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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.

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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

Vehicle Speed Control complaints

152 reports
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107,000 miles · Oct 28, 2019
SteeringVehicle Speed Control

MY DRIVE TO WORK IS A LONG COMMUTE, IT HAPPEN TO ME ON THE FREEWAY I WAS ON THE LAST LANE DRIVING 80 WHEN IT LITERALLY ' POWER ENGINE REDUCE ' COMES OUT ON MY SCREEN. IT LITERALLY STOPPED MY CAR TO LOWER SPEED AND COULDN'T STEP ON IT FOR THE CAR BEHIND ME I HAD TO PUT MY EMERGENCY LIGHTS ON SO THEY CAN MOVE AWAY FROM ME! AND HAD…

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MY DRIVE TO WORK IS A LONG COMMUTE, IT HAPPEN TO ME ON THE FREEWAY I WAS ON THE LAST LANE DRIVING 80 WHEN IT LITERALLY ' POWER ENGINE REDUCE ' COMES OUT ON MY SCREEN. IT LITERALLY STOPPED MY CAR TO LOWER SPEED AND COULDN'T STEP ON IT FOR THE CAR BEHIND ME I HAD TO PUT MY EMERGENCY LIGHTS ON SO THEY CAN MOVE AWAY FROM ME! AND HAD TO REACH THE SAFETY SIDE, IT WAS THE WORST EXPERIENCE AND IT ALWAYS HAPPENS TO ME EVERY OTHER 3-5 DAYS. THEN WHEN I'M ON TRAFFIC JAM, THE STEERING WHEEL REDUCE DRIVE WITH CARE POPS UP AND TURNS OFF MY CAR POWER AND RADIO AND EVEN UNLOCKS THE CAR. AND DOES IT WEIRD NOISE AND TURNS BACK ON AND STARTS OVER. KEPT HAPPENING TO ME ON TRAFFIC JAMS ON THE FREEWAY.

NHTSA ODI #11271478

60,000 miles · Oct 24, 2019
Power TrainVehicle Speed Control

ON OCT 22 AROUND 530 IN THE MORNING ON MY WAY TO TO WORK DRIVING ON A BUSY FREEWAY WHEN SUDDENLY THE REDUCE ENGINE LIGHT COME ON REDUCING MY SPEED FROM NEARLY 50MPH TO 20MPH ALL MOST CAUSING A NEAR FATAL ACCIDENT I'VE ONLY HAD THE CAR FOR 6 MONTHS OR SO I PLAN ON TAKING IT TO THE DEALERSHIP BUT I FEEL LIKE I GONNA BE STUCK WITH…

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ON OCT 22 AROUND 530 IN THE MORNING ON MY WAY TO TO WORK DRIVING ON A BUSY FREEWAY WHEN SUDDENLY THE REDUCE ENGINE LIGHT COME ON REDUCING MY SPEED FROM NEARLY 50MPH TO 20MPH ALL MOST CAUSING A NEAR FATAL ACCIDENT I'VE ONLY HAD THE CAR FOR 6 MONTHS OR SO I PLAN ON TAKING IT TO THE DEALERSHIP BUT I FEEL LIKE I GONNA BE STUCK WITH A HEFTY BILL FOR SOMETHING THAT SHOULD'VE BEEN A RECALL THAT CAN CAUSE A FATAL ACCIDENT.

NHTSA ODI #11270920

57,000 miles · Oct 22, 2019
Electrical SystemSteeringVehicle Speed Control

WHEN AT A STP LIGHT, AND PRESS EXCELERATOR THE TOTAL ELECTRICAL SYSTEM H WILL GO OUT & CAR HESITATE TO MOVE. THEN, IT WILL KICK ON. ALSO, THIS THROWS MY SIRUS RADIO OUT COMPLETELY & I HAVE TO CUT THE CAR OFF COMPLETELY TO GET STATION BACK ON OR CALL FOR A REFRESH, BUT LOCAL STATIONS WILL REMAIN. NOW I GET A WARING ABOUT THE …

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WHEN AT A STP LIGHT, AND PRESS EXCELERATOR THE TOTAL ELECTRICAL SYSTEM H WILL GO OUT & CAR HESITATE TO MOVE. THEN, IT WILL KICK ON. ALSO, THIS THROWS MY SIRUS RADIO OUT COMPLETELY & I HAVE TO CUT THE CAR OFF COMPLETELY TO GET STATION BACK ON OR CALL FOR A REFRESH, BUT LOCAL STATIONS WILL REMAIN. NOW I GET A WARING ABOUT THE STEERING ABILITY-DRIVE CAREFULL.

