2016 Chevrolet Malibu Problems, Recalls & Reliability
1,443 owner complaints sit in the federal file for the 2016 Chevrolet Malibu, alongside 9 recall campaigns and 0 defect investigations. It scores 55/100 on the trouble index — a below-average year for this model. Engine leads the reports, typically around 56,000 miles.
Below average
Where 2016 sits among all Malibu years
What owners report
“Message: "reduced engine power" engine power is reduced, speed drops, check engine light is displayed.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2016 Malibu
“Shift to park message appears when in park and turning vehicle off. Vehicle then won't shut down.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2016 Malibu
“On 1/4/2018 i was driving on i-95 and the car brakes sudenly stop working completly”— owner report to NHTSA, 2016 Malibu
“When the car is put in park it wont shut off and gives this message "shift to park". This is happening more frequent.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2016 Malibu
“When i'm driving i get a message saying 'engine reduce power' and i can't go over 25 mph”— owner report to NHTSA, 2016 Malibu
“Brake booster vacuum pump failed and pieces of the pump broke off and in the engine..”— owner report to NHTSA, 2016 Malibu
Mileage when trouble shows up
Among the 855 reports that include an odometer reading, problems most often appear around 51,000 miles. Half of those reports fall between 32,641 and 74,000 miles — a useful range to weigh against the mileage of the exact car you're looking at.
Recalls (9)
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.
Fix: 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…
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…
Fix: 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…
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…
Fix: 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…
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.
Fix: 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…
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…
Fix: 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…
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…
Fix: 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…
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,…
Fix: 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…
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…
Fix: 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…
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…
Fix: 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…
Technical service bulletins
1,546 manufacturer communications — service bulletins, the biggest share on electrical and engine — are on file for the 2016 Chevrolet Malibu. A TSB is factory repair guidance, not a recall — the repair is not automatically free.
See the 2016 Malibu TSB list →
Complaint history for this model year
When owners filed their reports — a long tail means problems kept surfacing for years.
Questions buyers ask
Is the 2016 Chevrolet Malibu reliable?
The 2016 Chevrolet Malibu drew 1,443 complaints in federal safety records — a below-average year for this model. Its trouble index is 55/100, scored against the model's worst year (2004).
What are the most common 2016 Chevrolet Malibu problems?
The top reported problems for the 2016 Chevrolet Malibu are engine (303 complaints), other (251), and electrical (242).
At what mileage do 2016 Chevrolet Malibu problems show up?
Owners most often report 2016 Chevrolet Malibu problems around 51,000 miles. Half of all reports that include an odometer reading fall between 32,641 and 74,000 miles.
Does the 2016 Chevrolet Malibu have recalls?
9 recall campaigns apply to the 2016 Chevrolet Malibu. Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer.
Every number on this page is a count of records in the federal complaint, recall, and investigation files published by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation. Check any specific vehicle's open recalls by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.