2013 Chevy Camaro Recalled For Risk Of Exploding Airbag Inflator

The 2013 Chevy Camaro is the subject of a product safety recall recently issued by GM, related to a potential for an exploding air bag inflator in the frontal driver-side air bag module that results from what is apparently a manufacturing defect.

The problem: the inflator in a specific lot of driver-side air bag modules used in the production of some 2013 Chevy Camaro units is potentially defective and may explode during deployment or inflation of the air bag.

The hazards: the defective driver-side air bag module inflator can explode when the air bag deploys during a crash, potentially hurling shrapnel into the cabin of 2013 Chevy Camaro, with possibly injury or death resulting to one or more vehicle occupants.

The fix: inspection of the affected 2013 Chevy Camaro at the dealership should be followed by replacement of the driver-side air bag module, including its inflator. Installation of a new module from a lot without the manufacturing defect will eliminate the problem, and is carried out free of charge.

GM used manufacturing records and part trace data to identify the individual 2013 Chevy Camaro vehicles that may have been produced using the defective and potentially dangerous driver airbag inflator. Camaro units built with an inflator from a different, non-defective lot are not covered by the recall.

Affected components: driver-side air bag inflator module.

Affected vehicles: 

• 2013 Buick Verano
• 2013 Chevy Camaro
• 2013 Chevy Sonic
• 2013 Chevy Volt

Number of affected vehicles: GM says a total of 767 vehicles in total are affected by the recall in the United States, which includes 537 individual units of the 2013 Chevy Camaro.

Owners should: The General plans to mail a notification letter to owners of affected 2013 Chevy Camaro units or other affected models. The mailing will take place on September 11^th, 2023 and will notify owners of the recall and the available repair.

Owners of affected 2013 Chevy Camaro units with questions not addressed by the update can call either Chevrolet customer service or the NHTSA for additional information, using the numbers listed below and referencing the recall number as appropriate:

Contacts:

• GM recall number: N232413120
• Chevy customer service number: 1-800-222-1020
• NHTSA campaign number: 23V516000
• NHTSA recall number: 23V-516
• NHTSA safety hotline: 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153)

Note: an accident in Brazil that took place on May 23^rd, 2022 caused the investigation leading to the present recall. One person was injured when the air bag inflator of a 2013 Chevy Camaro exploded during a crash in Brazil. The ammonium nitrate propellant inflating the airbag ruptured a metal cylinder, turning it into shrapnel. No other incidents have been reported.

GM Brazil analysis and further analysis in Armada, Michigan by Joyson Safety Systems is ongoing, but indicates the explosion resulted from a defective part and not the age or previous damage of the components. The defect seems to be limited to a single batch of Takata air bag inflators used in the specified vehicles.

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