Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2013 Chevrolet Traverse owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
The contact owns a 2013 Chevrolet Traverse. The contact stated while she has a passenger with her, she stated her passenger air bag light goes on and off but most of the times states the airbag is off although someone is on the seat, as well as waring on the instrumental panel, that states service air bag. The vehicle was seen by a independent mechanic but could not come to a diagnosis. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 175,000.
There was a recall on the airbag on my vehicle a while back. I took my car to the dealer to have it serviced. They fixed it supposedly but periodically when I start the the car the airbag light would take a while to go out, like a delay. Reported to dealer now airbag light is on continuously and dealer says it's no longer under warranty or recall. Now I have a problem with the Stabilitrak system light comes on and the car sometimes slow down or shuts off. I've taken it to the dealer about the problem but they can't ever seem to find it during a diagnostic my car shut off on me while I was on the interstate driving 70 miles an hour in the left lane good thing I was an experienced driver me and my family could have gotten killed. …
Service Air Bag light is on and won't go off. Car was never in an accident or anything done for this light to be on so I'm a bit confused. Car has been inspected and looked over only issue is the service air bag light on the dash which came on after my battery completely died in my car. I bought a new battery car still drives normal and all is good other then the light still being on which I figured would have went away by now.
The "Service Airbag" light and notification comes up on the dash. This happened in the past as this vehicle was part of a recall NHTSA 14V118. The car was service for that recall already back on 3-18-2014 but the issue came back. This is dangerous because when that light is on, the airbags will not go off in the event of an accident. I need this fixed at no charge. Thank you.
Although the recall was done , few years ago by the dealer ? RCRIT-14V118-2797 But it is getting worse than before , the massage SERVICE AIR BAG KEEP APPEARING ? The job by the dealer was unsatisfactory ? This is ridiculous . [redacted]
General Motors is not notifying GM vehicle owners of electrical defect malfunctions that has been on-going for a number of years; leaving vehicle owners with alarming operational occurrences and unexpected repair expenses. While driving our 2013 Chevrolet Traverse fall 2021, we experienced the passenger airbag light coming on and staying on, along with the blind spot detection system lights coming on and staying on for both side mirrors. Also, the key fob wouldn't work-manually lock and unlock the vehicle. We disconnected the negative battery terminal to reset the computers, resulting in the key fob to work and the passenger airbag light to go out. The blind spot detection system continued to malfunction so we scheduled a repair appointment with our Chevrolet dealership. …
Takata recall, my airbag light comes on and goes off whenever it wants. Sometimes it with come on and stay on for days to months at a time, I took it back to the Chevy dealership where I purchased it from. I paid for the diagnostic and for them to fix it and it stood off for a few weeks and came back on and when I called and told them that my airbag light came back on they to me to make an appointment to get a 3rd diagnostic and for me to paid again I refused and I am just dealing with the light coming and going off on its own. I have to hold my key in the ignition in the forward position being cranked for about 4-5sec just for my SUV to turn on and asked the dealership why and they couldn't give me an answer and just shrugged there shoulders with no answers. …
My service airbag warning comes up on display. Sometimes it stays on, sometimes it goes off and on like when I hit a bump. I have had it serviced and fixed and they say the clip under the passenger seat was disconnected. A few months later I was vacuuming my car out and as soon as I was done, the light came on again. I had it fixed again. Like literally took 2 seconds for them to clip it together and it cost over $70. It came disconnected again, had it fixed, now the warning light is on again, and I am annoyed! Can we get a recall?? I'm sick of this! It has happened when the car is stationary and moving. I should be able to vacuum my vehicle or grab a piece of mail that has slid under the seat without having the clip coming disconnected!
I took my car for service on 2/20/2015 and the next day the service airbag lights came on stayed on even after I turned the car off and back on. The next day it didn't come back on the following day which was 2/22/2015 it came on and again and stayed all day. On 2/23/2015 didn't come on at all then came back on again on 02/24/2015 and remained on until I wrote this complaint. I called my dealer and they gave me an appointment for 2 weeks on 3/12/2015 if something is wrong with the airbag I'm not safe and my warranty May no longer cover it at that time being this is my only means of transportation.
My airbag warning light say "service airbag" and it has been checked out by the dealer, they say it maybe a short in a wire but their computer is not picking it up. It has been coming on and off since I purchased it in December 2019 but it usually go out but this time it has stayed on ad will not go out. I am not sure if this is safe if I'm involved in an accident. Each time I start my vehicle, while I'm driving, parked, etc., this warning light never go off
Related recalls
Air bags › Frontal
General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2008-2017 Buick Enclave and 2013-2017 Chevrolet Traverse vehicles. The driver's air bag inflator may explode during deployment, due to a manufacturing defect.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the driver's air bag module, free of charge. Interim owner notification letters were mailed on November 3, 2021. Owner notification letters were mailed on January 10, 2022.
Air bags › Critical fasteners
General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2010-2015, 2017 Buick Enclave, 2010-2019 Chevrolet Traverse, and 2011-2016 GMC Acadia vehicles. The side curtain air bags may not be properly attached.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and, if necessary, realign or replace the weld nuts, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on May 24, 2021.
Air bags › Side/window
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2008-2013 Buick Enclave and GMC Acadia and 2009-2013 Chevrolet Traverse and 2008-2010 Saturn Outlook vehicles. In the affected vehicles, increased resistance in the driver and passenger seat mounted side impact air bag (SIAB) wiring harnesses may result in the SIAB and…
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the affected harness connections with soldered connections, free of charge. The recall began on June 16, 2014.
Airbag complaints in other Traverse years
Frequently asked questions
How common are airbag problems on the 2013 Chevrolet Traverse?
NHTSA has 27 complaints about the air bags of the 2013 Chevrolet Traverse, 17% of the model year's 162 complaints.
Is there a recall for 2013 Chevrolet Traverse airbag problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 21V-782 (frontal, Oct 7, 2021); NHTSA recall 21V-246 (critical fasteners, Apr 8, 2021); NHTSA recall 14V-118 (side/window, Mar 17, 2014). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 2013 Chevrolet Traverse airbag problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 85,000 miles, and 11% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 1 crash, 0 fires and 0 injuries to air bags problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.