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10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
3 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
3 / 0
Average Mileage:
73,016 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2012 Chevrolet Volt seat belts / air bags problems

seat belts / air bags problem

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2012 Chevrolet Volt Owner Comments (Page 1 of 4)

problem #76

Jun 012017

Volt

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The 2012 Chevy Volt Passenger Airbag Sensor was an issue that the NHTSA investigated. It will cause the passenger side airbags not to deploy in a crash. I can reproduce the airbag warning light by pressing on the passenger seat. It has also been confirmed by an independent service center. There is supposed to be a reduced cost replacement program (according to the NHTSA) but both dealers and the Chevrolet Support Center do not seem to know about it)

- Saint Charles, MO, USA

problem #75

Nov 012022

Volt

  • miles
The passenger seat occupancy sensor is malfunctioning and needs replaced.

- Emporia, KS, USA

problem #74

Aug 112021

Volt

  • miles
Seat sensor for passenger air bag is not working. It picks up a passenger and turns on air bag then turns it off. Then back on then off. Getting service airbag light. I see this was investigated by NHTSA and chevy was supposed to build a replacement program for 12-13 volts but when I call chevy they see no such program even though it is reported as a known consumer concern and was part of agreement when closing NHTSA investigation as per articles on this from journalist.

- Greenville, SC, USA

problem #73

Aug 012022

Volt

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Airbag light is on due to faulty passenger seat sensor that is a known defect by manufacturer. Your investigation was closed with the note that "GM created a program to replace the passenger sensing systems in 2012 and 2013 model year Chevy Volt vehicles". I am trying to get them to fix the issue, but they say there is no program for this repair. And the repair consists of replacing full passenger seat for over $1000. It looks like GM is misleading NHTSA that they have a program to correct the problem.

- Portland, OR, USA

problem #72

Jan 012022

Volt

  • miles
Regular Faulty Warnings referring to air bag component

- San Antonio , TX, USA

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problem #71

Aug 012017

Volt

  • miles
My 2012 Chevrolet Volt has had a failure with the passenger air bag presence sensor. As a result, the passenger air bag indicator has been going on and off intermittently while someone is riding in the passenger seat. This has been happening since 2017. It has gotten worse over time and is usually off when it should be on. My passengers no longer feel safe. This is a failure that could result in the passenger-€™s death if the air bag fails to deploy in a crash. The repair cost from the dealer is also unreasonably expensive at over $1,000. The part alone costs $400 and requires proprietary dealer programming equipment for installation. A critical safety failure like this should be immediately recalled and fixed at no cost to the owner. This is not an isolated incident and has been widely reported across the internet.

- Blue Springs, MO, USA

problem #70

Mar 012021

Volt

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

We began receiving the intermittent warning message "Service Airbag" on our 2012 Chevy Volt at around 65,000 miles, and are continuing to receive it at 69,000 miles. Research reveals that other Volt owners have encountered the same problem. Cost of repair: $1,000. It appears to be a manufacturer sensor defect that requires a recall.

- Auburndale, MA, USA

problem #69

Jul 062021

Volt

  • miles
The "service airbag" light starting coming on. I took the car to the dealership and they said that the harness in the driver's seat has a bad sensor or plug and cannot be replaced because GM no longer makes this part. They suggested that I might try to find a replacement seat in a junkyard. This means I have car that is less than 10 years old with a driver's side airbag that may or may not deploy in an accident. The dealership does not have a solution.

- Arden, NC, USA

problem #68

May 012018

Volt

  • 80,000 miles
Airbag problem warning light. Dealer said there is likely a problem with the passenger sensor in the seat and I would have to pay $1200 but that might not fix the problem. We declined the service. I have since read about many more Volt owners with this problem. Ours started around 80,000 miles. We are currently around $120000 miles.

- Castroville, TX, USA

problem #67

Apr 012018

Volt

  • 65,000 miles
The contact owns a 2012 Chevrolet Volt. The contact stated that the passenger's side air bag warning light would intermittently illuminate with an occupant seated in the passenger's seat. The contact took the vehicle to bob bell Chevrolet of bel air (1230 belair rd, bel air, md 21014) where they diagnosed the vehicle with a defective passenger side air bag sensor. The contact was given an estimate for repair which he declined. Recently, the contact stated that the passenger's side air bag warning light would remain illuminated with or without an occupant seated in the passenger's seat. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 65,000.

