2015 Chevrolet Malibu
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Engine is the leading concern among 270 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 19th highest complaint count among 26 Malibu model years with reports.
Of the 2015 reports, 18 involved a crash and 9 involved a fire. 13 people were injured and 1 person died.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
Electrical system, ignitionJul 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."
If the key is removed without the transmission in PARK, the vehicle may rollaway as occupants are exiting, increasing the risk of injury.
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.
Campaign 16V502000 on NHTSA.gov
Air bags, side/windowOct 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.
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.
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.
Campaign 15V666000 on NHTSA.gov
Visibility, sun/moon roof assemblyMar 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."
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.
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.
Campaign 15V164000 on NHTSA.gov
Representative owner complaints: air bags
49 reports, newest first. Show all
Air bags, Dec 20, 2019
SERVICE AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON WITH NO WARNING. I JUST STARTED MY CAR AND THE DISPLAY SAID TO SERVICE AIRBAG. CAR HAS NEVER BEEN IN A WRECK. AFTER SOME RESEARCH, I FOUND MULTIPLE PEOPLE HAVING THIS ISSUE. THEY ALL TURNED THEIR VEHICLES IN TO A GM DEALERSHIP AND ALMOST ALL HAD A FAULTY AIR BAG CONTROL MODULE. I HOPE THAT SAFETY INVESTIGATES DEEPLY ON THIS SO NO ONE WILL HAVE A DEADLY WRECK. THE WEBSITE IS POSTED BELOW. HTTP://WWW.CARPROBLEMZOO.COM/CHEVROLET/MALIBU/2015/AIR-BAG-LIGHT-ON-PROBLEMS.PHP
Air bags, Seat belts, Oct 4, 2019
I WENT TO WORK FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 27, 2019. WHERE MY CAR SAT FOR TWO HOURS. WHEN I CAME BACK OUT I HAD A SERVICE AIR BAG LIGHT ON. MY CAR IS A 2105, I'M THE SECOND OWNER. IT'S NEVER BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER I HAD BOUGHT IT FROM A YEAR AGO. THEY TOLD ME IT WAS A FAULTY AIR BAG MODULE THAT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. LUCKILY IT DIDN'T TAKE AN ACCIDENT FOR FAULTING IN SEVERE INJURY, BEFORE I HAD KNOWN WHAT WAS GOING ON. I CALLED GM HOPING TO GET SOME ANSWERS. ONLY TO BE TOLD THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO TO HELP ME. FROM READING ONLINE I'VE SEEN A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE THIS ISSUE. I JUST PRAY SOMETHING CAN BE FIXED BEFORE SOMEONE GETS SERIOUSLY INJURED. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. WE DON'T PAY THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS FOR A CAR, TO HAVE THINGS GO SERIOUSLY WRONG WITH THEM. I UNDERSTAND THINGS GET WORE OUT AND NEED REPLACED, BUT COMING FROM A COMPANY WHO STATES SAFETY IS A PRIORITY, I DON'T FEEL AN AIR BAG MODULE SHOULD BE GOING OUT AFTER ONLY 4 YEARS.
Air bags, Oct 2, 2019
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED, THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND STARTED TO FLASH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO MIDWAY MOTORS CHEVROLET HUTCHINSON (1200 E 30TH AVE, HUTCHINSON, KS 67502, (620) 662-4421) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE DIAGNOSTIC TOOL RETRIEVED FOUR FAULT CODES: B101D, C0186, C0196, AND C0287. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE AIR BAG SENSING DIAGNOSTIC MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 53,800.
Electrical system, Air bags, Aug 5, 2019
THE SENSOR LIGHT FOR MY AIRBAGS STAYS ON. THE CAR HAS LESS THAN 50,000 MILES ON IT, AND THE SENSOR DOES NOT WORK.
Air bags, Jul 30, 2019
AIR BAG LIGHT KEPT COMING ON.
Air bags, Jul 7, 2019
LIGHT WARNING COMES ON STATING SAFETY AIRBAGS DEFECTED. WE NEED THIS FIXED UNDER RECALL AND HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR ABOUT 3 MONTHS.
Air bags, Jun 27, 2019
MY CAR WAS TAKEN IN LIKE 3 YEARS AGO FOR AIRBAG RECAL AND IT AS FIX BUT ALL OF A SUDDEN THE AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON
Air bags, Jun 11, 2019
APRIL 1ST 2019 THE SERVICE AIRBAG LIGHT STARTED COMING ON ON MY DASHBOARD I WENT INTO A AUTOMOTIVE REPAIR PLACE AND THEY TOLD ME THAT THE AIR MODULE TO THE AIRBAG NEEDED TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE IT WAS DEFECTED.
Air bags, Jun 7, 2019
DROVE MY MALIBU TO SEE A SHOW AND PARKED IN THE GARAGE. AFTER THE SHOW, WHEN TURNED ON THE IGNITION HAD A SERVICE AIRBAG LIGHT. TOOK IT TO THE GM DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM AND SAID HAD TO REPLACE THE AIR BAG SDM ELECTRICAL MODULE WITH A TOTAL PRICE ESTIMATE OF ALMOST $1,000 CAD !!! I HAVE HAD THIS VEHICLE SINCE DECEMBER 2014 AND HAVE DRIVEN IT TO FLORIDA EVERY WINTER SINCE. IT ONLY HAS 82,500 KM ON IT. I BELIEVE THIS IS A PREMATURE FAILURE AND IS A SAFETY ISSUE. SHOULD BE THE SAME AS THE NEW CAR EMISSIONS WARRANTY WHERE EMISSION COMPONENTS ARE COVERED MUCH LONGER THAN NEW CAR WARRANTY.
Air bags, Seats, Apr 25, 2019, crash
AIRBAG LIGHT IS KEEP COMING ON. I HAVE POWER SEATS AND PAYED TO GET THE PANEL FIXED AND THE PANEL IS HANGING AGAIN.
Air bags, Mar 11, 2019
TAKATA RECALL A LIGHT CAME ON THAT READ 'HAVE YOUR AIRBAG CHECKED.' I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER, RUSSELL BARNETT, WINCHESTER,TN. THEY CAME OUT WITH A PRICE FOR REPLACEMENT OF $750.00. I ASKED IF THIS WAS COVERED BY CHEVROLET. THEY ANSWERED NO. I THEN REMINDED THEM THAT I OF $10HAVE EXTENDED WARRANTY. THEY THEN SAID LET ME CHECK IT OUT. IN A FEW MINUTES, THEY CAME BACK WITH A SECOND FIGURE OF $150.00 WHICH INCLUDED THE $50.00 DEDUCTIBLE. MY QUESTION IS DO I PAY?
Air bags, Feb 7, 2019
MY AIRBAG SERVICE LIGHT WAS ON- I HAD A DIAGNOSTIC RAN ON MY VEHICLE. I WAS TOLD BY THE GLENDORA CHEVROLET DEALERSHIP THAT MY VEHICLE WAS TOO DANGEROUS TO DRIVE AND I NEEDED TO HAVE MY AIRBAG REPLACED FOR $1,000. I HAVE NEVER BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT AND MY AIRBAGS HAVE NEVER BEEN DEPLOYED. THIS SEEMS LIKE AN ODD SERVICE NEEDED ON A NEWER VEHICLE. THIS SHOULD BE CATEGORIZED AS A SAFETY RECALL ISSUE VERSUS A MAINTENANCE NEEDED.
Air bags, Oct 12, 2018
DEFECTIVE AIRBAG NEEDED TO BE REPLACED
Air bags, May 17, 2018, crash
ON SEPTEMBER 21, 2015 I WAS DRIVING WAS DRIVING NORTH (23 MPH) AND WAS T-BONED BY ANOTHER VEHICLE WHO TOOK A 2 WAY STOP SIGN. I DID NOT HAVE A STOP SIGN. I WAS PUSHED ACROSS TWO LANES AND INTO A GRASSY FIELD. I WAS SLAMMED INTO IN BETWEEN THE PASSENGER DRIVERS SEAT AND THE BACK PASSENGER SEAT. I WAS WEARING MY SEAT BELT AS WAS MY DAUGHTER WHOM WAS SITTING MY AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CAR THAT THAT HIT ME ALL THEIR AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. I WAS THE DRIVER AND MY DAUGHTER WAS A PASSENGER IN THE BACK . I BROKE MY NECK AND HAD DISPLACED FLUID IN MY KNEE. SHE HAD MINOR BRUISING IN HER CAR SEAT. I TRIED FILING AGAINST GM AND NOTHING WAS DONE. THEY CAME BACK CLAIMING THAT THE SYSTEM HAD NOT FAILED. I HAD NO FURTHER WAY OF PROVING OTHER WISE. I FEEL THAT MY CAR FALLS INTO A RECALL BUT THAT IT HAS NOT YET BEEN DISCOVERED OR ESTABLISHED. HOW IS IT POSSIBLE THAT NOT ONE AIRBAG DEPLOYED? NOT THE FRONT DRIVERS OR THE CURTAINS?
