Recall Register

2016 Chevrolet Malibu: recalls and complaints

NHTSA lists 9 recall campaigns for the 2016 Chevrolet Malibu. The newest campaign is 21V649000. NHTSA received the report on 20 Aug 2021. The NHTSA record gives the component Seat Belts / Rear/Other / Retractor. NHTSA has no complaint on file for this model year.

The NHTSA recall file shows no do-not-drive advisory and no park-outside advisory on these campaigns.

This page cannot show if a recall applies to one vehicle. The NHTSA VIN lookup shows the unrepaired recalls of one vehicle.

Remedy of the newest campaign, 21V649000, in the NHTSA record

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.
NHTSA VIN lookup

Complaint information entered into NHTSA’s Office of Defects Investigation vehicle owner's complaint database is used with other data sources to identify safety issues that warrant investigation and to determine if a safety-related defect trend exists.

NHTSA publishes these words. Source: NHTSA Datasets and APIs, section Complaints, read on . Complaint file through . Recall file through .

Since the last update

No tracked figure of this page changed in a data update. What the log tracks

All updates to the register

Recall campaigns

9 campaigns, newest first. 14,669 units in total.

  • 21V649000Seat Belts / Rear/Other / Retractor
  • 18V400000Air Bags / Sensor / Occupant Classification
  • 18V358000Fuel System, Gasoline / Delivery / Fuel Pump
  • 16V781000Air Bags / Side/Window
  • 16V502000Electrical System / Ignition
  • 16V272000Electronic Stability Control (ESC)
  • 16V151000Air Bags / Side/Window
  • 16V125000Air Bags / Frontal
  • 16V084000Electrical System / Software

  1. 21V649000Received . 402 units.

    Seat Belts / Rear/Other / Retractor

    Defect, in the NHTSA record
    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.
    Consequence, in the NHTSA record
    An improperly secured seat belt retractor may not function properly in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
    Remedy, in the NHTSA record
    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.

    Report filed by General Motors, LLC. Manufacturer campaign number N212333380. Owner notification date in the NHTSA record: .

  2. 18V400000Received . 66 units.

    Air Bags / Sensor / Occupant Classification

    Defect, in the NHTSA record
    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.
    Consequence, in the NHTSA record
    In the event of a crash, improper air bag deployment can increase the risk of injury.
    Remedy, in the NHTSA record
    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.

    Report filed by General Motors LLC. Manufacturer campaign number 18208. Owner notification date in the NHTSA record: .

  3. 18V358000Received . 895 units.

    Fuel System, Gasoline / Delivery / Fuel Pump

    Defect, in the NHTSA record
    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.
    Consequence, in the NHTSA record
    A damaged fuel line can create a fuel leak, increasing the risk of a fire.
    Remedy, in the NHTSA record
    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.

    Report filed by General Motors LLC. Manufacturer campaign number 18188 18268. Owner notification date in the NHTSA record: .

  4. 16V781000Received . 18 units.

    Air Bags / Side/Window

    Defect, in the NHTSA record
    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.
    Consequence, in the NHTSA record
    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.
    Remedy, in the NHTSA record
    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.

    Report filed by General Motors LLC. Manufacturer campaign number 16079. Owner notification date in the NHTSA record: .

  5. 16V502000Received . 8,367 units.

    Electrical System / Ignition

    Defect, in the NHTSA record
    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."
    Consequence, in the NHTSA record
    If the key is removed without the transmission in PARK, the vehicle may rollaway as occupants are exiting, increasing the risk of injury.
    Remedy, in the NHTSA record
    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.

    Report filed by General Motors LLC. Manufacturer campaign number 50490, 50491. Owner notification date in the NHTSA record: .

  6. 16V272000Received . 66 units.

    Electronic Stability Control (ESC)

    Defect, in the NHTSA record
    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."
    Consequence, in the NHTSA record
    If the EBCM fails the primary braking system will still function, however, the loss of ABS and ESC increase the risk of a crash.
    Remedy, in the NHTSA record
    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.

