IllustrationAir bag light is on dashboard and my driver seat won’t recline back up to a normal driving position. Brought it to the mechanic to have it checked and was told I am in need of a new driver seat do to a faulty airbag. The car is not even 10 years old yet and I can’t use the seat properly to drive safely.
2015 Chevrolet Malibu
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 2015 Chevrolet Malibu do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 310.5.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Malibu years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
410–25K
3825–50K
2450–75K
2575–100K
23100–150K
9150K+
160 reports with mileage · 110 unknown
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Engine. Review the 70 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Electrical System. Review the 68 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Air Bags. Review the 49 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
18 crash reports9 fire reports10 injury reports
Seats complaints
10 reportsAIRBAG LIGHT IS KEEP COMING ON. I HAVE POWER SEATS AND PAYED TO GET THE PANEL FIXED AND THE PANEL IS HANGING AGAIN.
THE PLASTIC TRIM ON DRIVERS SEAT WHICH HAS THE CONTROLS ON IT TO OPERATE AND HOLD THE SEAT UP ON THE SIDE CRACKED AND CONTROLS WERE NOT ACCESSIBLE AND PART WAS NO LONGER HOLDING UP THE SEAT. PURCHASED CAR MARCH 28,2015. ON OCTOBER 26,2017 I PAID FOR THE PART AND LABOR SINCE I WAS TOLD IT WAS NOT UNDER WARRANTY. IT'S NOW APRIL…
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THE PLASTIC TRIM ON DRIVERS SEAT WHICH HAS THE CONTROLS ON IT TO OPERATE AND HOLD THE SEAT UP ON THE SIDE CRACKED AND CONTROLS WERE NOT ACCESSIBLE AND PART WAS NO LONGER HOLDING UP THE SEAT. PURCHASED CAR MARCH 28,2015. ON OCTOBER 26,2017 I PAID FOR THE PART AND LABOR SINCE I WAS TOLD IT WAS NOT UNDER WARRANTY. IT'S NOW APRIL 9TH, 2019 AND THE PART IS PULLING AWAY FROM THE SEAT AGAIN. I WAS TOLD THE WARRANTY FOR THE LAST REPAIR EXPIRED ON OCTOBER 26, 2018. MY OPTION WAS TO PAY FOR THE PART AND REPAIR AGAIN. THE PLASTIC TRIM SHOULD BE CONSIDERED DEFECTIVE SINCE IT HOLDS THE SEAT UP AND THE BUTTONS THAT ACCESS THE SEAT CONTROLS ARE ON IT. THE PART AND LABOR CHARGES SHOULD BE COVERED BY THE MANUFACTURER FOR THIS DEFECTIVE PART.
THE DRIVERS SEAT MOVES UNEXPECTEDLY FRONT AND BACK WITHOUT MANUAL CONTACT THEREFOR THIS CAN CAUSE MYSELF AN ACCIDENT BY MOVING THE BACK SUPPORT TO THE FRONT AND BACK THIS HAPPENED WHEN THE CAR TURNED OFF AND WHILE DRIVING
NO PROBLEMS PRIOR TO A SIMPLE SPARK PLUG CHANGE(AC DELCO IRIDIUM/OEM). FEW DAYS LATER, CAR STARTED HESITATING, AND LOSING ACCELERATION, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT & SERVICE STABILITY DISPLAY ON SCREEN. CHECKED WITH OBDII. GAVE CODE OF MISSING SPARK IN #3. SO I CHANGED SPARK PLUG, THINKING FAULTY PLUG. AFTER DRIVING A BIT, CODE AND SAME …
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NO PROBLEMS PRIOR TO A SIMPLE SPARK PLUG CHANGE(AC DELCO IRIDIUM/OEM). FEW DAYS LATER, CAR STARTED HESITATING, AND LOSING ACCELERATION, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT & SERVICE STABILITY DISPLAY ON SCREEN. CHECKED WITH OBDII. GAVE CODE OF MISSING SPARK IN #3. SO I CHANGED SPARK PLUG, THINKING FAULTY PLUG. AFTER DRIVING A BIT, CODE AND SAME PROBLEM AGAIN. TOOK TO DEALER $170 LATER, BAD COIL...! 86K MILES AND BAD COIL, AFTER CHANGING PLUGS...HUM! OK SO IF BAD COIL WHY IS IT GIVING ME A SERVICE STABILITRACK DISPLAY? AND NOT COMING UP ON OBDII DIAGNOSIS? I'M A CERTIFIED TRANSIT DESIEL MECHANIC OF 15YRS, AND THIS PUZZLES ME. I'VE ORDERED COIL, CHANGING TMRW. LETS SEE WHAT OUTCOME WILL BE AFTER CHANING COIL!
THE BACK OF THE DRIVER SEAT MOVES ON IT'S OWN. I DIDN'T TOUCH THE BUTTON AND IT JUST STARTED MOVING FORWARD. FAULTY WIRING OVER MY SEAT.THE CAR WASN'T STARTED AND DIDN'T HAVE THE KEY IN THE IGNITION.
