FaultScore

2017 Chevrolet Malibu airbag problems

14 of the 1,174 complaints about the 2017 Chevrolet Malibu are about the airbag system — 1% of everything reported for this model year. Half of the failures with a mileage on record happened before 55,000 miles.

F

14

Complaints

8

Crashes

0

Fires

5

Injuries

Exactly what failed

AIR Bags 13 92.9%
AIR Bag/Restraint Control Module 1 7.1%

Airbags across every Chevrolet Malibu year

1997 25 2.5%
1998 41 4.1%
1999 40 4.0%
2000 32 3.2%
2001 21 2.1%
2002 18 1.8%
2003 27 2.7%
2004 27 2.7%
2005 26 2.6%
2006 33 3.3%
2007 75 7.5%
2008 65 6.5%
2009 62 6.2%
2010 146 14.6%
2011 93 9.3%
2012 101 10.1%
2013 59 5.9%
2014 16 1.6%
2015 49 4.9%
2016 17 1.7%
2017 14 1.4%
2018 14 1.4%

What owners said

Filed with NHTSA, in their own words.

Salisbury, NC

AIR BAGS

When I accelerate and try to stop brakes goes down to the floor. I’ve had my rotors. Brakes changed and it’s impossible to stop at times. Purchase vehicle. 2018 and the check engine light came on shortly after I purchased it. It’s been on. I’ve got diagnostics. It’s unknown why! Tire sensors has been changed, including with new tires and none of them work and the airbag light is illuminated. I am concerned about my safety in this vehicle. I reported many times and I’m unaware of any recalls. Please help.

NHTSA complaint #11699188 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Haymarket, VA

AIR BAGS

The service notification for my airbag was coming on. I took it to a mechanic and they said the module under the passenger seat could be broken. They said to take it to the dealer because other 2017 Chevrolet Malibus have this issue and were recalled. My VIN doesn’t have a recall associated with it, but has the exact issue that the other Malibus with recalls do. I brought it to the dealer and they said it was not included in a recall, but are now charging me full price to get a new module under the seat.

NHTSA complaint #11642033 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 105,000 miles High Point, NC Crash 2 injured

AIR BAGS

The contact owns a 2017 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that while driving northbound at 70 MPH, an unknown BMW crashed into the passenger rear quarter panel of the vehicle. The impact spun the vehicle around and hit a guardrail. The air bags did not deploy. The driver and child occupant sustained minor bruises and were provided medical attention. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to a body shop. There was no reported fire. After adding fuel, the contact noticed fuel leaking. The passenger's front and rear seat belts failed to latch. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed that the fuel line, seatbelt latch, and buckle needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The contact stated that the failure was related to NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V649000 (Seat Belts) , NHTSA Campaign Number: 18V358000 (Fuel System, Gasoline). The manufacturer was notified of the failure but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 105,000.

NHTSA complaint #11582061 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Haddon Township, NJ

AIR BAGS

Gas pedal locked up can’t accelerate

NHTSA complaint #11562964 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Davison, MI Crash

AIR BAGS

I was traveling at 55 mph and hit a deer with my car's front end. The impact affected about 60% of my front end. I couldn't escape from my vehicle through either front doors, I had to use the rear passenger doors. Upon impact, the front dash Indicated "airbag" buy not 1 airbag deployed. Even the car dealership indicated that they noticed the airbag light, but assured me it was okay.

NHTSA complaint #11530617 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 98,000 miles Salem, OR Crash 1 injured

AIR BAGS

The contact owns a 2017 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that while driving approximately 30 -35 mph and making a turn, a 2009 Hyundai Elantra sideswiped the vehicle and crashed into the driver's rear quarter panel. There were no warning indicator lights illuminated. The air bags did not deploy. The driver sustained injuries to the neck and indicated it was whiplash and a cervical sprain. Medical attention was provided. A police report was filed. There was no reported fire. The vehicle was towed to an independent lot. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and opened a case. The approximate failure mileage was 98,000.

NHTSA complaint #11489639 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 130,000 miles Indianapolis, IN Crash 2 injured

AIR BAGS

The contact owns a 2017 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that while driving approximately 15 MPH a second vehicle t-boned into the passenger side of the vehicle causing substantial damage to the passenger side body of the vehicle. During the crash, no air bags were deployed including the passenger side curtain airbags. The front seat passenger sustained neck back and hip injuries and the driver sustained neck and back injuries both requiring medical treatment. A police report was taken at the scene. The vehicle was drivable. The cause of the failure was not determined. The local dealer and manufacturer were not notified of the incident. The failure mileage was 130,000.

NHTSA complaint #11484400 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 56,000 miles Sayreville, NJ Crash 2 injured

AIR BAGS: AIR BAG/RESTRAINT CONTROL MODULE

The contact owned a 2017 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that while her husband was driving at undisclosed speeds, without warning as the brake pedal was depressed the vehicle accelerated forward independently. The contact depressed the brake pedal again the vehicle failed to stop causing, the vehicle to crash into the other vehicle in front. No airbag deployed. No police report was filed. The contact and the passenger sustained severe whiplash, 1 week later the contact and his wife sought medical attention and checked in a hospital. The insurance company was contacted and towed the vehicle to the collision shop where it was deemed a total loss. The contact mentioned that the other vehicle was totaled as well. The dealer nor the manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 56,000. The VIN was not available.

