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 · Apr 26, 2020

Fuel/propulsion SystemPower Train

COMPONENT POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

NHTSA ODI #11322316

Mileage unknown · Apr 23, 2020

Electrical SystemEngineUnknown Or Other

WHEN I PRESS THE GAS IT HESITATE TO MOVE FORWARD AND ALSO MY BATTERY SENSORY HAS GONE OUT. MY CAR IS ONLY 4 YEARS OLD I BELIEVE IT HAS SOMETHING TO DO WITH IT BEING AN ECO WHICH HAS CAUSED MAJOR ISSUES TO MY TRANSMISSION AND OTHER PARTS OF MY CAR.

NHTSA ODI #11322072

Mileage unknown · Apr 20, 2020

Suspension

THERE IS A "POPPING" NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE CAR WHEN TAKING MY FOOT OFF OF THE GAS AND ACCELERATING. THE NOISE IS ALSO HEARD WHEN GETTING INTO THE CAR. THE CAR WAS SERVICED AT THE DEALERSHIP FOR THIS PROBLEM IN WHICH THEY STATED THEY ADDED A WASHER BUT THE NOISE IS STILL PRESENT ALL THE TIME.

NHTSA ODI #11321632

120,000 miles · Apr 19, 2020

Electronic Stability Control (esc)

I WAS DRIVING ON MY WAY TO WORK AND ALL OF A SUDDEN MY CARS LIGHTS COME ON THE DASH AND SAY SERVICE STABILITYTRAK SOON AND REDUCED ENGINE POWER AS WELL AS THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. THE CAR DECREASE SPEED TO 25 MPH AND ALMOST CAUSED A WRECK. I WAS NOT ABLE TO GO OVER 25 MILES AN HOURS AND WAS FINALLY ABLE TO PULL OFF AND STOP

NHTSA ODI #11321534

Mileage unknown · Apr 10, 2020

Engine

REDUCE ENGINE POWER

NHTSA ODI #11320751

Mileage unknown · Apr 1, 2020

Unknown Or Other

I HAVE A 2016 MALIBU THAT BACK WINDOW HAS BEEN LEAKING ( POURING) WATER THRU. RAIN AND CAN'T EVEN GET A CARWASH, WHICH, DEALERSHIP GAVE ME A CARE WASH KNOWING THAT THERE ARE WATER STAINS DUE TO THIS PROBLEM.WHEN I FIRST NOTICED THIS DEALERSHIP SAID I HAD TO PAY FOR THIS PROB A COUPLE MONTHS LATER HAD RECEIVED A LETTER OF A RECAL…

Read full complaint

NHTSA ODI #11319999

90,000 miles · Mar 22, 2020

Engine

REDUCED ENGINE POWER WHILE DRIVING

NHTSA ODI #11318927

Mileage unknown · Mar 19, 2020

Electronic Stability Control (esc)EngineUnknown Or Other

Read full complaint

I PURCHASED 2016 MALIBU 10/2016 AND AFTER HAVING THE CAR FOR 6MONTHS THE CHECK ENGINE/REDUCE SPEED LIGHTS STARTING COMING ON. I HAVE TAKEN IT BACK OVER 20TIMES AND THE ISSUES WAS NEVER FIXED. I ASK COULD THEY JUST REPLACE THE CALL SINCE THEY ARE NOT ABLE TO FIXED IT. SO, AND STILL HAVING THIS ISSUES. GM EXTENDED THE RECALL AND I TOOK IT BACK IN YESTERDAY MARCH 18, 2020. I WAS TOLD THAT MY CAR WAS FIXED AND TO PICK IT UP. SO, I GET THERE DIDN'T MAKE IT OUT THE LOT. SO, I RETURN BACK TO THE SERVICE DESK AND I WAS TOLD MY TRANSMISSION IS GOING OUT. SO I ASK WHY THIS ISN'T ON MY SERVICE SHEET I WAS INFORMED THAT IT WAS WIPED OUT AND THAT I HAD TO REQUEST IT. PUTTING ME BACK IN DANGER. THIS HAS BEEN A HEADACHE. I FILE A LEMON LAW COMPLAINT AND THEY OFFER MY 4500 AND I OWE 18,000 ON A CAR THAT HAVE BEEN GIVING ME ISSUES FROM THE DAY ONE. GM OFFERING TO SETTLE OUT FOR 4500 IS ADMITTING FOUGHT

NHTSA ODI #11318732

70,000 miles · Mar 16, 2020

Electrical SystemEngine

I WAS DRIVING AND MY CAR HAD A MESSAGE THAT SAID ENGINE POWER REDUCING AND THE CAR DROPPED SPEED ON THE HIGHWAY TO 15MPH AND ALMOST CAUSED A WRECK. NOW MY ENGINE LIGHT IS ON SINCE THEN. MY CAR HAS BEEN IN AND OUT THE SHOP SINCE I BROUGHT IT BRAND NEW 0 MILES FOR SOME TYPE OF ENGINE RELATED FAILURE, SENSORS ETC. MY WARRANTY HAS E…

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NHTSA ODI #11318199

53,000 miles · Mar 15, 2020

Electronic Stability Control (esc)EngineUnknown Or Other

WHILE DRIVING MY RADIO TURNED OFF SEVERAL TIMES, ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. A MESSAGE SAYING LOW ENGINE POWER CAME ON SEVERAL TIMES AND STARTED TO GO SLOW WHILE IN MOTION.

NHTSA ODI #11318172

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.