2013 Chevrolet Malibu air bags problems

“The contact owns a 2013 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated while starting the vehicle, the air bag warning illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic to be diagnosed and DTC: B101D – (Air bag module failure) was retrieved. The dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 142,000.”

“The contact owns a 2013 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked in the garage after two weeks, he started the vehicle and reversed onto the driveway. The driver's side and passenger's side air bags deployed without impact or warning. There were no reported injuries. The contact called the local dealer, but the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 111,000.”

“Air bag warning light stays on and will not reset. Driver power seat controls buttons out of plastic control cover and jammed in metal part of seat. Can not get seat control unjammed and no way to adjust driver seat.”

“The airbag maintenace light comes on every time I start it. Alot of my friends who own GMC say that it is a normal problem with a GMC vehicle and there should be a recall on it. But there is none.”

“After my car battery was professionally replaced my airbag light came on. GM dealer service got a code of B101D requiring the airbag control module to be replaced. There are no new compatible modules available in the US. Two GM dealers advised getting a used module that had not been in an airbag deployment. Upon obtaining a compatible module the dealer is now getting a code of B3902, this code indicates that the environment identifier of the module does not match the vehicle and prohibits further programming permitting the airbags to function properly. So GM has intentionally prohibited compatible modules from salvage cars and they are no longer making new modules for my car. How is this ethical, legal, safe or environmentally sound? Are consumers expected to junk a perfectly good automobile absent a $100 part? Is this practice required by some regulation prohibiting airbag modules from being salvaged and reprogrammed?”

“MY CAR WAS RUNNING IN THE DRIVE WHEN IT DIED AND WOULD NOT RESTART. EVERYTHING WENT DEAD. I HAD TO JUMP START IT AND AFTER THAT THE AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON. THE AIRBAGS WILL NOT DEPLOY IN THE EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT WITH THIS LIGHT ON. I TOOK MY CAR TO A CHEVY DEALER WHERE I WAS CHARGED $80.00 TO BE TOLD THAT THE SDM AIRBAG MODULE NEEDS REPLACED AND ESTIMATED COST FOR THIS IS $1100.00. MY CAR ONLY HAS 108232 MILES ON IT AND TO KNOW THAT IT COULD COST ME EITHER MY FAMILIES LIFE OR $1100.00 EVERYTIME THE BATTERY DIES IS NOT A CHOICE ANYONE SHOULD HAVE TO MAKE. AIRBAGS ARE SUPPOSED TO BE THE MOST DEPENDABLE PART OF A VEHICLE AS IT SAVES SO MANY LIVES. HOW DO I KNOW IF THEY ARE EVEN WORKING WITH THE LIGHT OFF IF IT IS THIS SENSITIVE? I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE EVEN IF I GET IT FIXED AND SINCE I JUST PURCHASED THE CAR RECENTLY I OWE TO MUCH TO TRY TO BUY ANYTHING ELSE. HOW CAN PART OF THE SAFETY EQUIPMENT FAIL SO EASILY AND NOT BE ON RECALL? WHAT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED IF IT HAD DIED WHILE I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD INSTEAD OF IN THE DRIVEWAY PUTTING THE CAR INTO GEAR? AFTER LEAVING THE DEALERSHIP IT NOW HAS A NEW CODE BUT I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE IT TO FIND OUT WHAT ELSE IS WRONG.”