Tl* the contact owns a 2015 Chevrolet malibu. The contact stated that the service air bag warning indicator illuminated. The contact took the vehicle to several unknown Chevrolet dealers in the texas and new mexico areas, but they were unable to officially diagnose the vehicle. The contact used a code reader and determined that the air bag control module was defective. The contact spoke with the…
2015 Chevrolet Malibu airbags problems
critical 44 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $1,100 · see airbags across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
44
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$1,100
6crashes
5injuries
1fatality
When does it fail?
Of the 44 airbags complaints filed for the 2015 Chevrolet Malibu, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 75,000-100,000 mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
What stands out
Owners have filed 44 airbags complaints with NHTSA against this vehicle, but no formal recall covers the issue — the federal record reflects what manufacturers have admitted, not everything owners are reporting.
No new NHTSA airbags complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 6 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
What owners are reporting 4 most recent
Service airbag light came on with no warning. I just started my car and the display said to service airbag. Car has never been in a wreck. After some research, I found multiple people having this issue. They all turned their vehicles in to a gm dealership and almost all had a faulty air bag control module. I hope that safety investigates deeply on this so no one will have a deadly wreck. The…
Tl* the contact owns a 2015 Chevrolet malibu. While driving 40 MPH making a right turn, the contact struck another vehicle. The driver and passenger side air bags deployed, but failed to fill up. The dealer was unable to determine the cause of the failure. A police report was filed. There were no injuries. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 17,440
Air bag came on all at once about a mounth ago I put in shop to fix . Shop said it was fix they reprogramed the air bag they say. One week later was back on . Took back to shop shop say need a new computer. Was" 700.00 to fix it.
Had airbags trouble with your 2015 Chevrolet Malibu?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the airbags problem on the 2015 Chevrolet Malibu?
It's a serious issue. 44 complaints have been filed, including 6 reports involving a crash and 1 fatality(ies). We've classified it as critical based on NHTSA's reported outcomes.
At what mileage does the airbags typically fail?
Across the 24 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most airbags failures cluster between 36,800 and 85,000 miles, with the median around 48,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 36,800; a quarter make it past 85,000. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $1,100 for airbags repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to airbags?
No active recalls currently cover airbags issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2015/Chevrolet/Malibu.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.