The National Highway Traffic Safety Association (NHTSA) has launched a federal investigation into the Chevrolet Volt after various complaints have been filed with the agency regarding illuminated airbag warning lights and resulting failures of the vehicle’s front and knee airbags.
NHTSA has received at least 17 complaints regarding the first-generation, 2012-2013 Chevrolet Volt models that reference the airbag sensing system. Reports indicate that the series of sensors, located under the passenger seat, fails prematurely and results in “service airbag” messages and airbag warning lights.
The occupancy sensors in question measure whether or not someone is sitting in the seat. This issue goes beyond an error light, relaying to the vehicle whether or not the airbag should be active, which in turn dictates whether or not it will deploy in case of an accident or crash.
In complaints filed to the NHTSA, the overarching theme is the same: parts and labor to address the issue are expensive. If left unattended, they increase the risk of bodily harm. One complaint says that the “dealer attempted to reproduce problem, but unable. Unfortunately, this is $800+ repair with no guaranteed outcome. This problem has been reported by other Volt owners in internet posts. Would like to know if gm has any fixes not known to dealer.”
Other complaints mention repairs costing in excess of $1,000. The discrepancy is likely the result of varying labor rates across the country.
Regardless, the issue of occupant safety is a serious one, and NHTSA investigates to determine whether approximately 46,000 Chevrolet Volts from the 2012-2013 model years should be recalled to address this issue.
We’ll keep our ears to the ground and report as events unfold. In the meantime, be sure to subscribe to GM Authority for more Chevrolet Volt news, Chevrolet news, and 24/7 GM news coverage.
Source: Car Complaints
Comments
$800???!
I have a Malibu, not a Volt, but this cost me over $1,200!!????
So, might this also applied to the Malibu as well..
Please?
Simply lease next time…
2012 volt owner here, same issue. Started at around 80k miles, dealer said $800 or go kick rocks
2013 volt same problem same high repair quote.. started about 90k miles
Same story here on my 2012 volt. Dealer stated $800+ to replace the sensor. Guess I will file a complaint as well!
2013 Chevy Volt owner, I bought the car used in June and the airbag light has been active sporadically since August. The car has roughly 80,000 miles on it.
Make sure you file a complaint with NHTSA folks! I’m in the same boat – 2012 Volt with ~75k miles.
If you buy crap you’ll have crap !
If it sound like crap, smells like crap, runs down your leg ??? Crap……..
2011 Volt No real problems after initial bugs were fixed. Nearing 100k.
Mine started around 100,000 miles
My 2013 had the same problem starting around 90k or so. Total parts+labor was 1300 if I remember correctly. I did not report it but am going to seeing many others are seeing the same thing.
if you think these things don’t happen on other makes your kidding yourself
Same issue with 2010 Impala. $800+ depending on how many sensors are bad. Dealer is very hesitant to give me a set price as they say it all depends…. I put electrical tape over light and say “forget about it”. I’ll take my chances.
I too have a 2013 volt and mine is also throwing the airbag light on the dash and it is the sensor in the passenger seat. GM has scores of troubles with the volt and it is why they quit manufacturing them. I also had a 2017 that caught fire on me and burnt to the ground. This was my car that I lost no thanks to GM ignoring the repeated problems I had with it.
Keep in mind that GM went out of their way to try and obscure these videos. 428 views since May 2018
Did you report it to the NHTSA ?
2012 Volt – yup same problem with mine for last year or so. Comes on from time to time.
Same problem. Same issue, every damn day.
I believe the Malibu should be included in this air bag investigation.
My light activated as an air bag problem….
A simple plug-in modular cost $1200!!!
… Because of the location.
Three years old and caused me to have to take out a LOAN.
SHOULD NOT have activated.
2012 Volt – same problem
I have a 2012 Volt with about 88K miles. For three years I’ve struggled with the beeping and Air Bag warning from my passenger seat. Chevrolet dealer wanted $900 to repair it in 2018 and I refuse to pay that. They told me it was caused by underweight persons in that seat; like a child. My wife had cancer and lost a lot of weight but she still weighed over the 65lb limitation. I think they just replace the seat. I purchased tools to remove the seat and to attempt to bypass the alarm. Just wondering if anyone else has tried it.
Same here… 2014 Chevy Volt….. Happened when car got just over 100,000 miles. GM wants $346.00 for the part and about another $250.00 for install. I’m not happy at all. It’s May of 2021 as I write this, and they said as of today no recall on it. 🤬🤬😡😡
Don’t have the volt but have a 2009 chevy silverado.. just had to replace the sensor under my seat.. didnt take it to dealer though… took to my mechanic… they replaced the part.. my light was on saying service airbag.. of course my truck is also in the recall for the airbag.. but only the passenger one.. which makes no sense.. they want to keep my truck for a few days to replace it but won’t provide a loaner.. need a loaner as I have a small farm.. cant go without my truck for that long
I have a 2013 Chevy volt The passenger seat keeps triggering A airbag light. Had the car for three years, Always on and off. I went to GM they didn’t want to fix it. Major safety issue airbags will not deploy if lights on.
Went ahead and purchased an “airbag360” sensor workaround. $89. If there is an accident the Volt thinks there is a passenger in the seat at all times.