2013 Chevrolet Volt: airbag warning light

Filed Jul 28, 2025 · Airbags, Seats · IL

Front passenger seat sensor intermittently fails, causing the Passenger Airbag indicator to switch to OFF (even if a passenger is present) with an accompanying "Service Airbag" message on the dashboard and illumination of the service airbag light. This occurs usually driving above 25mph, but can happen stationary, and lasts for anywhere from 5 seconds to a minute (more commonly shorter). The issue appears some weeks more than others, usually activating most days a week but sometimes have a week or two where it does not happen.

Filed Jan 20, 2024 · Airbags, Seats · WI

The passenger side seat airbag sensor is malfunctioning. A message displaying “Service Airbag” comes up and the airbag light comes on. This happens numerous times during a typical drive (around 20 minutes) The airbag is turned off while the message and light is displayed. This issue has been occurring for about a year or two now. Starting around 90k miles, currently has 111k miles. I’ve done my research on this issue and many other Volt owners have this issue. Which is caused by a defect in the passenger side sensor mat in the seat that can fold over itself with normal use, causing the issue.

Filed Aug 7, 2022 · Fuel system · CA

I was driving through the grapevine and my car was losing propulsion. I had to drive in the slow lane with the semi-trucks. The semi trucks had to go around me. I am nervous about driving my car on a road trip to North Cal. I am not sure if that is normal, but I don't think so. The airbag light just went on. I am not sure why. My car has also on several occasions lost traction. Has anyone reported these problems before?

Filed Apr 26, 2022 · Airbags · CA

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.

Filed Dec 17, 2021 · Airbags · MN

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.

Filed Nov 1, 2021 · Airbags · 150,000 miles · MN

The contact owns a 2013 Chevrolet Volt. The contact stated upon starting the vehicle, the air bag message “Service Air Bag” and the air bag warning light was illuminated on the instrument panel. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who diagnosed that the passenger’s side seat air bag sensor had failed and needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and advised the contact that they could not assist as his VIN was not included in a recall related to the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 150,000.

Filed Jul 26, 2021 · Airbags · CA

The dashboard airbag warning light comes on, car chimes, and front passenger air bag status changes between on/off intermittently when there is someone sitting in the front passenger seat. I'm afraid the airbag system is faulty and won't deploy when needed. This is an ongoing problem.

Filed Apr 23, 2021 · Airbags, Seats · 67,000 miles · WA

The passenger seat occupancy sensor fails was failing. The check airbag warning light would come on while driving with a passenger in the vehicle. This would disable the airbag (when the check airbag indicator light indicating that the passenger airbag is enabled switches to off.) this is a dangerous failure. If the car knows that the sensor has failed then the 'safe' condition should be to deploy the airbags or the 'seat occupied' condition should be 'latched true' until the vehicle stops. (a passenger cannot suddenly disappear when the car is moving at 35 or 40 MPH). This happened repeatedly in 2020 and 2021. Vehicle was taken to dealer to address the issue - was told that the issue was resolved. Shortly afterwards the issue started again. Vehicle was taken back to the dealer april-2021 and I was told that the seat occupancy sensor had failed and needed to be replaced.

Filed Mar 15, 2021 · Airbags · CA

My 2013 chevy volt passenger airbag light warning came on my cluster indicating that it needed service which I was told that it was the passenger seat sensor but the cost to fix it's outrageous so I haven't fixed it and it's a safety issue and I believe that chevrolet should have a recall on this matter because it's happening to many chevy volt owners.

Filed Mar 8, 2021 · Airbags · 78,000 miles · NV

Within a year of owning the car the passenger airbag sensor is apparently failing. My check airbag light turns on and off when passengers or mild or heavy objects are sitting in the seat or even shifting position in the seat makes the check airbag notification appear on driver information screen. It's an annoying notification at least. And not sure if all the airbags will deploy if the need to. I've addressed this before without word from this government organization.

Filed Feb 13, 2021 · Airbags · 60,000 miles · HI

Service passenger airbag warning indicator periodically goes on and off in a seemingly random manner. Car ussually starts with service passenger airbag warning / error on and often turns off while driving to later beep and come back on.

Filed Jan 5, 2021 · Airbags · 1 miles · HI

Service airbag warning light is on. Indicates failure of sensor under passenger seat. Nhsta is currently running an investigation into this matter and this car is effected.