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2016 Chevrolet Malibu

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

More warning signs than most Malibu years

Owner complaints for the 2016 Chevrolet Malibu are substantially higher than the model-year median of 310.5.

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

525 reports with mileage · 312 unknown

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.

  • Engine. Review the 302 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 222 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Power Train. Review the 166 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

23 crash reports2 fire reports9 injury reports

Electrical System complaints

222 reports
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35,982 miles · Jun 13, 2019
Electrical SystemPower Train

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO PARK THE VEHICLE, "VEHICLE NOT IN PARK" APPEARED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. ON ANOTHER OCCASION, THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO SHIFT THE GEAR FROM PARK INTO DRIVE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO BERGER CHEVROLET (LOCATED AT 2525 28TH ST SE, GRAND RAPIDS, MI 49512, (616) 949-5…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO PARK THE VEHICLE, "VEHICLE NOT IN PARK" APPEARED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. ON ANOTHER OCCASION, THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO SHIFT THE GEAR FROM PARK INTO DRIVE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO BERGER CHEVROLET (LOCATED AT 2525 28TH ST SE, GRAND RAPIDS, MI 49512, (616) 949-5200) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE SHIFTER CONTROL FAILED. THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTER CONTROL WAS REPLACED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED AFTER 34,000 MILES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN UNKNOWN DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE SHIFTER CONTROL FAILED AGAIN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 74,697. *TR SEE ATTACHED FOR THE DEALER PAPERWORK FOR THE 1ST INCIDENT. I'VE ALSO ATTACHED THE MY CHEVY DIAGNOSTIC REPENT FOR THE CURRENT ISSUE.*JB

NHTSA ODI #11219823

55,000 miles · Jun 4, 2019
Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)Service Brakes

WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY MY "STABILITRAK" LIGHT FLASHED ON AND I WAS UNABLE TO ACCELERATE. I PULLED OVER AND WHILE BREAKING THE CAR WAS HOPPING. TURNED THE CAR OFF AND BACK ON AND VARIOUS LIGHTS CAME ON (STABILITRAK, CHECK ENGINE, TRACTION CONTROL AND STEERING ASSIST). I ATTEMPTED TO START DRIVING AGAIN AND THE CAR WOULD NOT ACC…

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WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY MY "STABILITRAK" LIGHT FLASHED ON AND I WAS UNABLE TO ACCELERATE. I PULLED OVER AND WHILE BREAKING THE CAR WAS HOPPING. TURNED THE CAR OFF AND BACK ON AND VARIOUS LIGHTS CAME ON (STABILITRAK, CHECK ENGINE, TRACTION CONTROL AND STEERING ASSIST). I ATTEMPTED TO START DRIVING AGAIN AND THE CAR WOULD NOT ACCELERATE APPROPRIATELY. HAD IT TOWED TO DEALERSHIP WHO COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH IT BECAUSE ALL THE ALERTS HAD TURNED OFF.

NHTSA ODI #11217765

69,762 miles · May 17, 2019
Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)Steering

CAR COMPLETELY TURNED OFF AT A RED LIGHT AND HAD NO POWER. STEERING LOCKS UP AND HAD TO PUSH CAR HAVE TOWED& THEN IT STARTED RIGHT UP AFTER. THIS IS HAPPENING TO MANY PEOPLE AND IT STOPS EVEN WHEN THE CAR IS DRIVING. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE

NHTSA ODI #11208235

70,000 miles · May 14, 2019
Electrical SystemEngineVehicle Speed Control

WHILE DRIVING IN THE HIGHWAY THE CAR SLOWED ABRUBTLY, THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, AND THE DASH GAVE OUT ENGINE POWER REDUCED. THIS HAS HAPPENED ON MORE THAN ONE OCCASION WHILE I WAS DRIVING AT A HIGH SPEED. I PULLED OVER AND TURNED OFF THE CAR TO RESET IT. THE FIRST TIME THE LIGHT WENT OFF ON ITS OWN THE SECOND AND THERAFTER IT DI…

