Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
930–25K
16425–50K
14350–75K
7175–100K
36100–150K
18150K+
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
What owners actually said
837 reports
64,423 miles · May 30, 2020
Service Brakes
WE HAD BEEN DRIVING FOR OVER AN HOUR TO OUR DESTINATION AS I CAME TO THE SECOND RED LIGHT THAT WAS RIGHT PAST ONE WE JUST PASSED WITH NO PROBLEMS, THE BRAKES MADE A LOUD NOISE UNDERNEATH THE CAR AND BRAKES WOULD NOT WORK. AS I PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, YOU HAD TO PRESS BRAKES WITH BOTH FEET AND EVERYTIME IT WOULD MAKE A LO…
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WE HAD BEEN DRIVING FOR OVER AN HOUR TO OUR DESTINATION AS I CAME TO THE SECOND RED LIGHT THAT WAS RIGHT PAST ONE WE JUST PASSED WITH NO PROBLEMS, THE BRAKES MADE A LOUD NOISE UNDERNEATH THE CAR AND BRAKES WOULD NOT WORK. AS I PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, YOU HAD TO PRESS BRAKES WITH BOTH FEET AND EVERYTIME IT WOULD MAKE A LOUD SOUND. *TR
NHTSA ODI #11326624
55,000 miles · May 30, 2020
Unknown Or Other
WHEN GO TO PUT CAR IN PARK AND SHUT ENGINE OFF GET A MESSAGE SAYING SHIFT TO PARK AND CANT SHUT CAR OFF. *TR
NHTSA ODI #11326609
66,000 miles · May 28, 2020
Vehicle Speed Control
EVERY COUPLE MONTHS I WILL BE DRIVING MY 2016 CHEVROLET MALIBU ON THE HIGHWAY AND IT WILL SUDDENLY WARN ME THAT THE ENGINE POWER HAS BEEN REDUCED. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WILL ILLUMINATE AND THE CAR WILL DROP FORM 50-7MPH TO ABOUT 20-30MPH. THIS HAS HAPPENED MANY TIMES AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND CODE ALWAYS DISAPPEAR BEFORE I…
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EVERY COUPLE MONTHS I WILL BE DRIVING MY 2016 CHEVROLET MALIBU ON THE HIGHWAY AND IT WILL SUDDENLY WARN ME THAT THE ENGINE POWER HAS BEEN REDUCED. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WILL ILLUMINATE AND THE CAR WILL DROP FORM 50-7MPH TO ABOUT 20-30MPH. THIS HAS HAPPENED MANY TIMES AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND CODE ALWAYS DISAPPEAR BEFORE I CAN GET IT REPAIRED, BUT THE PROBLEM KEEPS OCCURRING AND IS INCREDIBLY DANGEROUS. *TR
NHTSA ODI #11326296
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
61,000 miles · May 8, 2020
Electrical System
WHEN STOPPING AND AUTO STOP KICKS ON THE CAR SHUTS DOWN AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON. THEN IT HAS TO BE PUT IN TO PARK AND RESTARTED. TURN SIGNALS AND RADIO HAVE NO SOUND WORKING AND SOMETIMES THERE IS A STEERING ASSIST WARNING MESSAGE APPEARS. I CHANGED MY BATTERY SEVERAL MONTHS AGO AND THIS HAS HAPPENED TO ME SEVERAL TI…
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WHEN STOPPING AND AUTO STOP KICKS ON THE CAR SHUTS DOWN AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON. THEN IT HAS TO BE PUT IN TO PARK AND RESTARTED. TURN SIGNALS AND RADIO HAVE NO SOUND WORKING AND SOMETIMES THERE IS A STEERING ASSIST WARNING MESSAGE APPEARS. I CHANGED MY BATTERY SEVERAL MONTHS AGO AND THIS HAS HAPPENED TO ME SEVERAL TIMES AND I'VE ALSO HAD THE ALTERNATOR CHECKED AND IT'S FINE AS WELL. AFTER TURNING THE VEHICLE OFF AND RESTARTING THE BLINKER HAS SOUND AND THE RADIO WORKS. I'M ALSO UNABLE.TO USE BLUETOOTH SERVICES WHEN ALL THE ABOVE HAPPENS. *TR
NHTSA ODI #11323935
61,470 miles · May 7, 2020
Vehicle Speed Control
WHILE DRIVING ON I-285,AT A SPEED OF AROUND 70MPH, THE VEHICLE DISPLAY SHOWED 'REDUCED ENGINE POWER.' ALL OF A SUDDEN THE CAR IMMEDIATELY SLOWS DOWN TO A SPEED OF 40 THEN LESS RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC. THANKFULLY, I WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER OFF SHOULDER. HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED SINCE IT WOULD NOT ACCELERATE TO AN…
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WHILE DRIVING ON I-285,AT A SPEED OF AROUND 70MPH, THE VEHICLE DISPLAY SHOWED 'REDUCED ENGINE POWER.' ALL OF A SUDDEN THE CAR IMMEDIATELY SLOWS DOWN TO A SPEED OF 40 THEN LESS RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC. THANKFULLY, I WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER OFF SHOULDER. HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED SINCE IT WOULD NOT ACCELERATE TO AN APPROPRIATE SPEED. *TR
