Hearth Record

2016 Chevrolet Malibu

Model year 2016: every recall NHTSA’s file names for it, the complaints owners made to NHTSA, and its crash ratings.

NHTSA’s recall lookup, on nhtsa.gov

Watch and the shortlist are kept with a free account, on every device. Your watch list. NHTSA’s recall lookup is on nhtsa.gov.

The short answer

From NHTSA’s files, copied Oct 26, 2026.

A recall covers the vehicles it names, by build date where NHTSA gives one. Your VIN says which are open on yours.

Is your vehicle in one of these recalls?

No public file says which recalls are still open on one vehicle. NHTSA’s lookup does, from its VIN.

17 letters and numbers, at the bottom of the windshield on the driver’s side. VINs never use I, O or Q.

Source:

The VIN goes to NHTSA, never to Hearth Record.

What recalls name it?

9 recalls for the 2016 Chevrolet Malibu in NHTSA’s file, newest first. Each covers the vehicles it names; your VIN says if yours is one.

None carries NHTSA’s advice not to drive it or to park outside.

Source:

NHTSA, Recalls flat file. Released Oct 26, 2026. Updated daily.

Aug 20, 2021. Seat belts: rear/other: retractor; seat belts: critical fasteners

NHTSA counts 402 potentially involved, across everything this recall names.

  • NHTSA campaign 21V-649

The whole recall, in NHTSA’s words

Jun 14, 2018. Air bags: sensor: occupant classification

NHTSA counts 66 potentially involved, across everything this recall names. The ones named here were built from Nov 20, 2015 to Sep 8, 2017.

  • NHTSA campaign 18V-400

The whole recall, in NHTSA’s words

May 31, 2018. Fuel system, gasoline: delivery: fuel pump

NHTSA counts 895 potentially involved, across everything this recall names. The ones named here were built from Jan 27, 2016 to Apr 27, 2018.

  • NHTSA campaign 18V-358

The whole recall, in NHTSA’s words

Oct 26, 2016. Air bags: side/window

NHTSA counts 18 potentially involved, across everything this recall names. The ones named here were built from Nov 18, 2015 to Jun 7, 2016.

  • NHTSA campaign 16V-781

The whole recall, in NHTSA’s words

Jul 5, 2016. Electrical system: ignition; power train: automatic transmission: control module (tcm/pcm/tecm)

NHTSA counts 8,367 potentially involved, across everything this recall names. The ones named here were built from Apr 7, 2016 to May 31, 2016.

  • NHTSA campaign 16V-502

The whole recall, in NHTSA’s words

May 5, 2016. Electronic stability control (esc)

NHTSA counts 66 potentially involved, across everything this recall names. The ones named here were built from Mar 7, 2016 to Mar 12, 2016.

  • NHTSA campaign 16V-272

The whole recall, in NHTSA’s words

Mar 11, 2016. Air bags: side/window

NHTSA counts 3,137 potentially involved, across everything this recall names. The ones named here were built from Feb 16, 2016 to Mar 5, 2016.

  • NHTSA campaign 16V-151

The whole recall, in NHTSA’s words

Mar 2, 2016. Air bags: frontal

NHTSA counts 1,579 potentially involved, across everything this recall names. The ones named here were built from Jan 9, 2016 to Jan 26, 2016.

  • NHTSA campaign 16V-125

The whole recall, in NHTSA’s words

Feb 11, 2016. Electrical system: software

NHTSA counts 139 potentially involved, across everything this recall names. The ones named here were built from Jul 23, 2015 to Oct 29, 2015.

  • NHTSA campaign 16V-084

The whole recall, in NHTSA’s words

What have owners told NHTSA?

841 complaints to NHTSA, received from Oct 14, 2015 to Oct 16, 2026.

  • 23 complaints told of a crash, and 2 complaints of a fire.
  • Together they report 14 people injured and 1 death.
  • Complaints are owners’ own reports, not findings: NHTSA reads them to decide what to look into. Only their counts are kept here; no complaint’s words or owner are read.
Source:

NHTSA, Owner complaints flat files. Released Oct 26, 2026. Updated daily.

How did it do in crash tests?

NHTSA rated 3 versions of the 2016 Chevrolet Malibu: 5 stars overall, every version.

NHTSA’s 5-Star Safety Ratings, in whole stars. NHTSA’s safety concerns are shown beneath the stars they qualify, as NHTSA asks.

Source:

NHTSA, 5-Star Safety Ratings. Released Aug 7, 2026. Updated monthly.

NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings for the 2016 Chevrolet Malibu, by the version NHTSA rated
VersionOverallFrontal crashSide crashRollover
Malibu, 4 DR, FWD 5 stars 5 starsDriver 5, passenger 4 5 starsSide pole 5 4 starsA 10.2% chance of rolling over; no tip
Malibu ECO, 4 DR, FWD 5 stars 5 starsDriver 5, passenger 4 5 starsSide pole 5 4 starsA 10.2% chance of rolling over; no tip
Malibu Limited, 4 DR, FWD 5 stars 5 starsDriver 5, passenger 4 5 starsSide pole 5 4 starsA 11.1% chance of rolling over; no tip

NHTSA lists no safety concern for any version rated here.

NHTSA’s notes on these ratings

  • Although not included in the star rating, the rear passenger’s thoracic rib deflection was elevated.

Safety technology, as NHTSA lists it for each version

Malibu, FWD

  • Forward collision warning: optional.
  • Lane departure warning: no.
  • Crash imminent braking: no.
  • Dynamic brake support: no.

Malibu ECO, FWD

  • Forward collision warning: no.
  • Lane departure warning: no.
  • Crash imminent braking: no.
  • Dynamic brake support: no.

Malibu Limited, FWD

  • Forward collision warning: optional.
  • Lane departure warning: optional.
  • Crash imminent braking: no.
  • Dynamic brake support: no.

What the record doesn’t say

  • Which recalls are still open on one vehicle: only NHTSA’s lookup, with its VIN, says that.
  • Ratings are for the versions NHTSA tested. Other cabs, engines and drives can rate differently.
  • How serious each complaint was, or whether it was confirmed: complaints aren’t findings.
Source:

Hearth Record wrote these lines.

Sources

  • National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Recalls flat file (FLAT_RCL_POST_2010).

    Released Oct 26, 2026 and checked Oct 26, 2026. Updated daily. Public domain (U.S. Government work).

  • National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Owner complaints flat files.

    Released Oct 26, 2026 and checked Oct 26, 2026. Updated daily. Public domain (U.S. Government work).

  • National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 5-Star Safety Ratings.

    Released Aug 7, 2026 and checked Oct 19, 2026. Updated monthly. Public domain (U.S. Government work).

Source:

Vehicle, car seat, tire and vehicle equipment recalls, owner complaints and crash ratings are from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Copied on Oct 26, 2026.

How to read a record

Four things every record does, shown on an example record made up for this guide.

An example record, made up for this guide

An example nursing home

Made up for this guide: no real place is shown

Not fully inspected in over two years (CMS flag)

11 health citations at the latest inspection cycle

The state average is 14.3.

Source:

CMS, State and US Averages and Health Deficiencies. Released Oct 28, 2026. Updated monthly.

From the homeNone yet. Replies and paid listings aren’t open, and when they open they will sit here, below the record.

1 of 4

Every fact names its source.

Who published it, when, and how often it changes sit beside each fact, with a link to the agency’s own file.

Sign in

A free account keeps your watch list, shortlists, comparisons and saved searches on every device, and can email you when something you watch changes. Browsing never needs one.