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WHILE DRIVING IN THE HIGHWAY THE CAR SLOWED ABRUBTLY, THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, AND THE DASH GAVE OUT ENGINE POWER REDUCED. THIS HAS HAPPENED ON MORE THAN ONE OCCASION WHILE I WAS DRIVING AT A HIGH SPEED. I PULLED OVER AND TURNED OFF THE CAR TO RESET IT. THE FIRST TIME THE LIGHT WENT OFF ON ITS OWN THE SECOND AND THERAFTER IT DID NOT. HAD THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL REPLACED ONCE AND 7 MONTHS LATER IT IS DOING THE SAME EXACT THING. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS FOR ME AS A DRIVER AND THOSE AROUND ME!

NHTSA ODI #11207554

Mileage unknown · Apr 18, 2019
Electrical SystemEngineSteering

MY HORN DOESN'T WORK SOMETIMES, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON AND OFF, RADIO STOP WORKING SOMETIMES,WHEN TURNING ON THE HEAT OR AIR CONDITIONER IT SOUNDS LIKE SPARKS COMING FROM THE INSIDE OF THAT AREA

NHTSA ODI #11197085

60,000 miles · Apr 15, 2019
Electrical SystemEngineFuel/propulsion System

TAKATA RECALL, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON AND A REDUCE POWER INDICATOR SAID REDUCE ENGINE POWER, THE CAR GOES FROM 70MPH TO 40 MPH ON THE INTERSTATE PUTTING YOU AND YOUR FAMILY IN GRAVE DANGER

NHTSA ODI #11196471

26,437 miles · Mar 21, 2019
Electrical SystemPower Train

WHILE PARKING THE VEHICLE AND PLACING THE SHIFTER TO PARK THE CAR GIVES AN ERROR MESSAGE "SHIFT TO PARK" AFTER TURNING OFF THE ENGINE. HEADLIGHTS WILL NOT TURN OFF AND I IMAGINE OTHER ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS STILL RUN DURING THIS ERROR. SINCE THE MESSAGE NEVER WENT AWAY WHILE I WAS AT A NON-GM AUTO REPAIR SHOP IN FOR ROUTINE OIL CHAN…

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WHILE PARKING THE VEHICLE AND PLACING THE SHIFTER TO PARK THE CAR GIVES AN ERROR MESSAGE "SHIFT TO PARK" AFTER TURNING OFF THE ENGINE. HEADLIGHTS WILL NOT TURN OFF AND I IMAGINE OTHER ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS STILL RUN DURING THIS ERROR. SINCE THE MESSAGE NEVER WENT AWAY WHILE I WAS AT A NON-GM AUTO REPAIR SHOP IN FOR ROUTINE OIL CHANGE AND BRAKE CHECK, THEY NEEDED TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION CONTROL UNIT SO THAT THE CAR COULD TURN OFF COMPLETELY. THEY ALSO FOUND A TSB (ATTACHED) ON THIS ISSUE THAT INFORMED THEM ON HOW TO FIX THE "SHIFT TO PARK" ERROR. SINCE THE REPAIR WAS NOT AT A GM DEALER THE COST WAS OUT OF POCKET. HAVE CONTACTED GM AND SO FAR THEY ARE SAYING SINCE THERE IS NO RECALL THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO IN TERMS OF REIMBURSEMENT.

NHTSA ODI #11190597

10,011 miles · Mar 1, 2019
Electrical SystemPower Train

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION AND RADIO CONTINUED TO ACTIVATE AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF. THE FAILURE OCCURRED FREQUENTLY. ALSO, THE KEY FOB WAS FAULTY AND WOULD WORK INTERMITTENTLY. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO FINDLAY CHEVR…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION AND RADIO CONTINUED TO ACTIVATE AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF. THE FAILURE OCCURRED FREQUENTLY. ALSO, THE KEY FOB WAS FAULTY AND WOULD WORK INTERMITTENTLY. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO FINDLAY CHEVROLET (6800 S TORREY PINES DR, LAS VEGAS, NV 89118, (702) 982-4000) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT A NEW GEAR SHIFT AND GEAR SHIFT ASSEMBLY WERE NEEDED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURES AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10,011.