Air bags, May 10, 2018
I BOUGHT MY CAR USED, IT HASN'T EVEN BEEN A YEAR YET THAT I HAVE HAD IT. MY AIR BAG SENSOR WENT OFF SO I HAD IT CHECKED. THEY THEN GAVE ME A QUOTE OF HOW MUCH IT IS TO FIX THEY INFORMED ME THAT IT IS THE MAIN BRAIN OF THE AIRBAGS AND TECHNICALLY IT CONTROLS BOTH DRIVERS & PASSENGER AIRBAGS. SO RIGHT NOW BECAUSE THE BRAIN FAILED I DO NOT HAVE AIR BAGS AT ALL. IF I WERE TO GET IN AN ACCIDENT I WOULD NOT BE PROTECTED. I HAVE TALKED TO A FRIEND AT THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE AND THEY THINK THAT THE AIR BAG MIGHT HAVE BEEN DEFECTED AND TO CHECK INTO IT. I HAVE A CHEVEROLET CASE NUMBER AND HAVE BEEN DEALING WITH THIS FOR A COUPLE OF WEEKS NOW. PLEASE CHECK INTO THIS FURTHER ON THIS END. THANK YOU
Air bags, May 8, 2018
TAKATA AIR BAGS STOPPED WORKING, BOTH DRIVERS AND PASSENGER AIRBAGS. THE CAR DEALER SAID THE MAIN BRAIN FAILED AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED.
Air bags, Apr 6, 2018, crash
2015 CHEVROLET MALIBU. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO DRIVER SIDE AIRBAG. DURING AN AUTO ACCIDENT THE DRIVERS SIDE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. *LD *TR THE CONSUMER STATED THE MANUFACTURER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND STATED THE AIRBAGS OPERATED AS DESIGNED. THE MANUFACTURER WOULD NOT SHARE THE AIRBAGS REPORT WITH THE CONSUMER. *JS
Air bags, Jan 6, 2018
WHILE DRIVING MY CAR ON CITY STREET MY AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON AND A TOOL PART WAS ON DISPLAY
Air bags, Oct 13, 2017
SERVICE AIR BAG AND LIGHT CAME ON TOOK IT TO A GM DEALER THEY TOLD ME THAT WITH THE MILES IT HAD 44,000 IT WAS NOT COVERED UNDER WARANITY AND I WOULD HAVE TO PAY TO HAVE IT CHECKED AND REPAIRED AND I TOLD THEM THIS IS NOT RITE AND I SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PAY FOR SOMETHING LIKE THIS I DID FIND OUT THAT THEY HAVE BEEN A LOT OF THE SENSORS UNDER THE HOOD BEING REPLACED BECAUSE WATER WAS GETTING IN THEM IF SO I BELIVE THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL FROM GM AND IT SHOULD BE TAKEING CARE OF THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND SHOULD BE LOOKED INTO THEY WANT TO CHARGE FOR SOMETHING THEY KNOW THAT IS DEFECTIVE IS SO WRONG
Air bags, Oct 5, 2017
EVERY TIME I TURN ON MY CAR, IT STATES SERVICE AIRBAG WITH AN EXCLAMATION POINT, CODES C0196, C0186, C0287, B101D, B0081
Electrical system, Air bags, Jun 2, 2017
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG SERVICE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO LUMBERTON CHEVROLET BUICK GMC CADILLAC (LOCATED AT 500 LINKHAW RD., LUMBERTON, NC) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE COMPUTER NEEDED UPDATING. THE COMPUTER WAS UPDATED; HOWEVER, AS SOON AS THE CONTACT LEFT THE DEALER, THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AGAIN. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE LOCAL DEALER SEVERAL TIMES, BUT THE DIAGNOSTIC RESULTS WERE UNKNOWN. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE PREVIOUS REPAIRS WERE COVERED UNDER A WARRANTY, BUT THE FAILURE PERSISTED AND THE WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 15,000.
Air bags, Dec 19, 2016, crash
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH MAKING A RIGHT TURN, THE CONTACT STRUCK ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED, BUT FAILED TO FILL UP. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 17,440
Air bags, Electronic stability control (ESC), Sep 21, 2016, crash
"TAKATA RECALL" DURING A SIDE IMPACT COLLISON AT 45MPH , THE SIDE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY (NO AIR BAGS DEPLOYED) AND THE STABILITRAK WAS DISABLED . AN ERROR MESSAGE OF SERVICE STABILITRAK APPEARED DURING THE ACCIDENT
Air bags, Aug 31, 2016
CPSC: AIRBAG: 2015 CHEVROLET MALIBU: CONSUMER STATED THE AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY AFTER A COLLISON DURING A SPEED OF 60 MPH. *SS