Chevrolet Malibu Passenger Air Bag Sensor Defect

NHTSA campaign 18V400000 · Reported Jun 14, 2018 · General Motors LLC

high How serious is it? About this label

Improper air bag deployment in a crash increases the risk of injury to the passenger. The notice does not tell owners to stop driving.

Key facts

NHTSA campaign number	18V400000
Reported to NHTSA	Jun 14, 2018
Manufacturer	General Motors LLC
Part affected	AIR Bags:sensor:occupant Classification
Vehicles covered	1 model/year combination, model years 2018
Do-not-drive advisory	No
Park-outside advisory	No
Repair	Free at any franchised dealer

What's wrong, in plain English

On some 2016-2018 Chevrolet Malibu vehicles, a passenger seat sensor system that detects whether an adult or child is in the front seat may have been installed without being properly matched to the seat type during past service. This can cause the air bag to fail to deploy when it should, or to deploy when it shouldn't.

What you should do

1. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
2. Contact a Chevrolet dealer, or call Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020.
3. The passenger sensor service kit replacement is free.

Where do I find my VIN, and what do I tell the dealer?

Your VIN is the 17-character code on the lower left of the windshield, on your registration and usually on your insurance card. Enter it at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether this recall is still open on your car. When you call the dealer, say you have an open safety recall and give them NHTSA campaign number 18V400000. More in how recalls work.

Affected vehicles (1)

2018 Chevrolet Malibu

Who to contact

Chevrolet — official Chevrolet recall lookup

Customer service: 1-800-222-1020

Any franchised dealer for the brand can do the repair. Phone numbers are taken from manufacturer sites and recent NHTSA notices; if one has changed, the number in your own recall letter is the one to use.

The bigger picture

Chevrolet Air Bag Recalls Cover Deployment, Sensors, and Mounting Problems · all 19 Chevrolet recalls in this area

Other Chevrolet Malibu recalls

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Dec 14, 2022Malibu front frame weld defect risks crash sensorshigh
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Aug 20, 2021Chevrolet Malibu and Cadillac XT4 Loose Seat Belthigh
Oct 29, 2020GM transmission bolts missing, leak and fire riskcritical

All 10 Malibu recalls

Official notice

Component: AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION
Summary: General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2016-2018 Chevrolet Malibu vehicles. During servicing, a Passenger Presence System (PPS) may have been installed that was not correctly calibrated to the vehicle's seat type. As a result, the PPS may not properly identify an adult passenger from a child passenger in the front passenger seat, potentially causing the air bag to not deploy when it should, or causing the air bag to deploy when it shouldn't.
Safety risk: In the event of a crash, improper air bag deployment can increase the risk of injury.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger PPS seat service kit, free of charge. The recall began August 7, 2018. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is 18208.

Verify your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov. Recall repairs are free of charge by law.