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

Structure complaints

40 reports

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Mileage unknown · Dec 25, 2020

StructureUnknown Or Other

I NOTICED A WET SPOT BY THE 3 BREAK LIGHT INSIDE HEADLINER

NHTSA ODI #11384905

27,000 miles · Nov 3, 2020

Service BrakesStructure

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I FIRST NOTICED THE PROBLEM ON MY 2016 MALIBU LS WHEN GOING THROUGH A CAR WASH. I'M NOT SURE WHEN EXACTLY THE ISSUE HAPPENED, BUT ACCORDING TO THE BODY SHOP IT APPEARS TO BE FAULTY DESIGNING. THE WATER AND CHEMICALS WERE LEAKING AT THE REAR WINDOW. HEAVY RAINS WOULD ALSO RESULT IN THE CAR LEAKING NON-STOP. I TOOK THE CAR IN AND THE FOUND THAT THE THIRD BRAKE LIGHT WAS NOT SECURED FULLY AND WATER WAS SPILLING THROUGH THERE. APPARENTLY IT WAS LOSE TO THE POINT WHERE IT DIDN'T TAKE MUCH TO TAKE THE LIGHT OUT. I WAS INFORMED THAT THIS WAS A KNOWN PROBLEM FOR OTHER YEARS BUT MY CAR WASN'T INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. IF THE PROBLEM EXISTED WITH MY CAR I'M SURE OTHERS ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. WATER WAS ALSO GETTING INTO THE TRUNK AND NOW I HAVE A HUGE MOLD/MILDEW PROBLEM. ADDITIONALLY, THEY FIRST THOUGHT THE LEAK WAS COMING FROM THE SIDE PANEL WINDOWS AS THE ADHESIVE TO PUT THOSE WINDOWS IN WAS FAULTY.

NHTSA ODI #11372857

36,000 miles · Oct 4, 2020

StructureUnknown Or Other

ON THE BOTH BACK SIDE, WHERE THE SEAT BELTS ARE NEXT TO SMALL WINDOWAND TOP PART OF ROOF WATERBIS LEAKING IN WHEN I WASH MY CAR AND MAYBE EVEN WHEN IT RAINS. THERE PROBABLY MILDEW, AND RUST. ALSO WHEN I PARK MY CAR THE WARNING LIGHT SAYS PUT CAR IN PARK, BUT ITS IN PARK.

NHTSA ODI #11362661

65,000 miles · Sep 5, 2020

Structure

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EVERYTIME IT RAINS THE INSIDE OF MY TRUNK IS SOAKED AND SMELLS LIKE MILDEW. NOT TO MENTION WHEN I LIFTED MY SPARE TIRE OUT FROM THE TRUNK THERE WAS SEVERAL INCHES OF WATER JUST SITTING IN THERE. WHILE DRIVING IN A THUNDERSTORM I NOTICED THERE WAS WATER LEAKING INSIDE NEAR THE BACK WINDOWS AND I NOTICED THE HEADLINER IS BADLY WATER STAINED. SPOKE TO MY EXTENDED WARRANTY COVERAGE AND THEY DON'T COVER 'WATER DAMAGE'! WELL I WOULDN'T HAVE WATER DAMAGE IF I HAD A DECENT MADE CAR THAT DOESN'T LEAK WHEN IT RAINS! I HAVE SMALL CHILDREN THAT SIT IN THE BACK SEAT AND HAVE TO GET RAINED ON. GUESS I WILL HAVE TO GIVE THEM UMBRELLAS WHILE RIDING IN THE CAR. IT'S VERY UNSAFE FOR MY CHILDREN TO BE BREATHING/INHALING THE MOLD THAT IS IN THE TRUNK WITH THEIR ASTHMA/MOLD RELATED ALLERGIES.

NHTSA ODI #11353363

Mileage unknown · Aug 11, 2020

Structure

TRUNK IS LEAKING AND MILDEW SMELL ALL IN THE CAR. WET ON BOTH SIDES OF TRUNK AND HOLDS WATER. GM HAS BEEN AWARE OF THIS ISSUE FOR SEVERAL YEARS WITH NO RECALLS ISSUED AND THEY WILL NOT COVER THE COST OF REPAIRS.

NHTSA ODI #11348691

85,000 miles · May 18, 2020

StructureUnknown Or Other

THE TRUNK BUTTONS FAIL. WITH IN THE FIRST 2 YEARS. CANNOT OPEN OR CLOSE THE TRUNK ONCE THE SYSTEM FAILS. WAS IN PARKING LOT AT A STORE. COULDN'T DRIVE HOME. *TR

NHTSA ODI #11325060

15,000 miles · May 15, 2020

Electrical SystemEnginePower Train

SHIFT TO PARK CABLE WENT OUT ONE TIME WITHIN FIRST COUPLE MONTHS. NOW ITS BAD AGAIN. ENGINE LIGHT ALWAYS ON. ROOF LEAKED FROM THIRD BRAKE LIGHT. REDUCED POWER MESSAGE ON DASH. *TR

NHTSA ODI #11324673

89,000 miles · Mar 13, 2020

Exterior LightingStructure

THIRD REAR BRAKE LIGHT LEAKS/ALLOWS WATER INTO INSIDE OF CAR AND FRAME CRACKS ON BOTH SIDES. WATER LEAKS INTO HEADLINER AND TRUNK AND STAINS INTERIOR. CAR SMILES HUMID. HAPPENS VERY TIME IT RAINS AND WASH CAR. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED. FIRST TIME PARTS WERE REPLACED, SECOND PARTS STILL HAVE THE SAME PROBLE…

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NHTSA ODI #11317819

Mileage unknown · Jan 3, 2020

StructureUnknown Or Other

HAD HEAVY RAIN AND I WOKED UP TO REAR SIDE CAR SEATS WET AND CARPET SOAKED AND WET THE CAR SMELLED REALLY BAD AFTER SOME DAYS . I HAD TO TAKE OUT THE RUGS OUT MY CAR . MY CAR IS SO HUMID INSIDE I SEEN MOLD GROWING ON MY CARPET ! MY CAR WINDOWS ALSO HAVE SO MUCH CONDENSATION IN THE INSIDE IT DRIPS . COME TO FIND OUT WATER IS COM…

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NHTSA ODI #11297015

Mileage unknown · Oct 28, 2019

StructureUnknown Or OtherVisibility/wiper

THE TRUNK OF THE CAR IS FILLED WITH WATER THAT HAS BEEN DRIPPING OUT ALL DAY. THE REAR ROOF OF THE CAR IS SOAKED ON BOTH SIDES. THE CAR SMELLS MUSTY & ALL OF THE INSIDE WINDOWS HAD SO MUCH CONDENSATION IT WAS DRIPPING.

NHTSA ODI #11271424

Official recalls

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.

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

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)

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

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

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.