Owner-reported complaints naming the airbag system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Reports naming the air-bag system — deployment behaviour, inflators, sensors and warning lights. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2009 Saturn Sky submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 38 reports on file name it.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
The 25 most recent of 38, in the owner's own words
Ignition was replaced under recall and now the passenger air bag light is on and will not go out and passenger side airbag is inop. ABS Ecm failed and replacement cost was $1300.00. This is a known issue and should be investigated. Thank you [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
The contact owns a 2009 Saturn Sky. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle, the passenger’s side air bag warning light remained illuminated. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The local dealer and manufacturer were contacted regarding the failure, but no assistance was offered. The contact indicated that the vehicle was previously serviced under the NHTSA Campaign Number: 17V061000 (Air Bags); for which a temporary repair was performed, but later the manufacturer refused to permanently repair the vehicle. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 58,500.
Vehicle only has 5000 miles on it purchased new in 2009 has ignition problem and airbag service problem
The contact owns a 2009 Saturn Sky. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the passenger's side air bag and electronic brake control module (EBCM) warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the passenger's side air bag and EBCM needed to be replaced. The dealer replaced the EBCM; however, the passenger's side air bag was not replaced. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 35,000.
The contact owns a 2009 Saturn Sky. The contact stated that while starting the vehicle, the air bag warning light was illuminated, with the service air bag message displayed on the instrument panel. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the front passenger’s side air bag needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired and remained at the dealer. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure but informed the contact that the vehicle had previously been serviced by the dealer under NHTSA Campaign Number: 17V061000 (Air Bag). The failure mileage was approximately 14,000.
In 2019 I took my car in for a recall I had received. It was for the PPS. Instead of replacing the faulty system, they simply put a "reinforcement" piece of tape over the faulty system. I rarely drive the car and I rarely have passengers. 2 years and almost 5k miles later, now the faulty system is broken. The sensor in the seat has failed. No surprise there. The dealership is trying to charge me $1400 to replace the faulty sensor that should have been replaced 2 years ago. This is causing anyone who possible is a passenger in my car to be at risk, since now that the sensor is broken, the air bag will not deploy. Other people with this car have had or are having the same issue. I do not understand why a tape fix was approved and implemented for something so serious as the safety of my passengers.
I TOOK MY 2009 SATURN SKY REDLINE TO A GM DEALER ON 9/18/2018 FOR GM RECALL 17036. THEY PERFORMED THE WORK (INSTALLED REINFORCEMENT), BUT LESS THAN 2 YEARS LATER, WITH LESS THAN 2500 MILES SINCE THE REPAIR, THE "SERVICE AIRBAG" LIGHT CAME ON. ON 9/2/2020, I TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALER, WHO SAYS THE PASSENGER SEAT SENSOR MUST BE REPLACED, AT A COST TO ME OF $1182. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE FOR WHICH GM SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE. THE CAR WAS BARELY USED SINCE THE RECALL WORK WAS DONE, AND IT'S OBVIOUS THAT THE SENSOR WAS ON THE VERGE OF FAILURE AT THAT TIME. TOTAL MILEAGE ON THE CAR NOW IS 25,000.
YEARLY, I TRY TO GET MY AIRBAG RECALL COMPLETED AND NO DEALERSHIP CAN SUPPORT MY REQUEST.
PASSENGER AIR BAG RECALL 17036 ISSUE AFTER THE TEMPORARY FIX WITH THE SAME ISSUE BUT THE $1200 MODULE KIT NEEDING TO BE REPLACED. THIS ISSUE IS FOR THE PASSENGERS BEING AT RISK WHEN RIDING IN THE CAR. A COMPLETE FIX OF THE RECALL SHOULD BE COMPLETED NOT A TEMPORARY FIX. IT SHOULDN'T COST THE CAR OWNER AN EXTREME COST OF $1200 FOR SOMETHING THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN FIXED IN THE RECALL.
PASSENGER SIDE SEAT AIR BAG SUPPRESSION MODULE NEEDS SERVICE. DEALERSHIP SAYS THAT IT WILL BE $1200 FOR THE REPAIR, BUT I FOUND A RECALL (17V061000) FOR THE SAME PROBLEM, BUT WHEN I ENTER MY VIN, IT DOESN'T SAY MY VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED. THEY SAID NEITHER AIR BAG WILL FUNCTION IF THIS SERVICE LIGHT COMES ON. THIS VEHICLE IS STORED ALL WINTER. WHEN WE UNCOVERED IT THIS SPRING, THE LIGHT WAS ON.