    Report filed by General Motors LLC. Manufacturer campaign number 39440. Owner notification date in the NHTSA record: .

  7. 16V151000Received . 3,137 units.

    Air Bags / Side/Window

    Defect, in the NHTSA record
    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."
    Consequence, in the NHTSA record
    Fractured weld studs may allow the side air bag to move out of position during deployment, increasing the risk of injury.
    Remedy, in the NHTSA record
    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.

    Report filed by General Motors LLC. Manufacturer campaign number 31820. Owner notification date in the NHTSA record: .

  8. 16V125000Received . 1,579 units.

    Air Bags / Frontal

    Defect, in the NHTSA record
    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.
    Consequence, in the NHTSA record
    An improperly inflated air bag increases the risk of injury.
    Remedy, in the NHTSA record
    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.

    Report filed by General Motors LLC. Manufacturer campaign number 28030. Owner notification date in the NHTSA record: .

  9. 16V084000Received . 139 units.

    Electrical System / Software

    Defect, in the NHTSA record
    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."
    Consequence, in the NHTSA record
    An unbelted driver is at a greater risk of injury in a crash.
    Remedy, in the NHTSA record
    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.

    Report filed by General Motors LLC. Manufacturer campaign number 15808. Owner notification date in the NHTSA record: .

The campaign number opens the NHTSA record. Each quotation is the text of the NHTSA recall file.

Recall campaign: One recall in the NHTSA recall file, with one campaign number. A campaign can name many makes, models and model years.

Units: The number of vehicles or products that a recall can include. The manufacturer or the firm reports the number to the agency.

Complaints by component

The NHTSA complaint file has no complaint for this model year.

Investigations

The NHTSA investigation file has no investigation that names this model year.

Investigation: A study of a possible safety defect by the NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. An investigation with no closing date in the NHTSA file is open.

Other model years

The number under each year is the number of recall campaigns.

  1. 19640
  2. 19731
  3. 19740
  4. 19750
  5. 19771
  6. 19787
  7. 19795
  8. 19805
  9. 19812
  10. 19822
  11. 19832
  12. 19860
  13. 19890
  14. 19974
  15. 19983
  16. 19991
  17. 20003
  18. 20012
  19. 20022
  20. 20032
  21. 20046
  22. 20053
  23. 20066
  24. 20073
  25. 20084
  26. 20095
  27. 20103
  28. 20113
  29. 20122
  30. 20139
  31. 20146
  32. 20153
  33. 20169
  34. 20174
  35. 20186
  36. 20191
  37. 20201
  38. 20212
  39. 20221
  40. 20232
  41. 20242
  42. 20251

A year without a link has fewer than 2 campaigns and fewer than 25 complaints. It has no page.

Official channels

Cite this page

Recall Register. 2016 Chevrolet Malibu: recalls and complaints. https://recallregister.com/vehicle/chevrolet/malibu/2016/. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation, recall, complaint and investigation files. Data through .

Sources

Source
NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation
Licence
US government work, public domain
Recall file through
30 Sep 2026
Complaint file through
29 Mar 2018
First complaint in the file
1 Jan 1995
Manufacturer in the recall file
General Motors, LLC

The NHTSA record is the authority. A complaint count is the number of different complaint numbers for the make, the model and the model year. How the register is made. Report an error.

Questions

How many units are in the recall campaigns for the 2016 Chevrolet Malibu?
14,669 units in 9 campaigns. A campaign can name other models and model years, and its units include them.
How many recall campaigns does the Chevrolet Malibu have for all model years?
NHTSA lists 66 recall campaigns for the Chevrolet Malibu, model years 1964 to 2025. 9 of them name the 2016 model year.
Is an NHTSA investigation of the 2016 Chevrolet Malibu open?
The NHTSA investigation file has no investigation that names this model year.