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 Jul 30, 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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- 2022–2023 Chevrolet Malibu — Front impact bar, a structural portion of the vehicle…
- 2022 Cadillac XT4 and 3 other models — Driver's seat cushion frame may have an improper weld in…
- 2010–2013 Buick Lacrosse and 2 other models — These vehicles may have rear toe links that received an…
Other campaigns involving Chevrolet vehicles
- 2025–2026 Chevrolet Express and 1 other model — Steering gear assembly may have a nut that was not properly…
- 2026 Chevrolet Express and 1 other model — Gear shifter may provide inaccurate gear selection feedback…
- 2018 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 and 5 other models — Left-side or right-side roof rail air bag (RRAB) inflator…
Source: NHTSA recall database, campaign 16V151000 (manufacturer number 31820). Data last verified Jul 30, 2026.