TAKATA RECALL PASSENGER SEAT WILL NOT GO FORWARD OR BACKWARD AND WHEN I GOT THE CAR I WAS SMELLING CO2 CARBON DIOXIDE WITH THE CAR MOVING.
THE SEAT IS STUCK IN PLACE. I CANNOT MOVE IT FORWARD OR BACK
I HAVE ENJOYED MY MALIBU BUT I HAVE A ISSUE FROM THE DAY I PURCHASED IT. THE PLASTIC COVER OVER THE SEAT CONTROLS WAS TORN WHEN I PURCHASED THE CAR THE COVER HAS GOTTEN WORSE AS TIME HAS GONE BY AND TO BE HONEST HAS BECOME A HAZARD I TORN A PAIR OF SLACKS ON THE EXTREMELY SHARP PLASTIC PIECE AND I AM VERY CAREFUL GETTING IN …
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I HAVE ENJOYED MY MALIBU BUT I HAVE A ISSUE FROM THE DAY I PURCHASED IT. THE PLASTIC COVER OVER THE SEAT CONTROLS WAS TORN WHEN I PURCHASED THE CAR THE COVER HAS GOTTEN WORSE AS TIME HAS GONE BY AND TO BE HONEST HAS BECOME A HAZARD I TORN A PAIR OF SLACKS ON THE EXTREMELY SHARP PLASTIC PIECE AND I AM VERY CAREFUL GETTING IN AND OUT OF THE CAR BECAUSE OF THE PIECE. DRIVERS SIDE SEAT CONTROL COVER PIECE. THERE IS A DEFECT IN THE SEAT DESIGN THERE IS A METAL TUBE RUNNING FRONT TO BACK YOU CAN SEE IT IN THE PICTURES IT CRACKED THIS COVER AND WILL CRACK ANY NEW COVER THAT REPLACE THIS COVER. THIS IS A DESIGN DEFECT PLEASE FIND OUT IF IT IS COVERED FROM CHEVY. THERE ARE MULTIPLE COMPLAINTS LISTED ON THE INTERNET FOR THIS EXACT PIECE CRACKING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER SEAT BASE BOARD SEPARATED CAUSING WIRES TO BE EXPOSED. THE CONTACT ALSO MENTIONED THAT THE DRIVERS SEAT SETTING SYSTEM WAS NOT AFFECTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER TO HAVE A DIAGNOSTIC PERFORMED. HOWEVER THE CONTACT SPOKE TO TERRY CULLEN …
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER SEAT BASE BOARD SEPARATED CAUSING WIRES TO BE EXPOSED. THE CONTACT ALSO MENTIONED THAT THE DRIVERS SEAT SETTING SYSTEM WAS NOT AFFECTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER TO HAVE A DIAGNOSTIC PERFORMED. HOWEVER THE CONTACT SPOKE TO TERRY CULLEN CHEVROLET DEALER IN THE STATE OF GEORGIA AT PHONE NUMBER: (770-986-4444) AND WAS ADVISED THAT THE VEHICLE DID NOT HAVE ANY RECALLS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 35,000.
Official recalls
316V502000 · Electrical System:ignition; Power Train:automatic Transmission:control Module (tcm/pcm/tecm)
Jul 5, 2016
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."
Consequence & remedy
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.
Additional source detail variants (2)
Electrical System:ignition
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."
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.
Power Train:automatic Transmission:control Module (tcm/pcm/tecm)
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."
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.
15V666000 · Air Bags:side/window
Oct 16, 2015
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2015 Buick LaCrosse, Cadillac XTS, Chevrolet Camaro, Equinox, Malibu, and GMC Terrain vehicles. The affected vehicles have front seat-mounted side impact air bags whose inflator may rupture upon its deployment.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of one or both of the side impact air bags, the air bag's inflator may rupture and the air bag may not properly inflate. The rupture could cause metal fragments to strike the vehicle occupants, potentially resulting in serious injury or death. Additionally, if the air bag does not properly inflate, the driver or passenger is at an increased risk of injury.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the side impact air bag modules, free of charge. The recall began on October 19, 2015. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006, or GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is 01320.
15V164000 · Visibility:sun/moon Roof Assembly
Mar 23, 2015
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2013-2015 Chevrolet Malibu vehicles October 24, 2011, to March 5, 2015. In the affected vehicles, the Slide or Tilt switch for the roof panel may not be adequately recessed to prevent the switch from inadvertently being pressed. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 118, "Power-Operated Window, Partition, and Roof Panel Systems."
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: The Slide or Tilt roof panel switch may inadvertently be pressed and the roof panel may auto-close unexpectedly, increasing the risk of a pinch injury.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will update the Body Control Module (BCM) software to remove auto-close feature for certain switch positions, free of charge. The recall began April 21, 2015. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is 15176.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.