2013 Chevrolet VOLT - Ratings, Complaints and Recalls

"airbag sensor service light keeps going off. passenger side."

"intermittent warning for front passenger airbag. module saying service airbag comes on and off when front passenger is occupying seat. just a quick anecdote just had car inspected warning does not appear while someone is occupying front seat, nor does it appear if someone is occupying rear seats."

"passenger airbag sensor intermittent error. says service airbag. goes off after someone has been sitting in vehicle and exits vehicle. not reliably reproducible but seems to be happening with greater frequency."

"i have the failure from pe19013. i read in the closing that "gm has instituted a cost reduction program for the repair/replacement of the pss in the subject vehicles. based on this cost reduction program...; odi is closing this preliminary evaluation." i contacted two dealerships who are unaware of this program. i then contacted the chevy support center, who said to contact the dealership when i asked for an alternative contact. i then asked to speak to a supervisor with a promised call back, that did not occur. attached is the transcript of the chat with chevy support center. the two issues: 1. the safety issue still exists and disables the air bags when occupied by a person of proper size for the airbags. 2. the reduced cost program is something that both dealerships and the chevy support system is unaware of itself. the investigation was closed on the premise of a support system that is impossible to find information on."

"passenger sensor fails to turn on when an occupant of normal size is in the passenger seat, precluding air bag deployment. this is a very common issue with 2013 models."

"passenger airbag error indicator. i took my 2013 volt to the dealer who indicated it was a sensor error in the seat and requires a 1000.$ seat and sensor replacement. my volt has 80k miles and no collisions or accidents. there is no justifiable reason for me to replace the front seat for 1000.00 due to a poorly designed wire harness or sensor. i won't risk having a front seat passenger due to this malfunction. furthermore i can't sell the vehicle. why has the nhtsa closed this complaint?"

"passenger occupancy sensor malfunction. passenger airbag turns off intermitently even while occupied by an adult. i have not been to dealership, but understand it is a $1000 repair. this is also happening in a 2012 volt that i own."

"when an adult passenger >100lb is sitting in the front passenger seat, the service airbag light comes on and the dashboard says "service airbag". this lasts for 30-60 seconds at random times at all speeds from 0 to 60+ mph. the dealer reported that this will cost roughly $1000 for labor in addition to the heavily backordered part costing $400 and not being available for weeks."

"i filed a complaint in 2019, it prompted an investigation. nhtsa action number: pe19013 i had not heard back from nhtsa or gm so i searched the nhtsa website and found that an agreement was made to close the investigation, in part because gm has instituted a cost reduction program for the repair/replacement of the pss in the subject vehicles. based on this cost reduction program as well as: 1) a comparatively low warranty rate; 2) no reported injuries, deaths or asymmetric deployments; and 3) the age of the vehicles; odi is closing this preliminary evaluation." when i attempted to have my vehicle repaired, the dealership didn't know what i was talking about. i contacted gm headquarters to inquire about the cost reduction program and i was told that they would look into it and get back with me. they denied me, they outright lied to nhtsa to close the investigation. my car still has an airbag problem and i am asking nhtsa to take enforcement action. since they lied, i believe a fitting remedy would be for gm to pay 100% of the repair. after all, it's the very same thing that happened with the chevrolet malibu that prompted a recall. thank you, sincerely, [xxx] information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6)."

"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 intermittent fault. more and more reports of this issue are becoming more common. history codes in the passenger presence system point to the passenger seat sensor. in order to solve the issue, you have to replace the sensor in the seat. the sensor replacement requires a tech to remove the seat, open it, change the part and then reinstall it. this service charges ~$1,200 at my dealership. this is a safety issue that has been well-documented in a large number of official reports, and reports online. this is also something that gm knows about and is refusing to fix on affected vehicles."