2016 Chevrolet Malibu Recalls

Recalls on record Updated July 2026

The 2016 Chevrolet Malibu has 9 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 14,669 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 1,439 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the engine. Last updated July 5, 2026.

Recall campaigns

SEAT BELTS 21V649000 2021-08-20 402 affected
Defect

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

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

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.

AIR BAGS 18V400000 2018-06-14 66 affected
Defect

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…

Consequence

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

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.

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE 18V358000 2018-05-31 895 affected
Defect

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…

Consequence

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

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…

AIR BAGS 16V781000 2016-10-26 18 affected
Defect

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

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

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 16V502000 2016-07-05 8,367 affected
Defect

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…

Consequence

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

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.

ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC) 16V272000 2016-05-05 66 affected
Defect

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…

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.

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.

AIR BAGS 16V151000 2016-03-11 3,137 affected
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…

Consequence

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

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.

AIR BAGS 16V125000 2016-03-02 1,579 affected
Defect

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…

Consequence

An improperly inflated air bag increases the risk of injury.

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.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 16V084000 2016-02-11 139 affected
Defect

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…

Consequence

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

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.

Complaints by component

ENGINE
301
5crashes1fires7injuries1deaths
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
220
4crashes4injuries1deaths
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
172
1crashes
POWER TRAIN
162
3crashes2injuries
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
150
3crashes6injuries1deaths
SERVICE BRAKES
94
9crashes3injuries
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)
76
1crashes1injuries
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
50
STEERING
41
1crashes1injuries
STRUCTURE:BODY
33
1crashes
Total complaints1,439

What owners report

Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal information removed.

“Vacuum pump failure causing hard brake pedal which made near to impossible to brake safely and properly that lead to timing chain issues”

SERVICE BRAKES · reported 2026-06-19

“Vacuum pump failure causing hard brake pedal which made near to impossible to brake safely and properly that lead to timing chain issues”

ENGINE · reported 2026-06-19

“Vacuum pump failure causing hard brake pedal which made near to impossible to brake safely and properly that lead to timing chain issues”

UNKNOWN OR OTHER · reported 2026-06-19

“The brake vacuum pump broke, causing my brakes to go rock hard and pieces fell down into the camshaft, causing engine damage”

SERVICE BRAKES · reported 2026-06-11

“The brake vacuum pump broke, causing my brakes to go rock hard and pieces fell down into the camshaft, causing engine damage”

ENGINE · reported 2026-06-11

“The gear shift sometimes does read that it’s in park”

UNKNOWN OR OTHER · reported 2026-05-28

“I bought this car about 10 days ago. Throat was in pain, coughed up blood, dizzy, sweaty, and shaking. There's gas all over the ground coming from front under hood smelling through the vents. Very loud smelling. Took it to chevrolet dealership on covington hwy decatur ga today and had to leave it…”

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM · reported 2026-05-26

“On 04/28/2026, when diagnosing a reoccurring check engine light on the vehicle at a chevy certified service, the mechanic "borescoped cylinder 4 and found significant scuffs on the cylinder wall which along with the misfires indicate a cracked piston. The big picture appears to be the piston…”

ENGINE · reported 2026-04-28
Sources & methodology

Recall, complaint, and investigation records from official NHTSA datasets (FLAT_RCL, FLAT_CMPL, FLAT_INV), synced weekly. Counts reflect NHTSA records for the 2016 Chevrolet Malibu as of July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page contains ads and affiliate links. Full methodology.