Worst 2016 Chevrolet Malibu Problems
Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.
ENGINE
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Check the actual VIN — every car is different.
This page shows the model year's reputation. The VIN tells you about this specific car — accidents, title issues, odometer rollbacks. Full report just $4.99 (vs. Carfax $44.99).
All Problems by Category
Every NHTSA complaint category for the 2016 Chevrolet Malibu.
| Component | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Avg Mileage | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ENGINE | 296 | 5 | 1 | 64,070 mi | |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 220 | 4 | — | 56,849 mi | |
| UNKNOWN OR OTHER | 169 | 1 | — | 52,680 mi | |
| POWER TRAIN | 162 | 3 | — | 43,857 mi | |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | 150 | 3 | — | 62,116 mi | |
| SERVICE BRAKES | 92 | 9 | — | 77,038 mi | |
| ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC) | 76 | 1 | — | 76,497 mi | |
| FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | 48 | — | — | 82,921 mi | |
| STEERING | 41 | 1 | — | 54,627 mi | |
| STRUCTURE:BODY | 33 | 1 | — | 44,983 mi | |
| SUSPENSION | 19 | 1 | — | 59,917 mi | |
| AIR BAGS | 17 | 3 | 1 | 53,285 mi | |
| EXTERIOR LIGHTING | 16 | 1 | — | 47,166 mi | |
| VISIBILITY/WIPER | 11 | — | — | 31,915 mi | |
| WHEELS | 10 | — | — | 27,074 mi | |
| SEAT BELTS | 8 | 1 | — | 47,286 mi | |
| SEATS | 6 | — | 1 | 41,501 mi | |
| STRUCTURE | 5 | — | — | 49,358 mi | |
| POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:LEVER AND LINKAGE:FLOOR SHIFT | 4 | — | — | 102,500 mi | |
| SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC | 4 | 1 | — | 61,000 mi | |
| BACK OVER PREVENTION: WARNINGS | 3 | — | — | — | |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING | 2 | — | — | 117,750 mi | |
| EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS | 2 | — | — | 88,000 mi | |
| FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING | 2 | 1 | — | 93,315 mi | |
| PARKING BRAKE | 2 | 1 | — | 98,500 mi | |
| STRUCTURE:BODY:TRUNK LID | 2 | — | — | 61,000 mi | |
| TIRES | 2 | — | — | 47,135 mi | |
| BACK OVER PREVENTION: REARVIEW SYSTEM BRAKING | 1 | — | — | — | |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY | 1 | — | — | 20,000 mi | |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:STARTER ASSEMBLY | 1 | — | — | 89,000 mi |
Recalls for 2016 Chevrolet Malibu
11 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting ~23,438 vehicles.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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."
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."
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."
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."
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.
+ 1 more recalls
Other Chevrolet Malibu Years
Wider context: See the full Chevrolet Malibu reliability report with year-by-year comparison and generation analysis.
Check Your Specific 2016 Chevrolet Malibu
Real owner complaints tell you about the model. The VIN tells you about your specific car — accidents, title issues, odometer fraud.
Check Any VIN — $4.99