B0013 on Chevrolet
Driver steering wheel air bag, stage 2 firing circuit fault
Severity: Inspect soon
The air bag computer checks each firing loop continuously, so a B0013 fault means it cannot confirm the driver air bag circuit. Chevrolet's own special-coverage bulletin for B0012 and B0013 on some models warns that a grounded chafed wire may stop the driver air bag deploying in a crash.
It gets more serious if:
- Stop: Stop if the air bag light is on after a collision, or if the air bag or a seat belt pretensioner may have fired. Nissan service material notes some air bag codes mean parts have deployed and must be replaced before the car is relied on for protection.
This page covers only what differs on Chevrolet. For what B0013 means, the ranked causes and the test order, see the B0013 guide.
What's different on Chevrolet
ChevroletYour car
2007–2009 · Cobalt
Supported by vehicle dataGM bulletins name the steering wheel coil wires chafing on the horn plate (2009) and a short to ground in the yellow harness (2007-2009). Whether either is still current is not verified.
2008–2009 · HHR
Supported by vehicle dataSame two GM bulletins as the Cobalt: horn plate chafing on 2008-2009 and a yellow harness short on 2008-2009. Whether either is still current is not verified.
2012 · Cruze
Supported by vehicle dataGM's summary names a damaged shorting bar in the steering wheel module when B0012 or B0013 sets with symptom byte 0E. Whether it is still current is not verified.
2010–2011 · Malibu
Supported by vehicle dataGM engineering was still collecting vehicles to find the root cause of B0012 or B0013 with the SIR light on. Whether that ever led to a repair is not verified.
2018 · Silverado 1500
Possible — needs testingOne 2018 owner reports a shop reading B0013 with a Safety Restraint System warning and a horn that stopped working, which would fit a steering wheel coil fault. A single report, not a confirmed pattern.
PIC5702 (chevrolet)Status unverified
Air bag light with B0012 or B0013 and symptom byte 0E
2012cruze · NHTSA 10045339
May be a damaged shorting bar in the steering wheel air bag module.
We couldn't confirm whether this bulletin is still current, so it doesn't count as confirmation.
14314 (chevrolet)Status unverified
Special coverage: steering wheel air bag coil wires chafing on the horn plate
2008–2009cobalt, hhr · NHTSA 10134766
Coil wires to the driver air bag may chafe on the horn plate and set B0012 or B0013; the dealer tapes the two yellow SIR wires and the plate and replaces the coil if the wires are damaged.
We couldn't confirm whether this bulletin is still current, so it doesn't count as confirmation.
SB-09-09-41-004 (chevrolet)Status unverified
Air bag indicator on with B0012 or B0013: install protective material
2007–2009cobalt, hhr · NHTSA 10032335
May be a short to ground in the yellow SIR wiring harness; the bulletin has protective material installed.
We couldn't confirm whether this bulletin is still current, so it doesn't count as confirmation.
PIE-0118Status unverified
Engineering information: SIR light on with B0012 or B0013
2010–2011malibu · NHTSA 10036264
Engineering was still looking for the root cause and asking to gather vehicles before repair.
We couldn't confirm whether this bulletin is still current, so it doesn't count as confirmation.
08-09-41-002HStatus unverified
Intermittent air bag light: inspect and replace connector position assurance retainer
2006–2014malibu, impala · NHTSA 10137623
Terminal replacement or connector reseating, plus inspecting or replacing the CPA retainer at the air bag for the set code.
We couldn't confirm whether this bulletin is still current, so it doesn't count as confirmation.
Sources and review
- GM bulletin 14314 (NHTSA 10134766)
- GM bulletin SB-09-09-41-004 (NHTSA 10032335)
- GM bulletin PIC5702 (NHTSA 10045339)
- GM bulletin PIE-0118 (NHTSA 10036264)
- NHTSA complaint 11474524 (2018 Chevrolet Silverado 1500)
- DTC B0012 or B0013, Saab 9-4x 2011 airbag (SRS) fault diagnosis
- Last reviewed
- Written by
- Saurabh K.
- Editorial review
- Pending
- Technician review
- Technician review pending
This page explains what a code usually means; it is not a substitute for a professional inspection. How we source and review · Report an error