repaired · 2026 Q3
Driver side: inflator module
Risk. An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants, resulting in serious injury or death.
2013 Chevrolet VoltProblems, recalls & complaints
NHTSA has logged 308 owner complaints about the 2013 Chevrolet Volt, most often about the air bags. It is covered by 3 safety recalls, and for recall 23V-516 the manufacturer reports only 37% of affected cars repaired.
Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through April 30, 2026. Updated daily. Photo: MotorBlog from Ca, USA, CC BY 2.0.
Complaints by system
Where the 2013 Chevrolet Volt has problems
308 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.
161Air bags1 crash/fire/injury
63Electrical system4 crash/fire/injury
53Fuel/propulsion system3 crash/fire/injury
37Engine1 crash/fire/injury
31Seats
24Power train
19Service brakes
6Structure
6Tires
3214 other systems6 crash/fire/injury
| System | Complaints | Crash, fire or injury |
|---|---|---|
| Air bags | 161 | 1 |
| Electrical system | 63 | 4 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 53 | 3 |
| Engine | 37 | 1 |
| Seats | 31 | 0 |
| Power train | 24 | 2 |
| Service brakes | 19 | 4 |
| Structure | 6 | 0 |
| Tires | 6 | 1 |
| 14 other systems | 32 | 6 |
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.
3 recalls
2013 Chevrolet Volt recalls and how many were fixed
Each ring shows the share of affected cars repaired, from the manufacturer’s latest quarterly report to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
repaired · 2020 Q1
Hybrid propulsion system
Risk. If the voltage drops, the vehicle may lose propulsion, increasing the risk of crash.
repaired · 2016 Q3
Electrical system: ignition
Risk. If the engine runs for an extended period of time in an enclosed space, there may be a build up of carbon monoxide, increasing the risk of personal injury.
Recalls apply to specific cars. To see whether a recall is still open on yours, enter the 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with Chevrolet.
Mileage at failure
When do air bags problems start?
76kmiles, median
Based on the odometer reading in 113 air bags complaints. 76% were reported before 100,000 miles.
4under 30k miles86under 100k miles27100k miles or more
Owner-reported costs
What owners say repairs cost
Dollar amounts owners wrote in their complaints when describing a repair or a quote. These are not price estimates; a system is shown only when at least 8 owners mentioned a cost.
Air bags
50 owners mentioned a cost$1,000median
Middle half: $800 – $1,097
If a problem is covered by a recall, the dealer fixes it for free. Some manufacturers also reimburse owners who paid for a repair before a recall was announced.
Best & worst years
2013 vs. every other Volt year
Bars show complaints per model year. Colors show the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the Volt median. How we score
'11'12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19
- Avoid
- Caution
- Solid
- Best
- Not rated
NHTSA crash tests
2013 Chevrolet Volt safety ratings
2013 Chevrolet Volt 4 DR FWD in NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program. Photos are from NHTSA's crash tests.
★★★★★
Frontal crash★★★★★
Side barrier★★★★★
Side pole★★★★★
- Rollover: 5 stars (9.3% risk)
- Stability control: Standard
- Forward collision warning: Optional
- Lane departure warning: Optional
2 investigations
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal investigations that included the 2013 Chevrolet Volt, and the recalls they led to.
- Pedestrian alert soundsLed to recall 22V-063
- Passenger Sensing SystemNo recall
In owners' words
What Volt owners report
Recent air bags complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.
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…
The passenger occupancy sensor gives a false positive. The only way I can get rid of the beeping is plug in the seatbelt. I have read on Reddit forums that this is a very common problem with 2013 volts, but for some reason there isn't a recall. This is a safety issue. Thank you!
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…
Own a 2013 Volt?
Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.