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NHTSA model-year recall report

2016 Chevrolet Malibu Recalls

9 campaigns in our verified NHTSA snapshot, with source consequences, remedies, and VIN-specific next steps.

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9

NHTSA campaigns

8

Affected systems

0

Urgent advisories

Aug 20, 2021

Latest campaign date

At a glance

What the record says

This model year's count is above the Chevrolet Malibu average of 4.5 campaigns per listed year. That is context only—not proof that this year is safer or less safe.

The most frequent affected category is Air Bags › Side/window, appearing in 2 campaigns.

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  3. 3

    Repair

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Source campaign records

All 2016 Chevrolet Malibu recall campaigns

Shown newest first. NHTSA summary, consequence, and remedy text is preserved without truncation.

NHTSA campaign 21V649000

Seat Belts › Critical Fasteners

Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC

Reported Aug 20, 2021

What is recalled

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.

Safety consequence

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

Manufacturer remedy

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.

Campaign history does not confirm applicability or repair status for one VIN.

Campaign details

NHTSA campaign 18V400000

Air Bags › Sensor › Occupant Classification

Manufacturer: General Motors LLC

Reported Jun 14, 2018

What is recalled

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.

Safety consequence

In the event of a crash, improper air bag deployment can increase the risk of injury.

Manufacturer 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. GM's number for this recall is 18208.

Campaign history does not confirm applicability or repair status for one VIN.

Campaign details

NHTSA campaign 18V358000

Fuel System, Gasoline › Delivery › Fuel Pump

Manufacturer: General Motors LLC

Reported May 31, 2018

What is recalled

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.

Safety consequence

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

Manufacturer remedy

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.

Campaign history does not confirm applicability or repair status for one VIN.

Campaign details

NHTSA campaign 16V781000

Air Bags › Side/window

Manufacturer: General Motors LLC

Reported Oct 26, 2016

What is recalled

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.

Safety consequence

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.

Manufacturer 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. GM's number for this recall is 16079.

Campaign history does not confirm applicability or repair status for one VIN.

Campaign details

NHTSA campaign 16V502000

Electrical System › Ignition

Manufacturer: General Motors LLC

Reported Jul 5, 2016

What is recalled

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."

Safety consequence

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

Manufacturer remedy

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.

Campaign history does not confirm applicability or repair status for one VIN.

Campaign details

NHTSA campaign 16V272000

Electronic Stability Control (esc)

Manufacturer: General Motors LLC

Reported May 5, 2016

What is recalled

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."

Safety consequence

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

Manufacturer remedy

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.

Campaign history does not confirm applicability or repair status for one VIN.

Campaign details

NHTSA campaign 16V151000

Air Bags › Side/window

Manufacturer: General Motors LLC

Reported Mar 11, 2016

What is recalled

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."

Safety consequence

Fractured weld studs may allow the side air bag to move out of position during deployment, increasing the risk of injury.

Manufacturer 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. GM's number for this recall is 31820.

Campaign history does not confirm applicability or repair status for one VIN.

Campaign details

NHTSA campaign 16V125000

Air Bags › Frontal

Manufacturer: General Motors LLC

Reported Mar 2, 2016

What is recalled

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.

Safety consequence

An improperly inflated air bag increases the risk of injury.

Manufacturer 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. 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.

Campaign history does not confirm applicability or repair status for one VIN.

Campaign details

NHTSA campaign 16V084000

Electrical System › Software

Manufacturer: General Motors LLC

Reported Feb 11, 2016

What is recalled

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."

Safety consequence

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

Manufacturer remedy

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.

Campaign history does not confirm applicability or repair status for one VIN.

Campaign details

Other Chevrolet Malibu model years

Compare campaign histories within the same model. Counts are descriptive, not a safety grade.

20251 campaign20242 campaigns20232 campaigns20221 campaign20212 campaigns20201 campaign20191 campaign20186 campaigns20174 campaigns20169 campaigns
View all model years

Other 2016 Chevrolet recall reports

2016 Chevrolet Silverado 150011 campaigns2016 Chevrolet Tahoe8 campaigns2016 Chevrolet SS7 campaigns2016 Chevrolet Silverado 35006 campaigns2016 Chevrolet Silverado 25005 campaigns2016 Chevrolet Traverse5 campaigns

2016 Chevrolet Malibu recall questions

How many recalls does the 2016 Chevrolet Malibu have?

This verified dataset contains 9 NHTSA campaigns associated with the 2016 Chevrolet Malibu. A campaign can apply to some, not all, vehicles of the same model year.

Does this confirm an open recall for my 2016 Chevrolet Malibu?

No. This page is a model-year campaign history. Use NHTSA's official lookup or an authorized dealer to confirm whether a campaign applies to your exact VIN and whether the repair remains open.

Are vehicle recall repairs free?

When a safety recall campaign applies to your VIN, the manufacturer remedy is generally provided at no charge through an authorized dealer. Confirm eligibility and scheduling with the manufacturer or dealer.

Source: NHTSA. Dataset includes campaigns through Jul 30, 2026. Last processed Aug 8, 2026. Methodology