Air Bags. Review the 161 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Electrical System. Review the 63 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
Fuel/propulsion System. Review the 53 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

8 crash reports2 fire reports7 injury reports

Air Bags complaints

161 reports

Clear category filter

167,000 miles · Aug 21, 2018

Air Bags

SERVICE AIRBAG MESSAGE IS ON. COMMON PROBLEM FOR THIS CAR. THE PREVIOUS OWNER REPLACED AN AIRBAG SENSOR, AND THE PROBLEM HAS RETURNED.

NHTSA ODI #11121292

102,000 miles · Aug 13, 2018

Air Bags

AIR BAG PASSENGER SEAT OCCUPANCY SENSOR FAILURE. WHEN THERE IS NO PASSENGER IN THE SEAT THE AIR BAG WARNING LITE COMES ON. WHEN AN ADULT IS IN THE SEAT THE LIGHT DOES NOT COME ON UNLESS THE PERSON MOVES AROUND, THEN IT COMES ON AND THEN RESETS ITSELF.

NHTSA ODI #11119697

35,000 miles · Aug 1, 2018

Air Bags

PASSENGER AIRBAG SENSOR LIGHT CAME ON AND TURNS ON AND OFF RANDOMLY WHETHER OR NOT PASSENGER IS OCCUPYING THE PASSENGER SEAT. UNSAFE IF THERE IS AN ACCIDENT AS AIRBAGS WON'T DEPLOY.

NHTSA ODI #11115225

Mileage unknown · Jul 20, 2018

Air Bags

MY 2013 CHEV VOLT SERVICE AIR BAG LIGHT COMES ON FREQUENTLY. THE DEALERSHIP QUOTED ME OVER $800 TO FIX IT. I HAVE READ ONLINE OTHERS HAVE THIS PROBLEM. I WANT MY CAR TO BE SAFE. THIS SHOULD BE A SAFETY RECALL.

NHTSA ODI #11112772

Mileage unknown · Jul 10, 2018

Air BagsSeats

Read full complaint

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.

NHTSA ODI #11110642

Mileage unknown · Jul 2, 2018

Air Bags

MY SENSOR ON THE PASSENGER SEAT IS FAULTY MY AIRBAG SERVICE LIGHT KEEPS ON TURNING ON AND OFF CONSISTENTLY. NEVER HAD AN ACCIDENT OR SPILLS ON THE SEAT.

NHTSA ODI #11105165

76,000 miles · Jun 14, 2018

Air Bags

Read full complaint

THERE IS A CAPACITIVE FIELD DETECTOR IN THE PASSENGER SEAT ALSO CALLED A PASSENGER POSITION SENSOR. INSTEAD OF A SIMPLE BUCKLE DETECTOR THIS PART HAS FAILED IN MY CAR AT 76,000 MILES AND THE AFFECT IS THAT THE PASSENGER AIRBAG IS DISABLED. THE PART IS APPARENTLY AROUND 800$ AS THE ENTIRE SEAT ASSEMBLY MUST BE REPLACED. THE INDICATOR ON THE DASH SIMPLY SAYS TO SERVICE THE AIRBAGS. IT MAY BE ANECDOTAL DUE TO THE INTERMITTENT NATURE OF THE FAILURE BUT IT SEEMED TO CLEAR WHEN I ACCELERATED AND FAIL UPON BREAKING, SLOWING DOWN OR GOING DOWN HILL. THIS SEEMS LIKE THE EXACT OPPOSITE OF WHEN YOU'D WANT YOUR AIRBAGS TO BECOME DISABLED.

NHTSA ODI #11101927

70,000 miles · May 18, 2018

Air Bags

Read full complaint

THE VEHICLE WOULD ISSUE A WARNING DING WITH A DASHBOARD INDICATOR SAYING, "SERVICE AIRBAG." THE DASHBOARD AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT WOULD THEN ILLUMINATE. THE WARNING WOULD REMAIN ON FOR SEVERAL MINUTES, THEN THE WARNING LIGHT WOULD EXTINGUISH. INITIALLY THE WARNING LIGHT WOULD ONLY ILLUMINATE WHEN A PASSENGER WAS RIDING IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT, AND EVEN THEN WOULD ONLY HAPPEN INFREQUENTLY. OVER A SIX MONTH PERIOD OF TIME THE AIRBAG WARNING WOULD OCCUR MORE FREQUENTLY, AND EVENTUALLY WOULD ILLUMINATE EVEN WHEN A PASSENGER WAS NOT IN THE VEHICLE. THE DEALERSHIP BLAMED THE CONDITION ON EITHER 1) THE SEAT GETTING WET AND DAMAGING THE SENSOR (WHICH HAS NEVER HAPPENED), OR 2) THE REPEATED ACT OF PLACING MY 10-20LB LAPTOP BACKPACK ON THE PASSENGER SEAT (WOULDN'T A 200 LB PASSENGERS BE MORE LIKELY TO DAMAGE A SENSOR THAN A 20LB BACKPACK?).

NHTSA ODI #11096766

78,999 miles · May 17, 2018

Air BagsSeats

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 CO…

Read full complaint

NHTSA ODI #11096638

79,000 miles · May 11, 2018

Air Bags

Read full complaint

THE SERVICE AIRBAG LIGHT IS ON, AND THE DEALERSHIP SAYS THAT IT IS THE PASSENGER SIDE SEAT 'PASSENGER PRESENCE MODULE' THAT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED, AT A COST OF OVER $800. THE CAR IS A 2013 WITH 79K MILES, SO IS OUT OF WARRANTY, BUT I JUST FIND IT REALLY DISAPPOINTING THAT THIS KIND OF MANUFACTURER ISSUE IS NOT COVERED BY THE MANUFACTURER THROUGH A RECALL OR FACTORY WARRANTY. THIS ISN'T AN ISSUE OF ROUTINE MAINTENANCE, AND THE CAR HAS NEVER BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT, SO IT JUST DOES NOT SEEM LIKE SOMETHING I SHOULD HAVE TO PAY $800 FOR.