NHTSA complaint #11423834 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Harlingen, TX

AIR BAGS

VEHICLE HAS SEVERAL RECALLS

NHTSA complaint #11389614 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 55,000 miles Fort Worth, TX

AIR BAGS

STEERING ASSISTANT! WHEN ECONOMIC STOP HAPPENS I'M ALERTED AND CAR TURNS OFF AND ELECTRIC WIPES OUT N COMES BACK ON!! MY CAR STOPPED THIS TIME. EVERY OTHER ONE OF YOUR CARS HAVE THIS RECALLS. I AM IN MY CAR NOW STRANDED!

NHTSA complaint #11256388 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 20,000 miles Atlanta, GA Crash 1 injured

AIR BAGS

NOVEMBER 2018, I WAS IN A CAR ACCIDENT WHERE A VEHICLE WAS MAKING AN ILLEGAL U-TURN IN THE MIDDLE OF CLIFTON ROAD, AS I WAS COMING DOWN CLIFTON ROAD IN THE TURNING LANE AND T-BONED MY VEHICLE CAUSING FRONT END DAMAGE TO THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE OF MY VEHICLE. MY VEHICLE WAS TOTALLY SHUT DOWN AND HAD TO BE TOWED AWAY. THE VEHICLE WAS DEEMED TOTALED THE FOLLOWING WEEK. ALL AIRBAGS DEPLOYED AND AFTER READING THE REPORT FROM MY INSURANCE COMPANY STATING THAT THERE IS AN AIRBAG RECALL ON MY VEHICLE, WHICH WAS ALLEGEDLY KNOWN AT THE TIME I PURCHASED MY VEHICLE AND NO ONE TOLD ME AND AGAIN BY THE TIME I HAD MY LAST OIL CHANGE AND AGAIN NO ONE EVER TOLD ME. NO, I TOTALLY LOST A VEHICLE AND COULD HAVE LOST MY LIFE OVER AIRBAGS THAT ARE SUPPOSED TO BE ABLE TO SAVE YOUR LIFE.

NHTSA complaint #11181525 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 35,000 miles Buckeye, AZ

AIR BAGS

MY 2017 CHEVY MALIBU HAS BEEN DOING POWER ENGINE REDUCED FOR AWHILE IT'S BEEN TO THE DEALERSHIP MANY TIMES FOR THIS ISSUE. I HAVE ALMOST BEEN IN TO MULTIPLE CAR ACCIDENTS BECAUSE THE CAR REDUCES SPEED WHILE DRIVING SHOUTING MY CAR DOWN TO GO NO FASTER THEN 20 MPH. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE THAT CHEVY IS GIVING ME A RUN AROUND ABOUT WHEN OBVIOUS THE CAR WAS SOLD TO ME LIKE THIS. I HAVE WARRANTY ON MY CAR AND THEY STILL HAVE NOT FIXED MY CAR PROPERLY LEAVING ME EVERYDAY AT RISK DRIVING THIS UNSAFE CAR THAT CAN CAUSE A MAJOR CAR ACCIDENT ESPECIALLY WHEN IT DOSE IT WHEN I'M DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY WHICH HAS HAPPENED THREE TIMES ALREADY. I HAVE ALL THE PAPERWORK FOR ALL THE WORK THAT HAS BEEN DONE TO THIS CAR WHICH IS CRAZY SINCE IT'S A NEW CAR. I NEED TO KNOW IS THERE A RECALL ON THIS ENGINE IN THIS CAR SINCE THEY CANNOT FIX THE PROBLEM WITH MY CAR. THE FIRST ISSUE WAS MY AIRBAGS THEN IT WAS THE SUSPENSION WHICH I WAS TOLD AGAIN THE SUSPENSION ARE BAD MEANING THEY PROBABLY NEVER FIXED THEM ALONG WITH THIS ENGINE PROBLEM I'M HAVING.

NHTSA complaint #11143411 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 4,800 miles Houston, TX Crash

AIR BAGS

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 CHEVROLET MALIBU. ON SEVERAL DIFFERENT OCCASIONS, WHILE AT A STOP LIGHT, THE ENGINE RPMS WOULD SUDDENLY INCREASE AND THE VEHICLE ATTEMPTED TO SURGE FORWARD. THE DRIVER HAD TO DEPRESS HARD ON THE BRAKE PEDAL IN ORDER TO STOP THE VEHICLE FROM SURGING FORWARD. ON FEBRUARY 17, 2018, WHILE IN A BANK PARKING LOT, THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED UNINTENDED ACCELERATION. THE DRIVER LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND CRASHED INTO A TREE. DURING THE FAILURE, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED TO APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH. THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE WAS SEVERELY DAMAGED; HOWEVER, THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TOWED. THE LOCAL DEALER (DAVIS CHEVROLET IN HOUSTON, TX) AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 4,800. *TT VIDEO ATTACHED

NHTSA complaint #11080330 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

at 5,775 miles North Little Rock, AR Crash

AIR BAGS

VEHICLE MOVING SLOWLY AND ALMOST STATIONARY WHEN STRUCK IN DRIVER SIDE REAR DOOR AREA BY FULL SIZE PICKUP TRUCK WITH EXTENSIVE AND SUBSTANTIAL DAMAGE AND LIKELY A TOTAL LOSS BUT NO AIR BAG DEPLOYED.

NHTSA complaint #11073220 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other 2017 Chevrolet Malibu problems

← Full 2017 Chevrolet Malibu report