NHTSA Complaint #11280867 — 2013 CHEVROLET VOLT

MY 2013 CHEVY VOLT IS DISPLAYING A "SERVICE AIRBAG" WARNING MESSAGE. THE LOCAL CHEVY DEALER CONFIRMED THAT THE PASSENGER SEAT OCCUPANCY SENSOR, (SPECIFICALLY, THE "PASSENGER PRESENCE MODULE"), NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. DUE TO THE FAULTY PASSENGER OCCUPANCY SENSING, THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAGS ARE DEACTIVATED, EVEN WHEN A PASSENGER IS PRESENT. THE WARNING MESSAGE IS PRESENT (AND INTERMITTENTLY BEEPING) ALMOST CONTINUOUSLY WHEN DRIVING, AND OBSCURES INFORMATION ON THE SCREEN IN FRONT OF THE DRIVER. THE COST TO REPLACE THE PRESENCE MODULE WILL BE ABOUT $600, AND DUE TO THE NATURE OF THE DESIGN, THERE IS NO GUARANTEE THAT THE REPLACEMENT MODULE WILL NOT FAIL IN THE SAME WAY AGAIN SHORTLY. I HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO DETERMINE ANOTHER WAY TO ENSURE THAT THE PASSENGER AIRBAGS STAY ON.