NHTSA ODI #11270142

63,000 miles · Sep 17, 2019
Electrical SystemVehicle Speed Control

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE SERVICE ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. ADDITIONALLY, WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT, THE AUTOMATIC SHUT OFF FEATURE ACTIVATED. WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO RESP…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE SERVICE ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. ADDITIONALLY, WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT, THE AUTOMATIC SHUT OFF FEATURE ACTIVATED. WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO RESPOND. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS INTERMITTENT, BUT WAS MORE FREQUENT IN WARMER TEMPERATURES AND WHEN THE AIR CONDITIONING WAS IN OPERATION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO WHITE ALLEN CHEVROLET (442 N MAIN ST, DAYTON, OH 45405, (937) 303-5147) TO BE DIAGNOSED, BUT THE MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO REPRODUCE THE FAILURE OR RETRIEVE A FAULT CODE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 63,000.

NHTSA ODI #11256083

Mileage unknown · Aug 7, 2019
Electronic Stability Control (esc)EngineVehicle Speed Control

I COULD BE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND IT'LL SAY ENGINE POWER REDUCED. IF I PRESS THE GAS, IT'LL SLOW DOWN. WHEN I PUT MY CAR IN PARK, AND TURN IT OFF IT'LL SAY SHIFT TO PARK.

NHTSA ODI #11242169

Mileage unknown · Jul 16, 2019
EngineVehicle Speed Control

I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AT A SPEED OF 60 AND ALL OF A SUDDEN A MESSAGE POPS UP SAYING REDUCED SPEED AND THEN IT AUTOMATICALLY WENT DOWN TO 20MPH THEN ENGINE SHUT OFF IN THE MIDDLE OF THE FREEWAY LUCKILY I DIDNT GET HIT. THIS COULD OF CAUSED ME A HORRIBLE ACCIDENT

NHTSA ODI #11232175

53,000 miles · Jul 6, 2019
Vehicle Speed Control

THE VEHICLE UNEXPECTEDLY GOES INTO REDUCED ENGINE POWER MODE WHILE DRIVING. THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS REPLACED. THE ISSUE CONTINUED AFTER IT WAS REPAIRED. IT CREATES A DANGEROUS SITUATION BECAUSE IT HAPPENS AS I'M DRIVING THE CAR.

NHTSA ODI #11229777

63,000 miles · Jul 3, 2019
Vehicle Speed Control

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE INSTRUMENT PANEL DISPLAYED "YOUR POWER SLOWING DOWN" AND THE VEHICLE DECELERATED TO 20 MPH. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO COAST THE VEHICLE OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND POWERED OFF THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED AND WAS ABLE TO DRIVE NORMALLY; HOWEVER, …

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE INSTRUMENT PANEL DISPLAYED "YOUR POWER SLOWING DOWN" AND THE VEHICLE DECELERATED TO 20 MPH. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO COAST THE VEHICLE OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND POWERED OFF THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED AND WAS ABLE TO DRIVE NORMALLY; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED THREE TIMES TWO MILES DOWN THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DUVALL CHEVROLET (LOCATED AT 464 US-441, CLAYTON, GA 30525, (877) 818-7723) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL SENSOR FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES AND PROVIDED CASE NUMBER: 9-5339020905. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 63,000.

NHTSA ODI #11229219

Mileage unknown · Jun 21, 2019
Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)Vehicle Speed Control

THE CAR SHUTS OFF IN TRAFFIC. I CAN BE AT A STOP LIGHT AND THE CAR JUST SHUTS OFF. ALL THE LIGHTS IN CAR FLASH AND VEHICLE JUST SHUTS OFF. THE ENGINE LIGHT STAYS ON IN VEHICLE. THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING EVERYDAY FOR ABOUT A MONTH NOW.

NHTSA ODI #11221694

60,000 miles · Jun 7, 2019
EngineVehicle Speed Control

WARNING NOTICE COMES ON SAYING ENGINE IS POWER DOWN WHILE DRIVING. WHILE ON THE INTERSTATE GOING 70 MILES AN HOUR, IT STARTS SLOWING DOWN TO 30 MILES AN HOUR OR LESS AND WILL NOT ACCELERATE.

NHTSA ODI #11218451

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.