Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2009 Saturn Sky owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
The contact owns a 2009 Saturn Sky. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle, the passenger's side air bag warning light remained illuminated. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The local dealer and manufacturer were contacted regarding the failure, but no assistance was offered. The contact indicated that the vehicle was previously serviced under the NHTSA Campaign Number: 17V061000 (Air Bags); for which a temporary repair was performed, but later the manufacturer refused to permanently repair the vehicle. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 58,500.
The contact owns a 2009 Saturn Sky. The contact stated that while starting the vehicle, the air bag warning light was illuminated, with the service air bag message displayed on the instrument panel. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the front passenger's side air bag needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired and remained at the dealer. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure but informed the contact that the vehicle had previously been serviced by the dealer under NHTSA Campaign Number: 17V061000 (Air Bag). The failure mileage was approximately 14,000.
The contact owns a 2009 Saturn Sky. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the passenger's side air bag and electronic brake control module (EBCM) warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the passenger's side air bag and EBCM needed to be replaced. The dealer replaced the EBCM; however, the passenger's side air bag was not replaced. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 35,000.
In 2019 I took my car in for a recall I had received. It was for the PPS. Instead of replacing the faulty system, they simply put a "reinforcement" piece of tape over the faulty system. I rarely drive the car and I rarely have passengers. 2 years and almost 5k miles later, now the faulty system is broken. The sensor in the seat has failed. No surprise there. The dealership is trying to charge me $1400 to replace the faulty sensor that should have been replaced 2 years ago. This is causing anyone who possible is a passenger in my car to be at risk, since now that the sensor is broken, the air bag will not deploy. Other people with this car have had or are having the same issue. I do not understand why a tape fix was approved and implemented for something so serious as the safety of my passengers.
Ignition was replaced under recall and now the passenger air bag light is on and will not go out and passenger side airbag is inop. ABS Ecm failed and replacement cost was $1300.00. This is a known issue and should be investigated. Thank you [redacted]
Service airbag light illuminated and took the vehicle to the dealer for repair. The assessment was that the passenger weight sensor had failed. The repair is to replace the entire seat at a cost of $948. The failure is to the sensor tape affixed to the bottom of the seat. It becomes brittle as it ages and cracks. That cause a fault to be sent to the sensor module. It cannot be repaired and the sensor is bonded to the seat bottom. There are no new parts being made since this vehicle went out of production in 2009. All sensor tapes are therefore old and prone to rapid cracking and failure. The Saturn Sky (and Pontiac solstice - basically same vehicle) are full of horror stories about multiple failures of this part that renders the airbag inoperative. …
GM 2009 Saturn Sky passenger side air bag seat occupancy sensor has prematurely gone bad at 14,000 miles. Light comes on while driving the passenger side air bag system is disabled. This is the same sensor as the GM Cadillac cts which has a recall, but the Saturn Sky does not. I have taken to a GM dealer, tested and they say the passenger side air bag will not deploy with the bladder sensor bad. On the Saturn Sky forum, this is happening to most all Saturn Sky's and Pontiac solstice cars (which are out of production) but this is still a safety issue. I would hate to think of an accident occurring and GM and the NHTSA knowing of this issue from numerous complaints since 2014 and still not recalled as of today May 26, 2016! GM waited too long on the key issue, they should not wait on the air bag sensor issue as the Cadillac cts currently has a recall!
Tl* the contact owns a 2009 Saturn Sky. The contact stated that NHTSA campaign number: 17V061000 (air bags) exceeded a reasonable amount of time for repair. The contact received the recall notification in March of 2017. The contact spoke with hendrick Chevrolet (100 auto mall drive, cary, north carolina 27511, phone [phone]) several times concerning the recall. The dealer stated that parts were unavailable for the repair. The contact attempted to have the dealer repair the recall; however; they dealer was unable to do so. While the front passenger seat was occupied, the air bag warning indicator illuminated. Also, the windshield wiper and air conditioning failed to operate. The manufacturer was not notified. The approximate failure mileage was 59,000. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
Tl* Takata recall. The contact owns a 2009 Saturn Sky. The contact stated that the air bag warning indicator remained illuminated while driving various speeds. The vehicle was taken to gwatney Chevrolet (1301 tp white dr, jacksonville, ar 72076, [phone]) and stated that the contact would be responsible for the repair cost. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired due to the cost. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 17V061000 (air bags); however, the part needed for the repair was not available. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not contacted. The approximate failure mileage was 80,000. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
This is in reference to the faulty air bag sensor in the seats of the Saturn Sky's and Pontiac solstice. A known defect in the air bag sensor in the seats is leading to an expensive fix for GM owners. The "service air bag" light illuminates due to a faulty craftsmanship in the seat sensor. This could possibly cause the airbag system to not function properly. It is a widespread problem with these cars and really started to take place for a lot of people after the ignition recall. The replacement part and labor is costing around $900 for the repair of one seat when the parts can be ordered form Germany for around $80. GM knows and really needs to address this issue before this malfunction causes some type of bodily harm.
Related recalls
Air bags › Sensor › Occupant classification
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2006-2010 Pontiac Solstice and 2007-2010 Saturn Sky vehicles. The Passenger Air Bag Suppression System (PPS) sensor may become bent or damaged within the front passenger seat, possibly disabling the front passenger air bag.
Remedy: The remedy for this recall is still under development. A permanent remedy is currently under development. The recall began February 26, 2018.
Air bags
This defect can affect the safe operation of the airbag system. Until this recall is performed, customers should remove all items from their key rings, leaving only the ignition key. The key fob (if applicable), should also be removed from the key ring.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the ignition switch, free of charge. An interim notification was issued to owners of 2007 and earlier models on March 10, 2014, informing them of the safety defect.
NHTSA investigations
Passenger Sensing System Sensor Mat
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) received a petition requesting the opening of an investigation into the air bag system on model year 2006-2010 Pontiac Solstice and 2007-2010 Saturn Sky, the subject vehicles.The petitioner raised the issue of failure of the Passenger Sensing System for the front passenger seating position.On January 26, 2017, General Motors filed a defect information report recalling the…
Airbag complaints in other Sky years
Frequently asked questions
How common are airbag problems on the 2009 Saturn Sky?
NHTSA has 38 complaints about the air bags of the 2009 Saturn Sky, 83% of the model year's 46 complaints.
Is there a recall for 2009 Saturn Sky airbag problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 17V-061 (occupant classification, Jan 26, 2017); NHTSA recall 14V-047 (air bags, Feb 10, 2014). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 2009 Saturn Sky airbag problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 43,000 miles, and 37% 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.