TireKick

Reported years

Airbags owner reports: Chevrolet Malibu years in the records

Owner reports are bound to model year 2018. A year on this list does not mean every car has the problem.

Years we reviewed

What to inspect

  1. 1Ask the inspector to test the named system and note any warning lights, noises, leaks, or stored codes.
Sources and limits
Source recordEvidence: Medium confidence

The records describe a possible crash, fire, injury, or loss of control.

“The contact owned a 2018 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that after her husband entered traffic at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle was struck on the front driver's side by another vehicle at 45 MPH. The air bags did not deploy as a result of the collision. No warning lights were displayed on the instrument panel. A police report was filed, and three individuals were treated for injuries: the driver of the vehicle was treated for a broken collar bone, the passenger of the vehicle was treated for bruising, and the driver of the other vehicle was treated for undisclosed injuries. The vehicle was towed to a tow yard. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer or an independent mechanic. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 70,000.”
NHTSAcomplaintJul 2023Open source record
Source recordEvidence: Medium confidence

The records describe a possible crash, fire, injury, or loss of control.

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING 4 MPH, THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS STRUCK BY ANOTHER VEHICLE ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT SUFFERED MINOR BRUISES AND THE CONTACTS WIFE SUFFERED HEAD INJURIES. MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS REQUIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE INSURANCE COMPANY FOR INSPECTION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING OR REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 1,000. **TR CONSUMER STATED THE CAR WAS DEEMED TOTALED FROM OUR INSURANCE COMPANY. WHEN LEAVING A STOP LIGHT WE WERE HIT ON DRIVER SIDE- THE DRIVERS HEAD HIT THE DRIVERS SIDE WINDOW UPON IMPACT. THE DRIVER WAS KNOOCKED OUT AND TRANSPORTED TO LOCAL HOSPITAL THEN TO A LARGER HOSPITAL. NO AIRBAGS (EVEN THE SIDE CURTAIN AIRBAGS) DEPLOYED. UPDATED 10/20/18*JB”
NHTSAcomplaintSep 2018Open source record
Source recordEvidence: Medium confidence

The records describe a possible crash, fire, injury, or loss of control.

“I was at a red light and out of no where the Air bags on the driver side deployed, there was a passenger thanks god they did not go out.”
NHTSAcomplaintOct 2021Open source record
Source recordEvidence: Medium confidence

The records describe a possible crash, fire, injury, or loss of control.

“THE CONTACT OWNED A 2018 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, A SECOND VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE. DURING THE CRASH THE TOP SECTION OF THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELT MALFUNCTIONED AND DID NOT SECURE THE PASSENGER CAUSING THE PASSENGER TO MAKE CONTACT WITH THE FRONT WINDSHIELD. ALSO, BOTH THE FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAGS DID NOT IMMEDIATELY DEPLOY UPON IMPACT. THE FRONT PASSENGER SUSTAINED BRUISING OF THE BOTTOM TORSO, BACK, NECK, AND HEAD INJURIES. A POLICE REPORT WAS TAKEN AT THE SCENE. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED AWAY. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE LOCAL DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 96,336. THE CONSUMER PROVIDED PHOTOS AND POLICE REPORT.”
NHTSAcomplaintMay 2021Open source record
Source recordEvidence: Medium confidence

The records describe a possible crash, fire, injury, or loss of control.

“HAD A CAR ACCIDENT ON SEPTEMBER 17, 2019 MY CAR STALLED WHILE MAKING LEFT TURN HAD THIS PROBLEM SINCE I PURCHASED THIS CAR ALSO MY TIRES CONTINUED TO GO ON FLAT”
NHTSAcomplaintNov 2019Open source record
Source recordEvidence: Medium confidence

The records describe a possible crash, fire, injury, or loss of control.

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, ANOTHER VEHICLE UNEXPECTEDLY TURNED LEFT AND CAUSED THE CONTACT TO CRASH INTO THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR OF THE VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR WAS ILLUMINATED PRIOR TO THE CRASH. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED NECK AND BACK INJURIES. THE CONTACT SOUGHT MEDICAL ATTENTION AT AN EMERGENCY ROOM AND WAS RECEIVING PHYSICAL THERAPY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FRONT BUMPER AND HEADLIGHT RAMP ON THE FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE AIR BAG WAS NOT REPAIRED DUE TO THE SALVAGE TITLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE WAS UNAWARE OF THE SALVAGE TITLE WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASING USED FROM THE DEALER. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 24,988. *TT*JB”
NHTSAcomplaintOct 2019Open source record
Source recordEvidence: Medium confidence

The records describe a possible crash, fire, injury, or loss of control.

“I WAS DRIVING HOME AFTER WORK ON A GRAVEL ROAD, THE ROAD PULLED ME INTO A DITCH WHERE I THEN IMPACTED ON A CONCRETE SLAB BUT NONE OF MY AIRBAGS WENT OFF LEAVING ME VULNERABLE TO LIFE SUSTAINING INJURIES. I ENDED UP WITH BROKEN RIBS AND BRUISES ALL OVER BECAUSE MY AIRBAGS DID NOT GO OFF IN MY CAR ACCIDENT.”
NHTSAcomplaintAug 2019Open source record