Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2013 Chevrolet Volt owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
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 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 passenger presence sensor is failing or failed because every time someone sit in there the airbag turns on and off repeatedly every 2-3 mins and gives a service airbag warning and if no one is sitting in the passenger seat then it just stays on. Could be really dangerous if a wreck happens while it's glitching in the off mode and could cause death. Multiple people have had this problem with the volts and there is even a thing you can by to completely bypass the airbag going off which shows how common the problem is if there is a solution to eliminate it in an unsafe/not factory manner
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.
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".
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.
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. …
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 [redacted] thing. I sincerely hope the feds make them do something to address this vehicle as lives are on the line.
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.
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).
Seat complaints in other Volt years
Frequently asked questions
How common are seat problems on the 2013 Chevrolet Volt?
NHTSA has 31 complaints about the seats of the 2013 Chevrolet Volt, 10% of the model year's 308 complaints.
Is there a recall for 2013 Chevrolet Volt seat problems?
No. NHTSA lists no seats recall for the 2013 Chevrolet Volt, though it has 3 recalls for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2013 Chevrolet Volt seat problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 69,000 miles, and 5% before 25,000 miles.
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.