2021 Chevrolet Malibu Seat Recall (22V359)

Recall 22V359 at a glance

What is wrong with the 2021 Chevrolet Malibu in recall 22V359?

The driver's seat cushion frame may have an improper weld in the power tilt-adjustment mechanism.

General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2021 Chevrolet Malibu, 2022 Chevrolet Equinox, Blazer and Cadillac XT4 vehicles. The driver's seat cushion frame may have an improper weld in the power tilt-adjustment mechanism.

Is it safe to drive a 2021 Malibu with recall 22V359?

NHTSA has not told owners to stop driving, but the risk is real: An improperly welded seat frame may not adequately restrain the driver in a crash, increasing their risk of injury.

NHTSA describes the risk this way: An improperly welded seat frame may not adequately restrain the driver in a crash, increasing their risk of injury.

NHTSA has not issued a do-not-drive or park-outside warning for this recall. Still, get the repair done as soon as it is available, and stop driving if you notice symptoms related to the seats.

Which vehicles are included in recall 22V359?

Recall 22V359 covers 221 vehicles: 2022 Cadillac XT4; 2022 Chevrolet Blazer; 2022 Chevrolet Equinox; 2021 Chevrolet Malibu.

NHTSA lists 221 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 recall?

Yes. Dealers will inspect the driver's seat and replace the cushion frame, as necessary, free of charge.

Dealers will inspect the driver's seat and replace the cushion frame, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 23, 2022. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020 or Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006. GM's number for this recall is N212356050.

When was recall 22V359 announced?

General Motors, LLC reported recall 22V359 to NHTSA on May 19, 2022. NHTSA lists the owner letter date as June 23, 2022.

This recall was filed 53 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 22V359?

Enter your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. If recall 22V359 is open on your Malibu, it will be listed there.

Enter your 17-character VIN at NHTSA’s recall lookup. It shows any open safety recall on your vehicle, including 22V359000. Your VIN is on the registration card, the insurance card, and the driver side of the dashboard where it meets the windshield. Recent recalls can take a few days to appear in the lookup.

What should Malibu owners do about recall 22V359?

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 22V359000 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 seats 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 recall repair does not fix it, or the vehicle keeps going back for the same issue, talk to a lemon law attorney.

What are Malibu owners reporting to NHTSA?

Owners have filed 320 complaints with NHTSA about these vehicles since 2020, 3 of them about the body, doors and seats.

Too few NHTSA complaints about the body, doors and seats have been filed since recall 22V359 was reported (2) to say whether the fix is holding.

NHTSA’s public complaint database lists 320 owner complaints filed since 2020 for the vehicles in this recall, and 3 of them involve the body, doors and seats. 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.

• 2022 Chevrolet Equinox: 177 complaints in total, 1 about the body, doors and seats
• 2021 Chevrolet Malibu: 89 complaints in total, 1 about the body, doors and seats
• 2022 Chevrolet Blazer: 50 complaints in total, 1 about the body, doors and seats
• 2022 Cadillac XT4: 4 complaints in total, 0 about the body, doors and seats

Examples of what owners have reported to NHTSA (unverified excerpts):

In the case of a hard brake while in motion, the vehicles seats both front and rear un-latch and become free in motion. The front seats un-latch from the base, moving the seat forward and the rear seats un-latch and fall forward opening the trunk from the inside.

2021 Chevrolet Malibu owner, MD, NHTSA complaint 11413839, filed April 25, 2021

The contact owns a 2023 Gulf Stream Conquest built on a 2022 Chevrolet Express Chassis. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V231000 (Latches/Locks/Linkages, Structure); that was misplaced. The contact stated that the entry door latch had failed, and the door could only be locked or unlocked from the outside.

2022 Chevrolet Equinox owner, AL, NHTSA complaint 11613845, filed September 10, 2024

Vehicle gear shifter is stiff and difficult to pass from Park to Drive–the gear shifter gets stuck in Neutral often. The Entire Dash and instrument cluster goes black during driving and will not come back on until hours later even after the vehicle has been turned off and back on.

2022 Chevrolet Blazer owner, NC, NHTSA complaint 11667166, filed June 16, 2025

Can recall 22V359 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.

A recall by itself does not make a car a lemon. Under California's Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act, what matters is whether a defect covered by the warranty substantially impairs the vehicle's use, value or safety, and whether the manufacturer or its dealers fixed it within a reasonable number of attempts (Civ. Code 1793.2(d)).

Body and latch defects on the 2021 Chevrolet Malibu may seem minor until a door opens while driving or a seat will not lock. Problems that return after repair belong 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 22V359