NHTSA ODI #11323795
Mileage unknown · May 6, 2020
Electronic Stability Control (esc)
MY HUSBAND AND I HAVE A 2016 CHEVY MALIBU. WE BOUGHT IT BACK IN 2016 BRAND NEW. SINCE THEN, THIS HAS HAPPENED TO US MULTIPLE TIMES. WE'LL BE ON A BUSY HIGHWAY THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN IN THE MIDDLE OF FAST PACED TRAFFIC THE CAR SUDDENLY WON'T GO ABOVE 30MPH. IT'S VERY SCARY. THE THIRD TIME IT WAS WINTER AND I HAD ALL MY YOUNGER SIBL…
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MY HUSBAND AND I HAVE A 2016 CHEVY MALIBU. WE BOUGHT IT BACK IN 2016 BRAND NEW. SINCE THEN, THIS HAS HAPPENED TO US MULTIPLE TIMES. WE'LL BE ON A BUSY HIGHWAY THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN IN THE MIDDLE OF FAST PACED TRAFFIC THE CAR SUDDENLY WON'T GO ABOVE 30MPH. IT'S VERY SCARY. THE THIRD TIME IT WAS WINTER AND I HAD ALL MY YOUNGER SIBLINGS IN THE CAR, AND I WAS PREGNANT (ALL UNDER THE AGE OF 13) AND WE WERE ON I-94 AND IT SUDDENLY WOULDN'T GO OVER 30MPH AGAIN LEAVING US TEMPORARILY STRANDED UNTIL A FAMILY MEMBER HAD TO COME PICK US ALL UP. WE BROUGHT IT IN AND PAID ABOUT $500 OUT OF POCKET DUE TO THROTTLE SENSORY ISSUES. NOW I AM CURRENTLY STUCK AT HOME TODAY (5/6/2020) ONCE AGAIN BECAUSE IT JUST HAPPENED AGAIN EVEN THOUGH WE GOT THE ISSUE FIXED A COUPLE MONTHS AGO. YESTERDAY I WAS ON A COUNTY ROAD IN THE MIDDLE OF THE COUNTRY WITH MY INFANT/BABY IN THE CAR AND IT HAPPENED AGAIN, THE ENGINE LIGHT WENT ON AND IT SAID 'ENGINE POWER IS REDUCED' AND WOULD NOT GO OVER 30MPH. IT TOOK ME AN HOUR TO GET TO AN 'AUTOZONE' SHOP AT THIS CRAWLING SPEED WITH MY FLASHERS ON (AND A RESTLESS SCREAMING BABY) TO HAVE THEM READ THE ENGINE CODE.. SURE ENOUGH THEY TOLD ME IT IS A THROTTLE SENSOR ISSUE. THIS IS EXHAUSTING AND DANGEROUS! *TR
NHTSA ODI #11323546
75,000 miles · May 4, 2020
Vehicle Speed Control
I ALREADY REPLACED THE PEDAL POSITION SENSOR ONCE AND WITHIN 6 MONTHS IT DID IT AGAIN. I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY WHEN MY CARS CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND IT GAVE A MESSAGE ON THE DASHBOARD THAT READ 'ENGINE POWER IS REDUCED'. IT SLOWED ME TO 44 MPH & WAS STUCK AT 3000 RPM. I WAS ABLE TO SAFELY MANEUVER THE VEHICLE OFF THE …
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I ALREADY REPLACED THE PEDAL POSITION SENSOR ONCE AND WITHIN 6 MONTHS IT DID IT AGAIN. I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY WHEN MY CARS CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND IT GAVE A MESSAGE ON THE DASHBOARD THAT READ 'ENGINE POWER IS REDUCED'. IT SLOWED ME TO 44 MPH & WAS STUCK AT 3000 RPM. I WAS ABLE TO SAFELY MANEUVER THE VEHICLE OFF THE FREEWAY BUT I AM SERIOUSLY WORRIED ABOUT MY OWN SAFETY & THE SAFETY OF OTHER VEHICLES IF I CONTINUE TO DRIVE THIS CAR. LIKE I MENTIONED, THIS HAS ALREADY BEEN FIXED/REPLACED ONCE & NOW IT HAS HAPPENED AGAIN.
NHTSA ODI #11323309
26,000 miles · May 2, 2020
Electrical System
CAR WILL NOT SHUT OFF. EVEN AFTER I PUT THE CAR IN PARKING POSITION - THERE IS AN ERROR THAT COMES UP WHEN I TRY TO TURN THE CAR OFF USING THE ON/OFF BUTTON. THE ERROR MESSAGE IS 'SHIFT TO PARK' EVEN WHEN THE CAR IS IN PARK. THIS HAPPENS EVERY TIME WHEN I TURN OFF THE CAR. I WOULD SHIFT THE GEAR MULTIPLE TIMES BACK AND FORTH TIL…
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CAR WILL NOT SHUT OFF. EVEN AFTER I PUT THE CAR IN PARKING POSITION - THERE IS AN ERROR THAT COMES UP WHEN I TRY TO TURN THE CAR OFF USING THE ON/OFF BUTTON. THE ERROR MESSAGE IS 'SHIFT TO PARK' EVEN WHEN THE CAR IS IN PARK. THIS HAPPENS EVERY TIME WHEN I TURN OFF THE CAR. I WOULD SHIFT THE GEAR MULTIPLE TIMES BACK AND FORTH TILL I CAN GET IT TO TURN OFF BUT NOW ITS GETTING WORSE.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
2016 Chevrolet Malibu Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year
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