2016 Chevrolet Malibu
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Engine is the leading concern among 861 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 12th highest complaint count among 26 Malibu model years with reports.
Of the 2016 reports, 24 involved a crash and 2 involved a fire. 17 people were injured and 1 person died.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
Seat belts, critical fastenersAug 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.
An improperly secured seat belt retractor may not function properly in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
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.
Campaign 21V649000 on NHTSA.gov
Air bags, sensor, occupant classificationJun 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.
In the event of a crash, improper air bag deployment can increase the risk of injury.
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.
Campaign 18V400000 on NHTSA.gov
Fuel system, gasoline, delivery, fuel pumpMay 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.
A damaged fuel line can create a fuel leak, increasing the risk of a fire.
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.
Campaign 18V358000 on NHTSA.gov
Air bags, side/windowOct 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.
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.
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.
Campaign 16V781000 on NHTSA.gov
Electrical system, ignitionJul 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."
If the key is removed without the transmission in PARK, the vehicle may rollaway as occupants are exiting, increasing the risk of injury.
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.
Campaign 16V502000 on NHTSA.gov
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."
If the EBCM fails the primary braking system will still function, however, the loss of ABS and ESC increase the risk of a crash.
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.
Campaign 16V272000 on NHTSA.gov
Air bags, side/windowMar 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."
Fractured weld studs may allow the side air bag to move out of position during deployment, increasing the risk of injury.
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.
Campaign 16V151000 on NHTSA.gov
Air bags, frontalMar 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.
An improperly inflated air bag increases the risk of injury.
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.
Campaign 16V125000 on NHTSA.gov
Electrical system, softwareFeb 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."
An unbelted driver is at a greater risk of injury in a crash.
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.
Campaign 16V084000 on NHTSA.gov
Representative owner complaints: other or unspecified
180 reports, newest first. Show all
Other or unspecified, Jan 28, 2022
Water seeps into the third break light n could cause being shocked . and wets the headliner which causes mold in the cabin of vehicle . water also seeps into spare tire
Other or unspecified, Jan 6, 2022
Yesterday I was driving down the freeway at 70 mph when the car slowed down to 30 miles a hour and the message engine power is reduced comes on. Had to exit the freeway and turn off the car. Then it was fine.
Other or unspecified, Dec 3, 2021
Loss of engine power; vehicle not shifting/idling; shift to park issue
Power train, Other or unspecified, Service brakes, Oct 5, 2021
The morning I started my trip. My back up camera stayed on. I stopped turned the car off and back on. It was still on. Turned it off again. This time the camera went off. I was going up the cajon pass. No warning light or anything. Was coming up to my exit. Tried to slow down to exit. Couldn't press my brakes. They were rock hard to press. Took my foot off gas. Slowed down enough to get to the shoulder of the road. Once I was able to stop. My brakes were hard to press they made a clunk noise. I noticed the check engine light was on. I could of been killed had someone been in front of me and stopped. Or I could of killed someone. This is not the first time these brakes have done this. They did it earlier this year I wasn't able to press my brakes as and when I was it made the same noise. I had it towed to dealer to be fixed. They said they fixed it. This could of killed me or someone else as I was traveling on the freeway at faster speeds than the streets
Other or unspecified, Sep 20, 2021
CHMSL water leaking inside the vehicle from rear roof stop light, it’s a speacial coverage from GM. My vehicle has odor smell & inside water damage & mold Starling Chevrolet Orlando is non cooperative & giving me false information & run around between dealership & GM
Other or unspecified, Jul 22, 2021, crash
While I was pulling into a parking spot, my 2016 Chevrolet Malibu suddenly accelerated without any prior warning. The sudden unintended acceleration caused the vehicle to somehow jump the curb, hit a sign, and go airborne landing on two park cars which, resulted in damage to the front end and passenger side fender, front grill, left tire and other parts. The car was leaning to one side and I had to pry open the driver side door to get out. One of the other cars was totaled and the other had hood damage. It took two tow trucks to remove the car off of the other cars, it was towed to a repair shop and repaired by my insurance company but I no longer have possession of it. I was too terrified of it to keep it. It is still unknown what caused the vehicle to malfunction.
Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Jun 3, 2021
My vehicle, a 2016 Chevy Malibu, has started receiving the *known* GM "Shift to Park" error message. This error message occurs when the vehicle is in park, but the driver information center (in the dashboard) alerts to "Shift to Park" before you can shut off the vehicle. If you try to exit the vehicle with the error message, all electronic systems (screen, lights, dash, etc) will stay on, draining down the car battery, putting me at risk of being stranded due to a known issue in my car and/or me having to leave my car running, putting my car at risk of being broken into, stolen, or worse. I have wasted countless hours already, in the very short time the error has occurred, having to shift out of park, reverse, drive, back into park, and keep trying over and over and over and over and over and over and over, until it finally might register. One evening, it took over two hours for this to work. This is a HUGE risk to me, especially in the city I live in, as a single woman. Furthermore, the fact that GM and NHTSA have a service bulletin on this, and it is a *known* issue in my year, make, and model, on top of the thousands and thousands of online forums reporting this same issue, tells me that this is much, much larger than anyone (especially GM) would like to admit, and that my car needs to be included in the recall for this.
Other or unspecified, May 22, 2021
Transmission problems
Other or unspecified, Apr 29, 2021
I WAS DRIVING IN THE RAIN ON A STREET HEADING TOWARDS THE HIGHWAY AT 40 MPH AND SUDDENLY ENGINE REDUCED POWER NOTIFICATION CAME UP AND I WAS UNABLE TO DRIVE FASTER THAN 20 MPH.
Power train, Other or unspecified, Engine, Apr 8, 2021
I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AT 55MPH - 2-LANE ROAD (4 DAYS AGO) WHEN A WARNING CAME ACROSS MY DASH THAT STATED "REDUCING ENGINE POWER". IT SLOWED MY VEHICLE DOWN A MININUM OF 20MPH AND WOULDN'T PICK UP SPEED. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. I PULLED OVER AND TURNED OFF MY VEHICLE. I RESTARTED IT AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT STAYED ON. I WAS ABLE TO MAKE IT TO AN AUTO SHOP AND THEY HOOKED IT UP. IT READ A P2138 CODE. IF I HAD BEEN ON THE HIGHWAY, THIS COULD'VE CAUSED A DEVISTATING CRASH. I FOUND WHERE GM EXTENDED THE WARRANTY AND THIS FIX SHOULD NOT COST ME ANYTHING - I WILL SEE WHEN I TAKE IT IN TOMORROW.
Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Service brakes, Mar 11, 2021
THE VEHICLE RUNS FINE OTHER THAN WHEN THE PROBLEMS START ACTING UP. IT IS A BCM ISSUE INVOLVING THE STABILITRAK AND ABS. EVERY FEW WEEKS OR SO, I'LL GET 3 SERVICE LIGHT UPS IN MY DASH STATING 'SERVICE VEHICLE SOON, SERVICE STABILITRAK, SERVICE BRAKE ASSIST, REDUCED POWER STEERING DRIVE WITH CARE' AFTER COMING TO A STOP. WHEN I GO TO TAKE OFF THE CAR WILL REV UP AND DOWN THEN THOSE MESSAGES POP UP AS I CANNOT SPEED UP OR DRIVE. ONCE THE VEHICLE COMES TO A STOP IT SHUTS OFF AND WON'T TURN BACK ON UNTIL ABOUT 10 MINUTES LATER. I'VE PUT $700 IN IT REPLACING SPEED SENSORS, VACUUM PUMP AND VACUUM SENSOR AND THE PROBLEM STILL OCCURS. IF IT WERE TO HAPPEN ON THE HIGHWAY THIS COULD BE VERY DANGEROUS AS IT ALREADY OCCURRED AT AN INTERSECTION STOPLIGHT IN COLUMBUS OHIO
Power train, Other or unspecified, Back over prevention, Mar 3, 2021
"SERVICE PARK ASSIST SYSTEM" ALWAYS COMES BACK NO MATTER HOW MANY TIMES I'VE TAKEN IT TO A CHEVY DEALER! NO KNOWN FIX - STRAIGHT FROM GM THERE ISN'T ANY KNOWN FIX. THEY THOUGHT IT'S WHEN YOU USE REMOTE START ... WELL I DIDN'T USE THE REMOTE START AFTER CHEVY "REPROGRAMMED" THE CAR AND THE MESSAGE CAME BACK AND I CANNOT USE THE PARK ASSIST SYSTEM PLUS WHY HAVE A FEATURE THAT CANNOT BE USED. CAR IS BELOW 50,000 MILES AND VERY LIGHTLY DRIVEN - THE AVERAGE SPEED ACCORDING TO THE CAR'S COMPUTER IS 38 MPH. ALSO SERVICE TRANSMISSION COMES UP WITH SOME SOLENOID TROUBLE CODE AND DISPLAYS "SERVICE TRANSMISSION" AT FIRST INTERMITTENTLY, BUT NOW EVERY TIME THE VEHICLE IS STARTED. IT BANGS INTO WHEN SHIFTING FROM 1 TO 2 WHEN DRIVEN. THE BODY PANEL ON THE DOOR BETWEEN THE DOORS IS FLAKING. I'VE GOTTEN A "SHIFT TO PARK" MESSAGE WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS ALREADY IN PARK WHICH DRAINS THE BATTERY.
