2016 Chevrolet Malibu Recall: Fabric of the side-impact air bag cushion may tear during deployment
NHTSA campaign 16V781000 · Air Bags · filed Oct 26, 2016 · verified Jul 30, 2026
The 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.
The risk
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.
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 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.
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 16V781000 (manufacturer number 16079). Data last verified Jul 30, 2026.