Recall 15V269 affects 437,045 2011-2012 Chevrolet Malibu vehicles for seat belt cables that can break. Repair is free at any franchised Chevrolet dealer.
Chevrolet is recalling 437,045 2011-2012 Malibu vehicles because the flexible steel cables that anchor the front seat belts can bend from repeated contact and break. If a cable breaks, the driver or front passenger is not properly restrained in a crash, increasing injury risk; Chevrolet dealers will complete the recall repair free of charge.
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What's wrong?
The outboard seat belt anchor on the 2011-2012 Chevrolet Malibu uses a flexible steel tensioner cable beside the driver and front passenger seats. That cable helps connect the lap belt to the vehicle structure, so the belt stays anchored when an occupant buckles in and the restraint has to hold the person in place.
On affected Malibu vehicles, the cable can sit far enough forward that a person entering the vehicle sits on it. That bends the cable sharply over the seat side shield, the trim panel along the outside of the seat. Repeated bending fatigues the steel until the cable separates, leaving the seat belt anchor disconnected from the seat.
Before separation, owners can inspect the cable covering at the outside edge of either front seat. Visible tears, holes, or wear marks on that covering are warning signs that the cable has been bent and damaged.
Who's affected?
Covers the 2011 and 2012 Malibu model years under the same seat belt component.
| 2012 Chevrolet Malibu | seat belt |
|---|---|
| 2011 Chevrolet Malibu | seat belt |
| Units affected | 437,045 |
| Field incidents | NHTSA has logged 36 field incidents to date. |
A matching year and model does not guarantee inclusion. Check your VIN to confirm whether your specific sedan is included.
What's the safety risk?
A broken seat belt anchor cable can leave the occupant improperly restrained during a crash, increasing injury risk. Check the cable covering for tears, holes, or wear marks, and treat visible damage as a reason to schedule service soon. Repair is free at any franchised Chevrolet dealer.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 2011-2012 Chevrolet Malibu is included in this recall.
- Contact a franchised Chevrolet dealer to schedule the free outboard lap-anchor bracket replacement and seat-belt cable inspection that addresses repeated bending of the front seat-belt anchor cables.
- Bring the recall notice if Chevrolet mailed one, and reference recall number 15V269 when you call.
- Call Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020 with questions, and reference Chevrolet recall 15031 if the dealer asks for the manufacturer number.
What happens at the repair
At the dealer, a Chevrolet technician replaces the outboard lap anchor mounting bracket for the front seat belt attachment, then inspects the flexible steel cable and replaces the cable if it is damaged. The recall repair is free, including parts and labor. GM's reimbursement plan covers qualifying out-of-pocket repairs completed before the recall notice period ended. If you've already paid for this seat belt anchor or cable repair, bring your repair records and payment documentation to the Chevrolet service desk so they can review the claim path.
| Reimbursement | Reimbursement available |
|---|
Timeline
| May 8, 2015 | NHTSA published the recall |
|---|---|
| July 3, 2015 | Interim owner notification (was planned for this date) |
| November 16, 2015 | Owner notification mailed |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 15V269?
Recall 15V269 covers 437,045 2011-2012 Chevrolet Malibu vehicles with front seat belt anchor cables that can break after repeated bending. If the cable breaks, the occupant is not properly restrained in a crash, increasing injury risk. Chevrolet dealers repair it for free.
What should I do if my 2011-2012 Chevrolet Malibu is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm your specific Malibu is included in recall 15V269. If it is, contact a franchised Chevrolet dealer to schedule the seat belt anchor bracket replacement and cable inspection. Reference recall number 15V269 when you call.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Federal recall law requires the manufacturer to fix the defect at no cost. Chevrolet dealers will replace the outboard lap anchor mounting bracket and inspect the flexible steel cable, replacing the cable as needed, free of charge.
Is it safe to drive a Chevrolet Malibu with recall 15V269 open?
Recall 15V269 does not include a do-not-drive order. The risk is that a broken front seat belt anchor cable will not restrain the occupant properly in a crash. Confirm your VIN, then schedule the free dealer repair.
What if I bought my 2011-2012 Chevrolet Malibu used?
The free recall repair still applies. Recall coverage follows the vehicle, not the first owner. Check your VIN to confirm whether your Malibu is included, then call a Chevrolet dealer or Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/15V269000 |
|---|---|
| Chevrolet customer service | 1-800-222-1020 |
| NHTSA recall # | 15V269 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 15V269000 |
Source documents
-
Download Owner Notice (PDF) - Download Misc. Document (PDF)
- Download Recall Document (PDF) (PDF)
- Download Recall Investigation Document (PDF) (PDF)
- Download Owner Notification Letter (PDF)
- Download Recall Report (PDF)
- Download Quarterly Report (PDF)
- Download Recall Acknowledgement (PDF)
This article is generated from NHTSA's primary recall filings and reviewed against the source on June 1, 2026. RecallNotify does not paraphrase NHTSA's consequence language; that text is reproduced as written above. Editorial standards →