2013 CHEVROLET VOLT Seats Problems

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.

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.

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.

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

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".

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.

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.

Mileage: 67,000

THE PASSENGER AIRBAG SEATBELT SENSOR FAULTY AND GIVES NOTICE ON DISPLAY. INTERMITTENTLY STOPS TURNING ON PASSENGER AIRBAG WHEN SOMEONE IS SITTING IN IT. I HAS BEEN DOING THIS FOR ABOUT 3 YEARS AND DOES IT EVERYTIME WHILE DRIVING. I HAVE SEEN HUNDREDS OF POSTS ONLINE WITH THE SAME ISSUE. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME I HAVE FILED THIS SAME COMPLAINT WITH NO RESPONSE.

Mileage: 60,000

AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT AND PASSENGER AIR BAG. WAS TOLD BY A DEALER THAT IT WAS THE PASSENGER DETECTION SENSOR NOT WORKING AND NEEDS A 1,000 DOLLAR FIX TO REPLACE THE SENSOR. AIR BAG SYSTEM WILL NOT ENABLE WITH FULL SIZE PASSENGER IN FRONT SEAT.

Mileage: 65,000

THE SERVICE AIRBAG MESSAGE APPEARS RANDOMLY WHEN IN MOTION. THE CHEVY DEALER STATES THAT THE PROBLEM IS THE PASSENGER PRESENCE SYSTEM. THE ESTIMATED COST TO REPAIR IS $1,300.

Mileage: 93,000

AIR BAG LIGHT STAYS ON. REPLACED DRIVER SEAT WITH NO CHANGE. CHEVY DEALERSHIP ADVISED THE ISSUE NOW IS THE PASSENGER SEAT SENSORS AND QUOTED ME $1000 TO FIX. THEY ALSO TOLD ME THERE IS ONLY ONE PART AVAILABLE IN THE USA AND THEY DONT KNOW IF THE HOLDER WILL SELL IT. THIS PUTS MY CAR AND PASSENGERS IN DANGER IF THERE IS AN ACCIDENT. CHEVY NEEDS TO ADDRESS/FIX THIS.

PASSENGER FRONT SEAT SENSOR FOR AIRBAG SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONS, RESULTING IN PASSENGER AIRBAG BEING TURNED OFF WHILE ADULT PASSENGER IS IN SEAT. THIS OCCURS WHEN THE VEHICLE IS MOVING OR STATIONARY AND BOTH IN TOWN AND ON THE HIGHWAY. DEALER INDICATED THIS REPAIR WOULD COST NEARLY $1000 (~$500 IN PARTS AND OVER $400 LABOR).

Mileage: 69,312

THE PASSENGER DETECTION SENSOR FAILED WHICH AFFECTS FUNCTIONALITY OF PASSENGER AIRBAG. FOR SOME REASON THIS WASN'T COVERED COVERED UNDER EXTENDED WARRANTY.

Mileage: 90,000

SERVICE PASSENGER AIRBAG WARNING CAME ON CONTINUOUSLY. TWO TRIPS TO THE DEALER, FIRST TIME THEY TRIED TO FIX BY CLEANING A CONNECTION $196 AND IT DID NOT WORK. SECOND TIME THEY HAD TO REPLACE THE PASSENGER PRESENCE SENSOR $636.70. THIS WAS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY I WAS TOLD. CAR HAD 68514 MILES AND WAS IN SERVICE 4 YEARS.

Mileage: 68,514

AIRBAG LIGHT IS ON. FAULTY SEAT SENSOR.

PASSENGER SEAT BELT SENSOR WENT BAD AND WAS REQUIRED TO BE REPLACED BY GM

Mileage: 40,000

PASSENGER SEAT OCCUPANCY SENSOR INTERMITTENT FAILURE. SHOULD BE ADDED TO INVESTIGATION PE19013. AIRBAG LIGHT AND SERVICE AIRBAG MESSAGE IS ON 7 OUT OF 10 TIMES THE CAR IS TURNED ON AND NO PASSENGER OR ITEM IS IN THE PASSENGER SEAT(WHILE STATIONARY). LIGHT WILL TURN OFF AFTER SEVERAL MINUTES OF DRIVING OR APPLYING FORCE TO THE BOTTOM OF THE EMPTY PASSENGER SEAT. DRIVING WITH A PASSENGER THE LIGHT IS USUALLY OFF, HOWEVER SOMETIMES IT WILL COME ON WITH A PASSENGER PRESENT AND VEHICLE IN MOTION, AND CAN BE RESOLVED BY THE PASSENGER SHIFTING THEIR WEIGHT A FEW TIMES. ISSUE IS TOO HARD TO DEMONSTRATE TO DEALER AND WOULD COST TOO MUCH FOR ME TO BOTHER REPAIRING ON MY OWN. OTHER MODELS FROM CHEVROLET DURING THAT TIME PERIOD USE THE SAME SENSOR AND HAVE BEEN RECALLED OR ARE PENDING A RECALL. THIS PROBLEM FIRST STARTED WHEN I PURCHASED THE CAR IN 2016 BUT MUCH MORE INFREQUENTLY. IT HAS BECOME MORE AND MORE COMMON GRADUALLY EVER SINCE. SEAT HAS NOT HAD ANYTHING SPILLED ON IT, OR RAIN LET IN FROM OPEN WINDOWS ETC.

