PASSENGER SEAT AIRBAG SENSOR WENT BAG RESULTING IN THE CAR THROWING A "SERVICE AIRBAG" WARNING LIGHT. COST OVER 800 DOLLARS TO FIX, HAVE HEARD FROM THE DEALER AND ON VOLT FORUMS ONLINE THAT THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM AND SHOULD BE A RECALL
2013 Chevrolet Volt airbags problems
moderate 155 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $1,100
Complaints
155
Recalls
0
Crashes
1
Avg fix
$1,100
What owners are reporting 11 most recent
SERVICE AIRBAG LIGHT COMING ON INTERMITTENTLY UPON FRONT PASSENGER ENTERING OR LEAVING VEHICLE. SERVICE LIGHT CLEARS AND REAPPEARS AT RANDOM FOR SEVERAL TRIPS AFTER THIS OCCURS.
The passenger presence sensor module has developed a fault. The service airbag soon warning pops up when a front seat passenger gets out of the seat. I can manually recreate the problem by pressing down on the seat bottom cushion and then when I release pressure the warning reappears and then goes away after 10 seconds. I will now need to replace the module and get the vehicle reprogrammed, or fin…
AT 40,000 MILES APPROXIMATELY, THE CHECK AIRBAG SENSOR LIGHT CAME UP. THE DEALER SAID THAT BECAUSE IT WAS OUT OF THE 36,000 MILE WARRANTY, IT WAS NOT COVERED AND IT WOULD BE ABOUT $850 AND THERE WOULD BE NO GUARANTEE THAT THE SENSOR CHANGE WOULD FIX IT. I REFUSED THE WORK FOR THAT PRICE. I HAVE DRIVEN ANOTHER 135,000 MILES AND IT IS STILL ON. SAFETY HAS BEEN REDUCED DUE TO THE HIGH CHARGE FOR A MA…
REPAIR AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT KEEPS GOING ON. IT IS DUE TO THE PASSENGER SEAT SENSOR. IF THERE IS NO ONE ON THE SEAT, THE LIGHT WILL REMAIN OFF BUT THE MOMENT ANY PRESSURE IS APPLIED TO THE SEAT, THE WARNING LIGHT COMES OFF. IT APPEARS THE SEAT AIRBAG SENSOR MAT IS FAILING WHICH IS CONCERNING BECAUSE THIS IS A SIGNIFICANT SAFETY ISSUE THAT IS COSTLY TO REPAIR. THE LIGHT WILL TURN ON REGARDLESS IF T…
FAULTY PASSENGER AIR BAG SENSOR AFTER WARRANTY
Airbag Sensor Service light keeps going off. Passenger side.
MY CAR STARTED INTERMITTENTLY SAYING "SERVICE AIRBAG" SINCE AROUND 55,000 MILES. NO AT 88,000 MILES IT NOW IS ON NEARLY ALL THE TIME. I HAVE BEEN TOLD THE FIX FOR THIS IS REINSTALLING THE PASSENGER SEAT CUSHION DUE TO A BAD DESIGN. THIS REPAIR IS ABOUT $1000 TO FIX A MANUFACTURER DEFECT.
The dashboard airbag warning light comes on, and the dashboard says "Service Airbag". The car chimes, and it (the message and light) usually goes away within 10 seconds. If it stays, when I push down on the passenger seat and then let go the message will go away, and the airbag light will go off. This condition happens when there is a passenger and when there is not a passenger and is an intermitt…
AIRBAG SERVICE LIGHT COMES ON INTERMITTENTLY. REPAIR COST ESTIMATE IS ~$1000.
Common questions
How serious is the airbags problem on the 2013 Chevrolet Volt?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 155 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?
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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