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severe Owners of the 2018 Chevrolet Malibu have filed 11 NHTSA complaints about the airbags at roughly $1,100 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See airbags across all vehicles →
| Model year | airbags complaints |
|---|---|
| 2014 Malibu | 8 |
| 2015 Malibu | 45 |
| 2016 Malibu | 10 |
| 2017 Malibu | 8 |
| 2018 Malibu (this page) | 11 |
| 2019 Malibu | 3 |
| 2020 Malibu | 4 |
| 2021 Malibu | 5 |
In the event of a crash, improper air bag deployment can increase 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 Preliminary information communicates a condition where there is only newer hardware available when replacing the Active Safety Control Module. The newer hardware is not compatible with whatis currently loaded into the SPS programming system. Engineering is working on a new software set to address the concern.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This Preliminary information communicates a condition where there is only newer hardware available when replacing the Active Safety Control Module. The newer hardware is not compatible with whatis currently loaded into the SPS programming system. Engineering is working on a new software set to address the concern.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Emissions Recall. General Motors has decided to conduct a Voluntary Emission Recall involving certain vehicles, equipped with 4-cylinder engines (RPO LHN, LEX, L3A, LYX, LKN, LE2, LCV or LTG). On some vehicles, an electrical connection in the circuit board may fail in the engine control module. If this occurs, a malfunction indicator lamp (MIL), such as the Check Engine Light may illuminate. Replace the Engine Control Module (ECM).
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
Owners describe two distinct categories of airbag failure: non-deployment during impact and unintended deployment at rest.
Non-deployment is the dominant complaint. Five narratives document crashes with no airbag activation—a t-bone at 35 mph, a front-end hit at 25 mph (with warning light pre-lit), a low-speed side strike at 4 mph, a 45 mph frontal collision, and a ditch impact. One narrative mentions OnStar called about airbag deployment after a deer strike, but the airbag never actually deployed despite the company's notification. Speeds and impact angles varied; two owners report no pre-crash warning lights, suggesting the sensing circuit may not have armed, or the squib failed to fire. One vehicle came with a salvage title the buyer didn't know about, and the airbag remained unrepaired.
On the opposite end, one owner experienced spontaneous driver-side airbag deployment while stationary at a red light. Another reported a cracked airbag housing in the steering wheel at 63k miles that the manufacturer refused to cover under warranty.
A post-crash complaint mentions airbag malfunction along with HVAC failure; detail is sparse. Injuries sustained in the non-deployment crashes include broken bones, head trauma, and bruising. Only two owners stated the manufacturer was notified; no recall notices were mentioned by any complainant.
Same Chevrolet Malibu airbags reports on nearby years: 2015 · 2016
Airbags failed to deploy during multiple collision events despite sufficient impact severity. Owners report no warning lights prior to crashes in some cases, suggesting the system was not detecting the need to deploy, or the deployment mechanism itself was inert.
When: At crash impact; mileage ranged from ~1,000 to 168,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: No airbag deployment during side-impact collisions; No airbag deployment during front-impact collisions; No side curtain airbag deployment; No warning lights on dashboard before or during crash
Repairs/costs cited: One vehicle declared totaled without repair; one had salvage title so airbag not repaired; others towed but not taken to dealer for diagnosis
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer was notified in two cases; no recalls or TSBs mentioned by owners
Owner reported airbag warning indicator lit on dashboard before a crash in which the airbag then failed to deploy. This indicates the system was flagging a fault, but the owner was unaware of the salvage title and purchased the vehicle used from a dealer.
When: At 24,988 miles; crash occurred at 25 MPH
Symptoms owners cite: Airbag warning indicator illuminated on dashboard; Airbag did not deploy during front-side crash
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicle purchased used from dealer with unknown salvage title; airbag not repaired
Driver-side steering wheel airbag showed cracking in the lower portion of the steering wheel housing. Owner contacted dealer and manufacturer; repair was not covered under warranty or recall.
When: At approximately 63,250 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Visible fracture on lower part of driver's side steering wheel airbag
Repairs/costs cited: Repair not covered under warranty or recall; owner contacted manufacturer with dealer assistance
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer informed owner repair not covered under warranty or recall
Driver-side airbag deployed spontaneously while vehicle was parked at a red light with no collision. A passenger was present and the airbag came close to deploying on the passenger side as well.
When: While stationary at red light
Symptoms owners cite: Airbag deployed unexpectedly with no impact; Deployment occurred on driver side only
Following a driver-side door crash, owner reported airbag issue (narrative states 'pop up' problem) and concurrent HVAC system failure.
When: After driver-side door crash
Symptoms owners cite: Airbag 'pop up' problem reported after crash; HVAC inoperative after crash
Synthesized from 11 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
It's a meaningful issue. 11 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $1,100.
Based on the 11 complaints filed, airbags issues most often appear around 61,868 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 — 1 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.