I SEEN THE RECALL ABOUT THE AIR BAG ON THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE FRONT SEAT I'M HAVING A ISSUE LIKE THAT WHAT CAN BE DONE TO SEE IF IT'S RELATED TO WHAT Y'ALL ARE RECALLING THANKS AND BE SIDE THAT IT COME ON AND OFF ON IT'S OWN EVEN WHEN NO ONE IS SEATING THERE.
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 →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Malibu years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
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.
Electrical System complaints
222 reports1ST PROBLEM MESSAGE POPS UP WHEN PARKING. MESSAGE READS SHIFT TO PARK EVEN WHEN SHIFTER IS IN PARK. WILL TURN OFF ENGINE BUT WILL NOT TURN OFF THE ACCESSORY. NEED TO SHIFT IN AND OUT OF PARK SEVERAL TIMES UNTIL MESSAGE DISAPPEARS AND ALLOWS TO TURN OFF. 2ND PROBLEM MESSAGE POPS UP NO REMOTE DETECTED PRESS BRAKE TO RESTART
I TOOK THE CAR TO THE MECHANIC BECAUSE OF CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAR WASN'T ACTING WEIRD OR ANYTHING. THEY RECOMMENDED REPLACING MULTIFUNCTION POWER SUPPLY CONVERTER, IT HAS INTERNAL ISSUES I APPROVED THEY TOLD ME EVERYTHING IS FINE EVERYTHING CLEARED. THE NEXT DAY THE VEHICLE STARTED TO GO CRAZY I STATED THAT ENGINE LIGHT IS ON AGA…
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I TOOK THE CAR TO THE MECHANIC BECAUSE OF CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAR WASN'T ACTING WEIRD OR ANYTHING. THEY RECOMMENDED REPLACING MULTIFUNCTION POWER SUPPLY CONVERTER, IT HAS INTERNAL ISSUES I APPROVED THEY TOLD ME EVERYTHING IS FINE EVERYTHING CLEARED. THE NEXT DAY THE VEHICLE STARTED TO GO CRAZY I STATED THAT ENGINE LIGHT IS ON AGAIN CAR LOUNGES FORWARD AND THAT THE DOORS LOCK AND UNLOCK ALL WHILE DRIVING AND CAR THEN JUST STOPS I HAD TO RESTART IT. THEY RECOMMENDED REPLACING BATTERY I APPROVED .THE SAME DAY I PICKED UP MY CAR CHECK ENGINE LIGHT SHOWED BUT THE NEXT DAY CAR STARTED TO BE IT SELF AGAIN SO I KEPT IT DIDN'T TAKE IT IN.A WEEK LATER THE SAME SYMPTOMS CAR JOLTS FORWARD,IT LOCKS AND UNLOCKS WHEN DRIVING AND CAR TURNS OFF COMPLETELY THIS TIME THEY RECOMMENDED REPLACING NEGATIVE BATTERY CABLE I APPROVED. 30 MINUTES AFTER LEAVING THE MECHANICS, CAR HAS THE SAME EXACT PREVIOUS SYMPTOMS BUT NOW CAR WENT BEYOND CRAZY, CAR WAS ON DRIVE BUT WON'T ACCELERATE, BREAK, AND STEERING WHEEL LOCKED, DASH SAID (SERVICE STABILITRAK) (ICE POSSIBLE) IT HOT OUTSIDE. IT HAPPENS WHEN I GET OFF FREEWAYS, WHEN I'M DRIVING ON REGULAR STREETS: DOORS LOCKS AND UNLOCKS DASH ALWAYS SAY CHECK REAR DOOR LOCKS THE, CAR LUNGES FORWARD AND THEN CAR JUST STOPS AND WON'T GO I HAVE TO TURN IT OFF THEN ON AGAIN. JUST IMAGINE IF CAR COMPLETELY STOP IN A FREEWAY, I'M LUCKY THAT IT GIVES ME A WARNING WHEN I HEAR THE LOCKS GO CRAZY I PULL OVER I THEN ABLE TO DRIVE IT SLOWLY HOME AND ALL THE WAY HOME CAR JOLTS TOWARDS LOCKS ARE GOING CRAZY AND CAR STOPS FREQUENTLY IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STREETS. THEN I'M ABLE TO TAKE IT TO THE MECHANICS LIKE NOTHING EVER HAPPENS TO IT. GOES BACK TO NORMAL WITH NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT LIKE NOTHING EVER HAPPENED.