Mileage: 97,000

MY AIRBAG LIGHT ON THE DASH HAS BEEN ON FOR A VERY LONG TIME NOW AND I JUST READ AN ARTICLE THE OTHER DAY THAT THOUSANDS OF COMPLAINTS HAVE BEEN MADE OVER THIS SAME ISSUE. I HAVE A SNAP-ON SCANNER FOR READING OBD2 PORTS ON A LARGE AMOUNT OF VEHICLES AND WHEN I PLUG MINE UP TO MY VOLT IT TELLS ME IT IS THE SENSOR IN THE SEAT. I HAVE ALREADY REPLACED THIS SENSOR ONCE. THE DEALER TRIED TO ROB ME IN TRYING TO CHARGE ME OVER 800.00 FOR THIS VERY SIMPLE REPAIR. NEEDLESS TO SAY IT IS OUT YET AGAIN AND GM KNOWS THERE ARE SCORES OF PROBLEMS WITH THE VOLT BUT THEY WONT PROPERLY ADDRESS THEM. I HAD A 2017 VOLT THAT CAUGHT FIRE AND BURNT TO THE GROUND. WHAT DID THEY DO ABOUT IT? NOT A [XXX] THING. I SINCERELY HOPE THE FEDS MAKE THEM DO SOMETHING TO ADDRESS THIS VEHICLE AS LIVES ARE ON THE LINE. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

Mileage: 86,000

THE PASSENGER AIRBAG SENSOR TRIGGERED A WARNING (VEHICLE IN MOTION). TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER AND THEY TRIED THE TYPICAL LOOSE CONNECTION CHECK, WATER DAMAGE CHECK, ETC. REMOVED SENSOR AND TESTED IT - NOT PULLING ANY CURRENT, SO MUST BE BAD AND NEED REPLACEMENT. TOTAL COST TO REPLACE $1,200!! IF IT'S NOT REPLACED, AIRBAGS ARE DISABLED TO PROTECT AGAINST ACCIDENTAL DEPLOYMENT. I DECIDED TO PASS AND PRETEND THAT THE CAR WAS BUILT IN THE 1970S (IE, NO AIRBAGS AND JUST RELYING ON SEATBELTS).

Mileage: 68,000

PASSENGER AIRBAG SENSOR, BEING TRIGGERED INTERMITTENTLY. SENSOR IS CONTAINED WITHIN THE PASSENGER SEAT. SENSOR IS QUESTION IS CALLED A PASSENEGER PRESENCE SYSTEM MODULE.

Mileage: 50,000

PASSENGER SEAT UNOCCUPIED WILL ALERT AIRBAG SENSOR WARNING DISPLAY

Mileage: 95,000

AIRBAG WEIGHT SENSOR ISSUES ON PASSENGER SIDE

JUST PAID $975 TO HAVE THE PASSENGER AIR BAG SENSOR REPLACED ON MY 2013 CHEVY VOLT. I WAS INFORMED BY THE GM VOLT THREAD THAT THIS A MANUFACTURING ISSUE WITH THE CHEVY VOLTS AND IS HAPPENING TO MANY VOLT OWNERS.

Mileage: 108,000

WHILE IN MOTION MY CAR SPORADICALLY DISPLAYS "SERVICE AIR BAG SYSTEM." UPON DIAGNOSIS, DEALER STATED THE PASSENGER PRESENCE MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THIS CAR IS ONLY 5 YEARS OLD WITH 77,000 MILES. SEEMS LIKE A SERIOUS SAFETY HAZARD FOR THIS ITEM TO BE FAILING. RESEARCHING CHEVROLET VOLT OWNER FORUM YIELDS NUMEROUS CASES OF THIS SAME ISSUE.

Mileage: 77,000

I WOULD LIKE TO FILE A COMPLAIN REGARDING A "SERVICE AIR BAG" LIGHT PRESENT IN MY CAR. THE LIGHT TURNS ON SUDDENLY REGARDLESS A PASSENGER IS PRESENT OR NOT. IT HAPPENS WHEN THE CAR IS IN MOTION OR PARKED. I TOOK THE CAR TO BE INSPECTED AND THE CODES GIVEN WERE: B0081 AND B0074 (PASSENGER PRESENCE MALFUNCTION) THE TECHNICIAN EXPLAINED TO ME THAT IF THE PART WAS NOT CHANGED THE PASSENGER AIRBAG MAY NOT DEPLOY IN CASE OF AN ACCIDENT. MY CAR HAS NOT BEEN INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT; IT HAS NOT BEEN EXPOSED TO ANY LIQUIDS THAT MIGHT HAVE CAUSED DAMAGE. THE ESTIMATE PROVIDED AND REPAIRS WERE $980 (PART ONLY: $500) PLUS TAX. SO FAR, I WAS VERY SATISFIED WITH THE QUALITY OF THIS CAR BUT IT IS VERY DISAPPOINTING THAT SOMETHING THAT IS NOT NEGLIGENCE OF THE DRIVER IS NOT COVERED IN THE MANUFACTURING WARRANTY. UPON STUMBLING WITH THIS ISSUE I REALIZED THAT IT IS A COMMON MALFUNCTION OF THIS CAR FROM OTHER OWNERS AS WELL. I WOULD KINDLY ASK YOU TO TAKE INTO CONSIDERATION THIS ISSUE AND INVESTIGATE IT SO THAT THE COMPANY CAN ISSUE A RECALL AND CUSTOMERS NO LONGER HAVE TO CHOOSE BETWEEN A VOLUNTARY REPAIR OR NOT HAVING A PASSENGER AIRBAG IN CASE OF AN ACCIDENT IN SUCH MODERN CAR.