NHTSA ODI #11183408

Mileage unknown · Feb 23, 2019
Electrical SystemWheels

THE REAR PASSENGER TIRE DOES NOT TURN WHILE DRIVING OR IT STARTS TO DRAG WHILE DRIVING.

NHTSA ODI #11182070

30,000 miles · Feb 21, 2019
Electrical SystemEngine

WHILE DRIVING, ENGINE LOSES POWER AND THE CAR SHUTS DOWN. (THIS HAPPENS IN TRAFFIC!)

NHTSA ODI #11181642

Official recalls

9

21V649000 · Seat Belts:critical Fasteners; Seat Belts:rear/other:retractor

Aug 20, 2021

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.

Consequence & remedy

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

Remedy: 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.

Additional source detail variants (2)

Seat Belts:rear/other:retractor

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.

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

Remedy: 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.

Seat Belts:critical 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.

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

Remedy: 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.

18V400000 · Air Bags:sensor:occupant Classification

Jun 14, 2018

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2016-2018 Chevrolet Malibu vehicles. During servicing, a Passenger Presence System (PPS) may have been installed that was not correctly calibrated to the vehicle's seat type. As a result, the PPS may not properly identify an adult passenger from a child passenger in the front passenger seat, potentially causing the air bag to not deploy when it should, or causing the air bag to deploy when it shouldn't.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: In the event of a crash, improper air bag deployment can increase the risk of injury.

Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger PPS seat service kit, free of charge. The recall began August 7, 2018. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is 18208.

18V358000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:fuel Pump

May 31, 2018

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2015-2018 GMC Canyon, 2016-2017 Buick Envision, 2016-2018 Chevrolet Colorado and Malibu, 2017-2018 GMC Acadia, 2018 Buick LaCrosse, Cadillac ATS, Chevrolet Equinox, and GMC Terrain vehicles. The high pressure fuel pump may detach from its mounting flange, possibly resulting in the pump damaging the high pressure fuel line.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: A damaged fuel line can create a fuel leak, increasing the risk of a fire.

Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the high pressure fuel pump, and high pressure fuel pipe, free of charge. The recall began July 2, 2018. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300, Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, or GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is 18188.

16V781000 · Air Bags:side/window

Oct 26, 2016

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2016 Chevrolet Malibu vehicles manufactured November 18, 2015, to June 7, 2016. The fabric of the side-impact air bag cushion may tear during deployment.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: If the air bag tears during deployment, the air bag may not perform as designed, increasing the risk of injury in the event of a crash.

Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and, as necessary, replace the air bag module, free of charge. The recall began October 27, 2016. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is 16079.

16V502000 · Electrical System:ignition; Power Train:automatic Transmission:control Module (tcm/pcm/tecm)

Jul 5, 2016

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2016-2017 Buick Verano and 2016 Chevrolet Malibu as the electronic park lock lever may allow the ignition key to be removed without the transmission being in PARK. Also, certain 2013 Buick Encore, 2011 Buick Regal, 2013-2014 Buick Verano, 2011-2016 Chevrolet Cruze, 2010-2013 Chevrolet Equinox 2013-2015 Chevrolet Malibu, and 2011-2013 GMC Terrain vehicles may have been serviced with similar defective replacement electronic park lock levers. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 114, "Theft Protection and Rollaway Prevention."

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: If the key is removed without the transmission in PARK, the vehicle may rollaway as occupants are exiting, increasing the risk of injury.

Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and if necessary replace the key cylinder lock housing, free of charge. The recall began on October 14, 2016. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, Buick 1-800-521-7300, and GMC 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is 50490 and 50491.

