Problems · by component

1997 Chevrolet Malibu air bags problems

25 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 1997 Chevrolet Malibu cite air bags, 6% of all 452 complaints for this model year. NHTSA also lists 1 recall on this component.

Complaints
25
6% of all complaints
Crashes
11
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
9
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the air bags

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“I WAS DRIVING ON A RESIDENTIAL STREET AND REALIZED I WAS GOING THE WRONG WAY. I TURNED LEFT TO MAKE A U-TURN AND DROVE ONTO THE EASEMENT (DIRT). WHEN I TURNED THE STEERING WHEEL TO THE LEFT ALL THE WAY, BOTH AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. I WAS BURNED BY THE CHEMICALS OVER THE LEFT SIDE OF MY NECK AND CHEST, LEFT EAR AND INSIDE LEFT WRIST. I WAS TRAVELING LESS THAN 5 MPH WHILE MAKING THIS TURN. THE PASSENGER AIRBAG KNOCKED MY WINDOW CAMERA OFF AND BROKE IT AND SENT PART OF A HANDHELD FAN CLIPPED TO THE PASSENGERS VISOR, INTO MY HEAD AND ENDED UP IN THE BACKSEAT. I DID NOT HIT ANYTHING AS IT WAS JUST DIRT.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Dec 17, 2019Air bagsODI 11289715
“SWERVED TO AVOID A DEER AND STRUCK A GUARD RAIL, HEAD ON. AIR BAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY AND SEAT BELT DIDN'T LOCK UP. POLICE, FIRE, AMBULANCE AND TOW TRUCK DRIVER COULDN'T BELIEVE THE BAGS AND SEAT BELT FAILED. DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING AND RECEIVE A CONCUSSION, A V SHAPE CUT IN SCALP REQUIRING 17 STITCHES TO CLOSE AND SEVERE BRUISING ALL OVER. POLICE THINKS HER HEAD STRUCK THE STEERING WHEEL OR POSSIBLY THE REAR VIEW MIRROR. SLACK IN SEAT BELT ALLOWED TOO MUCH BODY MOVEMENT AND THE AIR BAGS FAILURE CAUSE THE HEAD TRAUMA. ENTIRE FRONT END OF CAR IS DESTROYED SO SENSORS SHOULD HAVE ACTIVATE. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 2, 2015Air bags, Seat beltsCrash reportedODI 10691665
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE FRAME SEPARATED FROM THE VEHICLE CAUSING IT TO FLIP AND CRASH INTO A TREE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED HEAD AND NECK INJURIES WHICH REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 29, 2014Suspension, Air bags, StructureCrash reportedODI 10639799
“SITTING AT A RED LIGHT IN A COMPLETE STOPPED POSITION THE CAR ROLLED FORWARD WITH THE BRAKE STILL BEING DEPRESSED AND COMPLETELY WENT TO THE FLOOR AS I QUICKLY TRIED TO PUMP THE BRAKES TO STOP AND AN ONCOMING VEHICLE STRUCK ME. TROOPERS AND OTHER PERSONAL CHECKED MY BRAKES AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT AND SAID THAT THERE WASN'T ANY BRAKES. NO BRAKE PROBLEMS HAD BEEN EXPERIENCED PRIOR TO THIS. I WAS SEVERELY STRUCK BY THE OTHER VEHICLE WHICH COMPLETELY TURNED THE DIRECTION OF MY VEHICLE AND CAUSED TOTAL DAMAGE RESULTING IN A TOTAL LOSS. THE IMPACT WAS SO HARD, THE OTHER DRIVE WAS CITED FOR HIS HIGH-SPEED HIT TO MY VEHICLE. THE AIRBAGS NEVER DEPLOYED AND IS A GREAT CONCERN OF MINE AT THIS POINT IN TIME AS WELL AS THE BRAKE FAILURE. I RECEIVED NOTICE IN DECEMBER 2007 FROM GM THAT THERE WAS A SETTLEMENT OF A PENDING DISTRICT COURT CASE (DELMAS FORD, EL AL. V. GENERAL MOTORS CORPORATION, CASE NO. CJ-2002-424) WHICH MEANT THAT MY VEHICLE HAD TO BE SEAN BY A AUTHORIZED CHEVY DEALER TO HAVE THE 1997 CHEVY MALIBU'S SENSING AND DIAGNOSTIC MODULE REPROGRAMMED. THIS REFERRED TO TSB #07-09-41-006 DATED AUGUST 2007. I HAD THE VEHICLE SEEN AS SOON AS THERE WAS AN OPEN…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 21, 2008Air bags, EquipmentCrash reportedODI 10225297
“DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE FRONTAL AIRBAG DEPLOYED WHILE PULLING THE VEHICLE INTO THE DRIVEWAY AT 5MPH. THERE WAS NO IMPACT OR WARNING PRIOR TO THE DEPLOYMENT. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN INSPECTED AND MANUFACTURER HAS NOT BEEN ALERTED.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jun 19, 2006Air bagsODI 10160139
“DT: ON 07/19/2005 THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS HIT FROM BEHIND WHICH CAUSED IT TO NOSE DIVE INTO A DITCH. UPON IMPACT THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THERE WERE NO LIGHTS ILLUMINATED ON THE DASH PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT. THE CONTACT DID NOT KNOW HOW FAST THE OTHER VEHICLE WAS TRAVELING AT THE TIME OF IMPACT. THE IMPACT OF THE CRASH BENT THE VEHICLE'S DOORS AND BUSTED HE WINDSHIELD. *AK *NM”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 6, 2005Air bagsCrash reportedODI 10131099

Showing 6 of 25 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 10, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Related recalls

1 recall on this component

Air bags: frontal

Free remedy

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: PASSENGER VEHICLES. THE FASTENERS THAT SECURE THE PASSENGER AIR BAG MODULE TO THE INSTRUMENT PANEL TIE BAR WERE OMITTED.

Air bagsReported Jun 28, 1997NHTSA 97V107000
Data from NHTSA Recalls API · synced Nov 10, 2026

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.