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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.

About this comparison →

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

What owners actually said

837 reports
Mileage unknown · Aug 23, 2019
Exterior Lighting

THE INSTRUMENT PANEL DIMS AT VARIOUS TIMES MAKING IT VERY DIFFICULT TO SEE WHEN DRIVING OR PARKED.

NHTSA ODI #11246108

88,245 miles · Aug 17, 2019
Electrical System

SINCE I BOUGHT THIS CAR NEW IN 2016 I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE VCM 4 TIMES. NOTHING SEEMED TO FIX THE PROBLEM. THE STOP/START NEVER WORKED RIGHT. THREE TIMES OVER THE LAST MONTH, AFTER VARIOUS REPAIRS AT THE DEALERSHIP, THE CAR HAS COMPLETELY STOPPED WHILE DRIVING AND WOULD NOT START AGAIN. THE DOORS UNLOCKED AND LOCKED, VEHICLE …

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SINCE I BOUGHT THIS CAR NEW IN 2016 I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE VCM 4 TIMES. NOTHING SEEMED TO FIX THE PROBLEM. THE STOP/START NEVER WORKED RIGHT. THREE TIMES OVER THE LAST MONTH, AFTER VARIOUS REPAIRS AT THE DEALERSHIP, THE CAR HAS COMPLETELY STOPPED WHILE DRIVING AND WOULD NOT START AGAIN. THE DOORS UNLOCKED AND LOCKED, VEHICLE JUMPED 3 TIMES, ALL KINDS OF WARNING LIGHTS AND MESSAGES ON THE DASH....THEN NOTHING BUT A DEAD CAR IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD ON A SUNNY DRY DAY. I COULD'VE BEEN THE CAUSE OF ACCIDENTS WHILE STOPPED IN THE ROADWAY AND MANY PEOPLE COULD'VE BEEN SERIOUSLY INJURED. THE CAR WAS FIXED THE FOURTH TIME YESTERDAY AND THE MECHANIC TOOK IT OUT TO TEST BEFORE RETURNING THE VEHICLE TO ME. IT DIED ON HIM AGAIN AND HAD TO BE TOWED BACK TO THE SERVICE CENTER. SERIOUS SAFETY HAZARD AND THE CERTIFIED GM TECHS CAN'T FIGURE OUT WHAT'S WRONG. P3055 AND P3056 ARE THE ERROR CODES THAT COME UP EVERY TIME. NEW BATTERY, NEW VCM, NEW WIRING HARNESS....EACH TIME THE PROBLEM GOT WORSE UNTIL IT COMPLETELY STOPPED RUNNING. NO RECALL AND THE CAR IS OUT OF WARRANTY SO CHEVY IS NOT WILLING TO HELP AT ALL.

NHTSA ODI #11244609

Mileage unknown · Aug 13, 2019
Electronic Stability Control (esc)Engine

TAKATA RECALL- MY CAR IS DECREASING SPEED, SWITCHING GEARS WHILE DRIVING, MY CAR KEEPS TELLING ME TO 'SHIFT TO PARK' WHILE THE CAR IS ALREADY PARKED AND NOT CUTTING OFF. THE CAR KEEPS DROPPING TO ZERO ON MY DASH BOARD WHILE I'M DRIVING AND SHAKING WHILE I'M DRIVING. MY SENSOR SYSTEM KEEPS FLASHING 'STABILITALK' AND 'STEERING POW…

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TAKATA RECALL- MY CAR IS DECREASING SPEED, SWITCHING GEARS WHILE DRIVING, MY CAR KEEPS TELLING ME TO 'SHIFT TO PARK' WHILE THE CAR IS ALREADY PARKED AND NOT CUTTING OFF. THE CAR KEEPS DROPPING TO ZERO ON MY DASH BOARD WHILE I'M DRIVING AND SHAKING WHILE I'M DRIVING. MY SENSOR SYSTEM KEEPS FLASHING 'STABILITALK' AND 'STEERING POWER SERVICE, REDUCED SPEED'

NHTSA ODI #11243803

15 miles · Aug 13, 2019
Electrical SystemEngineService BrakesCrash

EGINE POWER REDUCED LIGHT. THE CAR WONT GO OVER 20-30MPH. BRAKES MALFUNCTION CAUSING A SMALL FENDER BENDER. ITS HARD TO START WONT STAY RUNNING. IT EVEN LOST POWER ON THE HWY A FEW TIMES BEFORE THE WRECK.

NHTSA ODI #11243558

27,000 miles · Aug 12, 2019
Electrical System

UPON STOPPING AND SHIFTING THE TRANSMISSION INTO PARK, THE INSTRUMENT DISPLAY GIVES A "SHIFT TO PARK" WARNING AND WHEN THE "STOP / START" BUTTON IS PUSHED TO SHUT OFF THE ENGINE, THE ENGINE STOPS, BUT THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM REMAINS ENERGIZED. THE PROBLEM IS INTERMITTENT AND IT OFTEN TAKES SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO REMEDY BY RE-STARTIN…

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UPON STOPPING AND SHIFTING THE TRANSMISSION INTO PARK, THE INSTRUMENT DISPLAY GIVES A "SHIFT TO PARK" WARNING AND WHEN THE "STOP / START" BUTTON IS PUSHED TO SHUT OFF THE ENGINE, THE ENGINE STOPS, BUT THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM REMAINS ENERGIZED. THE PROBLEM IS INTERMITTENT AND IT OFTEN TAKES SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO REMEDY BY RE-STARTING THE ENGINE, SHIFTING INTO GEAR, SHIFTING BACK TO PARK, THEN HITTING THE "STOP / START" BUTTON AGAIN BEFORE IT WORKS CORRECTLY. BASED ON FEEDBACK FROM THIS AND OTHER SITES, THIS APPEARS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM AND MY LOCAL DEALER HAS QUOTED ME APPROXIMATELY $500 TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION CONTROL ASSEMBLY. GM HAS ALSO ISSUED A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN, NO. 18-NA-297, WHICH RECOGNIZES THIS PROBLEM. THE CAR HAS 27,000 MILES ON IT AND IS 3 MONTHS OUT OF WARRANTY. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE FROM A 100 YEAR OLD CAR COMPANY THAT THE GOVERNMENT BAILED OUT JUST 10 YEARS AGO.

