What Owners Report NHTSA ODI · 2,175,102 complaints · MY1998–2026

2016 Chevrolet Malibu

Typical pattern

1.9% of complaints about the 2016 Chevrolet Malibu came in the first year, which is unremarkable for a 2016 vehicle — around the middle of the 199 model-years on record. The median complaint arrives at 4.4 yr in service. The most-reported system is engine (302 complaints), typically at 4.8 yr or about 52,000 miles.

Complaints
1,445
Median age at failure
4.4 yr
Median mileage
50,000 n=886
Crash / fire / tow
4.8% of reports
Safety recalls
9

When each system is reported — middle 50% of complaints

System
0y2y4y6y8y10y12y14y
Engine
302 reports · 52,000 mi
4.8 yr
5%
Electrical system
223 reports · 52,000 mi
4.8 yr
3.1%
Other
174 reports · 44,842 mi
4.3 yr
1.1%
Power train
166 reports · 42,000 mi
4.8 yr
1.8%
Speed control
152 reports · 60,200 mi
4.5 yr
2%
Service brakes
93 reports · 54,000 mi
4.8 yr
15.1%
Electronic stability control (esc)
76 reports · 55,000 mi
3.8 yr
5.3%
Fuel / propulsion
50 reports · 53,641 mi
4.3 yr
0%
Steering
42 reports · 51,000 mi
3.9 yr
4.8%
Structure
40 reports · 40,000 mi
3.7 yr
2.5%
Exterior lighting
19 reports · 43,000 mi
3.7 yr
5.3%
Suspension
19 reports · 64,763 mi
4.8 yr
5.3%

Safety recalls — NHTSA campaigns

21V649000 2021-08-20
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.

An improperly secured seat belt retractor may not function properly in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.

18V400000 2018-06-14
Air bags:sensor:occupant classification

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.

In the event of a crash, improper air bag deployment can increase the risk of injury.

18V358000 2018-05-31
Fuel system, gasoline:delivery:fuel pump

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.

A damaged fuel line can create a fuel leak, increasing the risk of a fire.

16V781000 2016-10-26
Air bags:side/window

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.

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.

16V502000 2016-07-05
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 Sta

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

16V272000 2016-05-05
Electronic stability control (esc)

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."

If the EBCM fails the primary braking system will still function, however, the loss of ABS and ESC increase the risk of a crash.

16V151000 2016-03-11
Air bags:side/window

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."

Fractured weld studs may allow the side air bag to move out of position during deployment, increasing the risk of injury.

16V125000 2016-03-02
Air bags:frontal

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.

An improperly inflated air bag increases the risk of injury.

16V084000 2016-02-11
Electrical system:software

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."

An unbelted driver is at a greater risk of injury in a crash.

In owners’ own words

Power train 10,500 mi 8 mo in service
WHILE STARTING OFF OR TRYING TO ACCELERATE, THE CAR HAS NO POWER TO PICK UP SPEED. I TOOK THE VEHICLE INTO THE DEALERSHIP FOR EVALUATION AND THEY COULD NOT DIAGNOSE THE ISSUE. THIS ISSUE HAPPENS FROM TIME TO TIME ON FREEWAY OR CITY DRIVING. I HAVE HAD TO MOVE TO THE SHOULDER TO LET CARS PASS BY BECAUSE MY CAR WOULD NOT PICK UP SPEED. THIS ISSUE IS STILL PRESENT TODAY
Power train 3,800 mi 1.0 yr in service crash / fire / tow
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO REVERSE THE VEHICLE, THE TRANSMISSION BECAME STUCK IN NEUTRAL. THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE ROLLED BACKWARDS AND CRASHED INTO A PARKED VEHICLE. THE INCIDENT OCCURRED ON THREE SEPARATE OCCASIONS. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 3,800.
Power train 18,073 mi 1.6 yr in service
WHILE MERGING ONTO A HIGHWAY, THE VEHICLE LOST ENGINE POWER AND THE "CHECK ENGINE" LIGHT CAME ON. THE INFORMATION PANEL THEN DISPLAYED TWO WARNINGS, INCLUDING "ENGINE POWER IS REDUCED" AND WOULD NOT LET THE VEHICLE ACCELERATE MORE THAN 40 MPH. THE INFORMATION PANEL ALSO STATED "SERVICE DRIVER ASSIST SYSTEM." THE DEALER STATES IT'S AN ISSUE WITH A FAULTY ACCELERATOR PEDAL TERMINAL? HOWEVER, THIS ISSUE HAS HAPPENED THREE TIMES OVER THE PAST FEW MONTHS AND IS VERY DANGEROUS WHEN TRAVELING ON THE ROADS, AND POWER/ACCELERATION IS REDUCED AND CAPPED AT 40 MPH.
Service brakes 61 mi 9 mo in service crash / fire / tow
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 CHEVROLET MAILBU. WHILE PULLING OUT OF A PARKING SPOT AT 3 MPH, THE ABS ENGAGED WITHOUT WARNING. THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. WHILE GRADUALLY DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL WHILE DRIVING, THE ABS REPEATEDLY JERKED THE VEHICLE FOR MILES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE NO FAILURES WAS DIAGNOSED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 61.

Other Malibu model years

202420232022202120202019201820172016201520142013201220112010200920082007200620052004200320022001200019991998

How to read this