IllustrationCar will randomly stall. I see GM recalled 500+ Malibu Hybrids for this problem, but mine is not one of them. This is the worst car I have ever owned.
2016 Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Limited comparison data
There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Malibu Hybrid years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
Limited mileage data: 14 of 24 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Electrical System. Review the 11 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine. Review the 8 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Power Train. Review the 8 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
1 crash reports0 fire reports1 injury reports
What owners actually said
24 reportsThe contact owns a 2016 Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the vehicle would not accelerate above 60 mph, with the accelerator pedal depressed. The contact stated that the engine power reduced warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer where it was diagnosed w…
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The contact owns a 2016 Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the vehicle would not accelerate above 60 mph, with the accelerator pedal depressed. The contact stated that the engine power reduced warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer where it was diagnosed with the accelerator pedal sensor needing to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer had been informed of the failure but offered no assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 26,000.
I WAS INVOLVED IN A COLLISON WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE. IMMEDIATLY AFTER THE COLLISION THE BRAKES ON MY VEHICLE FAILED. I HAD TO USE THE CURB AND BUSHES TO STOP MY VEHICLE AFTER TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 300 YARDS FROM THE COLLISION SITE.
WHILE DRIVING EVERYTHING IS FINE, AS SOON AS I STOP AND PUT MY CAR IN PARK IT WILL SHOW AN INDICATION TO (PUT THE CAR IN PARK). I CAN LITERALLY SPEND 30 MINUTES JIGGLING THE SHIFTER BACK AND FORTH UNTIL THAT NOTIFICATION GOES AWAY. IF I DON'T MAKE IT GO AWAY, ALL THE LIGHTS STAY ON AND MY CAR WILL BEEP AT ME ONCE I CLOSE THE DOO…
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WHILE DRIVING EVERYTHING IS FINE, AS SOON AS I STOP AND PUT MY CAR IN PARK IT WILL SHOW AN INDICATION TO (PUT THE CAR IN PARK). I CAN LITERALLY SPEND 30 MINUTES JIGGLING THE SHIFTER BACK AND FORTH UNTIL THAT NOTIFICATION GOES AWAY. IF I DON'T MAKE IT GO AWAY, ALL THE LIGHTS STAY ON AND MY CAR WILL BEEP AT ME ONCE I CLOSE THE DOORS, THE DOORS WILL ALSO NOT LOCK DUE TO THIS. SO SPENDING 30 MINUTES TO MAKE IT GO AWAY SO IT DOESN'T KILL THE BATTERY AFTER A 12HOUR WORK SHIFT IS ALL I CAN DO.
WITHIN APPROXIMATELY TWO YEARS OF PURCHASING THE CAR I EXPERIENCED SEVERAL OCCASIONS OF INABILITY TO ACCELERATE. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER BUT IT DID NOT HAPPEN WHILE THEY WERE DRIVING IT SO THEY SENT THE CAR HOME. AROUND A YEAR OR SO LATER I RECEIVED A NOTICE FROM GM OF A RECALL FOR ACCELERATION PROBLEMS. IT SAID ONLY TO TA…
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WITHIN APPROXIMATELY TWO YEARS OF PURCHASING THE CAR I EXPERIENCED SEVERAL OCCASIONS OF INABILITY TO ACCELERATE. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER BUT IT DID NOT HAPPEN WHILE THEY WERE DRIVING IT SO THEY SENT THE CAR HOME. AROUND A YEAR OR SO LATER I RECEIVED A NOTICE FROM GM OF A RECALL FOR ACCELERATION PROBLEMS. IT SAID ONLY TO TAKE THE CAR IF I WAS HAVING PROBLEMS, WHICH I WAS NOT AT THE TIME. RECENTLY I EXPERIENCED ACCELERATION PROBLEMS AGAIN AND TOOK THE CAR IN. THEY SENT ME HOME AGAIN SAYING TO BRING IT BACK IF THE LIGHT COMES ON THE DASHBOARD SAYING LACK OF POWER. I CANNOT FIND THE RECALL NOTICE I RECEIVED BUT WANT MY CAR FIXED. ALTHOUGH THIS ONLY HAPPENS OCCASIONALLY, IF IT HAPPENS ON THE FREEWAY OR ON A HILLY ROAD THIS COULD BE VERY DANGEROUS.