WHEN I PUT MY CAR IN PARK, ON THE DASH BOARD IT SAY PUT CAR IN PARK TO TURN OFF. WHEN MY CAR IS IN PARK. ALSO WHEN I GO TO START MY CAR IT TAKE A WHILE FOR IT TO START. IT WILL SAY SERIVCE STABLILITY. MY AIR BAG LIGHTS CAME ON. I ALSO HAVE SEEN THAT ALOT OF CUSTOMERS THAT HAS THE SAME CAR IS HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM
MY CAR WILL BE IN PARK AND THE ENGINE IS SHUT OFF BUT THE DISPLAY WILL INDICATE THAT THE VEHICLE NEEDS TO BE IN PARK. I WILL HAVE TO START MY CAR SEVERAL TIME AND SWITCH THE GEARS SEVERAL TIMES FOR THE INDICATOR TO GO OFF. THIS WILL GO ON SOMETIMES FOR APPROXIMATELY 5 MINUTES. I HAVE ATTEMPTED TO PUT ON THE EMERGENCY BRAKE IN HO…
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MY CAR WILL BE IN PARK AND THE ENGINE IS SHUT OFF BUT THE DISPLAY WILL INDICATE THAT THE VEHICLE NEEDS TO BE IN PARK. I WILL HAVE TO START MY CAR SEVERAL TIME AND SWITCH THE GEARS SEVERAL TIMES FOR THE INDICATOR TO GO OFF. THIS WILL GO ON SOMETIMES FOR APPROXIMATELY 5 MINUTES. I HAVE ATTEMPTED TO PUT ON THE EMERGENCY BRAKE IN HOPES THAT THIS WILL RECTIFY THE PROBLEM TO NO AVAIL. THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES AT THE STORE AND IN MY DRIVEWAY.
WHEN I SHIFT MY CAR INTO PARK & TURN MY CAR OFF, I GET A WARNING LIGHT THAT SAYS 'SHIFT TO PARK' WHICH HAPPENS ALMOST EVERY TIME I GO TO TURN MY CAR OFF. VERY RECENTLY MY CAR IS ALSO TURNING ON THE BACKUP CAMERA WHEN SHIFTING TO DRIVE. THE SHIFT TO PARK ISSUE HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR A MONTH NOW BUT THE BACKUP CAMERA COMING ON HAD …
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WHEN I SHIFT MY CAR INTO PARK & TURN MY CAR OFF, I GET A WARNING LIGHT THAT SAYS 'SHIFT TO PARK' WHICH HAPPENS ALMOST EVERY TIME I GO TO TURN MY CAR OFF. VERY RECENTLY MY CAR IS ALSO TURNING ON THE BACKUP CAMERA WHEN SHIFTING TO DRIVE. THE SHIFT TO PARK ISSUE HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR A MONTH NOW BUT THE BACKUP CAMERA COMING ON HAD JUST STARTED 4 DAYS AGO. THE DAY I BOUGHT MY CAR IT WAS BRAND NEW BUT COULD NOT BRING IT HOME THE DAY I SIGNED THE PAPERWORK BECAUSE THE DEALERSHIP HAD TO REPLACE THE BODY MODULE. NOW, AFTER MY CAR BEING IN THE SHOP 9 TIMES IN 2 YEARS, THE DEALERSHIP IS TELLING ME I'M RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIRS. NOTE: MY CAR IS PUSH STOP NOT KEY
FALSE INDICATION OF CAR NOT IN PARK AND DOES NOT TURN OFF DASHBOARD DISPLAYS AND CAR BATTERY DISCHARGES FULLY
TAKATA RECALL - I HAVE BEEN HAVING PROBLEMS LOCKING, UNLOCKING, AND TURNING ON MY CAR. WHEN THE CAR FINALLY GETS TURNED ON IT WILL SAY THAT THE KEYS ARE NOT DETECTED. OR WHEN I PUT IT IN DRIVE IT WILL TELL ME TO TURN THE CAR OFF AND THEN TURN IT BACK ON. TAKATA RECALL - ABOUT ONCE A MONTH WHEN I TURN MY CAR ON, A LOUD BUZZING…
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TAKATA RECALL - I HAVE BEEN HAVING PROBLEMS LOCKING, UNLOCKING, AND TURNING ON MY CAR. WHEN THE CAR FINALLY GETS TURNED ON IT WILL SAY THAT THE KEYS ARE NOT DETECTED. OR WHEN I PUT IT IN DRIVE IT WILL TELL ME TO TURN THE CAR OFF AND THEN TURN IT BACK ON. TAKATA RECALL - ABOUT ONCE A MONTH WHEN I TURN MY CAR ON, A LOUD BUZZING NOISE COMES ON FOR AROUND 30 SECONDS.
MY MALIBU ALL OF SUDDEN STARTED SENDING A MESSAGE WHEN I GO TO TURN THE CAR OFF THAT MY CAR NEEDS TO SHIFT TO PARK. I HAVE THE CAR IN PARK, BUT IT IS NOT REGISTERING IT IS IN PARK. IT DOESN'T HAPPEN ALL THE TIME, IT HAPPENS 90% OF THE TIME WHEN I GO TO TURN THE CAR OFF.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE "REDUCE SPEED" WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE'S SPEED WAS REDUCED TO 40 MPH. SIMULTANEOUSLY, A BELL CHIMED AND THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE BEYOND 40 MPH. IN ADD…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE "REDUCE SPEED" WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE'S SPEED WAS REDUCED TO 40 MPH. SIMULTANEOUSLY, A BELL CHIMED AND THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE BEYOND 40 MPH. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE'S DOORS LOCKED AND UNLOCKED ON THEIR OWN ON MORE THAN ONE OCCASION. RYDELL CHEVROLET IN NORTH RIDGE, CALIFORNIA WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND REPLACED THE ENGINE AT 5,000 MILES, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. SANTA PAULA CHEVROLET IN SANTA PAULA, CALIFORNIA WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND REPLACED THE BATTERY, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURES. ONSTAR WAS CONTACTED AND DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION THROTTLE FAILED TO FUNCTION PROPERLY. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 5,000.
Official recalls
921V649000 · 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
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.
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