NHTSA campaign 16V781000 · Manufacturer campaign 16079
Chevrolet Recall 16V-781: Side Air Bag Fabric May Tear During Deployment
NHTSA recall 16V781000 (Manufacturer campaign 16079) was reported by General Motors LLC on October 26, 2016, with 18 vehicles potentially affected (per NHTSA). NHTSA's record lists the Chevrolet Malibu for the 2016 model year. Owners were notified on October 27, 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 16V781000 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
- 16V781000 (also written 16V-781 or 16V781)
- Filed by
- General Motors LLC
- Manufacturer campaign number
- 16079
- Report received
- Potentially affected
- 18 vehicles (per NHTSA)
- Component
- Air Bags — Side/Window
- Owners notified
Repair completion: 94.44% (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 16V781000. 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 November 18, 2015 – June 7, 2016 (per NHTSA)
NHTSA's recall notice
As NHTSA's recall record states it for campaign 16V781000.
Defect description
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2016 Chevrolet Malibu vehicles manufactured November 18, 2015, to June 7, 2016. The fabric of the side-impact air bag cushion may tear during deployment.
Safety consequence
If the air bag tears during deployment, the air bag may not perform as designed, increasing the risk of injury in the event of a crash.
Manufacturer remedy
GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and, as necessary, replace the air bag module, free of charge. The recall began October 27, 2016. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is 16079.
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 16V781000
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.