RETURNED VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR PPS RECALL, INVOICE STATES REINFORCEMENT INSTALLED, AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT AND DISPLAY INDICATOR NOW STAYS ON CONSTANTLY WHEN IGNITION IS ON.
TAKATA RECALL... I AM STILL WAITING. ACCORDING TO THE DEALERSHIP, THE PARTS HAVE NOT BEEN RECEIVED YET. I RECEIVED ANOTHER NOTICE FOR THE RECALL ON 3/09/2018.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 SATURN SKY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V061000 (AIR BAGS) EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR REPAIR. THE CONTACT RECEIVED THE RECALL NOTIFICATION IN MARCH OF 2017. THE CONTACT SPOKE WITH HENDRICK CHEVROLET (100 AUTO MALL DRIVE, CARY, NORTH CAROLINA 27511, PHONE (919) 439-5132) SEVERAL TIMES CONCERNING THE RECALL. THE DEALER STATED THAT PARTS WERE UNAVAILABLE FOR THE REPAIR. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO HAVE THE DEALER REPAIR THE RECALL; HOWEVER; THEY DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DO SO. WHILE THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT WAS OCCUPIED, THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. ALSO, THE WINDSHIELD WIPER AND AIR CONDITIONING FAILED TO OPERATE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 59,000. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 SATURN SKY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR REMAINED ILLUMINATED WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO GWATNEY CHEVROLET (1301 TP WHITE DR, JACKSONVILLE, AR 72076, (501) 295-4448) AND STATED THAT THE CONTACT WOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIR COST. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED DUE TO THE COST. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V061000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART NEEDED FOR THE REPAIR WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 SATURN SKY. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V061000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PARTS TO DO THE REPAIR WERE UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE CONTACT CALLED WALLACE CHEVROLET (772-287-3232 LOCATED AT 3575 SE FEDERAL HWY, STUART, FL 34997) WHERE IT WAS CONFIRMED THAT THE PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE FOR THE RECALL REMEDY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT. UPDATED 10/17/17*LJ CONSUMER STATED AIR BAGS WAS FIXED, BUT THE LIGHT ON THE DASH BOARD WAS NOT. UPDATED 10/4/18*JB
NOTICED IN APRIL 2017 THAT "SERVICE AIRBAG" DASH LIGHT HAS STAYED ON CONSTANTLY. AT THE SAME TIME THE "PASSENGER AIR BAG" INDICATOR ALWAYS DISPLAYS"OFF". THAI IS WHILE A PASSENGER IS SITTING IN THE SEAT. THE CAR HAS 23,228 MILES CURRENTLY. I BELIEVE IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE. I'M WORRIED THAT SYSTEM MAY NOT WORK IN A CAR CRASH.
TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 SATURN SKY. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 17V061000 (AIR BAGS). THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. VIN TOOL CONFIRMS PARTS NOT AVAILABLE.
AIR BAG LIGHT ON PASSENGER SIDE HAS BEEN ON SINCE 50,000 MILES. TESTED AT DEALER AND IT IS THE SENSOR SYSTEM IN THE SEAT. TO REPLACE IT IT TAKES ABOUT 800 DOLLARS.
PASSENGER SEAT AIRBAG SENSOR INOPERABLE. MAKES WHOLE AIRBAG SYSTEM INOPERABLE. WITH ADULT RIDING PASSENGER IN THE PASSENGER SEAT, PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF LIGHT IS ILLUMINATED.
AIR BAG SERVICE LIGHT COMES ON WHEN YOU START THE CAR. DEALER SAYS $1000.00 TO FIX.
GM 2009 SATURN SKY PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG SEAT OCCUPANCY SENSOR HAS PREMATURELY GONE BAD AT 14,000 MILES. LIGHT COMES ON WHILE DRIVING THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG SYSTEM IS DISABLED. THIS IS THE SAME SENSOR AS THE GM CADILLAC CTS WHICH HAS A RECALL, BUT THE SATURN SKY DOES NOT. I HAVE TAKEN TO A GM DEALER, TESTED AND THEY SAY THE PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAG WILL NOT DEPLOY WITH THE BLADDER SENSOR BAD. ON THE SATURN SKY FORUM, THIS IS HAPPENING TO MOST ALL SATURN SKY'S AND PONTIAC SOLSTICE CARS (WHICH ARE OUT OF PRODUCTION) BUT THIS IS STILL A SAFETY ISSUE. I WOULD HATE TO THINK OF AN ACCIDENT OCCURRING AND GM AND THE NHTSA KNOWING OF THIS ISSUE FROM NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS SINCE 2014 AND STILL NOT RECALLED AS OF TODAY MAY 26, 2016! GM WAITED TOO LONG ON THE KEY ISSUE, THEY SHOULD NOT WAIT ON THE AIR BAG SENSOR ISSUE AS THE CADILLAC CTS CURRENTLY HAS A RECALL!
