2016 Chevrolet Malibu air bags problems
18 owner complaints filed with NHTSA name the air bags on the 2016 Chevrolet Malibu — 2% of all complaints for this model year.
What owners report
“The contact owns a 2016 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that while driving approximately 15 MPH and taking her children to school, there was an abnormally loud banging sound coming from the vehicle. The contact stated that several air bags deployed. The steering wheel air bag struck the…”
filed Sep 4, 2026
“My airbag light comes on intermittently and will show a passenger is not in my front seat when they are. I took my car to the dealer and they got a current and past code B0074 for the passenger presence module. There was a recall (18208) for this on certain 2016 Malibus but my vin was not included.”
filed Jul 1, 2024
Verbatim excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA. Reports are not independently verified.
Related recalls
- During servicing, a Passenger Presence System (PPS) may have been installed that was not…Campaign 18V400000 · Jun 14, 2018
- Fabric of the side-impact air bag cushion may tear during deploymentCampaign 16V781000 · Oct 26, 2016
- Two weld studs that mount the front and rear side impact air bags may fracture and…Campaign 16V151000 · Mar 11, 2016
- Driver frontal air bag may improperly inflate during second-stage deployment in the event…Campaign 16V125000 · Mar 2, 2016
Air Bags problems in other Malibu years
| Year | Reports | Share |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 Malibu | 6 | 9% |
| 2022 Malibu | 4 | 4% |
| 2021 Malibu | 6 | 7% |
| 2020 Malibu | 4 | 2% |
| 2019 Malibu | 6 | 3% |
| 2018 Malibu | 14 | 2% |
| 2017 Malibu | 14 | 2% |
| 2015 Malibu | 49 | 18% |
| 2014 Malibu | 16 | 5% |
| 2013 Malibu | 59 | 7% |
| 2012 Malibu | 101 | 11% |
| 2011 Malibu | 93 | 10% |
Other reported problem areas on the 2016 Chevrolet Malibu
Counts are unique NHTSA complaints naming this component group. Complaints are unverified owner reports; mileage is computed only from complaints that included a usable odometer reading.