Other or unspecified, Mar 2, 2021
MOST TIMES, WHEN I'M DONE DRIVING AND SHIFT MY CAR TO PARK A WARNING COMES UP MY DASH SAYING 'SHIFT TO PARK' EVEN WHEN THE CAR IS IN PARK. I THEN HAVE TO RESTART MY CAR, CHANGE THE GEARS AND HOPE IT DOESN'T GIVE ME THAT MESSAGE AGAIN. I OFTEN HAVE TO REPEAT THIS PROCESS 2-3 TIMES AFTER I'M DONE DRIVING AND ATTEMPTING TO PARK AND SHUT OFF MY CAR. IT DOES NOT HAPPEN EVERY TIME THAT I SHIFT MY CAR TO PARK AND TRY AND SHUT MY CAR OFF, BUT IT HAPPENS A LOT OF THE TIME. IT'S VERY FRUSTRATING AND TIME CONSUMING. THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING ON AND OFF FOR A FEW MONTHS NOW. MY SISTER ALSO HAS A 2016 MALIBU AND HERS IS DOING THE SAME EXACT THING.
Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Feb 5, 2021
DRIVING 65MPH ON HIGHWAY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND STABILATRACK LIGHTS FLASH AND LOSS OF POWER STARTS HAPPENING AND CAR WONT GO OVER 20MPH ... CHEVY CLAIMS ITS NORMAL AND DONT FIND A.REASON WHY IT HAPPENED. IVE HAD THE CAR AT CHEVY 6 TIMES FOR ISSUE AFTER ISSUE AND NOW THIS LOSS OF POWER ON A HIGHWAY NEARLY KILLED ME AS I COULD BARELY GET CAR TO A.SAFE LOCATION...
Other or unspecified, Service brakes, Jan 25, 2021
16' CHEVY MALIBU, 170K MILES. REAR POPPING NOISE, BACK LEFT. HEARD A POP NOISE FROM BACK LEFT OF CAR AFTER LETTING OFF THE BRAKES FROM A STOPPED POSITION. TOOK THE LEFT REAR (LR) TIRE OFF AND FOUND LR BRAKE CALIPER PISTON TO HAVE FAILED AND WOULD NOT RESEED INTO CALIPER CAUSING POPPING NOISE. TOOK CAR TO PORTER CHEVROLET IN NEWARK, DE ON 1/20/21 FOR CALIPER REPLACEMENT AND THEY INFORMED ME THAT THE PART WAS ON NATIONAL BACK ORDER DUE TO MANY CARS BEING AFFECTED BY THE SAME ISSUE. I HAD PART ORDERED AND PICKED UP MY CAR UNTIL THE CALIPER COMES IN. WILL BRING CAR BACK TO PORTER WHEN PART COMES IN FOR REPLACEMENT AND HOPEFULLY RECALL CREDIT IN NEAR FUTURE. DO NOT LET DEALERSHIPS/ REPAIR SHOPS TELL YOU THAT IT IS THE REAR SHOCK! IT IS THE BRAKE CALIPER THAT IS MAKING THE POPPING NOISE.
