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 · Jan 15, 2018

Fuel/propulsion SystemUnknown Or Other

INSIDE THE CAR IT SMELLS LIKE A MOLD(SMELLS LIKE DO DO). THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON ITS SOMETHING DEALING WITH CADILLAC CONVERTER.

NHTSA ODI #11062897

35,000 miles · Jan 13, 2018

Engine

MY CAR IS CONSTANTLY SAYING ENGINE POWER HAS BEEN REDUCE. NO MECHANIC CAN FIND THE CORRECT PROBLEM.

NHTSA ODI #11062577

40,000 miles · Jan 1, 2018

Electronic Stability Control (esc)

AT A LIGHT STOPPED AND MY CAR SHUTS OFF, SAYING SERVICE STABILITYTRAK.

NHTSA ODI #11057848

59,000 miles · Dec 30, 2017

EnginePower Train

"REDUCED ENGINE POWER" WARNING CAME AND POWER WAS SUDDENLY REDUCED AND VEHICLE SPEED REDUCED. THIS HAPPENED WHILE TRAVELLING 70MPH ON AN INTERSTATE ROAD. VERY DANGEROUS AS THE SPEED DROPPED TO 40 MPH.

NHTSA ODI #11057670

22,000 miles · Dec 22, 2017

EngineVehicle Speed Control

SEPTEMBER 2017 STABLITYTRACK WARNING CAME ON AFTER WEEKS CHEVY TOLD ME THEY WERE PUTTING A NEW ENGINE IN. WENT TO PICK UP CAR 10/4/2017 CHECK ENGINE LIGHT STILL ON LEFT CAR, SERVICE SAID IT WAS A CRACKED CONNECTOR AND REPLACED. DEC 22 TODAY ENGINE POWER IS REDUCED ALERT COMES ON AND CAN'T GO OVER 20MPH WAS ON THE HIGHWAY.

NHTSA ODI #11056079

68,000 miles · Dec 19, 2017

Steering

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 15 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED AND WAS UNABLE TO TURN. THE WRENCH WARNING ICON ILLUMINATED AS THE STEERING WHEEL FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO PUTNAM CHEVROLET CADILLAC (198 CALIFORNIA DR, BURLINGAME, CA), BUT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 68,000.

NHTSA ODI #11055546

30,000 miles · Dec 4, 2017

Electrical SystemEngineVehicle Speed Control

Read full complaint

I DECIDED TO LEASE A 2016 MALIBU OF FEBRUARY 2016. THE CAR WAS GREAT UNTIL MONTHS LATER I STARTED TO HAVE PROBLEMS. I WAS DRIVING TO SCHOOL ON THE FREEWAY IN OCTOBER 2016, WHEN MY CAR SUDDENLY WENT INTO REDUCE SPEED ENGINE. I WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 TO 70 MPH. I WAS IN THE LEFT LANE OF THE FREEWAY. AS I WAS DRIVING MY CAR DASHBOARD DISPLAY REDUCE SPEED ENGINE, THEN IMMEDIATELY MY CAR WENT FROM 70 MPH TO 30 MPH TO 20MPH. I MANAGE TO GET MY CAR TO THE EMERGENCY LANE OF THE FREEWAY. THE PROBLEM WAS FIXED THAT FOLLOWING WEEK, WITH COMPLICATIONS OF TRYING TO GET A RENTAL CAR SO I CAN GO TO WORK AND SCHOOL. 2017 OCTOBER 31ST, I WAS DRIVING TO GO PICK UP MY SON FROM SCHOOL. I WAS ON A MAJOR STREET. MY CAR WENT INTO REDUCE SPEED ENGINE. I WAS DRIVING 35 MPH. MY CAR WENT FROM 35 TO 20 MPH'S AGAIN. I MANAGED TO PULL INTO A NEAR BANK. SHAKEN UP I PARKED MY CAR AND TURN IT OFF AND THEN BACK ON WITHIN FIVE MINUTES. THE LIGHT WAS STILL DISPLAY ON MY DASHBOARD. I DROVE TO MY SON SCHOOL. I COULDN'T DRIVE OVER 10 MPH. IT NORMALLY TAKE 10 MINUTES TO DRIVE TO MY SON SCHOOL IT 25. IT TOOK EVEN LONGER TO GET BACK HOME. NOVEMBER 30TH, SAME PROBLEM HAPPEN AGAIN. WHILE DRIVING ON A MAJOR HIGHWAY. ONCE AGAIN I WAS IN THE LEFT LANE DRIVING THE REDUCE SPEED ENGINE CAME ON. MY CAR SLOWED DOWN. I HAD CARS BEHIND ME HONKING THEIR HORNS AT ME NEARLY CAUSING A FEW ACCIDENTS. I MANAGE TO GET OFF THE FREEWAY. I DID NOT WANT TO BE STUCK ON THE FREEWAY WHILE IT WAS DARK. I WAS STRANDED AT A NEARBY GAS STATION FOR CLOSE TO TWO HOURS. THE PROBLEMS I KEEP HAVING WITH THIS CAR IS DANGEROUS. I REFUSE TO DRIVE A VEHICLE THAT CAN POTENTIALLY CAUSE ME OR MY SON OUR LIVES.

NHTSA ODI #11052142

Mileage unknown · Nov 21, 2017

Vehicle Speed Control

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, THE VEHICLE DECELERATED AND THE REDUCED ENGINE POWER WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER AND RESTARTED THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO BERGER CHEVROLET (2525 28TH ST SE, GRAND RAPIDS, MI 49512), BUT WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT IT WAS A WARRANTY ISSUE. THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED BY THE DEALER THAT SHE WOULD HAVE TO PAY OUT OF POCKET FOR REPAIRS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE AND VIN WERE UNKNOWN.

NHTSA ODI #11047855

34,000 miles · Nov 8, 2017

Structure

REAR WINDOW LEAKING WHILE RAINING OR CAR WASH. SEVERAL COMPLAINTS FROM OTHER OWNERS AS WELL

NHTSA ODI #11044533

9,755 miles · Nov 1, 2017

Unknown Or Other

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IN DASH GPS SYSTEM SOLD AS A SAFETY FACTOR TO WIFE WHEN VEHICLE PURCHASED. WE WERE TOLD AT TIME OF SALE THE UP GRADES WERE DO ON A REGULAR BASIC AT NO CHARGE. THE SYSTEM GOT INTO A COUPLE OF UN SAFE SITUATIONS (DIRECTED DOWN A INCOMPLETE ROAD WITH NO EXIT) THAT SHE REQUIRED ASSISTANCE VIA HER MOBILE PHONE. TO US, ALL SAFETY RELATED ITEMS THAT REQUIRE ANY TYPE OF UP GRADE SHOULD BE AT "NO COST" TO CONSUMER. GM DOESN'T PROVIDE UP GRADES TO SYSTEM WITHOUT A CHARGE OF $ 179.00 WHERE A GARMIN UNIT DOES AT NO CHARGE.

NHTSA ODI #11042177

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.