2023 Chevrolet Malibu Air bags Problems
- Complaints
- 8about this part
- Share
- 11%of 72 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 29,000miles
- Trend
- Too newThis model year is less than 4 years old, so a trend is not meaningful yet.
NHTSA recorded 8 complaints about the air bags of the 2023 Chevrolet Malibu, 11% of the 72 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 29,000 miles. 5 of these say a crash was involved, according to the filers.
Fewer than 15 complaints name this part, so treat the figures as a rough indication only.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“October 7, 2026 this vehicle hydroplaned and I lost control of the vehicle. To the best of my knowledge, the steering wheel locked and when attempted to step on the brakes, no braking occurred. The vehicle slid into grass which then hit the guard railing on the interstate. After being inspected by collision shop techs, they have reason to believe the airbag sensor defected or was not installed to signal the airbags to deploy. The driver side door panel airbag did attempt to deploy but was unsuccessful.”
NHTSA complaint #11772773, filed 2026-10“When I was in a car accident I was hit on the rear passenger side of my vehicle, right near where my side air bags are supposed to be located. I was hit at 50 mph and the airbags did not deploy.”
NHTSA complaint #11707590, filed 2025-12“My car randomly shuts off when but still says it’s on at a stop light which causes a lot of problems because I have to push the start button to turn off and turn on again. Something is wrong with the wiring, in order for me to turn my car off I have to unplug my battery otherwise my car safety alarm will activate and hazard lights will go off and trunk will open. Which also cause my horn to go out. Everytime I turn my car on it says service ESC which I have no clue what that means and have asked multiple people . …”
NHTSA complaint #11596171, filed 2024-06“I brought in my used vehicle to the dealership the same dealership that I purchased my car from due to another issue i was having with the car. Upon inspection from the dealership a diagnostic test was done on the vehicle, the dealership gave me a invoice stating airbag malfunction needs the airbag on horn . I purchased this used vehicle from this dealership 4-4-25,. 6-10-25 i returned for the issue I was having and the dealership gave me this invoice with the information concerning the airbag. Yes it is available for inspection. …”
NHTSA complaint #11666441, filed 2025-06“On December 24, 2025, the contact's 2023 Chevrolet Malibu was involved in a severe side-impact collision. The vehicle was struck on the rear passenger side by a full-size pickup truck traveling at high speed (est. 60 mph) that failed to stop at a red light. The impact caused the contact's vehicle to spin approximately 180 degrees and strike a concrete median sideways, generating high lateral G-forces. FAILURE 1: AIRBAG NON-DEPLOYMENT. …”
NHTSA complaint #11707356, filed 2025-12Air bags: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 8 | 11% |
| 2022 | 4 | 4% |
| 2021 | 6 | 7% |
| 2020 | 4 | 2% |
| 2019 | 6 | 3% |
| 2018 | 14 | 2% |
| 2017 | 14 | 2% |
| 2016 | 18 | 2% |
| 2015 | 49 | 18% |
| 2014 | 16 | 5% |
| 2013 | 59 | 7% |
| 2012 | 101 | 11% |
| 2011 | 93 | 10% |
| 2010 | 144 | 11% |
| 2009 | 63 | 4% |
| 2008 | 64 | 6% |
| 2007 | 75 | 8% |
| 2006 | 34 | 3% |
| 2005 | 25 | 3% |
| 2004 | 26 | 2% |
| 2003 | 27 | 5% |
| 2002 | 18 | 3% |
| 2001 | 21 | 3% |
| 2000 | 31 | 3% |
| 1999 | 40 | 5% |
| 1998 | 40 | 4% |
| 1997 | 25 | 6% |
Other parts of the 2023 Chevrolet Malibu
16 complaintsOther or unknown
14 complaintsEngine
13 complaintsElectrical system
12 complaintsFuel system
8 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
8 complaintsSteering
5 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
5 complaintsBrakes
4 complaintsEngine cooling
4 complaintsLane departure
4 complaintsForward collision avoidance
3 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2023 Chevrolet Malibu
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 31, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology