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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 · Apr 3, 2019
Unknown Or Other

THE RADIO HAS NO SOUND AND IS A COMMON PROBLEM SINCE THE 2010 MODEL. GM OR CHEVY IS DOING NOTHING TO HELP CUSTOMERS FIX THE ISSUE OR TRAIN THEIR SERVICE TEAMS TO FIX THE PROBLEM. I HAVE HAD MY 2016 FOR ALMOST 9 MONTHS WITH 3 OF THOSE MONTHS IN RADIO SILENCE, NO ANSWER, AND NO COMPENSATION

NHTSA ODI #11193728

76,000 miles · Apr 2, 2019
Electronic Stability Control (esc)EngineSteering

WHEN I STOPPED AT 3 RED LIGHTS ON MY WAY TO WORK THIS MORNING MY CAR SHUT COMPLETELY OFF WITH THE AUTO OFF SETTING BUT IT DIDN'T SHUT OFF UNTIL I LET GO OFF THE BREAK AND WHEN I LET GO AND IT SHUT OFF MY CAR STARTED GOING BACKWARDS AND THEN IT POWERED BACK ON.

NHTSA ODI #11193349

Mileage unknown · Apr 1, 2019
Engine

POWER FAILURE WHEN DRIVING AND ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON AND CAR LOSES POWER AND WON'T PULL.

NHTSA ODI #11193017

45,789 miles · Mar 29, 2019
EngineVehicle Speed Control

REDUCED ENGINE POWER WHILE TRAVELING AT 65 MPH ON THE FREEWAY. SPEED DROPPED TO 40 MPH. I WAS JUST ABLE TO PUT ON MY HAZARDS AND PULL OVER WITH SEVERAL CARS BEHIND ME SLAMMING ON THEIR BRAKES.

NHTSA ODI #11192327

28,000 miles · Mar 28, 2019
Unknown Or Other

FOR THE PAST TWO YEARS I HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING A LOUD POPPING NOISE IN THE REAR OF MY VEHICLE WHILE OPERATING IT. I HAVE TAKEN IT IN FOR MAINTENANCE AT MY LOCAL CHEVROLET DEALER HOWEVER THEY CONTINUE TO TELL ME THAT THEY CANNOT DUPLICATE THE NOISE. THE NOISE SOUNDS LIKE IT MAY BE COMING FROM MY BACK AXLES AND DOESN'T SEEM TO BE…

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FOR THE PAST TWO YEARS I HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING A LOUD POPPING NOISE IN THE REAR OF MY VEHICLE WHILE OPERATING IT. I HAVE TAKEN IT IN FOR MAINTENANCE AT MY LOCAL CHEVROLET DEALER HOWEVER THEY CONTINUE TO TELL ME THAT THEY CANNOT DUPLICATE THE NOISE. THE NOISE SOUNDS LIKE IT MAY BE COMING FROM MY BACK AXLES AND DOESN'T SEEM TO BE AFFECTED BY A MINIMUM OR MAXIMUM SPEED. I HAVE ENSURED ALL BRACKETS ARE SECURED INSIDE OF MY TRUNK AS I THOUGHT THERE MIGHT HAVE BEEN SOMETHING LOOSE HOWEVER, THAT IS NOT THE CASE.

NHTSA ODI #11192197

55,000 miles · Mar 27, 2019
Vehicle Speed Control

WHILE IN TRAFFIC ENGINE LIGHT & ENGINE POWER REDUCED CAME ON A VEHICLE WOULDN'T ACCELERATE PAST LOW SPEED, WHICH ALMOST CAUSED ACCIDENT. GOT ENGINE READ AND IT WAS DUE TO ACCELERATOR PEDAL WHICH IS VERY COMMON IN THIS CAR

NHTSA ODI #11191785

88,000 miles · Mar 25, 2019
EngineUnknown Or Other

WHEN CAR IS PUT IN PARK AND TURNED OFF A NOTIFICATION OF 'SHIFT PARK' DISPLAYS WHILE DINGING IN CAR. CAR IS STATIONARY DURING THIS TIME. ALSO WHEN DRIVING SOMETIMES MY CAR SLOWS DOWN AND A NOTIFICATION OF ENGINE POWER DOWN WHILE DINGING SOUND GOES OFF. CAR WILL THEN EVENTUALLY POWER DOWN AND COME TO A STOP. CAR HAS DONE THIS O…

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WHEN CAR IS PUT IN PARK AND TURNED OFF A NOTIFICATION OF 'SHIFT PARK' DISPLAYS WHILE DINGING IN CAR. CAR IS STATIONARY DURING THIS TIME. ALSO WHEN DRIVING SOMETIMES MY CAR SLOWS DOWN AND A NOTIFICATION OF ENGINE POWER DOWN WHILE DINGING SOUND GOES OFF. CAR WILL THEN EVENTUALLY POWER DOWN AND COME TO A STOP. CAR HAS DONE THIS ON THE HIGHWAY AND WHILE DRIVING AROUND THE CITY. BOTH HAS HAPPENED ON SEVERAL ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE SHIFT TO PARK INCIDENT HAPPENS DAILY AND THE ENGINE POWER DOWN SITUATION HAPPENS OCCASSIONALY LAST TIME IT HAPPENED WAS 3/22/2019

NHTSA ODI #11191258

51,000 miles · Mar 22, 2019
EngineUnknown Or Other

TWICE I HAVE HAD THE ACCELERATED PEDAL REPLACE, WHICH CAUSE THE ENGINE TO LOSE POWER. I HAVE TAKE THIS IN OVER 13 TIME FOR THE ENGINE LIGHT TO COME. I WAS DRIVING ON 495 AT THE SPEED OF 60 MPH IN 2ND TIME ALMOST WAS HIT FROM BEHIND.

NHTSA ODI #11190967

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

Mileage unknown · Mar 21, 2019
Vehicle Speed Control

I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AND A MESSAGE PIPED UP ON MY DASH SAYING MY CAR WAS LOSING POWER. I TRIED TO PRESS THE GAS, MY MY SPEED DECREASED. I PULL OVER TO THE SIDE AND SHUT MY CAR OFF FOR A WHILE, CRUNK IT BACK UP AND IT DROVE NORMAL. 5 MINUTES LATER AND IT DID THE SAME THING.

NHTSA ODI #11190564

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.