VehicleVerdict

2016 Chevrolet Malibu problems

Verdict · NHTSA data

One of the years to avoid

With 1,439 complaints filed to NHTSA — about 3.0 times the median Malibu year — the 2016 model ranks #9 of 42 Malibu years for complaint volume. It lands on the years-to-avoid list. Reports tied to this model year include 3 deaths and 29 injuries, per the complaint records themselves.

No single system dominates the record — complaints spread across engine (303), electrical system (300), and other (172), which usually points to general build quality rather than one defect. In government crash testing it earned 5 of 5 NCAP stars overall.

1,439

NHTSA complaints

9

Recalls

0

Investigations

39

Crash-involved

3

Fires reported

29

Injuries

3

Deaths

5

NCAP overall · of 5 stars

How does 2016 compare to other Malibu years?

See all Malibu years to avoid →

What are the most common 2016 Chevrolet Malibu problems?

ComponentComplaintsShare
Engine30321%
Electrical System30021%
Other17212%
Transmission16612%
Speed Control15211%
Brakes1047%
Fuel System534%
Steering413%
Body & Structure403%
Lighting191%
Suspension191%
Airbags171%
Visibility & Wipers161%
Tires & Wheels141%
Seat Belts91%
Driver Assistance70%
Seats60%
Latches & Locks10%

Does the 2016 Chevrolet Malibu have recalls?

9 NHTSA recall campaigns on file. Recall repairs are free at franchised dealers.

21V649000Seat BeltsAugust 20, 2021 · 402 units

Defect

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.

18V400000AirbagsJune 14, 2018 · 66 units

Defect

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

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.

18V358000Fuel SystemMay 31, 2018 · 895 units

Defect

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

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.

16V781000AirbagsOctober 26, 2016 · 18 units

Defect

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

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.

16V502000Electrical SystemJuly 5, 2016 · 8,367 units

Defect

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.

16V272000Electrical SystemMay 5, 2016 · 66 units

Defect

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

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.

16V151000AirbagsMarch 11, 2016 · 3,137 units

Defect

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

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.

16V125000AirbagsMarch 2, 2016 · 1,579 units

Defect

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

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.

16V084000Electrical SystemFebruary 11, 2016 · 139 units

Defect

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

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.

Consumer complaints filed with NHTSA

Representative excerpts, cleaned of personal information. These are consumer statements, not verified defects.

EGINE POWER REDUCED LIGHT. THE CAR WONT GO OVER 20-30MPH. BRAKES MALFUNCTION CAUSING A SMALL FENDER BENDER. ITS HARD TO START WONT STAY RUNNING. IT EVEN LOST POWER ON THE HWY A FEW TIMES BEFORE THE WRECK.

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Engine · January 1, 2019 · crash

EGINE POWER REDUCED LIGHT. THE CAR WONT GO OVER 20-30MPH. BRAKES MALFUNCTION CAUSING A SMALL FENDER BENDER. ITS HARD TO START WONT STAY RUNNING. IT EVEN LOST POWER ON THE HWY A FEW TIMES BEFORE THE WRECK.

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Electrical System · January 1, 2019 · crash

While I was pulling into a parking spot, my 2016 Chevrolet Malibu suddenly accelerated without any prior warning. The sudden unintended acceleration caused the vehicle to somehow jump the curb, hit a sign, and go airborne landing on two park cars which, resulted in damage to the front end and…

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Other · June 26, 2021 · crash

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO REVERSE THE VEHICLE, THE TRANSMISSION BECAME STUCK IN NEUTRAL. THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE ROLLED BACKWARDS AND CRASHED INTO A PARKED VEHICLE. THE INCIDENT OCCURRED ON THREE SEPARATE OCCASIONS. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND THERE WERE NO…

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Transmission · September 1, 2016 · crash

WHILE I WAS PULLING INTO A PARKING SPOT, MY 2016 CHEVROLET MALIBU SUDDENLY ACCELERATED WITHOUT ANY WARNING. THIS SUDDEN UNINTENDED ACCELERATION CAUSED MY VEHICLE TO JUMP THE CURB AND STRIKE A TREE, WHICH CAUSED EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO THE PASSENGER SIDE FENDER, FRONT GRILL ETC.

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Speed Control · April 24, 2016 · crash

2016 Chevrolet Malibu — common questions

Is the 2016 Chevrolet Malibu reliable?

NHTSA data argues against it: 1,439 complaints put the 2016 model at #9 of 42 Malibu years. It is one of the Malibu years to avoid.

What are the most common 2016 Malibu problems?

According to NHTSA complaint data, the leading problem areas are engine (303 complaints), electrical system (300 complaints), other (172 complaints).

Does the 2016 Chevrolet Malibu have recalls?

Yes — NHTSA lists 9 recall campaigns affecting the 2016 Chevrolet Malibu. Recall repairs are free at franchised dealers; check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to confirm the work was done.

Which Chevrolet Malibu years should you avoid?

Based on complaint rates and open investigations, the Malibu years to avoid are 2009, 2010, 2004, 2011, 2008, 1998, 2006, 2012, 2016, 2005, 2013, 2000, 2007, 1999, 2018, 2017, 2001, 2003, 2002, 2020. The cleanest record among Malibu years belongs to 1977.

How safe is the 2016 Chevrolet Malibu?

In NHTSA's NCAP crash testing, the 2016 Chevrolet Malibu earned an overall rating of 5 out of 5 stars.

Related

Based on NHTSA ODI data through June 2026. Complaints are consumer-reported and unverified. Updated July 5, 2026.

Compiled by Sharon Ben-Moshe, Founder.