Home · 2015 Chevrolet Malibu Eco · Complaints

What 268 owners told NHTSA about the 2015 Chevrolet Malibu Eco

These are the actual owner complaints behind this car’s reliability verdict, filed with the federal government, unedited. They’re unverified reports, not confirmed defects: read them as leads for your pre-purchase inspection, not a diagnosis.

All (268)Crash / fire / injury (28)Engine (69)Electrical system (66)Airbags (49)Transmission & drivetrain (31)Speed control (28)Fuel system (18)Electronic Stability Control (esc) (16)Brakes (15)Visibility & wipers (14)Body & structure (13)

49 of 268 complaints match · Airbags · clear filters · page 2 of 2

Dec 20, 2019Airbags

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

NHTSA ODI 11290435

Oct 4, 2019AirbagsSeat belts

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.

NHTSA ODI 11266210

Oct 2, 2019Airbags

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.

NHTSA ODI 11265671

Aug 5, 2019Electrical systemAirbags

THE SENSOR LIGHT FOR MY AIRBAGS STAYS ON. THE CAR HAS LESS THAN 50,000 MILES ON IT, AND THE SENSOR DOES NOT WORK.

NHTSA ODI 11241877

Jul 30, 2019Airbags

AIR BAG LIGHT KEPT COMING ON.

NHTSA ODI 11240747

Jul 7, 2019Airbags

LIGHT WARNING COMES ON STATING SAFETY AIRBAGS DEFECTED. WE NEED THIS FIXED UNDER RECALL AND HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR ABOUT 3 MONTHS.

NHTSA ODI 11229901

Jun 27, 2019Airbags

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

NHTSA ODI 11223075

Jun 11, 2019Airbags

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.

NHTSA ODI 11219248

Jun 7, 2019Airbags

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.

NHTSA ODI 11218519

Apr 25, 2019AirbagsSeatsCrash1 death

AIRBAG LIGHT IS KEEP COMING ON. I HAVE POWER SEATS AND PAYED TO GET THE PANEL FIXED AND THE PANEL IS HANGING AGAIN.

NHTSA ODI 11203659

Mar 11, 2019Airbags

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?

NHTSA ODI 11185962

Feb 7, 2019Airbags

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.

NHTSA ODI 11175067

Oct 12, 2018Airbags

DEFECTIVE AIRBAG NEEDED TO BE REPLACED

NHTSA ODI 11140058

May 17, 2018AirbagsCrash2 injuries

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?

NHTSA ODI 11096504

May 10, 2018Airbags

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

NHTSA ODI 11092838

May 8, 2018Airbags

TAKATA AIR BAGS STOPPED WORKING, BOTH DRIVERS AND PASSENGER AIRBAGS. THE CAR DEALER SAID THE MAIN BRAIN FAILED AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED.

NHTSA ODI 11092485

Apr 6, 2018AirbagsCrash1 injury

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

NHTSA ODI 11078168

Jan 6, 2018Airbags

WHILE DRIVING MY CAR ON CITY STREET MY AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON AND A TOOL PART WAS ON DISPLAY

NHTSA ODI 11060862

Oct 13, 2017Airbags

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

NHTSA ODI 11033182

Oct 5, 2017Airbags

EVERY TIME I TURN ON MY CAR, IT STATES SERVICE AIRBAG WITH AN EXCLAMATION POINT, CODES C0196, C0186, C0287, B101D, B0081

NHTSA ODI 11031889

Jun 2, 2017Electrical systemAirbags

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.

NHTSA ODI 10992943

Dec 19, 2016AirbagsCrash

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

NHTSA ODI 10936331

Sep 21, 2016AirbagsElectronic Stability Control (esc)Crash2 injuries

"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

NHTSA ODI 10908609

Aug 31, 2016Airbags

CPSC: AIRBAG: 2015 CHEVROLET MALIBU: CONSUMER STATED THE AIRBAG DID NOT DEPLOY AFTER A COLLISON DURING A SPEED OF 60 MPH. *SS

NHTSA ODI 10902921

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Working with the data? Download all 268 complaints as CSV · fetched from NHTSA July 24, 2026

How to use these: a complaint is one owner’s report, filed voluntarily and published unverified. Patterns matter more than any single story. If several owners describe the same failure at similar mileage, put that system at the top of your pre-purchase inspection list. Back to the full 2015 Chevrolet Malibu Eco verdict →