Airbag complaints by model year
| Year | Complaints | Share of year's complaints | Typical mileage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 7 | 10% | 29,000 miles |
| 2022 | 4 | 4% | 90,000 miles |
| 2021 | 6 | 7% | — |
| 2020 | 4 | 2% | 94,000 miles |
| 2019 | 6 | 3% | 22,000 miles |
| 2018 | 14 | 2% | 25,000 miles |
| 2017 | 14 | 2% | 55,000 miles |
| 2016 | 18 | 2% | 45,000 miles |
| 2015 | 49 | 18% | 48,000 miles |
| 2014 | 16 | 5% | 74,000 miles |
| 2013 | 59 | 7% | 75,000 miles |
| 2012 | 101 | 11% | 67,000 miles |
| 2011 | 93 | 10% | 62,000 miles |
| 2010 | 144 | 11% | 55,000 miles |
| 2009 | 62 | 4% | 75,000 miles |
| 2008 | 64 | 6% | 85,000 miles |
| 2007 | 75 | 8% | 97,000 miles |
| 2006 | 34 | 3% | 115,000 miles |
| 2005 | 25 | 3% | 130,000 miles |
| 2004 | 26 | 2% | 100,000 miles |
| 2003 | 27 | 5% | 93,000 miles |
| 2002 | 18 | 3% | 109,000 miles |
| 2001 | 21 | 3% | 130,000 miles |
| 2000 | 31 | 3% | 110,000 miles |
| 1999 | 40 | 5% | 145,000 miles |
| 1998 | 40 | 4% | 90,000 miles |
| 1997 | 25 | 6% | 100,000 miles |
Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (front, side and curtain air bags, sensors and inflators).
Mileage when the problem started
What owners report
The contact owns a 2023 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that while driving 30-35 MPH, another vehicle collided with her vehicle on the rear end of the vehicle as well as the rear passenger side. The contact mentioned that the seat belt did retract during the impact. The air bags on the front driver and passenger sides deployed partially. The vehicle was still drivable. The insurance company informed the contact that they are waiting for a response from the auto body shop. The vehicle was not deemed a total loss. The contact stated she did not sustain any injuries. No Medical Attention. A police report was filed, however the police report was unknown. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 29,000.
I own a 2023 Chevrolet Malibu with an open safety recall. General Motors/dealership has refused to repair the recall. The vehicle has also had multiple safety-related problems, including Service ESC warnings, jerking/poor acceleration, Service Safety Restraint System and airbag warnings, and a "Steering Assist is Reduced, Drive with Care" warning. On or about [redacted], while driving, I experienced what felt like the brakes, wheel, and steering system locking up. I was unable to safely control the vehicle, resulting in a crash. During the incident, my head struck the steering wheel and I injured my hand, which has visible scars. No police were involved. I have a [redacted] daughter. She was NOT in the vehicle during the crash, but I do not feel safe transporting her in this vehicle because of the serious safety issues and what happened. …
The contact owns a 2022 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that while her son was driving on an off-ramp at 20 MPH, he rear-ended the vehicle in front where it was brought to a stop. No air bags were deployed. No warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was towed to a local collision repair center and informed that the air bags should have deployed due to the frame being braced however, an unknown component was not welded. The vehicle was repaired. No police report was filed. The contact stated that her son was the only individual in the vehicle during the crash and was not injured. The driver of the other vehicle was injured. However, the contact was unaware of the injury sustained and required medical attention. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and transferred the caller to the NHTSA Hotline to be added to a recall. The approximate failure mileage was 90,000.
I was driving my car my electrical system is throwing all kinds of code.my sftey restrain is coming on to check my seat belt .the car goes blank .it stop in the middle of the road.this car has a lot of issues.can some one help me with this I work at the cardiologist office .
This vin is most likely affected by the aftermarket DTN inflator wheel airbag. Please let the final owner know of this. This vehicle was sold to Rightway Automotive credit from Tallmadge Ohio on October 19, 2022 who then sold it to the current owner.
