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2016 Chevrolet Malibu seatbelts problems
severe
Owners of the 2016 Chevrolet Malibu have filed 4 NHTSA complaints about the seatbelts at roughly $500 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of August 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.See seatbelts across all vehicles →
Complaints
4
Recalls
1
Avg fix
$500
seatbelts complaints on the Chevrolet Malibu, by model year
General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2016-2021 Chevrolet Malibu and 2019-2021 Cadillac XT4 vehicles
An improperly secured seat belt retractor may not function properly in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
Fix: Dealers will inspect and tighten the rear seat belt retractors, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on September 17, 2021. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020 and Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006. GM's number for this recall is N212333380.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering seatbelts 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.
Service Bulletin24-NA-147Aug 2024
This service bulletin provides information on regular inspection of the Seat Belt Lap Anchor.
This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that may have the door locks will unlock immediately after auto locking usually at startup or while driving. Technician will need to remove power from the Sensing and Diagnostic Module. If doors no longer unlock unwanted the Sensing and Diagnostic Module should be replaced.
THIS PRELIMINARY INFORMATIONAL BULLETIN PROVIDES A PROCEDURE TO REPOSITION THE FRONT SEAT BELT LATCH PLATE FOR CONCERNS REGARDING THE SEAT BELT WEBBING OR LATCH PLATE COMING TWISTED.
This informational bulletin provides information to advise dealers about seat belt buckles not operating and/or seat belt warning light illumination, as well as difficulty latching and unlatching the buckle or the buckle release button sticking.
Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
What owners are reporting
0 most recent
Had seatbelts trouble with your 2016 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 seatbelts problem on the 2016 Chevrolet Malibu?
It's a meaningful issue. 4 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $500.
At what mileage does the seatbelts typically fail?
Based on the 4 complaints filed, seatbelts issues most often appear around 37,183 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.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $500 for seatbelts 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 seatbelts?
Yes — 1 active recall(s) cover seatbelts 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.
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/2016/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.