2022-2023 Chevrolet Malibu Frame Recall (22V923)

Recall 22V923 at a glance

What is wrong with the 2022-2023 Chevrolet Malibu in recall 22V923?

The front impact bar, a structural portion of the vehicle frame, may not be properly welded to the front frame rail.

General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2022-2023 Chevrolet Malibu vehicles. The front impact bar, a structural portion of the vehicle frame, may not be properly welded to the front frame rail.

Is it safe to drive a 2022-2023 Malibu with recall 22V923?

NHTSA has not told owners to stop driving, but the risk is real: An improperly welded front impact bar may result in the front crash sensors not performing correctly, increasing the risk of injury in a crash.

NHTSA describes the risk this way: An improperly welded front impact bar may result in the front crash sensors not performing correctly, increasing the risk of injury in a crash.

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 frame and members.

Which vehicles are included in recall 22V923?

Recall 22V923 covers 2,108 vehicles: 2022-2023 Chevrolet Malibu.

NHTSA lists 2,108 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 frame recall?

Yes. Dealers will inspect the right-hand and left-hand side of the vehicle's motor rail for an incomplete weld.

Dealers will inspect the right-hand and left-hand side of the vehicle's motor rail for an incomplete weld. If the condition is found, the vehicle will be repurchased by GM. Owner notification letters were mailed January 20, 2023. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020.

When was recall 22V923 announced?

General Motors, LLC reported recall 22V923 to NHTSA on December 14, 2022. NHTSA lists the owner letter date as January 20, 2023.

This recall was filed 46 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 22V923?

Enter your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. If recall 22V923 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 22V923000. 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 22V923?

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 22V923000 applies to your Malibu.
2. Book the recall appointment with any authorized Chevrolet dealer. Ask up front whether parts are available and how long the vehicle will be there.
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 frame and members 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 168 complaints with NHTSA about these vehicles since 2020, 2 of them about the body, doors and seats.

Too few NHTSA complaints about the body, doors and seats have been filed since recall 22V923 was reported (2) to say whether the fix is holding.

NHTSA’s public complaint database lists 168 owner complaints filed since 2020 for the vehicles in this recall, and 2 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 Malibu: 98 complaints in total, 2 about the body, doors and seats
• 2023 Chevrolet Malibu: 70 complaints in total, 0 about the body, doors and seats

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

The contact owns a 2022 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that during inclement weather, the rear glass was leaking, causing stains on the ceiling of the vehicle. The dealer was contacted; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 38,000.

2022 Chevrolet Malibu owner, NY, NHTSA complaint 11746219, filed June 24, 2026

The contact owns a 2022 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, while adjusting the front driver's seat, the seat adjuster failed to operate as intended. The front driver's seat failed to move backwards. The contact stated that it was a known failure with the vehicle.

2022 Chevrolet Malibu owner, IL, NHTSA complaint 11765770, filed September 21, 2026

Can recall 22V923 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 2022-2023 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.

The recall repair is available at dealers. If it works, great. If the same symptom comes back, the recall visit is one repair attempt and the next visit is another.

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 22V923