2016 Chevrolet Malibu recalls (9)

Every 2016 Chevrolet Malibu recall

Each campaign as NHTSA published it: what is wrong, what can happen, and the fix. Newest first.

• Seat Belts · NHTSA 21V649000

  Aug 20, 2021Seat Belts:Critical Fasteners

  Problem

  General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2016-2021 Chevrolet Malibu and 2019-2021 Cadillac XT4 vehicles. The rear seat belt retractors may be improperly secured with loose or missing fasteners.

  Risk

  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.

  Full recall details for 21V649000 →

• Air Bags · NHTSA 18V400000

  Jun 14, 2018Air Bags:Sensor:Occupant Classification

  Problem

  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.

  Fix

  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.

  Full recall details for 18V400000 →

• Fuel System, Gasoline · NHTSA 18V358000

  May 31, 2018Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Fuel Pump

  Problem

  General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2015-2018 GMC Canyon, 2016-2017 Buick Envision, 2016-2018 Chevrolet Colorado and Malibu, 2017-2018 GMC Acadia, 2018 Buick LaCrosse, Cadillac ATS, Chevrolet Equinox, and GMC Terrain vehicles. The high pressure fuel pump may detach from its mounting flange, possibly resulting in the pump damaging the high pressure fuel line.

  Risk

  A damaged fuel line can create a fuel leak, increasing the risk of a fire.

  Fix

  GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the high pressure fuel pump, and high pressure fuel pipe, free of charge. The recall began July 2, 2018. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300, Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, or GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is 18188.

  Full recall details for 18V358000 →

• Air Bags · NHTSA 16V151000

  Nov 3, 2016Air Bags:Side/Window

  Problem

  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.

  Fix

  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.

  Full recall details for 16V151000 →

• Electrical System · NHTSA 16V084000

  Nov 2, 2016Electrical System:Software

  Problem

  Genera Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2016 Chevrolet Camaro, Malibu, Silverado and GMC Sierra vehicles. The radio may intermittently fail to provide an audio warning when the key has been left in the ignition and the door is opened or when the driver does not fasten their seat belt. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS) number 114, "Theft Protection", and/or 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."

  Risk

  An unbelted driver is at a greater risk of injury in a crash.

  Fix

  GM will notify owners, and dealers will update the radio software, free of charge. The recall began on March 14, 2016. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, or GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is 15808.

  Full recall details for 16V084000 →

• Air Bags · NHTSA 16V781000

  Oct 26, 2016Air Bags:Side/Window

  Problem

  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.

  Fix

  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.

  Full recall details for 16V781000 →

• Electrical System · NHTSA 16V502000

  May 7, 2016Electrical System:Ignition

  Problem

  General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2016-2017 Buick Verano and 2016 Chevrolet Malibu as the electronic park lock lever may allow the ignition key to be removed without the transmission being in PARK. Also, certain 2013 Buick Encore, 2011 Buick Regal, 2013-2014 Buick Verano, 2011-2016 Chevrolet Cruze, 2010-2013 Chevrolet Equinox 2013-2015 Chevrolet Malibu, and 2011-2013 GMC Terrain vehicles may have been serviced with similar defective replacement electronic park lock levers. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 114, "Theft Protection and Rollaway Prevention."

  Risk

  If the key is removed without the transmission in PARK, the vehicle may rollaway as occupants are exiting, increasing the risk of injury.

  Fix

  GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and if necessary replace the key cylinder lock housing, free of charge. The recall began on October 14, 2016. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, Buick 1-800-521-7300, and GMC 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is 50490 and 50491.

  Full recall details for 16V502000 →

• Electronic Stability Control (Esc) · NHTSA 16V272000

  May 5, 2016Electronic Stability Control (Esc)

  Problem

  General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2016 Chevrolet Malibu vehicles manufactured March 7, 2016, through March 12, 2016. The memory chip in the electronic brake control module (EBCM) may fail and cause the loss of electronically controlled brake systems including anti-lock brakes (ABS) and electronic stability control (ESC). As such, these vehicles fail to conform to Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 126, "Electronic Stability Control Systems."

  Risk

  If the EBCM fails the primary braking system will still function, however, the loss of ABS and ESC increase the risk of a crash.

  Fix

  GM will notify owners, and dealers will install a replacement EBCM, free of charge. The recall began on June 17, 2016. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020). GM's number for this recall is 39440.

  Full recall details for 16V272000 →

• Air Bags · NHTSA 16V125000

  Feb 3, 2016Air Bags:Frontal

  Problem

  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.

  Fix

  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.

  Full recall details for 16V125000 →

2016 Chevrolet Malibu complaints and service bulletins

Owners filed 861 complaints with NHTSA about the 2016 Chevrolet Malibu, reporting 24 crashes, 2 fires, 17 injuries, 1 deaths. Chevrolet has issued at least 1,549 technical service bulletins (repair instructions to dealers) for this model year. Complaints are unverified owner reports; a recall is the manufacturer’s admission of a safety defect.

Most-reported components

• Engine310
• Electrical System234
• Unknown Or Other180
• Power Train174
• Vehicle Speed Control158
• Service Brakes97

Service bulletins by component

• Equipment (686)
• Electrical System (455)
• Engine and Engine Cooling (240)
• Engine (194)
• Power Train (168)
• Unknown Or Other (126)

Read Chevrolet Malibu owner complaints and bulletins, every year

NHTSA defect investigations covering the 2016 Chevrolet Malibu

NHTSA’s Office of Defects Investigation lists this model year in one investigation. An investigation is not a recall; it is how NHTSA decides whether one is needed.

• Pedestrian alert sounds
  DP22005Opened Jan 27, 2023Closed Aug 7, 2023

Other Chevrolet Malibu model years

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All Chevrolet Malibu recalls, every model year