The defect
GENERAL MOTORS (GM) IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2013 CHEVROLET MALIBU VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM OCTOBER 24, 2011, THROUGH MARCH 31, 2012. AFTER AN EVENT OF HARD BRAKING, THE SENSING AND DIAGNOSTIC MODULE (SDM) MAY RESET ITSELF.
The risk
IF THIS OCCURS DURING AN AGGRESSIVE TURNING MANEUVER, AND THEN AFTERWARDS A POTENTIAL VEHICLE ROLLOVER EVENT IS SENSED, THE ROOF RAIL AIRBAG MAY UNINTENTIONALLY DEPLOY. ADDITIONALLY, THE AIR BAGS AND/OR SEATBELT PRETENSIONERS MAY NOT DEPLOY DURING A SEVERE CRASH, INCREASING THE RISK OF PERSONAL INJURY.
The remedy
GM WILL NOTIFY OWNERS, AND DEALERS WILL REPROGRAM THE SDM. THIS SERVICE WILL BE PERFORMED FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JUNE 13, 2012.
NHTSA's own wording · initiated by MFR
Vehicles covered
| Model | Model years |
|---|---|
| Chevrolet Malibu | 2013 |
Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:SOFTWARE
Model years in this recall
NHTSA complaints and the number of recall campaigns for each model year this recall covers.
| Model | Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chevrolet Malibu | 2013 | 837 | 10 |
Other electrical system recalls in 2012
47 of the 583 recall campaigns reported to NHTSA in 2012 concerned the electrical system; GENERAL MOTORS LLC filed 28 campaigns in all.
| 12V596000 20 Dec 2012 | Airstream, Inc. |
| 12V573000 11 Dec 2012 | Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) |
| 12V571000 7 Dec 2012 | Jaguar Land Rover North America, LLC |
| 12V566000 6 Dec 2012 | Winnebago Industries Inc. |
| 12V559000 3 Dec 2012 | WINNEBAGO INDUSTRIES INC. |
| 12V555000 3 Dec 2012 | HINO MOTORS SALES U.S.A., INC. |
| 12V547000 23 Nov 2012 | SETRA OF NORTH AMERICA |
| 12V541000 20 Nov 2012 | STARCRAFT RV, INC. |
NHTSA recalls (public domain) · all recalls of 2012