MY 2009 SATURN SKY, WITH LESS THAN 50,000 MILES, DISPLAYED THE "SERVICE AIR BAG" LIGHT IN THE INSTRUMENT PANEL ON 5/8/16 FOR NO REASON. THE AIR BAGS HAVE NEVER DEPLOYED, AND THE CAR HAS NEVER BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT. I AM TAKING IT TO AN AUTHORIZED GM DEALER, BUT THIS COST AND PROBLEM IS ABSURD FOR A CAR WELL TAKEN CARE OF AND GARAGE KEPT.
PASSENGER AIR BAG LIGHT ON DASH INDICATES PROBLEM WITH PASSENGER SENSOR. I WAS DRIVING WITH MY GRANDSON WHO WEIGHS ABOUT 110 POUNDS AND SUDDENLY THE LIGHT CAME ON. THIS IS ALARMING SINCE I DON'T KNOW IF THERE WAS A COLLISION, IT WOULD PREVENT THE AIR BAG FROM DEPLOYING AND MY PASSENGER WOULD NOT BE PROTECTED. UPON SEARCHING THE INTERNET IT IS OBVIOUS THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE SATURN SKY AND SHOULD BE RECALLED SINCE IT IMPACTS THE SAFETY OF THE OCCUPANTS. THE SENSOR IS A THINK PLASTIC CIRCUIT WHICH IS LOCATED UNDER THE SEAT COVERING AND GETS WORN OUT. TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE AND SEEMS THAT GENERAL MOTORS WOULD WANT TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE TO PREVENT LOSS OF LIFE AND POTENTIAL LAW SUITS.
SERVICE AIRBAG LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR REPAIR. THE ASSESSMENT WAS THAT THE PASSENGER WEIGHT SENSOR HAD FAILED. THE REPAIR IS TO REPLACE THE ENTIRE SEAT AT A COST OF $948. THE FAILURE IS TO THE SENSOR TAPE AFFIXED TO THE BOTTOM OF THE SEAT. IT BECOMES BRITTLE AS IT AGES AND CRACKS. THAT CAUSE A FAULT TO BE SENT TO THE SENSOR MODULE. IT CANNOT BE REPAIRED AND THE SENSOR IS BONDED TO THE SEAT BOTTOM. THERE ARE NO NEW PARTS BEING MADE SINCE THIS VEHICLE WENT OUT OF PRODUCTION IN 2009. ALL SENSOR TAPES ARE THEREFORE OLD AND PRONE TO RAPID CRACKING AND FAILURE. THE SATURN SKY (AND PONTIAC SOLSTICE - BASICALLY SAME VEHICLE) ARE FULL OF HORROR STORIES ABOUT MULTIPLE FAILURES OF THIS PART THAT RENDERS THE AIRBAG INOPERATIVE. THERE NEW PART CONTINUES TO FAIL IN MOST CASES AND MUST BE REPLACED REPEATEDLY EVEN THOUGH IT IS THE PASSENGER SEAT SENSOR IN A TWO SEAT SPORTS CAR. THAT SEAT IN MOST CASES IS RARELY USED. IN MY CASE THE VEHICLE ONLY HAS 19655 MILES ON IT AND HAS HAD A PASSENGER IN THE SEAT ON ONLY ABOUT 20 OCCASIONS. THERE IS ONLY A LIMITED WARRANTY ON THE REPLACEMENT AND SERVICE TECHS STATE THAT IT WILL FAIL AGAIN FAIRLY QUICKLY. THIS IN NOT ONLY EXPENSIVE, IT IS DANGEROUS. MOST OWNERS LIKE ME WILL LIKELY FORGO THE REPAIR AND JUST DRIVE IT WITH THE LIGHT ON AND THE PASSENGER AIRBAG INOPERATIVE.
FAILURE OF PASSENGER SEAT WEIGHT SENSOR/MODULE - "SERVICE AIR BAG" AND "PASSENGER AIRBAG OFF" LIGHTS ILLUMINATE.
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
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