NHTSA campaign 16V151000 · Manufacturer campaign 31820
Chevrolet Recall 16V-151: Side Air Bag Weld Studs May Separate/FMVSS 214
NHTSA recall 16V151000 (Manufacturer campaign 31820) was reported by General Motors LLC on March 11, 2016, with 3,137 vehicles potentially affected (per NHTSA). NHTSA's record lists the Chevrolet Malibu for the 2016 model year. Owners were notified on April 14, 2016, per NHTSA.
Updated daily from NHTSA's recall files
Is my vehicle included?
This page lists, by model year, the vehicles NHTSA's recall record names for campaign 16V151000 in the model years try.vin imports (1995 and later); NHTSA's own record can list more. A model year on the list doesn't mean every vehicle of that year is included, and some may already have been repaired.
To see whether a specific vehicle is included and still needs the repair, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Chevrolet VIN check: decode a VIN to see its year, make and model.
Key facts
- NHTSA campaign
- 16V151000 (also written 16V-151 or 16V151)
- Filed by
- General Motors LLC
- Manufacturer campaign number
- 31820
- Report received
- Potentially affected
- 3,137 vehicles (per NHTSA)
- Component
- Air Bags — Side/Window
- Owners notified
- Safety standard
- FMVSS 214
Repair completion: 97.99% (latest rate the manufacturer reported to NHTSA; dataset updated October 21, 2026)
NHTSA cautions against comparing completion rates across recalls or manufacturers. How try.vin reads them.
Vehicles listed for this recall
NHTSA's recall record lists these vehicles for recall 16V151000. try.vin imports model years 1995 and later, so NHTSA's own list can be longer. Model years with a try.vin recall page link to it. Build dates are NHTSA's range for a model year (per NHTSA); a vehicle built in that range is not necessarily included.
Chevrolet
Chevrolet Malibu
- 2016 · Vehicles built February 16, 2016 – March 5, 2016 (per NHTSA)
NHTSA's recall notice
As NHTSA's recall record states it for campaign 16V151000.
Defect description
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2016 Malibu vehicles manufactured February 16, 2016, to March 5, 2016. The two weld studs that mount the front and rear side impact air bags may fracture and separate from the air bag during deployment. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 214, "Side Impact Protection."
Safety consequence
Fractured weld studs may allow the side air bag to move out of position during deployment, increasing the risk of injury.
Manufacturer remedy
GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the side air bag modules, free of charge. The recall began on April 14, 2016. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is 31820.
Notes
Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.
Sources
Official NHTSA notice for recall 16V151000
Campaign details come from NHTSA's recall files, which try.vin imports once a day. The plain-language subject and the completion rate come from the U.S. Department of Transportation's Recalls Data dataset. How try.vin reads recall data.