Vehicle speed control, Other or unspecified, Engine, Jan 20, 2021
WAS DRIVING ON HIGHWAY AT 60 MPH AND DASHBOARD LIT UP WITH WARNING ENGINE POWER REDUCED MODE AND CAR WENT INTO LOW SPEED. TRIED ACCELERATING CAR WOULD NOT GO BEYOND 20 MPH
Other or unspecified, Jan 13, 2021
MY VEHICLE HAS A LOUD KNOCKING SOUND COMING FROM UNDER THE BACKSEAT SOUNDS LIKE THE MUFFLER HITTING UP AGAINST THE BACKSEAT. WE AS CONSUMERS SHOULDN'T BE RESPONSIBLE FOR SOMETHING THAT WAS CHEVROLET FAULT FROM THE START
Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Engine, Dec 30, 2020
WHEN THE CAR GOES INTO THE AUTO STOP MODE IT COMPLETELY DIES AND THE LIGHT. NO DASH LIGHTS, NO DOME LIGHT, NO HAZARD LIGHTS, LITERALLY NOTHING WORKS. THIS HAS HAPPENED 3 TIMES SO FAR, AND ALL THREE TIMES I WAS IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC. I'M NOT HAPPY, I HAVE HAD TROUBLE OUT OF THIS CAR WITH OTHER ISSUES SENSE I GOTTEN IT BACK IN JULY OF 2020
Other or unspecified, Dec 30, 2020
OFTEN, WHEN I SHIFT MY CAR TO PARK, A WARNING COMES UP AND INDICATES SHIFT INTO PARK. IT ALREADY IS IN PARK. I HAVE TO PLAY AROUND UNTIL IT RECOGNIZES IT. HAPPENS RANDOMLY. ANNOYING.
Other or unspecified, Engine, Dec 28, 2020
DRIVING THE CAR YOU SMELL A BURNING SMELL UPON PARKING IT TURNED OUT THE HEAT SHIELD ON CAR WAS BURNING AND DISINTEGRATING. I HAVE PHOTO BUT WON'T LOAD ,,,
Structure, Other or unspecified, Dec 25, 2020
I NOTICED A WET SPOT BY THE 3 BREAK LIGHT INSIDE HEADLINER
Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Dec 12, 2020
WHEN VEHICLE COMES TO A STOP AND AUTO START HAPPENS, MY RADIO SHUTS OFF. BATTERY SOMETIMES DOES NOT HOLD CHARGE. COULD BE THE ALTERNATOR OR SOME KIND OF ELECTRICAL MISFIRE OR CONTACT. DOESN'T HAPPEN EVERY TIME VEHICLE IS STARTED.
Other or unspecified, Nov 22, 2020
THE PAINT IS FAYING ON IT AS IF THE PAINT IS GOING DOWN TO THE METAL.
Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Engine, Nov 5, 2020
WHEN I PLACE THE CAR IN PARK IT DOES NOT REGISTER THAT IT IS PARK AND A 'SHIFT INTO PARK' ERROR COMES UP. EVERYTHING STAYS ON IN THE CAR AND THE BATTERY DRAINS IF IT'S NOT CORRECTED. IT CAN TAKE SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO GET IT TO RECOGNIZE IT IS IN PARK. MUST KEEP TURNING THE CAR IN AND OFF UNTIL IT SENSES IT'S IN PARK. IT HAS TAKEN UP TO 10 TIMES UNTIL IT FINALLY SENSES IT.
Power train, Other or unspecified, Oct 19, 2020
WHILE DRIVING EVERYTHING IS FINE, AS SOON AS I STOP AND PUT MY CAR IN PARK IT WILL SHOW AN INDICATION TO (PUT THE CAR IN PARK). I CAN LITERALLY SPEND 30 MINUTES JIGGLING THE SHIFTER BACK AND FORTH UNTIL THAT NOTIFICATION GOES AWAY. IF I DON'T MAKE IT GO AWAY, ALL THE LIGHTS STAY ON AND MY CAR WILL BEEP AT ME ONCE I CLOSE THE DOORS, THE DOORS WILL ALSO NOT LOCK DUE TO THIS. SO SPENDING 30 MINUTES TO MAKE IT GO AWAY SO IT DOESN'T KILL THE BATTERY AFTER A 12HOUR WORK SHIFT IS ALL I CAN DO.