Officer [redacted] filed on behalf of the deceased. The deceased owned a 2020 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that the deceased had a rear end crash with another vehicle which was stopped at a traffic signal. The contact stated the estimated speed of the crash was 30 MPH. The air bag deployed and had shredded, the contact stated that a steering wheel support had been sheared from the steering wheel. The contact stated that most of the damage to vehicle of the deceased was on the left front end and the leading edge of the hood was slightly buckled. The vehicle was towed to an impound lot. The deceased was alive at the time of the accident and transported to a shock trauma unit. The contact stated that the driver was pronounced dead at the hospital. The contact stated that she had suffered neck trauma to her jugular vein and blunt force trauma to her chest. …
The contact owns a 2020 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated while her daughter was driving at 65 MPH, the contact's daughter was run off the road by another vehicle. The contact stated that the air bags did not deploy. The contact stated that the vehicle was forced to crash into the guard rail. The contact's daughter was knocked unconscious and sustained a concussion due to hitting her head on the driver's door glass. The contact's daughter was transported to the local medical center. The contact stated that a police report was not filed because it was a single-vehicle crash. The vehicle was towed to a local tow yard. The vehicle was deemed a total loss. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure but provided no assistance. The contact was advised to contact the NHTSA Hotline and report the failure. The failure mileage was 94,073.
I am reporting a safety concern involving a 2019 Chevrolet Malibu. The vehicle was previously involved in accidents prior to my purchase and had known mechanical issues, including a gear shifting problem that was not properly repaired. In February 2024, while the vehicle was insured under Ocean Harbor Casualty Insurance Company, it sustained a significant front-end collision impacting the driver side. The impact was severe enough to cause structural damage, including a dent to the vehicle frame. Despite the severity of the collision, the airbags did not deploy at all. Based on the extent of the damage, airbag deployment would reasonably be expected. Prior to this incident, the vehicle had ongoing issues following repairs, including system errors and concerns that repairs may not have been properly completed by a certified facility. …
Related recalls (9)
Air bags › Frontal › Driver side › Inflator module
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2010-2011 Chevrolet Malibu vehicles. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver frontal air bag, the air bag inflator may explode due to being overpressurized.
Remedy: GM has notified owners, and dealers will replace the front driver air bag module, free of charge. The recall began February 25, 2019. Owners may contact GM customer service at 1-800-522-9559.
Air bags › Sensor › Occupant classification
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.
Remedy: 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.
Air bags › Side/window
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2017 Malibu vehicles manufactured on November 10, 2016. The right-hand rear side air bag inflator manifold may have insufficient welds.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the rear side air bag modules, free of charge. The recall began on January 25, 2017. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020.
Air bags › Side/window
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.
Remedy: 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.
Air bags › Side/window
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.
Remedy: 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.
Show 4 more recalls
Air bags › Frontal
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.
Remedy: 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.
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.
Air bags › Frontal
Certain vehicles originally built with cloth seats that were equipped with an automatic air bag passenger sensing system and later reupholstered with aftermarket leather seat cover kits are involved. Testing has indicated that the aftermarket leather seat covers can cause the passenger sensing system to malfunction.
Remedy: Because a replacement leather seat cover that is compatible with the passenger sensing system is not available, general motors (GM) will repurchase these vehicles in accordance with the terms stated in GM's letter to…
Air bags › Frontal
Vehicle description: passenger vehicles. The fasteners that secure the passenger air bag module to the instrument panel tie bar were omitted.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the air bag module for the presence of the fasteners and, if necessary, install any fasteners that May have been omitted.
NHTSA investigations
DTN Air Bag Inflator Rupture
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) has become aware of eight vehicle crashes in which a rupture of a Jilin Province Detiannuo Automobile Safety System Co., Ltd. (DTN) air bag inflator occurred during the deployment of the driver side air bag. All eight drivers in these crashes sustained serious or fatal injuries that appear linked to the ruptures.
Frequently asked questions
Which Chevrolet Malibu years have airbag problems?
By NHTSA complaints, the 2010 (144), 2012 (101), 2011 (93), 2007 (75) and 2008 (64) model years. Airbag complaints make up 11% of all complaints for the 2010.
Is there a recall for Chevrolet Malibu airbag problems?
Yes — 9 recalls, including 19V-019 (inflator module, Jan 16, 2019); 18V-400 (occupant classification, Jun 14, 2018); 16V-870 (side/window, Dec 2, 2016). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers; check a specific car with the VIN recall check.
At what mileage do Chevrolet Malibu airbag problems start?
Across all years, half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 77,000 miles; 33% happened before 50,000 miles.
What part fails most often?
Owners most often name the frontal (104 mentions), followed by the side/window (15).
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.