ON JUNE 30, 2019, I WAS DRIVING MY CHEVROLET MALIBU HYBRID HOME ON THE FREEWAY WHEN SUDDENLY THE ENGINE LOST POWER AND STALLED. THE SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT TURNED ON AND A MESSAGE ON THE DASHBOARD SAID 'SHIFT TO PARK'. I COASTED TO THE NEXT EXIT AND STOPPED ON THE SIDE OF A STREET. I PRESSED THE OFF BUTTON AND SHIFTED TO PARK…
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ON JUNE 30, 2019, I WAS DRIVING MY CHEVROLET MALIBU HYBRID HOME ON THE FREEWAY WHEN SUDDENLY THE ENGINE LOST POWER AND STALLED. THE SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT TURNED ON AND A MESSAGE ON THE DASHBOARD SAID 'SHIFT TO PARK'. I COASTED TO THE NEXT EXIT AND STOPPED ON THE SIDE OF A STREET. I PRESSED THE OFF BUTTON AND SHIFTED TO PARK. I TRIED TO TURN ON THE CAR AND IT WOULDN'T EVEN CRANK THE ENGINE. I CALLED AAA AND AFTER 10 TO 15 MINUTES THE SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT TURNED OFF. I TRIED AGAIN TO START THE CAR AND IT TURNED ON. I CANCELED AAA AND DROVE THE CAR HOME. AFTER A COUPLE OF DAYS, I DECIDED TO SCAN THE TROUBLE CODES IN THE CAR WITH MY CODE SCANNER. THE REPORT SAID FOUR CONFIRMED TROUBLE CODES, NO PERMANENT TROUBLE CODES, NO PENDING TROUBLE CODES, NO BODY CONTROL MODULE TROUBLE CODES, 1 TELEMATICS TROUBLE CODES, NO HUMAN MACHINE INTERFACE MODULE TROUBLE CODES, AND FOUR ELECTRONIC BRAKE CONTROL MODULE TROUBLE CODES. I SAVED THE REPORT AND RESET THE TROUBLE CODES. COPY OF THE REPORT ATTACHED. THEN ON JULY 2, 2019, I WAS DRIVING ON THE CITY STREET AND THE CAR STALLED AGAIN WITH THE SAME MESSAGE TO SHIFT TO PARK. I COASTED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND PRESSED THE OFF BUTTON AND SHIFTED TO PARK. I TRIED TO START THE CAR AND IT DID START AND I DROVE IT HOME. NEXT DAY I SCANNED THE TROUBLE CODES AGAIN. THE REPORT SAID NO CONFIRMED TROUBLE CODES, NO PERMANENT TROUBLE CODES, NO PENDING TROUBLE CODES, 2 BODY CONTROL MODULE TROUBLE CODES, 3 FRONT CAMERA ACTIVE SAFETY TROUBLE CODES, 3 TRANSFER CASE CONTROL MODULE TROUBLE CODES, AND 1 ELECTRONIC BRAKE CONTROL MODULE TROUBLE CODES. I SAVED THE REPORT, COPY ATTACHED. NEXT DAY I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER FOR TROUBLE SHOOTING, AND REPAIR UNDER WARRANTY.
VEHICLE STALLED ON HIGHWAY WHILE DRIVING AT SPEED ON TWO DIFFERENT OCCASIONS DESPITE SERVICING AFTER THE FIRST INCIDENT. BOTH TIMES, POP UP ALERT SAYS "SHIFT TO PARK" AND THEN "ENGINE HAS REDUCED POWER" AFTER WHICH THE GAS PEDAL NO LONGER WORKS. AFTER PULLING TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, THERE WAS A LOW BATTERY ALERT.
