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severe Owners of the 2016 Chevrolet Malibu have filed 10 NHTSA complaints about the airbags at roughly $1,100 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of August 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See airbags across all vehicles →
| Model year | airbags complaints |
|---|---|
| 2012 Malibu | 73 |
| 2013 Malibu | 52 |
| 2014 Malibu | 8 |
| 2015 Malibu | 45 |
| 2016 Malibu (this page) | 10 |
| 2017 Malibu | 8 |
| 2018 Malibu | 11 |
| 2019 Malibu | 3 |
| 2020 Malibu | 4 |
All 4 active airbags recalls on this vehicle land at critical or severe — none classified moderate.
In the event of a crash, improper air bag deployment can increase the risk of injury.
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.
Fractured weld studs may allow the side air bag to move out of position during deployment, increasing the risk of injury.
An improperly inflated air bag increases the risk of injury.
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering airbags on this vehicle — documented repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall (it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.
This Preliminary information communication provides information to the technician with diagnostic tips for diagnosing reduced or low engine power with no Driver Information Center messages, that may be caused by an inaccurate brake pedal position sensor.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that have an intermittent no crank, no start, or start stall concern with the security light coming on. Technician may find Diagnostic Trouble Codes B3055, B3060, and/or B3935. Technician should not replace any parts for this concern. If unable to duplicate the concern ask if the customer uses any Radio Frequency Identification Devices when the concern is present. Dealer should also direct their customers to the appropriate section in the Owner manuals that references that the device complies.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This Technical bulletin explains how the airbag electrical connector may not be installed completely and may need to be re connected to correct the codes that were set.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This informational bulletin explains how the airbag electrical connector may not be installed completely and may need to be re connected to correct the codes the were set.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This informational bulletin provides an upate for Cause information on Airbag Warning Lamp Illumination Condition.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
Owners report recurring passenger airbag indicator malfunctions—the warning light cycles on and off unpredictably, sometimes illuminates when no passenger is present, and occasionally displays "ON 2" status before reverting to off mode. Multiple warning chimes often accompany these events. One owner with code B0074 (passenger presence module) found that recall 18208 addressed the issue for some VINs but not theirs.
The service airbag light also appears frequently without obvious cause. One dealer quoted $481 for steering airbag replacement on a vehicle with no driver-inflicted damage.
More concerning are collision-related failures. One owner reports airbags did not deploy during a rear-end collision, resulting in passenger injuries. Another describes both driver-side airbags deploying at bumper-tap speeds (under 5 mph). A third discovered that prior third-party repairs masked serious SRS problems—wrong seat belts, loose bolts, spliced wiring, and improper module installation that cost $4,050 to correct at a dealership.
One complaint references an engine speed reduction issue and dashboard warning lights that created highway safety risks, though the core failure remains the airbag system inconsistency.
Same Chevrolet Malibu airbags reports on nearby years: 2013 · 2015 · 2018
Passenger airbag warning light illuminates and extinguishes intermittently or remains on when no one is seated in the passenger seat. In some cases, the indicator shows 'ON 2' status and may revert to off mode unexpectedly. Owners report warning bells accompanying the display. Associated with failures in the passenger presence detection system.
When: Intermittent; reported at various mileages including 174,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Passenger airbag light coming on and off repeatedly; Warning indicator showing 'ON 2' when seat is empty; Multiple warning bells/chimes sounding; System toggling between on and off modes without driver input
Codes mentioned: B0074 (passenger presence module fault)
Repairs/costs cited: One owner reported recall 18208 exists for certain 2016 Malibus but their VIN was not included
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Recall 18208 issued for certain 2016 Malibu models (not universal across all VINs)
Service airbag message displayed on dashboard with no immediate apparent cause. Occurs in vehicles with no driver-inflicted damage. One case specifically cited steering airbag as the fault component with dealer repair estimate of $481.
When: Unknown exact mileage for most reports; one case at approximately 174,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: 'Service Air Bag' message on dashboard; Airbag warning light illuminated
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer quoted $481 for steering airbag replacement; owner states no prior damage to vehicle
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer referred one complainant to NHTSA Hotline; one owner received an unspecified recall letter
During a rear-end collision at unknown speed, the airbags failed to deploy. Passenger sustained rib, back, and neck injuries. This is an unverified consumer allegation of failure to function as designed during an actual impact event.
When: Failure mileage 113,537 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Airbags did not deploy despite rear collision impact; Passenger injuries (rib, back, neck) resulting from crash
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicle towed to salvage lot; no repair attempted
Both driver-side airbags deployed during a very low-speed rear bumper contact (under 5 mph) with another vehicle. This represents an allegation of overly sensitive deployment threshold.
When: Unknown mileage
Symptoms owners cite: Both driver-side airbags deployed during minor rear bumper contact; Collision speed minimal (under 5 mph)
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Recall designated as 'TAMARA' (designation unclear from narrative)
Vehicle purchased post-collision with improper repairs made by third-party dealer, including incorrectly installed bolts on SRS, wrong seat belt replacements, missing pigtails spliced together, and faulty airbag control module installation. Repairs masked problems until subsequent collision revealed the unsafe work.
When: Prior wreck, then subsequent wreck in December 2021
Symptoms owners cite: Airbag light stopping after repairs masked underlying issues; Seat belt deployment failures in subsequent collision
Repairs/costs cited: Corrective repairs cost $4,050 total: $2,250 for seat belt replacement, pretensioners, and airbag control module; $1,800 for dealership splicing correction and module programming
Synthesized from 10 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
It's a meaningful issue. 10 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $1,100.
Based on the 10 complaints filed, airbags issues most often appear around 82,979 miles. Some report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 with no symptoms. Maintenance habits matter — vehicles that received timely fluid services and were not regularly overworked tend to last longer.
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.
Yes — 4 active recall(s) cover airbags issues on this vehicle. Recall fixes are always free regardless of mileage or warranty status. Use the VIN decoder at the top of the page to check if your specific vehicle is affected.