2015 Chevrolet Malibu · symptom sheet
Airbag warning light or recall
- 49owner reports
- 48,000median miles
- 8involved a crash
Newest report Jul 22, 2026 · checked Oct 2, 2026
49 of the 267 complaints on this car describe airbag, which makes it the most reported problem on the 2015 Malibu.
Narrower sheets: Airbag warning light stays on (28 reports)
Tick what matches of 49 reports
Airbag on other Malibu years
No other Malibu model year has enough reports of airbag for a sheet of its own. See every Malibu year.
What this problem usually is
Airbag complaints split into a few kinds. The most common is an airbag warning light that won't go out. Others involve the passenger seat sensor switching the passenger bag off with an adult sitting there, an airbag that didn't deploy in a crash, or one that went off without a crash at all. A large share also come from owners waiting on a recall part.
What got replaced
Owners who name the part that was replaced mention the occupant sensor (14 reports) and the module (12 reports).
Recalls and investigations
One recall on the airbags covers the 2015 model year. A recall on the same system isn't always the same failure, so read the defect text.
The affected vehicles have front seat-mounted side impact air bags whose inflator may rupture upon its deployment.
All 3 recalls on the 2015 Chevrolet Malibu, with the owner complaints on each recalled system
NHTSA investigations into the airbags on the Malibu
Dtn air bag inflator rupture. Open.
None of these investigations covers the 2015 model year.
When it happens
The middle half of failures fell between 26,000 and 65,000 miles, from the 29 reports that gave a mileage.
Is this a known problem?
The manufacturer has sent NHTSA 2 service bulletins or notices for the 2015 Chevrolet Malibu that deal with this problem. Newest first.
Federal rules make a manufacturer send NHTSA a copy of any notice about a defect that goes to more than one dealer or owner. Most of these are service bulletins, the repair instructions manufacturers send to dealers. NHTSA generally leaves safety recall bulletins out of this file, and recalls are listed separately.
This informational bulletin provides information on Passenger Presence System (PPS) May Command Seat Belt Reminder Chime and Passenger Airbag Indicator On or Set DTC B101D When Electronic Devices or Conductive Objects are Placed on Front Passenger Seat
Intermittent Airbag Indicator Light ON with Communication DTCs Set
What owners wrote
“Service airbag light goes on and off. Also passenger air bag keeps turning on and off.”
Filed Aug 20, 2025
“Air bag light is on dashboard and my driver seat wonât 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 canât use the seat properly to drive safely.”
Filed Oct 9, 2023
“Air bag warning service notification appeared. Contacted dealership and they stated no recall on my vehicle only trucks and SUV's.”
Filed Aug 3, 2022
Should you keep driving it?
This page can't tell you that. 8 of 49 reports involved a crash and 7 people were hurt. Owners who file are the ones who had a bad experience, and nobody checks their reports. If the problem affects steering, braking, power or a fire risk, treat it as a safety fault and have it inspected before a long or high-speed drive.
File your own report with NHTSA. Complaint counts are how a problem gets an investigation. How reports land on this sheet.
Guide Paid for this repair before a recall covered it? How recall reimbursement works
Other problems on this car
- Engine stalls or loses power while driving 30 reports