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2016 Chevrolet Malibu

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

More warning signs than most Malibu years

Owner complaints for the 2016 Chevrolet Malibu are substantially higher than the model-year median of 310.5.

About this comparison →

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

525 reports with mileage · 312 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 302 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 222 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Power Train. Review the 166 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

23 crash reports2 fire reports9 injury reports

Unknown Or Other complaints

174 reports
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Mileage unknown · Nov 5, 2020
Electrical SystemEngineUnknown Or Other

WHEN I PLACE THE CAR IN PARK IT DOES NOT REGISTER THAT IT IS PARK AND A 'SHIFT INTO PARK' ERROR COMES UP. EVERYTHING STAYS ON IN THE CAR AND THE BATTERY DRAINS IF IT'S NOT CORRECTED. IT CAN TAKE SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO GET IT TO RECOGNIZE IT IS IN PARK. MUST KEEP TURNING THE CAR IN AND OFF UNTIL IT SENSES IT'S IN PARK. IT HAS TA…

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WHEN I PLACE THE CAR IN PARK IT DOES NOT REGISTER THAT IT IS PARK AND A 'SHIFT INTO PARK' ERROR COMES UP. EVERYTHING STAYS ON IN THE CAR AND THE BATTERY DRAINS IF IT'S NOT CORRECTED. IT CAN TAKE SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO GET IT TO RECOGNIZE IT IS IN PARK. MUST KEEP TURNING THE CAR IN AND OFF UNTIL IT SENSES IT'S IN PARK. IT HAS TAKEN UP TO 10 TIMES UNTIL IT FINALLY SENSES IT.

NHTSA ODI #11373245

55,000 miles · Oct 8, 2020
Unknown Or Other

I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY TODAY WHEN I HEARD A LOUD POP AND MY SUNROOF SPONTANEOUSLY EXPLODED. IT WAS AFTER THE EXPLOSION THAT SMALL SHARDS OF GLASS STARTED TO RAIN DOWN ON US. WHEN I LOOKED UP THE ENTIRE SUNROOF WAS SHATTERED. I WAS ABLE TO GET THE INSIDE SUN SHADE CLOSED BEFORE ANYONE WAS INJURED. I LOOKED TO SEE IF THERE…

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I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY TODAY WHEN I HEARD A LOUD POP AND MY SUNROOF SPONTANEOUSLY EXPLODED. IT WAS AFTER THE EXPLOSION THAT SMALL SHARDS OF GLASS STARTED TO RAIN DOWN ON US. WHEN I LOOKED UP THE ENTIRE SUNROOF WAS SHATTERED. I WAS ABLE TO GET THE INSIDE SUN SHADE CLOSED BEFORE ANYONE WAS INJURED. I LOOKED TO SEE IF THERE WAS ANY EVIDENCE OF ANYTHING HITTING THE CAR, HOWEVER THERE WAS NONE. THE SUNROOF WAS IN THE CLOSED POSITION WHEN IT EXPLODED.

NHTSA ODI #11363462

36,000 miles · Oct 4, 2020
StructureUnknown Or Other

ON THE BOTH BACK SIDE, WHERE THE SEAT BELTS ARE NEXT TO SMALL WINDOWAND TOP PART OF ROOF WATERBIS LEAKING IN WHEN I WASH MY CAR AND MAYBE EVEN WHEN IT RAINS. THERE PROBABLY MILDEW, AND RUST. ALSO WHEN I PARK MY CAR THE WARNING LIGHT SAYS PUT CAR IN PARK, BUT ITS IN PARK.

NHTSA ODI #11362661

1 miles · Sep 28, 2020
EngineUnknown Or Other

I OWN A 2016 CHEVY MALIBU PREMIER I BOUT IT ON THE SAME YEAR WITH 3 THOUSAND MILES IN IT EVER SINCE I BEEN HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE CAR IN 2017 THE CAR HAD OVER 10 THOUSAND MILES IN IT N WATER WAS GETTING INSIDE THE VEHICLE SO I TOOK IT TO DEALERSHIP N THEY SED IT WAS A WEATHER STRIP OF THE BACK WINDOW SECOND TIME SAME YEAR IT W…