NHTSA ODI #11093379

Official recalls

23V516000 · Air Bags:frontal:driver Side:inflator Module

Jul 27, 2023

General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2013 Buick Verano, Chevrolet Camero, Sonic, and Volt vehicles. The driver-side air bag inflator may explode during deployment due to a manufacturing defect.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, resulting in serious injury or death.

Remedy: Dealers will replace the driver-side air bag module, free of charge. On some 2013 Volt vehicles, the steering wheel will be replaced as well, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed October 23, 2023. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300 and Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is N232413120.

18V397000 · Hybrid Propulsion System

Jun 14, 2018

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2013 Chevrolet Volt vehicles. An update to the Hybrid Powertrain Control Module 2 (HPCM2) may have disabled the cell balancing function causing a low-voltage condition.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: If the voltage drops, the vehicle may lose propulsion, increasing the risk of crash.

Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the HPCM2, free of charge. The recall began July 24, 2018. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is 18215.

15V145000 · Electrical System:ignition; Engine And Engine Cooling:engine:gasoline

Mar 13, 2015

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2011-2013 Volt vehicles manufactured August 25, 2010, to June 26, 2013. If the driver exits the vehicle without turning off the electrical system, the battery may drain low enough that the gasoline engine will automatically start itself to recharge the electric battery.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: If the engine runs for an extended period of time in an enclosed space, there may be a build up of carbon monoxide, increasing the risk of personal injury.

Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will update the engine management software to limit the time that the stationary vehicle can be left in the ON position, free of charge. The recall began April 15, 2015. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is 14617.

Additional source detail variants (2)

Electrical System:ignition

Consequence: If the engine runs for an extended period of time in an enclosed space, there may be a build up of carbon monoxide, increasing the risk of personal injury.

Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will update the engine management software to limit the time that the stationary vehicle can be left in the ON position, free of charge. The recall began April 15, 2015. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is 14617.

Engine And Engine Cooling:engine:gasoline

Consequence: If the engine runs for an extended period of time in an enclosed space, there may be a build up of carbon monoxide, increasing the risk of personal injury.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

DP22005 · Pedestrian Alert Sounds

Opened Jan 27, 2023 · Closed Aug 7, 2023

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Electrical System:propulsion System

NHTSA received a petition on or about July 18, 2022, requesting that Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 141 be applied to all electric and hybrid vehicles operating in the United States. The petition can be reviewed at NHTSA.gov under ODI Number 11486072. FMVSS 141 establishes performance requirements for pedestrian alert sounds for motor vehicles. The standard applies to hybrid and electric vehicles that have a gross vehicle weight rating of 4,536 KG or less or are defined as low-speed vehicles. The standard became fully applicable to all such vehicles manufactured on or after March 1, 2021.On January 27, 2023, NHTSA opened Defect Petition (DP) 22-005 to evaluate the subject matter described in the petition. On June 24, 2023 and as supplemented on June 25, 2023, the petitioner notified NHTSA he was withdrawing his petition. The petitioner indicated that, based on his review of data, there is no justification for asserting potential benefits that could be derived from actions sought by my petition. Based on the petitioner's withdrawal, DP22-005 is closed. Closure of this DP does not represent a determination by NHTSA regarding the subject matter of the petition.

PE19013 · Passenger Sensing System

Opened Sep 17, 2019 · Closed Jul 2, 2021

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Air Bags:sensor:occupant Classification:front Passenger

In September 2019, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened PE19-013 to assess the potential safety related effects of a malfunction of the Passenger Sensing System (PSS) in 2012-2013 Model Year (MY) Chevrolet Volt vehicles. Consumers reported that due to a malfunction of the PSS, the air bag system malfunction indicator light (MIL) was activated. Many of the complaints noted the malfunction occurred after the warranty period expired and mentioned high repair costs as a major deterrent to the repair of the vehicle.The PSS sensor mat is embedded in the front passenger seat cushion and is intended to detect child seats and small statured occupants who could be harmed by deployment of the frontal passenger air bag. The PSS may develop a malfunction due to bunching of the sensor mat in the seat trench. The bunching of the sensor mat could cause the mat to repeatedly fold in the same location. Over time, the repeated folding can cause an increased resistance in the sensor mat. An increased resistance in the PSS sensor mat is detected as a fault in the air bag system diagnostic. If this fault is detected, a diagnostic trouble code will be stored in the air bag control unit and the air bag MIL will illuminate.Further, if the fault is detected, the passenger frontal and knee air bags will be suppressed in a crash of sufficient severity to warrant a commanded deployment regardless of the nature of size of the occupant of the front passenger seat.The report counts shown above include only those reports that specifically address the issue covered by this investigation, failure of the PSS sensor mat. Reports alleging only that the air bag light is on with no cause stated, or where a different cause was otherwise identified, were excluded as the air bag light could be illuminated for system faults other than a PSS malfunction.The subject vehicles have been in service for approximately ten (10) years. An analysis of General Motors (GM) warranty data for the subject vehicles, including a comparison with other agency and manufacturer data pertaining to similar occupant detection system failure investigations, indicates the subject vehicles experience a comparatively low complaint rate for this issue given the number of years the vehicles have been in service.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. The closing of this investigation does not constitute a finding by NHTSA that a safety related defect does not exist. The agency reserves the right to take additional action if warranted by new circumstances.The ODI complaints cited above can be viewed at www.nhtsa.gov under the following ODI identification numbers in a separate attachment.