bumper-to-bumper coverage. Some dealerships allegedly charged owners repeatedly for diagnostics without resolving the underlying issue. Several owners express concern that the airbag system may not function in a crash while the warning light persists.
Same Chevrolet Traverse airbags reports on nearby years: 2011 · 2012 · 2014 · 2015 · 2016
Failure modes owners describe
Intermittent/Persistent Airbag Warning Light — Wiring Harness and Connector Issues
Service Airbag light comes on intermittently or stays permanently illuminated. Often triggered when driver seat is moved; light goes out temporarily when wiring harness or connectors under driver or passenger seat are wiggled. Owners report the same issue recurring on opposite side of vehicle after repair. Dealerships attribute this to loose, corroded, or damaged seat harnesses and connectors.
When: Varies; some occur at cold start, others when seat is moved or at random. Some have persisted for months to over a year.
Symptoms owners cite: Service Airbag warning light comes on and off intermittently; Service Airbag light stays on permanently; Light illuminates when driver seat is moved back and forth; Light goes out after wiggling wiring harness or connector under seat; Same failure reappears on opposite side after repair
Codes mentioned:Service Airbag light
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer replaced driver-side seat wire harness and welded connection; issue recurred on passenger side 9 months later. Repeated diagnostics charged to owner. One repair cited $1,664 for module and harness replacement. Corrosion in rear bumper modules noted as cause in one case.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Recall 14V118 issued; some owners report service under this recall did not resolve the problem or problem recurred after recall service. Recall 14V118000 (Air Bags) mentioned in at least one narrative. GM Customer Assistance stated no reimbursement unless recall issued. Limited to 36,000-mile bumper-to-bumper warranty; repairs beyond that are owner responsibility.
Modules located in rear bumper are corroded due to moisture penetration, causing multiple electrical system failures. One dealership explicitly stated corrosion is unavoidable because modules are exposed to moisture in the rear bumper location. This leads to blind spot detection system malfunction, airbag warning light, and other electrical faults.
When: Occurring while driving; one instance noted in fall 2021
Symptoms owners cite: Blind spot detection system lights come on and stay on for both side mirrors; Multiple electrical malfunctions reported simultaneously; Entire instrument panel went out along with radio (two separate occasions); Engine light came on; Engine temperature gauge did not work properly
Repairs/costs cited: Dealership diagnosed engine coolant sensor malfunction and blind spot detection system modules/harness malfunction on 11/5/2021. Service manager noted both modules were severely corroded. Repair cost $1,664 for replacing both modules and electrical harness. Service manager stated owner cannot prevent corrosion due to module location in rear bumper.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: GM Customer Assistance Center stated by phone call: no action or reimbursement unless a recall is issued.
Passenger airbag remains enabled when minor weight (small backpack, laptop) is placed in passenger seat. Sensor fails to recognize light weight as insufficient to trigger airbag deployment. Owner reported this during warranty period; dealer refused to address it, claiming no weight threshold exists for airbag deactivation. Owner believes this is a safety defect.
When: When small items placed in passenger seat
Symptoms owners cite: Passenger airbag enabled/warning light on when light weight placed in passenger seat
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealer refused to service under warranty, stating there is no weight threshold under which airbag should deactivate.
Airbag Warning Light — Intermittent Fault Not Detected by Dealership Diagnostic Equipment
Service Airbag light comes on intermittently or remains on, but dealership diagnostic computer cannot identify the fault. Owners report dealers have diagnosed suspected short in a wire but computer cannot pick it up. One vehicle serviced under recall 14V118 with undetermined failure and no repair performed.
When: Intermittently since purchase or at random intervals
Symptoms owners cite: Service Airbag warning light comes on and off; Light stays on permanently; Light comes on at cold start
Codes mentioned:Service Airbag light
Repairs/costs cited: Dealers unable to identify root cause with diagnostic equipment. One owner had to pay for diagnostics multiple times; dealer suggested repeating diagnostics at additional cost. Another vehicle serviced under recall 14V118000 with undetermined failure and no repair.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Recall 14V118 / 14V118000 issued; some vehicles serviced but failure remained undetermined or issue recurred.
Airbag Failure to Deploy During Accident
Owner reports airbag warning light issue preceded an actual accident in which airbags should have deployed but did not. Fortunately, occupant was not injured. This indicates the warning light and underlying electrical fault posed real safety risk.
When: Accident occurred during period of persistent airbag warning light
Symptoms owners cite: Airbag light on; Airbags did not deploy during accident
Repairs/costs cited: Multiple dealer visits to fix airbag light prior to accident; issue remained unresolved.
Synthesized from 19 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer
allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting
3 most recent
airbags · 89,150 mi
· filed 12/23/2018
My window on the front passenger side and the rear back will not work when operated from driver window panel. I also have a warning on my dashboard that reads "service air bag." I was pulling out of my garage on day in the summer when I noticed it and it hasn't went away since.
airbags · 13,820 mi
· filed 12/13/2014
Service air bag signs came on when vehicle is started from cold for the first time in the morning. It also happened on 12/06/2014 and 12/11/2014. I took it to dealership and they replaced n-tensioner kit on 12/12/2014. This morning "service air bag" sign came on again as soon as I started the car. The sign stayed on till at least 30 minutes. *tr
airbags
· filed 11/30/2021
General Motors is not notifying GM vehicle owners of electrical defect malfunctions that has been on-going for a number of years; leaving vehicle owners with alarming operational occurrences and unexpected repair expenses. While driving our 2013 Chevrolet Traverse fall 2021, we experienced the passenger airbag light coming on and staying on, along with the blind spot detection system lights…
Had airbags trouble with your 2013 Chevrolet Traverse?
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 Traverse?
It's a meaningful issue. 19 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 13 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most airbags failures cluster between 37,000 and 95,000 miles, with the median around 75,500. A quarter of owners report trouble before 37,000; a quarter make it past 95,000. 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?
Yes — 1 active recall(s) cover airbags issues on this vehicle. Recall fixes are always free regardless of mileage or warranty status. Use the VIN decoder at the top of the page to check if your specific vehicle is affected.
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/Traverse.
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.