2021 Chevrolet Malibu Seat Belt Retractor Recall (21V649)

Recall 21V649 at a glance

What is wrong with the 2021 Chevrolet Malibu in recall 21V649?

The rear seat belt retractors may be improperly secured with loose or missing fasteners.

General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2016-2021 Chevrolet Malibu and 2019-2021 Cadillac XT4 vehicles. The rear seat belt retractors may be improperly secured with loose or missing fasteners.

Is it safe to drive a 2021 Malibu with recall 21V649?

NHTSA has not told owners to stop driving, but the risk is real: An improperly secured seat belt retractor may not function properly in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.

NHTSA describes the risk this way: An improperly secured seat belt retractor may not function properly in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.

There is no do-not-drive order on this campaign. If your Malibu shows warning lights or behaves differently in a way that involves the retractor, have it checked before driving further.

Which vehicles are included in recall 21V649?

Recall 21V649 covers 402 vehicles: 2021 Cadillac XT4; 2021 Chevrolet Malibu.

NHTSA lists 402 vehicles in this campaign. Not every vehicle of these models and years is included, so check your VIN.

What is the fix for the Malibu seat belt retractor recall?

Yes. Dealers will inspect and tighten the rear seat belt retractors, as necessary, free of charge.

Dealers will inspect and tighten the rear seat belt retractors, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on September 17, 2021. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020 and Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006. GM's number for this recall is N212333380.

When was recall 21V649 announced?

General Motors, LLC reported recall 21V649 to NHTSA on August 20, 2021.

This recall was filed 62 months ago. If your Malibu was built in that window, the VIN check below is the way to confirm it is included.

How do I check if my Malibu is part of recall 21V649?

Enter your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. If recall 21V649 is open on your Malibu, it will be listed there.

Look up your VIN on nhtsa.gov/recalls. If 21V649000 is open on your Malibu, it will be listed there, along with Chevrolet recall number N212333380. You can also ask any Chevrolet dealer to run the VIN. The VIN is printed on your registration and visible through the lower driver-side windshield.

What should Malibu owners do about recall 21V649?

Check your VIN, schedule the free recall repair, and keep a repair order for every dealer visit.

1. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to confirm recall 21V649000 applies to your Malibu.
2. Call a Chevrolet dealer and schedule the recall repair. Ask how long the repair takes and whether parts are in stock.
3. Get a repair order for every visit, even if the dealer only inspects the vehicle. Read it before you leave and make sure your complaint is written the way you described it.
4. Write down when symptoms involving the retractor happen: date, mileage, speed, weather and what you felt or heard. Photos and short videos help.
5. Count the days the vehicle is at the dealer. Days out of service add up toward California's 30-day presumption.
6. If the problem comes back after the repair, return to the dealer and contact a lemon law attorney.

What are Malibu owners reporting to NHTSA?

Owners have filed 101 complaints with NHTSA about these vehicles since 2020, 0 of them about the seat belts.

Too few NHTSA complaints about the seat belts have been filed since recall 21V649 was reported (0) to say whether the fix is holding.

NHTSA’s public complaint database lists 101 owner complaints filed since 2020 for the vehicles in this recall, and 0 of them involve the seat belts. Complaints are reports from owners and have not been verified by NHTSA, but a high count for the same component is a sign the problem is widespread.

• 2021 Chevrolet Malibu: 89 complaints in total, 0 about the seat belts
• 2021 Cadillac XT4: 12 complaints in total, 0 about the seat belts

Can recall 21V649 make my Malibu a lemon in California?

Not by itself. A recall repair that fails, or repeat dealer visits for the same defect, can support a California lemon law claim.

Recall 21V649000 does not automatically make your Malibu a lemon. California's Song-Beverly Act asks two questions: does a warranty defect substantially impair the vehicle's use, value or safety, and did the manufacturer fail to fix it in a reasonable number of tries (Civ. Code 1793.2(d))?

Seat belt defects are safety defects. If the belt, buckle or pretensioner still does not work right after the recall repair, the repeat visit belongs in your records.

A remedy is available. Many vehicles are fixed on the first try. If the problem returns after the recall repair, or the 2021 Chevrolet Malibu has needed other repairs for the same defect, those visits count toward a lemon law claim.

Civil Code 1793.22(b) sets out a presumption that applies in the first 18 months or 18,000 miles: two or more repair attempts for a defect likely to cause death or serious bodily injury, four or more attempts for the same defect, or more than 30 total days out of service for repairs. Written notice to the manufacturer is required in some cases. Owners outside that window can still have a claim.

An owner who prevails in a lemon law case can recover reasonable attorney fees and costs from the manufacturer (Civ. Code 1794(d)). You pay nothing, win or lose. We are paid only if you win, and the manufacturer pays our fees, including in settlements. If a case is lost, our firm covers the costs.

Frequently asked questions about recall 21V649