NHTSA ODI #11243342

41,000 miles · Aug 8, 2019
Power Train

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE PARKING, THE START/STOP BUTTON WAS PRESSED AND FAILED TO TURN OFF THE VEHICLE. IN ADDITION, THE "PARK TO SHIFT" WARNING MESSAGE WAS DISPLAYED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE CONTACT HAD TO SHIFT GEARS AND BACK INTO PARK IN ORDER TO TURN OFF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT CALLED MCKENNEY…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE PARKING, THE START/STOP BUTTON WAS PRESSED AND FAILED TO TURN OFF THE VEHICLE. IN ADDITION, THE "PARK TO SHIFT" WARNING MESSAGE WAS DISPLAYED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE CONTACT HAD TO SHIFT GEARS AND BACK INTO PARK IN ORDER TO TURN OFF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT CALLED MCKENNEY CHEVROLET CADILLAC BUICK GMC (LOCATED AT 831 S MAIN ST, LOWELL, NC 28098, (855) 757-1635) AND INFORMED THEM OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 41,000.

NHTSA ODI #11242488

25,858 miles · Aug 7, 2019
Unknown Or Other

DASH SAYS TO SHIFT TO PARK WHEN SHUTTING CAR OFF, EVEN THOUGH IT'S ALREADY IN PARK

NHTSA ODI #11242174

Mileage unknown · Aug 7, 2019
Electronic Stability Control (esc)EngineVehicle Speed Control

I COULD BE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND IT'LL SAY ENGINE POWER REDUCED. IF I PRESS THE GAS, IT'LL SLOW DOWN. WHEN I PUT MY CAR IN PARK, AND TURN IT OFF IT'LL SAY SHIFT TO PARK.

NHTSA ODI #11242169

60,000 miles · Aug 3, 2019
Air BagsService BrakesSuspensionCrash

I WAS DRIVING NORTHBOUND ON I-435 WHEN AVOIDING AN ACCIDENT. I PRESSED MY BRAKE AS HARD AS I COULD. MY VEHICLE DID NOT STOP SO TO AVOID CAUSING A SERIOUS ACCIDENT I WENT OFF ROAD IN THE CENTER OF THE TWO HIGHWAYS. AFTER HITTING THE GUARDRAIL TO STOP MY VEHICLE FROM FALLING INBETWEEN THE OVERPASS. MY AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY . I F…

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I WAS DRIVING NORTHBOUND ON I-435 WHEN AVOIDING AN ACCIDENT. I PRESSED MY BRAKE AS HARD AS I COULD. MY VEHICLE DID NOT STOP SO TO AVOID CAUSING A SERIOUS ACCIDENT I WENT OFF ROAD IN THE CENTER OF THE TWO HIGHWAYS. AFTER HITTING THE GUARDRAIL TO STOP MY VEHICLE FROM FALLING INBETWEEN THE OVERPASS. MY AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY . I FEEL SOME CONCERN AFTER HAVING MY BREAKS CHECKED AND TOLD THEY WERE GOOD. THEN IF I'M AT STOP AND I RELEASE THE BREAK FOR MY CAR TO START BACK UP. I GIVE IT A SECOND AND THEN PRESS THE PEDDLE IT DOES NOT MOVE WHICH HAS ALMOST CAUSED ME TO HOLD UP TRAFFIC OR ALMOST BEING HIT WHEN VEHICLES WERE AT SAFE DISTANCES.

NHTSA ODI #11241542

71,000 miles · Aug 1, 2019
Steering

THIS HAS HAPPEN TO ME MULTIPLE TIMES WITH THE MOST RECENT ONE BEING TODAY. THE CAR WOULD BE AT A RED LIGHT WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THE WHOLE CAR WOULD SHUT IT SELF OFF THEN RESTART AGAIN SHORTLY AFTER TURNING OFF. THEN A MESSAGE WOULD POP UP ON THE LCD SCREEN SAYING SOMETHING ALONG THE LINES OF. 'POWER STEERING ASSIST REDUCED' THE …

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THIS HAS HAPPEN TO ME MULTIPLE TIMES WITH THE MOST RECENT ONE BEING TODAY. THE CAR WOULD BE AT A RED LIGHT WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THE WHOLE CAR WOULD SHUT IT SELF OFF THEN RESTART AGAIN SHORTLY AFTER TURNING OFF. THEN A MESSAGE WOULD POP UP ON THE LCD SCREEN SAYING SOMETHING ALONG THE LINES OF. 'POWER STEERING ASSIST REDUCED' THE MESSAGE WOULD DISAPPEAR SO FAST THAT IT DOESN'T EVEN GIVE ME A CHANCE TO FULLY READ IT.

NHTSA ODI #11241207

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.