Recall 16V125 affects 1,579 2016 Colorado, Canyon, and Malibu vehicles for driver frontal air bag inflation. Repair is free at any franchised Chevrolet dealer.
Chevrolet is recalling 1,579 2016 vehicles, including Colorado, Malibu, and Canyon models, because the driver frontal air bag can improperly inflate during second-stage deployment in a high speed crash. An improperly inflated air bag increases the risk of injury, and franchised Chevrolet dealers will complete the recall repair free of charge.
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What's wrong?
The driver frontal air bag in these 2016 Colorado, Canyon, and Malibu vehicles is the steering wheel air bag for the driver. In a serious frontal crash, it inflates in stages so the bag fills at the right speed and force for the crash. The inflator is the metal device inside the module that creates the gas that fills the bag.
On affected vehicles, the supplier built the second-stage inflator without a required secondary chemical enhancer. That chemical helps the second stage fill the driver air bag properly during a high speed crash. Without it, the air bag still has a module in place, but the second-stage deployment does not meet its fill-time requirement and driver frontal air bag performance is degraded.
There is no warning sign before failure. The problem is inside the inflator assembly, so the driver will not feel it in normal driving or see a symptom before a crash.
Who's affected?
Covers three 2016 nameplates with the same front air bag component: Colorado, Canyon, and Malibu.
| 2016 Chevrolet Colorado | front air bag |
|---|---|
| 2016 GMC Canyon | front air bag |
| 2016 Chevrolet Malibu | front air bag |
| Units affected | 1,579 |
| Field incidents | NHTSA has logged no field incidents to date. |
A matching year and model does not guarantee inclusion. Check your VIN to confirm whether this recall applies to your specific vehicle.
What's the safety risk?
An improperly inflated driver side frontal air bag raises the risk of injury. If your VIN is included, schedule the air bag module replacement soon and avoid delaying the repair. Repair is free at any franchised Chevrolet dealer.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 2016 Chevrolet Colorado, GMC Canyon, or Chevrolet Malibu is included in this recall.
- Contact a franchised Chevrolet dealer to schedule the free driver frontal air bag module replacement that fixes the second-stage deployment inflation problem.
- Bring the recall notice if Chevrolet has mailed one. If not, reference recall number 16V125 when you call.
- Drive with caution until the repair is complete, and have the dealer inspect the air bag recall before any long trip.
What happens at the repair
At the dealer, a Chevrolet technician replaces the driver side frontal air bag module. The replacement parts and labor are free under the recall, and the repair is available now. Out-of-pocket repairs already paid are handled through the existing warranty, not through a separate reimbursement program, because the covered vehicles were under warranty. Ask the service desk how warranty coverage applies if you have prior air bag repair paperwork.
| Reimbursement | Warranty coverage applies |
|---|
Timeline
| March 1, 2016 | Dealer notification began |
|---|---|
| March 1, 2016 | Dealer notification ended |
| March 2, 2016 | NHTSA published the recall |
| April 14, 2016 | Owner notification mailed |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 16V125?
Recall 16V125 covers 1,579 2016 Colorado, Canyon, and Malibu vehicles with a driver frontal air bag module that can inflate improperly during second-stage deployment in a high-speed crash. That defect increases injury risk, and dealers will replace the driver side frontal air bag module for free.
What should I do if my 2016 Chevrolet Colorado, GMC Canyon, or Chevrolet Malibu is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm your specific vehicle is included in recall 16V125. If it is, call a franchised dealer for your model and schedule replacement of the driver side frontal air bag module. Reference recall number 16V125 or Chevrolet recall number 28030 when you call.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Federal recall law requires the manufacturer to repair the defect at no cost, and the recall remedy replaces the driver side frontal air bag module free of charge. The recall repair is handled through a franchised dealer for the affected vehicle.
What is the safety risk?
The safety risk is injury in a high-speed crash. The driver frontal air bag can inflate improperly during second-stage deployment, which reduces the protection the air bag is designed to provide. If your VIN is included, schedule the free air bag module replacement.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/16V125000 |
|---|---|
| Chevrolet customer service | 1-800-222-1020 |
| NHTSA recall # | 16V125 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 16V125000 |
Source documents
-
Download Recall Document (PDF) (PDF) - Download Owner Notification Letter (PDF)
- Download Owner Notice (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 May 31, 2026. RecallNotify does not paraphrase NHTSA's consequence language; that text is reproduced as written above. Editorial standards →