[world2steven]

Service airbag alert

I’ve been getting intermittent “Service airbag” alerts on my 2013 Volt. I get a console message as well as the red error light to the left of the console. The third time in the shop the mechanic diagnosed it as a faulty sensor. The mechanics have been able to make the alert go away for 2 – 3 months at a time. (The fault in the sensor seems to be related to temperature. The alert hasn’t appeared since the arrival of cooler weather here in Tucson.)

I’ve been told that when the red light is on the air bag will NOT deploy – also (I believe?) that the alert was for the driver not the passenger side airbag. It will apparently cost around $200 to replace the faulty sensor if I don’t want to experience any more intermittent problems.

Questions:
1. even though the car is well out of warranty, is this a warranty / safety issue GM should fix?
2. since it is intermittent how important is it to get repaired, both for my sake and any passengers?
3. Anyone else had this problem?

 

[dannycamps]

1. No - sensors are typically not covered past the B2B warranty period unless it's part of a safety recall.

2. Up to you but if it was me, I'd definitely pay the money for the piece of mind. Also depending on your state, you car may not pass inspection with an airbag light on.

3. I'm sure others have had this happen.

 

[Aseras]

I get it all the time. The problem is the passenger presence detection system GM decided to use. It was apparently designed to be the only technological thing in existence in a modern electric car..... it uses a capacitive field and the logic is typical GM pants on head stupid.

Basically anything that has an electric field will set it off and eventually it'll give up and throw the error.

There's a special coverage campaign to replace the seat cushion with the sensor relocated from the top to the bottom of the foam. If you know to ask for it AND your dealer feels like playing ball.
The good news is if there service airbag warning light fires, it stores a permanent DTC and you can use that as leverage.

 

[TripleAech]

I had this alert after a water bottle leaked all over the passenger seat. Once I dried everything out the warning cleared. You said yours is for the driver's side, and gets better with cooler weather. Serious question, could a sweaty butt be causing the problem?

 

[world2steven]

Thanks (to all). I'll ask about replacing "the seat cushion with the sensor relocated from the top to the bottom of the foam" when I take it in for repairs.

P.S. Since the weather has turned cooler, I haven't received any more alerts. (I don't think it is "sweaty butts".) Does that mean myself and my passengers are safe?

 

[world2steven]

I am 5 days away from forking over $1100 to get rid of a service airbag message. This is the diagnosis from today:
"29015 SCANNED FOR CODES FOUND B0014 SET, TESTED CIRCUITS TO KNEE HOLSTER AlR BAG, FOUND OK, TESTED CIRCUITS TO SDM ALL OK"
I asked the service advisor about "a special coverage campaign to replace the seat cushion with the sensor relocated from the top to the bottom of the foam" but he knew nothing about it.

P.S. During the conversation the SA said it would cost $13k - $14k to replace the battery on my 2013 should it ever be needed. IIRC for a LEAF it is only $2 - $3k