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I OWN A 2016 CHEVY MALIBU PREMIER I BOUT IT ON THE SAME YEAR WITH 3 THOUSAND MILES IN IT EVER SINCE I BEEN HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE CAR IN 2017 THE CAR HAD OVER 10 THOUSAND MILES IN IT N WATER WAS GETTING INSIDE THE VEHICLE SO I TOOK IT TO DEALERSHIP N THEY SED IT WAS A WEATHER STRIP OF THE BACK WINDOW SECOND TIME SAME YEAR IT WAS AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM OF THE SEATS 3RD PROBLEM IT WAS SUSPENSION NOW THIS IS 2020 NOVEMBER 27 N NOW THE CAR HAS 74 THOUSAND MILES IN IT N THE CAR SHAKES WILE ON DRIVE MODE JUST ON DRIVE MODE N THE WEIRDES THING IS THAT THERE'S NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT NOTHING EVERYTHING SIMS TO BE WRONG I NEED HELP I DO THINK IT'S FACTORY MADE

NHTSA ODI #11361444

10 miles · Sep 6, 2020
SuspensionUnknown Or Other

WHEN DRIVING, HITTING A BUMP, GOING OVER AN UNEVEN ROAD, OR EVEN PULLING INTO A DRIVE WAY MY CAR MAKES A CREEPING, THUMPING SOUND IN THE REAR. EVEN WHILE IN PARK IF SOMEONE PUSHES DOWN ON THE TRUNK IT MAKES THE NOISE. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS THE REAR SHOCK ABSORBERS. I HAD BOTH REPLACED AND THE NOISE…

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WHEN DRIVING, HITTING A BUMP, GOING OVER AN UNEVEN ROAD, OR EVEN PULLING INTO A DRIVE WAY MY CAR MAKES A CREEPING, THUMPING SOUND IN THE REAR. EVEN WHILE IN PARK IF SOMEONE PUSHES DOWN ON THE TRUNK IT MAKES THE NOISE. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS THE REAR SHOCK ABSORBERS. I HAD BOTH REPLACED AND THE NOISE HAS GOTTEN WORSE. ALSO, EACH TIME IT RAINS THERE IS WATER UNDERNEATH MY SPARE TIRE AND MY FLOOR GETS WET ON THE BACK ROW.

NHTSA ODI #11353431

32,641 miles · Aug 24, 2020
Unknown Or Other

THE MAIN REAR WINDOW DIDN'T HAVE A PROPER SEAL. ON BOTH SIDES IN THE CORNERS OF THE REAR WINDOW OF THE VEHICLE, THERE IS A LEAKAGE. EVERY TIME IT RAINS, YOU CAN SEE WATER DAMAGE. YOU CAN ALSO SEE THE AFTER EFFECTS OF THE CEILING BEING STAINED. REALIZED THIS AFTER IT RAINED WHILE I WAS DRIVING.

NHTSA ODI #11350887

109,000 miles · Aug 13, 2020
Electrical SystemEngineUnknown Or Other

THE VEHICLE IS DRIVING NORMAL AND SUDDENLY SHUTS DOWN FOR NO APPARENT REASON. UPON PARKING, YOU TRY TO START THE CAR, AND IT WON'T. WAIT FOR APPROX. 30 MINS AND THE CAR STARTS BUT A BIT ROUGH FIRST AND THEN DRIVES.

NHTSA ODI #11348987

42,000 miles · Aug 12, 2020
Unknown Or Other

AFTER I PUT THE CAR IN PARK AND PUSH THE BUTTON TO TURN IT OFF, IT SAYS TO SHIFT TO PARK. I HAVE TO RESTART THE CAR AND PUT IT IN REVERSE AND DRIVE AGAIN. SOMETIMES THIS WORKS, BUT IT IS GETTING MORE DIFFICULT TO GET THE CAR TO SHUT OFF. THE CAR BEEPS AT ME AND WON'T SHUT THE RADIO OFF WHEN I PUSH THE BUTTON TO TURN THE CAR…

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AFTER I PUT THE CAR IN PARK AND PUSH THE BUTTON TO TURN IT OFF, IT SAYS TO SHIFT TO PARK. I HAVE TO RESTART THE CAR AND PUT IT IN REVERSE AND DRIVE AGAIN. SOMETIMES THIS WORKS, BUT IT IS GETTING MORE DIFFICULT TO GET THE CAR TO SHUT OFF. THE CAR BEEPS AT ME AND WON'T SHUT THE RADIO OFF WHEN I PUSH THE BUTTON TO TURN THE CAR OFF. I CAN'T LOCK THE DOORS BECAUSE THE CAR DOESN'T RECOGNIZE THAT I HAVE SHIFTED TO PARK. THIS STARTED HAPPENING IN JULY, 2020. AT FIRST THIS ONLY HAPPENED OCCASIONALLY. NOW IT IS HAPPENING EVERY TIME I TURN THE CAR OFF.

