2016 Chevrolet Malibu Recall: Two weld studs that mount the front and rear side impact air bags may…
NHTSA campaign 16V151000 · Air Bags · filed Mar 11, 2016 · verified Sep 14, 2026
The defect
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."
The risk
Fractured weld studs may allow the side air bag to move out of position during deployment, increasing the risk of injury.
Check whether your specific vehicle is affected
Recall campaigns often cover only certain VIN ranges. Enter your VIN on the official NHTSA site to confirm whether your vehicle is included and whether the repair is still open.
Check VIN on NHTSA →The fix — what to do
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.
Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.
Affected vehicles
Related recalls
More Chevrolet Malibu recalls
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Other campaigns involving Chevrolet vehicles
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Source: NHTSA recall database, campaign 16V151000 (manufacturer number 31820). Data last verified Sep 14, 2026.