Problems · by component
1999 Chevrolet Malibu air bags problems
39 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 1999 Chevrolet Malibu cite air bags, 5% of all 800 complaints for this model year.
Complaints
39
5% of all complaints
Crashes
19
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
17
Reported by owners
What owners say about the air bags
Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“My 1999 Chevy Malibu 3.1 V6 engine won,t turn on the engine whend i try to turn the ignition switch and key lock cylinder on and the fuel pressure regulator won,t work whend i try to turn the ignition switch and key lock cylinder on and the airbag srs system comes on in the spring time and in the hot summer time heat and in the winner time.”
“TAKARA RECALL ..FRONT AND PASSENGER AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY IN ACCIDENT. I WAS STOPPED IN TRAFFIC WHEN A CAR STRUCK ME FROM BEHIND GOING HIGHWAY SPEED , IMPACT CAUSED THE CAR TO GET STUCK IN MY TRUNK PUSHED ME DOWN THE HIGHWAY SIDEWAYS AND STUFFED THE NOSE OF MY CAR INTO THE GUARDRAIL BREAKING THE GUARDRAIL , QUICK THINKING SAVED OUR LIVES ( MY HUSBAND WAS IN THE PASSENGER SEAT )I SAW THE CAR COMING FULL HIGHWAY SPEED AND NOSED MY CAR INTO THE BREAKDOWN LANE TO AVOID GETTING STUFFED UNDER THE TRUCK INFRONT OF ME. THE CAR WAS A COMPLETE LOSS, I ENDED UP WITH A CONCUSSION, TORN ROTATOR CUFF, FRACTURES IN MY RIGHT ARM AND RIGHT KNEE, CHRONIC HEADACHES, AND PARANOIA OF DRIVING.. LUCKILY NO ONE WAS IN THE BACKSEAT BECAUSE THE REAR SEAT BROKE FROM IMPACT WITH THE SPARE TIRE.”
“I WAS GETTING OUT OF MY CAR AND I LEFT IT RUNNING AND THE AIR BAG DEPLOYED AND I DIDN'T HIT ANYTHING I WAS WONDERING IF THERE WAS ANY RECALL ON THIS PARTICULAR MODEL”
“I WAS INVOLVED IN A HIT AND RUN ACCIDENT, WHICH WASNT MY FAULT. THE CAR WAS HIT ON THE PASSENGER SIDE CAUSING THE STEERING COLUMN TO FALL ONTO MY LAP.THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLORE, I SUFFERED A FRACTURED PELVIS WHICH DID NOT HEAL CORRECTLY. IM STILL HAVING PROBLEMS FROM THIS . THE CAR WAS TOTALED. *TR”
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 1999 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING AND CRASHED. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED INJURIES THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTIFICATION FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V400000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. UPDATED 10/22/2014*LJ UPDATED 4/1/2015 *JS”
“I STOPPED AT THE GAS STATION TO PUT SOME AIR IN THE TIRES, AND WHEN I GOT OUT AND CLOSED THE DOOR, BOTH THE DRIVER SIDE AND PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. I AM THANKFUL THAT I WAS NOT SITTING IN THE CAR WHEN THEY JUST ERRONEOUSLY DEPLOYED. *JS”
Showing 6 of 39 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 10, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.