NHTSA ODI #11348857

30,298 miles · Aug 10, 2020
Electrical SystemUnknown Or Other

MY SHIFT TO PARK INDICATOR DISPLAYS ON THE DASH WHEN MY CAR IS ALREADY IN PARK. THE CAR CAN'T BE TURNED OFF UNTIL THE INDICATOR GOES OFF. I USUALLY CHANGE GEARS AND PUT BACK IN PARK OR PUSH IT HARDER WHILE IT IS ALREADY IN PARK. I HAD THIS REPAIRED ON 9/14/18. THE CHEVY DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION CONTROL SHIFT LEVEL SE…

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MY SHIFT TO PARK INDICATOR DISPLAYS ON THE DASH WHEN MY CAR IS ALREADY IN PARK. THE CAR CAN'T BE TURNED OFF UNTIL THE INDICATOR GOES OFF. I USUALLY CHANGE GEARS AND PUT BACK IN PARK OR PUSH IT HARDER WHILE IT IS ALREADY IN PARK. I HAD THIS REPAIRED ON 9/14/18. THE CHEVY DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION CONTROL SHIFT LEVEL SELECTOR. IT IS NOW DOING IT AGAIN. IT STARTED THAT SHIFT TO PARK AGAIN ON 8/7/2020.

NHTSA ODI #11348498

47,353 miles · Aug 10, 2020
Unknown Or Other

I HAVE NOTICED A POPPING NOISE ON THE BACK END OF MY CAR FOR OVER A YEAR NOW. I WENT TO THE CHEVY DEALERSHIP WHERE I PURCHASED MY CAR. I WENT ABOUT 3 TO 4 TIMES BY THE TIME THEY COULD HEAR WHAT I WAS TALKING ABOUT. IN JUNE 2020 THEY INSTALLED WASHERS TO PREVENT CONTACT FROM THE STRUT. THAT DID NOT WORK. WHEN I LEFT THE DEALERSHI…

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I HAVE NOTICED A POPPING NOISE ON THE BACK END OF MY CAR FOR OVER A YEAR NOW. I WENT TO THE CHEVY DEALERSHIP WHERE I PURCHASED MY CAR. I WENT ABOUT 3 TO 4 TIMES BY THE TIME THEY COULD HEAR WHAT I WAS TALKING ABOUT. IN JUNE 2020 THEY INSTALLED WASHERS TO PREVENT CONTACT FROM THE STRUT. THAT DID NOT WORK. WHEN I LEFT THE DEALERSHIP IT WAS STILL MAKING THAT SOUND. IT SEEMS TO BE LOUDER WHEN DRIVING SLOW OR WHEN IT HEATS UP OUTSIDE LATER ON IN THE DAY. IT ALSO MAKES THAT POPPING NOISE WHEN I TAKE MY FOOT OFF BRAKE AT A STOP LIGHT BEFORE I ACCELERATE. IT MAKES THE POPPING NOISE SOMETIMES WHEN I SIT DOWN IN THE CAR. ONE DAY I WAS BOUNCING IN THE DRIVER SEAT TO SEE IF I COULD DUPLICATE THE SOUND AND IT WAS POPPING LOUDLY.

NHTSA ODI #11348495

Official recalls

9

21V649000 · Seat Belts:critical Fasteners; Seat Belts:rear/other:retractor

Aug 20, 2021

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 & remedy

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.

Additional source detail variants (2)

Seat Belts:rear/other:retractor

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.

Seat Belts:critical Fasteners

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.

18V400000 · Air Bags:sensor:occupant Classification

Jun 14, 2018

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 front passenger seat, potentially causing the air bag to not deploy when it should, or causing the air bag to deploy when it shouldn't.

Consequence & remedy

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.

18V358000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:fuel Pump

May 31, 2018

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 resulting in the pump damaging the high pressure fuel line.

Consequence & remedy

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 customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is 18188.

16V781000 · Air Bags:side/window

Oct 26, 2016

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 & remedy

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.

16V502000 · 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.

16V272000 · Electronic Stability Control (esc)

May 5, 2016

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 electronic stability control (ESC). As such, these vehicles fail to conform to Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 126, "Electronic Stability Control Systems."

Consequence & remedy

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.

16V151000 · Air Bags:side/window

Mar 11, 2016

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."

Consequence & remedy

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.

16V125000 · Air Bags:frontal

Mar 2, 2016

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 air bag may improperly inflate during second-stage deployment in the event of a high speed crash.

Consequence & remedy

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.

16V084000 · Electrical System:software

Feb 11, 2016

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 vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS) number 114, "Theft Protection", and/or 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."

Consequence & remedy

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.

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

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.