2016 Chevrolet Malibu Airbags Problems
NHTSA lists 18 airbag complaints for the 2016 Chevrolet Malibu, 2% of its 837 total complaints for the year, with median failure mileage of 45,000. Four recalls cover airbag defects, including side airbag fabric tearing and weld stud fracture issues.
- Airbags complaints
- 18
- 2% of 837
- Crashes reported
- 4
- Fires reported
- 1
- Injuries reported
- 2
- Median mileage
- 45,000 mi
- Related recalls
- 4
Typical airbag symptoms owners report
- Owners report airbags failing to deploy during rear-end and other collisions despite significant impact force.
- Some describe airbags deploying unexpectedly at very low speeds or without any collision, including one case where deployment knocked the driver unconscious.
- Several report a passenger-side airbag sensor or 'service airbag' warning light activating intermittently with no one seated in the passenger seat.
- Owners note dashboard airbag warning lights and audible chimes appearing repeatedly, sometimes tied to the passenger presence system referenced in the recalls.
- One owner linked smoke in the cabin and a small fire to a broader vehicle failure while the airbag warning system was also implicated.
When 2016 Chevrolet Malibu airbag complaints were filed
First complaint Jul 31, 2016, latest Sep 4, 2026.
Airbags recalls for the 2016 Chevrolet Malibu
- NHTSA 18V400000Jun 14, 2018Airbags66 vehicles
Air bags:sensor:occupant classification
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2016-2018 Chevrolet Malibu vehicles. During servicing, a Passenger Presence System (PPS) may have been installed that was not correctly calibrated to the vehicle's seat type. As a result, the PPS may not properly identify an adult passenger from a child passenger in the front passenger seat, potentially causing the air bag to not deploy when it should, or causing the air bag to deploy when it shouldn't.
Risk: In the event of a crash, improper air bag deployment can increase the risk of injury.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger PPS seat service kit, free of charge. The recall began August 7, 2018. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is 18208.
- NHTSA 16V781000Oct 26, 2016Airbags18 vehicles
Air bags:side/window
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2016 Chevrolet Malibu vehicles manufactured November 18, 2015, to June 7, 2016. The fabric of the side-impact air bag cushion may tear during deployment.
Risk: If the air bag tears during deployment, the air bag may not perform as designed, increasing the risk of injury in the event of a crash.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and, as necessary, replace the air bag module, free of charge. The recall began October 27, 2016. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is 16079.
- NHTSA 16V151000Mar 11, 2016Airbags3,137 vehicles
Air bags:side/window
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2016 Malibu vehicles manufactured February 16, 2016, to March 5, 2016. The two weld studs that mount the front and rear side impact air bags may fracture and separate from the air bag during deployment. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 214, "Side Impact Protection."
Risk: Fractured weld studs may allow the side air bag to move out of position during deployment, increasing the risk of injury.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the side air bag modules, free of charge. The recall began on April 14, 2016. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is 31820.
- NHTSA 16V125000Mar 2, 2016Airbags1,579 vehicles
Air bags:frontal
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2016 Chevrolet Colorado vehicles manufactured January 19, 2016, to February 2, 2016, Chevrolet Malibu vehicles manufactured January 9, 2016, to January 26, 2016, and 2016 GMC Canyon vehicles manufactured January 21, 2016, to February 4, 2016. The driver frontal air bag may improperly inflate during second-stage deployment in the event of a high speed crash.
Risk: An improperly inflated air bag increases the risk of injury.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver side frontal air bag module, free of charge. The recall began on April 14, 2016. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, and GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is 28030.
Airbags complaints by Malibu model year
Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.
Frequently asked questions
- How many airbag complaints does the 2016 Chevrolet Malibu have?
- NHTSA lists 18 airbag complaints for the 2016 Malibu, which is 2% of the 837 total complaints filed for that model year.
- Is there an airbag recall for the 2016 Chevrolet Malibu?
- Yes. NHTSA lists four airbag-related recalls covering the 2016 Malibu: a passenger presence system calibration issue, side-impact airbag fabric tearing, weld stud fracture on side airbag mounts, and a driver frontal airbag module issue.
- At what mileage do 2016 Malibu airbag problems usually occur?
- The median mileage at failure for airbag-related complaints on the 2016 Malibu is 45,000 miles.
- Did the 2016 Malibu airbag problems cause any crashes or injuries?
- NHTSA data tied to airbag complaints for the 2016 Malibu includes 4 crashes, 1 fire, and 2 injuries.
- How does the 2016 Malibu compare to other years for airbag complaints?
- The 2016 Malibu's airbag complaint share is 2%, lower than earlier years like 2015 (18%) and 2010 (11%), based on NHTSA data across model years.