Additional source detail variants (2)

Electrical System:ignition

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2016-2017 Buick Verano and 2016 Chevrolet Malibu as the electronic park lock lever may allow the ignition key to be removed without the transmission being in PARK. Also, certain 2013 Buick Encore, 2011 Buick Regal, 2013-2014 Buick Verano, 2011-2016 Chevrolet Cruze, 2010-2013 Chevrolet Equinox 2013-2015 Chevrolet Malibu, and 2011-2013 GMC Terrain vehicles may have been serviced with similar defective replacement electronic park lock levers. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 114, "Theft Protection and Rollaway Prevention."

Consequence: If the key is removed without the transmission in PARK, the vehicle may rollaway as occupants are exiting, increasing the risk of injury.

Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and if necessary replace the key cylinder lock housing, free of charge. The recall began on October 14, 2016. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, Buick 1-800-521-7300, and GMC 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is 50490 and 50491.

Power Train:automatic Transmission:control Module (tcm/pcm/tecm)

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2016-2017 Buick Verano and 2016 Chevrolet Malibu as the electronic park lock lever may allow the ignition key to be removed without the transmission being in PARK. Also, certain 2013 Buick Encore, 2011 Buick Regal, 2013-2014 Buick Verano, 2011-2016 Chevrolet Cruze, 2010-2013 Chevrolet Equinox 2013-2015 Chevrolet Malibu, and 2011-2013 GMC Terrain vehicles may have been serviced with similar defective replacement electronic park lock levers. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 114, "Theft Protection and Rollaway Prevention."

Consequence: If the key is removed without the transmission in PARK, the vehicle may rollaway as occupants are exiting, increasing the risk of injury.

Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and if necessary replace the key cylinder lock housing, free of charge. The recall began on October 14, 2016. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, Buick 1-800-521-7300, and GMC 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is 50490 and 50491.

16V272000 · Electronic Stability Control (esc)

May 5, 2016

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2016 Chevrolet Malibu vehicles manufactured March 7, 2016, through March 12, 2016. The memory chip in the electronic brake control module (EBCM) may fail and cause the loss of electronically controlled brake systems including anti-lock brakes (ABS) and electronic stability control (ESC). As such, these vehicles fail to conform to Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 126, "Electronic Stability Control Systems."

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: If the EBCM fails the primary braking system will still function, however, the loss of ABS and ESC increase the risk of a crash.

Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will install a replacement EBCM, free of charge. The recall began on June 17, 2016. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020). GM's number for this recall is 39440.

16V151000 · Air Bags:side/window

Mar 11, 2016

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2016 Malibu vehicles manufactured February 16, 2016, to March 5, 2016. The two weld studs that mount the front and rear side impact air bags may fracture and separate from the air bag during deployment. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 214, "Side Impact Protection."

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: Fractured weld studs may allow the side air bag to move out of position during deployment, increasing the risk of injury.

Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the side air bag modules, free of charge. The recall began on April 14, 2016. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is 31820.

16V125000 · Air Bags:frontal

Mar 2, 2016

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2016 Chevrolet Colorado vehicles manufactured January 19, 2016, to February 2, 2016, Chevrolet Malibu vehicles manufactured January 9, 2016, to January 26, 2016, and 2016 GMC Canyon vehicles manufactured January 21, 2016, to February 4, 2016. The driver frontal air bag may improperly inflate during second-stage deployment in the event of a high speed crash.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: An improperly inflated air bag increases the risk of injury.

Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver side frontal air bag module, free of charge. The recall began on April 14, 2016. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, and GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is 28030.

16V084000 · Electrical System:software

Feb 11, 2016

Genera Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2016 Chevrolet Camaro, Malibu, Silverado and GMC Sierra vehicles. The radio may intermittently fail to provide an audio warning when the key has been left in the ignition and the door is opened or when the driver does not fasten their seat belt. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS) number 114, "Theft Protection", and/or 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: An unbelted driver is at a greater risk of injury in a crash.

Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will update the radio software, free of charge. The recall began on March 14, 2016. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, or GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is 15808.

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

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.