Car · Chevrolet recalls

2016 Chevrolet Malibu recalls

NHTSA lists 9 recall campaigns for the 2016 Chevrolet Malibu, filed between February 11, 2016 and August 20, 2021. Each one is below with what is wrong and the free fix.

Check my VIN for open recalls

Campaign	Filed	Part
21V649000	August 20, 2021	Seat belts: critical fasteners
18V400000	June 14, 2018	Air bags: occupant classification
18V358000	May 31, 2018	Fuel system, gasoline: fuel pump
16V781000	October 26, 2016	Air bags: side/window
16V502000	July 5, 2016	Electrical system: ignition
16V272000	May 5, 2016	Electronic stability control (esc)
16V151000	March 11, 2016	Air bags: side/window
16V125000	March 2, 2016	Air bags: frontal
16V084000	February 11, 2016	Electrical system: software

Seat belts: critical fasteners (21V649000)

Filed August 20, 2021

What is wrong. 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.

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

The fix. 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.

Air bags: occupant classification (18V400000)

Filed June 14, 2018

What is wrong. 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.

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

The fix. 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.

Fuel system, gasoline: fuel pump (18V358000)

Filed May 31, 2018

What is wrong. 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.

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

The fix. 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.

Air bags: side/window (16V781000)

Filed October 26, 2016

What is wrong. 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.

What could happen. 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.

The fix. 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.

Electrical system: ignition (16V502000)

Filed July 5, 2016

What is wrong. 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."

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

The fix. 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.

Electronic stability control (esc) (16V272000)

Filed May 5, 2016

What is wrong. 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."

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

The fix. 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.

Air bags: side/window (16V151000)

Filed March 11, 2016

What is wrong. 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."

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

The fix. 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.

Air bags: frontal (16V125000)

Filed March 2, 2016

What is wrong. 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.

What could happen. An improperly inflated air bag increases the risk of injury.

The fix. 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.

Electrical system: software (16V084000)

Filed February 11, 2016

What is wrong. 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."

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

The fix. 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.

Check that your car is on the list

Most campaigns cover only cars built in a certain date range or at a certain plant, so a 2016 Chevrolet Malibu may or may not be included. The VIN is the only sure test. It is 17 characters, on the dashboard by the windshield and on the driver door jamb sticker. Look up your VIN.

How to confirm the repair is free

Call any authorized Chevrolet dealer service desk and give them the VIN and the campaign number from the list above.
Ask them to confirm the campaign is open for your car. If it is, the parts and labor are covered.
If the dealer says the part is not in stock, ask for a written note with the date, and ask about a loaner if the notice says not to drive the car.
Keep the repair order. It shows the campaign number and proves the work was done.

If you already paid for a repair that a recall later covered, Chevrolet may owe you a refund. Ask the dealer or Chevrolet customer service about reimbursement, and keep your receipts.

Other model years of the Malibu

More: all Chevrolet recalls, check-engine codes, car repair costs.

2016 Chevrolet Malibu recall questions

How many recalls does the 2016 Chevrolet Malibu have?

NHTSA lists 9 recall campaigns for the 2016 Chevrolet Malibu. A campaign can cover only some cars of that model year, so check your VIN to see whether yours is included.

Is a recall repair on a 2016 Chevrolet Malibu free?

Yes. A safety recall repair is free at an authorized Chevrolet dealer, whatever the age or mileage of the car and no matter who owns it now.

How do I know if my 2016 Chevrolet Malibu was already fixed?

Enter the VIN on our recall page. If a campaign is still open, it shows as open. You can also ask a dealer to run the VIN, or look at the service history paperwork for the campaign number.

Source: NHTSA recalls API, checked 2026-10-28. Text is NHTSA's wording of each campaign. New campaigns are added over time. Not a repair shop, estimates only.