COMING OFF THE HWY MY VEHICLE SLOWED DOWN FROM 55 MPH TO ABOUT 40 MPH FAIRLY FAST THANKFULLY NO ONE WAS BEHIND ME. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, TRIED PRESSING ON THE PEDALS BUT VEHICLE WAS NOT SPEEDING UP AT ALL. THE TRACTION LIGHT ALSO CAME UP. TOOK IT TO CHEVY DEALER RIGHT AWAY AND THEY SAID IT WAS THE ACCELERATOR SENSOR NOT CO…
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COMING OFF THE HWY MY VEHICLE SLOWED DOWN FROM 55 MPH TO ABOUT 40 MPH FAIRLY FAST THANKFULLY NO ONE WAS BEHIND ME. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, TRIED PRESSING ON THE PEDALS BUT VEHICLE WAS NOT SPEEDING UP AT ALL. THE TRACTION LIGHT ALSO CAME UP. TOOK IT TO CHEVY DEALER RIGHT AWAY AND THEY SAID IT WAS THE ACCELERATOR SENSOR NOT COMMUNICATING WITH THE SYSTEM. TOOK ABOUT A WEEK TO GET MY CAR BACK FROM THE DEALERSHIP.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 29-34 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND "REDUCED ENGINE POWER" APPEARED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE CONTACT HAD TO WAIT A FEW MINUTES BEFORE THE VEHICLE WOULD RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO SOUTH BUCKNER CHEVROLET (9301 EARL THORNTON FREEWAY, DALLAS, TX 75228, 46…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 29-34 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND "REDUCED ENGINE POWER" APPEARED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE CONTACT HAD TO WAIT A FEW MINUTES BEFORE THE VEHICLE WOULD RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO SOUTH BUCKNER CHEVROLET (9301 EARL THORNTON FREEWAY, DALLAS, TX 75228, 469-294-3000) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEFECTIVE. A NEW ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS INSTALLED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 27,218.
WATER FOUND IN REAR COMPARTMENT AND/OR REAR PASSENGER FLOOR AREA, LEAKING FROM THIRD BRAKE LIGHT AREA AND.OR REAR WINDOW. THE CAUSE OF THE CONDITION MAY BE THAT OVER TIME, THE CENTER HIGH MOUNT STOP LAMP (CHMSL) FASTENERS MAY LOSE TORQUE AND ALLOW WATER TO LEAK INTO THE REAR COMPARTMENT OR FLOOR AREA. THE FASTENERS MAY LOSE…
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WATER FOUND IN REAR COMPARTMENT AND/OR REAR PASSENGER FLOOR AREA, LEAKING FROM THIRD BRAKE LIGHT AREA AND.OR REAR WINDOW. THE CAUSE OF THE CONDITION MAY BE THAT OVER TIME, THE CENTER HIGH MOUNT STOP LAMP (CHMSL) FASTENERS MAY LOSE TORQUE AND ALLOW WATER TO LEAK INTO THE REAR COMPARTMENT OR FLOOR AREA. THE FASTENERS MAY LOSE TORQUE DUE TO THERMAL EXPANSION AND CONTRACTION OF THE CHMSL MATERIAL
Official recalls
116V521000 · Hybrid Propulsion System
Jul 8, 2016
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2016 Malibu Hybrid vehicles manufactured October 27, 2015, to June 3, 2016. The affected vehicles have a shut-off switch for the high voltage battery for use when servicing the vehicle. This manual service disconnect switch (MSD) may not be properly installed and thus may not lock into position, unexpectedly disconnecting the high-voltage power while driving, effectively stalling the vehicle.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: A vehicle stall increases the risk of a crash.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the MSD and correct the installation, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on August 10, 2016. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is 51230.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
1DP22005 · Pedestrian Alert Sounds
Opened Jan 27, 2023 · Closed Aug 7, 2023
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Electrical System:propulsion System
NHTSA received a petition on or about July 18, 2022, requesting that Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 141 be applied to all electric and hybrid vehicles operating in the United States. The petition can be reviewed at NHTSA.gov under ODI Number 11486072. FMVSS 141 establishes performance requirements for pedestrian alert sounds for motor vehicles. The standard applies to hybrid and electric vehicles that have a gross vehicle weight rating of 4,536 KG or less or are defined as low-speed vehicles. The standard became fully applicable to all such vehicles manufactured on or after March 1, 2021.On January 27, 2023, NHTSA opened Defect Petition (DP) 22-005 to evaluate the subject matter described in the petition. On June 24, 2023 and as supplemented on June 25, 2023, the petitioner notified NHTSA he was withdrawing his petition. The petitioner indicated that, based on his review of data, there is no justification for asserting potential benefits that could be derived from actions sought by my petition. Based on the petitioner's withdrawal, DP22-005 is closed. Closure of this DP does not represent a determination by NHTSA regarding the subject matter of the petition.