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 ↗2014 Chevrolet Volt airbags problems
moderate 29 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $1,100 · see airbags across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
29
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$1,100
When does it fail?
Of the 29 airbags complaints filed for the 2014 Chevrolet Volt, 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
Airbags accounts for 31% of every owner complaint on file for this vehicle — the dominant problem area across 7 categories tracked.
Owners have filed 29 airbags complaints with NHTSA against this vehicle, but no formal recall covers the issue — the federal record reflects what manufacturers have admitted, not everything owners are reporting.
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 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 ↗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 ↗The informational bulletin explains how items on the passenger seat may cause the PPS to chime or the passenger airbag light turns on if electronic devices or conductive objects are placed on the seat.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗The informational bulletin explains how items on the passenger seat may cause the PPS to chime or the passenger airbag light turns on if electronic devices or conductive objects are placed on the seat.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
Owners consistently report that the passenger occupancy sensor fails, triggering a Service Airbag warning light that comes and goes unpredictably or runs continuously. The passenger airbag overhead indicator toggles between On and Off on its own, and some owners see the warning 40–60+ times during a single commute. None of the vehicles involved were in accidents, never had liquid spilled on the seats, or showed any signs of damage—this happens to cars kept garaged and driven carefully. Owners say dealers confirm the passenger occupancy sensor is the culprit and that this is a "known issue" on early Volts, yet no recall covers the 2014 model year, even though 2012–2013 models are under recall for the same failure. Chevrolet dealerships quote $800 to $1,500 to replace the sensor. One owner reports a sensor replacement that didn't fix the problem. Since the warning disables the passenger airbag, owners are forced to choose between an unsafe vehicle or paying out of pocket for a defective part that should not have failed in the first place.
Same Chevrolet Volt airbags reports on nearby years: 2012 · 2013
Failure modes owners describe
Passenger Occupancy/Presence Sensor Malfunction
The passenger seat occupancy detection sensor fails or becomes intermittently faulty, causing the Service Airbag warning light to illuminate and the passenger airbag to toggle on and off unpredictably regardless of whether the seat is occupied. Owners report the sensor cannot reliably detect passenger presence, creating uncertainty about airbag deployment status in a crash.
When: Typically appears between 20,000 and 90,000 miles; some owners report the warning starting within weeks of purchase or shortly after
Symptoms owners cite: Service Airbag warning light illuminating intermittently or continuously; Passenger airbag indicator on overhead panel showing On/Off/On cycling randomly; Audible chime accompanying the warning message; Warning appearing whether passenger seat is occupied or empty; Warning appearing multiple times during a single commute (40-60+ times reported); Passenger airbag disabled despite no occupancy sensor fault being reproducible by technicians
Codes mentioned: B0074 - Airbag Front Passenger Presence Module Replacement SHORTED
Repairs/costs cited: Dealers quote $800-$1,500 to replace the passenger occupancy sensor or detection module; one case involved prior sensor replacement that did not resolve the issue
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: 2012-2013 Volts have a recall for this system; 2014 models are reportedly not covered by any recall despite the widespread nature of the problem. One owner notes receiving Takata recall notification but no follow-up from dealer or manufacturer.
Synthesized from 29 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 9 most recent
Around 7/1/2019, an airbag service light started flashing intermittently. I took the car to the dealer (harbor Chevrolet in long beach) who said that they could not reproduce the problem but said that if I wanted they could replace it for ~$1000. I did not get the work done as I though I could find a better price. The light is now on continuously which means that the passenger side air bag will…
Volt has 90,000 miles on it & I have air bag sensor error message. Never been in an accident & never spilled anything on the seats. This is a major issue with the volt. Chevy will not repair the issue & want $880. Enough people have had the same issue
The airbag warning light comes on fairly constantly. The dealership says the passenger seat sensor is faulty and needs to be replaced. It is an expensive repair at over $1,000.
Takata recall: I received notification that my car is involved in the airbag recall and to date have heard nothing from the dealership or manufacture.
Our 2014 Chevy Volt began to rarely give an audible chime with a: "Service Airbag" message on the Driver Information Center display, as well as the "Passenger Airbag" overhead panel display showing "On"-"Off"-"On", spontaneously back in 2018. Again, this was rare, but concerning. This became somewhat more common in the months that followed and is now a common annoyance on every drive. Because…
Airbag sensor light is on. Garage has already replaced left front and right rear impact sensors. Problem still exists. Garage has already spent 2 days trying to figure out problem. No luck. I just discovered, via a google search, that this is a common problem with my volt. There should be a recall!
My volt is giving me a "service airbag soon" warning on startup. Car is kept in a garage. The dealership said it was because I cleaned my seat and got it too wet, but I used standard seat cleaner sparingly. Also, the drivers seat appears to receive the error and this seat has never seen any "moisture". Secondly, with no accidents or collisions, one of the front sonar sensors failed, with the…
The Air Bag light comes on every day. The passenger sight presents sensor malfunction. Technician says this can be harmful to a passenger if in an auto accident. My significant other can die.
I'm receiving intermittent warnings to service the airbags. This comes as a surprise since this is fairly solid state and not something that gets depleted such as oil, brakes, or tires. I have no idea who the manufacturers are of the airbags but would like to know if they are takata. Chevrolet should not be dodging responsibility with safety equipment.
Had airbags trouble with your 2014 Chevrolet Volt?
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 2014 Chevrolet Volt?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 29 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?
Across the 13 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most airbags failures cluster between 51,917 and 100,000 miles, with the median around 88,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 51,917; a quarter make it past 100,000. 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?
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/2014/Chevrolet/Volt.
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.