Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (front, side and curtain air bags, sensors and inflators).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2015 Chevrolet Malibu owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
I was t-boned on the front side panel near the door at a high rate of speed. I would estimate well above the posted limit of 35 mph and my front and side airbags failed to deploy. I have video from the intersection and dash cam demonstrating the impact. My head hit off the steering wheel causing a concussion, neck and spine dislocations, bruising, and cracked xiphoid, dislocation on the left side of my chest, and cut on my ear. I went to the hospital, have the police report, and the two videos are also available. My car was totaled and towed to the lot off of Lamb, north of Craig Road.
I own a 2015 Chevrolet Malibu LS. August 19, 2022 when I cranked the car a message popped up on the screen saying service airbag. Looked up recalls but my specific car doesn't have any thus far. Called the dealership for them to look at it and they said the same thing. The recall for the airbag was October 2015. This is the first time I'm dealing with an airbag issue and I'm not fully secure or feel safe knowing it could possibly pop out or not work at all and I have two sons that ride in the back seat. If you need pictures I can send at request. Thank you and have a good day.
Took my 2015 Chevy Malibu LS to a Hendrick dealership to be checked. It came back body elect concern and that the module needed to be replaced. I sent a email some months back and never got a response. I have two boys that ride in this car with me and since this air bag light has come on I don't drive my car as much. Attached is the estimate given to fix that specific problem. My name is [redacted] and I can be reached at [redacted] Thank You.
Air bag sensor has been malfunctioning, misreading that there is a passenger in my car when there is not anybody present and the seat is clear. Check airbag light on dash is lit. The the screen display shows a blank green screen when put in reverse and has to be put in park to correct green screen. The auto shut off for the engine when the brake pedal is engaged turns the car completely off; including head lights, interior lights, and all capacities of the vehicle.
Air bag light is on dashboard and my driver seat won't recline back up to a normal driving position. Brought it to the mechanic to have it checked and was told I am in need of a new driver seat do to a faulty airbag. The car is not even 10 years old yet and I can't use the seat properly to drive safely.
Tl* the contact owns a 2015 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that while driving approximately 45 MPH the vehicle started to drive to the right and the wheels began to lose traction before the steering wheel became difficult to turn causing the driver to lose control of the steering. The vehicle then spun out and crashed into a ditch. The contact stated that all air bags deployed except for the driver's frontal air bag. The driver sustained lower back and left shoulder injuries however had not sought medical attention due to covid-19. The contact stated that a police officer was driving behind her and stopped to assist. Police report was filed. The vehicle was not towed. The cause of the failure was not determined. The local dealer and manufacturer were not notified of the failure. …
On September 21, 2015 I was driving was driving north (23 MPH) and was t-boned by another vehicle who took a 2 way stop sign. I did not have a stop sign. I was pushed across two lanes and into a grassy field. I was slammed into in between the passenger drivers seat and the back passenger seat. I was wearing my seat belt as was my daughter whom was sitting my airbags did not deploy. The car that that hit me all their airbags deployed. I was the driver and my daughter was a passenger in the back . I broke my neck and had displaced fluid in my knee. She had minor bruising in her car seat. I tried filing against GM and nothing was done. They came back claiming that the system had not failed. I had no further way of proving other wise. I feel that my car falls into a recall but that it has not yet been discovered or established. How is it possible that not one airbag deployed? …
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
"Takata recall" during a side impact collison at 45mph , the side air bag did not deploy (no air bags deployed) and the stabilitrak was disabled . An error message of service stabilitrak appeared during the accident
I went to work Friday September 27, 2019. Where my car sat for two hours. When I came back out I had a service air bag light on. My car is a 2105, I'm the second owner. It's never been in an accident. I took it to the dealer I had bought it from a year ago. They told me it was a faulty air bag module that needed to be replaced. Luckily it didn't take an accident for faulting in severe injury, before I had known what was going on. I called GM hoping to get some answers. Only to be told there was nothing they could do to help me. From reading online I've seen a lot of people have this issue. I just pray something can be fixed before someone gets seriously injured. This is a serious safety issue. We don't pay thousands of dollars for a car, to have things go seriously wrong with them. …
Related recalls
Air bags › Side/window
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2015 Buick LaCrosse, Cadillac XTS, Chevrolet Camaro, Equinox, Malibu, and GMC Terrain vehicles. The affected vehicles have front seat-mounted side impact air bags whose inflator may rupture upon its deployment.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the side impact air bag modules, free of charge. The recall began on October 19, 2015.
Airbag complaints in other Malibu years
Frequently asked questions
How common are airbag problems on the 2015 Chevrolet Malibu?
NHTSA has 49 complaints about the air bags of the 2015 Chevrolet Malibu, 18% of the model year's 270 complaints. The component named most often is air bag/restraint control module (1 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2015 Chevrolet Malibu airbag problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 15V-666 (side/window, Oct 16, 2015). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 2015 Chevrolet Malibu airbag problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 48,000 miles, and 22% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 8 crashes, 1 fire and 7 injuries and 1 death to air bags problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.