- Bel Air, MD, USA

problem #66

Apr 092021

Volt

  • 102,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The air bag warning light keeps going on and off randomly for different lengths of time. I looked up the problem online and it seems like I'm not the only one with this issue and that it has been reported multiple times before. The light normally turns on while the car is in motion. I have not taken it to the mechanic yet because, according to the article I saw regarding similar complaints, sometimes the mechanics can't figure it out if the problem can't be reproduced at the time. I know that this is a problem for this car though and has been reported multiple times.

- Kalamazoo, MI, USA

problem #65

Oct 012020

Volt

  • miles
Service airbag sensor for passenger side airbag. I will get the warning ding, then the airbag light will illuminate for a few minutes, then go out again. It used to happen infrequently, when something, like a handbag was on the seat, but is becoming more common as time goes on when there is nothing on the seat. The quote for repair is over $1000. This is not an isolated incident; this should be a recall item by Chevy.

- Fair Oaks, Ca, CA, USA

problem #64

Aug 272020

Volt

  • 98,000 miles
Service airbag warning light now stays on permanently. Dealer inspection reveals the front passenger seat passenger discriminating sensor needs to be replaced. Estimated cost is $900 +/- this seat has never been wet or damaged, the vehicle has not been in any accident where the airbags deployed.

- Tarpon Springs, FL, USA

problem #63

Sep 162016

Volt

  • 120,000 miles
My "service airbag soon" light has come on for the passenger side and requires a replacement of the passenger presence sensor and module. I have been quoted by the Chevy dealer at $897 before tax. This has been reported by many other people before. Due to the sensor malfunctioning and not knowing if there is or isn't a passenger in the seat the airbag may or may not be active. This is extremely dangerous.

- Madison, WI, USA

problem #62

Dec 282020

Volt

  • miles
My 2012 has a "service airbag" code that pops up when I start the car. After doing some research on the web, I've come to find out that this is a very common issue, especially with the 2012 Chevy Volts. The problem is with the passenger airbag sensor in the seat. The repair for this issue is very expensive, and I afraid to have a passenger in my car. This should not be an issue the consumer has to pay for out of pocket. This is a safety issue. Thank you.

- Cooper City, FL, USA

problem #61

Mar 022020

Volt

  • 115,000 miles
Passenger side airbag sensor in seat failing on and off for a couple months, steadily getting worse and light/warning coming on more often until it's continuously failing. Seat did not get wet or damaged.

- Scottsville, NY, USA

problem #60

Oct 172020

Volt

  • 117,000 miles
Airbag sensor warning. 117K miles. Just came on, dealer wants $1100 to fix it. As this is a safety issue GM should fix it free.

- Pittsboro, NC, USA

problem #59

Feb 102020

Volt

  • 100,000 miles
Passanger airbag sensor faulty requiring replacement. When it was malfunctioning the airbag would default to off. Making it not deploy in the event of an accident even if a passager was in the seat.

- Winterville, GA, USA

problem #58

Sep 192020

Volt

  • 115,000 miles
The contact owns a 2012 Chevrolet Volt. The contact stated upon starting vehicle, the service air bag warning light illuminated. The contact referenced the NHTSA action number: PE19013 (air bags). The local dealer and manufacturer were not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The failure mileage was 115,000.

- Swansea, IL, USA

problem #57

Jun 032020

Volt

  • miles
The passenger seat airbag sensor has gone bad an constantly goes on and off even when there is nothing or nobody in the seat. I have read kn forums and it is a very common issue with the first few years of the Volt, and it is a quite expensive fix. I have recieved quotes ranging from $850 - $1200 to replace it. The service airbag light usually goes off and notifies me as soon as I start the car unless there is a person sitting in the passenger seat before I start. Ic it does not trigger the light when I start, then it will trigger the warning light when the passenger moves even slightly. The seat has never been wet or abused.

- Plano, TX, USA

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