2013 Chevrolet Volt Airbags Problems

The passenger presence sensor is failing or failed because every time someone sit in there the airbag turns on and off repeatedly every 2-3 mins and gives a service airbag warning and if no one is sitting in the passenger seat then it just stays on. Could be really dangerous if a wreck happens while it’s glitching in the off mode and could cause death. Multiple people have had this problem with the volts and there is even a thing you can by to completely bypass the airbag going off which shows how common the problem is if there is a solution to eliminate it in an unsafe/not factory manner

NHTSA ID

11720796

Incident

Oct 13, 2025

The passenger occupancy sensor gives a false positive. The only way I can get rid of the beeping is plug in the seatbelt. I have read on Reddit forums that this is a very common problem with 2013 volts, but for some reason there isn't a recall. This is a safety issue. Thank you!

NHTSA ID

11695594

Incident

Jul 6, 2025

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.

NHTSA ID

11676789

Incident

Nov 1, 2024

Passenger presence does not detect people in it and makes it unsafe for passenger without airbags. This got closed and was state that there was a Chevy program to fix this as cited in the closing . I have called all over Chevy and there is no one who knows anything about this at all. If you know it or if they just started it to make it go away, please tell with with whom I can contact within Chevy to start the process

NHTSA ID

11636406

Incident

Jan 1, 2025

Repeats constantly..."service airbag". Appears to stop for somewhat variable lengths of time with passenger in front seat. Seems to be related to presence sensor.

NHTSA ID

11603460

Incident

Oct 20, 2019

I have a 2013 Volt. Passenger Presence pad in the passenger front seat caused the "Airbag Service" warning light. It is very common. So many people have suffered from it. It cost over $1000. But it is not a recall.

NHTSA ID

11574144

Incident

Jan 15, 2024

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.

NHTSA ID

11566665

Incident

Jan 1, 2022

Airbag Sensor Service light keeps going off. Passenger side.

NHTSA ID

11561316

Incident

Jun 14, 2023

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.

NHTSA ID

11546243

Incident

Jun 19, 2022

The airbag for the passenger seat is faulty and turns off and on, took it to the dealership and they said it was a $1000 to fix it. Said it was a bad wiring harness

NHTSA ID

11540942

Incident

Aug 5, 2020

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.

NHTSA ID

11537677

Incident

Jan 4, 2023

Passenger Airbags failed to engage when occupied during accident, drivers side activated. Results in injured passenger

NHTSA ID

11517990

Incident

Jan 6, 2023

According to NHTSA's own filing - Action PE19013 - GM's response to the action was to "establish a cost reduction program". I have now had this exact problem diagnosed, and repaired at a cost of $1,133. Neither GM, nor the Chevrolet dealership where I had the repair done had any information or provided and discounts or cost reduction. Either NHTSA has lied in its report, or GM has lied to NHTSA in order to close this incident. I should have the cost of this repair "reduced".

NHTSA ID

11511529

Incident

Mar 10, 2023

Passenger airbag sensor mat is malfunctioning Leaking water from passenger side AC, drain line or structure

NHTSA ID

11511299

Incident

Mar 11, 2023

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 find a junkyard seat and hope it doesn't have the same problem. You really should have required GM to do more on this issue when you investigated it! From what I understand, there is not a 'cost reduction program' for having the dealer replace this defective part. This seems to be a very common problem that has perhaps gone underreported, but is obviously going to happen given the design of the sensor pad where it develops a fatigue failure.

NHTSA ID

11499347

Incident

Sep 5, 2022

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.

NHTSA ID

11496093

Incident

Dec 5, 2022

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.

NHTSA ID

11494347

Incident

Nov 23, 2019

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?

NHTSA ID

11491032

Incident

Sep 21, 2022

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.

NHTSA ID

11490427

Incident

Oct 1, 2019

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.

NHTSA ID

11462168

Incident

Apr 25, 2022

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).

NHTSA ID

11460155

Incident

Apr 8, 2022

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.

NHTSA ID

11444178

Incident

Dec 2, 2021

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.

NHTSA ID

11438937

Incident

Aug 1, 2021

Mileage

150,000 mi

Seat airbag sensor malfunctioning: Looked up issue on forum and found reference to NHTSA Action Number PE19013.

NHTSA ID

11431301

Incident

Aug 1, 2021

If nobody is in the passenger seat it gives a warning to check the airbag. If someone is in the seat there is no issue. I’ve seen others report this online and it appears to be a $1,200 defect. People won’t pay to repair this so it becomes a safety issue.

NHTSA ID

11429928

Incident

May 1, 2021