PASSENGER PRESSENCE MODULE SENSOR GETS DETORIATED WHEN THE PASSENGER SEAT MOVES BACK AND FORTH. BASICALLY RUINING THE TOO SHORT WIRING CONNECTING TO THE SENSORS. THIS MAKES THE AIRBAG NONDEPLOYABLE. THE COMPUTER THINKS NO ONE IS SITTING THERE, ESSENTIALLY. THIS OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING AND GOES ON AND OFF, BUT HAS STAYED ON CONSISTENTLY.

Mileage: 78,999

MY AIRBAG SENSOR INTERMITTENTLY COMES IN AND OFF. I TOOK IT TO A CHEVROLET DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID IT WAS THE PASSENGER SEAT AIRBAG SENSOR AND THAT IT WOULD COST ABOUT $900. I HAVE READ ON A VOLT FORUM THAT THIS IS HAPPENING TO MANY OF US. THIS SHOULD BE COVERED BY GM.

Mileage: 45,000

PASSENGER PRESENCE MODULE NEEDS REPLACING AT A DEALER-QUOTED COST OF $700. REAR SEAT STITCHING CAME APART, REQUIRING SEVERAL HOURS OF REPAIR. 2 BAD 12 VOLT BATTERIES IN 36,000 MILES HAVE SOMEHOW AFFECTED THE MAIN COMPUTER AND I HAVEN'T RECEIVED A QUOTE YET. BAD OIL LINE CONNECTION ON THE MASTER CYLINDER. MECHANIC SAID DEFECTIVE CRIMP. BOUGHT THE CAR IN 6/15 AT 16,000 MILES WITH A RECONSTRUCTED TITLE. AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY IN ACCIDENT. I DOUBT THAT THE ACCIDENT INFLUENCED ANY OF THESE PROBLEMS. THE CAR PERFORMED FLAWLESSLY FOR 10,000 AFTER I BOUGHT IT (EXCEPT FOR THE 12 VOLT BATTERY).

Mileage: 32,000

SERVICE AIR BAG WARNING DURING OR SHORTLY AFTER SOMEONE SITS IN FRONT PASSENGER SEAT. ALSO SEE THE PASSENGER AIR BAG LIGHT ILLUMINATES "OFF" FOR EXTENDED PERIOD. DEALER STATES IT IS NOT ABLE TO DUPLICATE THE ISSUE. HAS BEEN HAPPENING FOR THE PAST YEAR. BELIEVE THIS IS A KNOWN DEFECT, AND ALSO A SAFETY HAZARD, AS AIR BAG MAY NOT DEPLOY IN A COLLISION.

Mileage: 60,000

WHILE COMING TO A STOP AT A MODERATE RATE OF DECELERATION, I NOTICED THAT MY DRIVERS SEAT HAD FORWARD/BACKWARD PLAY IN IT. THE ISSUE WAS IDENTIFIED WHEN COMING TO A STOP AND NOTICING THAT MY SEAT BACK SHIFTED FORWARD (~1/2" OF PLAY). I WAS ABLE TO REPLICATE THE ISSUE AT A STOP BY SHIFTING MY WEIGHT IN THE SEAT. ALL MOTION APPEARS TO SOURCE FROM THE RECLINING MECHANISM, NOT THE SEAT RAILS. THIS ISSUE WAS PRESENTED TO THE CHEVROLET DEALERSHIP BUT THE RESPONSE WAS THAT THE ISSUE WAS IDENTIFIED IN A NEW VEHICLE SO IT WAS LABELED AS "INTENDED OPERATION." A REPEAT INVESTIGATION IN SEPTEMBER 2014 ALSO PRODUCED THE SAME RESPONSE. AS AN INTEGRAL PART OF THE SAFETY SYSTEM IN THE VEHICLE, IT IS INAPPROPRIATE FOR A SEAT TO HAVE PLAY IN THE RECLINING MECHANISM AND EQUALLY AS INAPPROPRIATE FOR THAT TO BE CONSIDERED "INTENDED OPERATION." THE PASSENGER SEAT DOES NOT EXHIBIT THESE ISSUES, AND A REVIEW OF THE GM-VOLT.COM FORUMS INDICATES THAT WHILE THE PROBLEM EXISTS IN OTHER VEHICLES, IT IS BY NO MEANS UNIVERSAL ACROSS THE MODEL. *TR

Mileage: 18,000