MYRModel Year Report

2016 Chevrolet Malibu

● Typical for this model
2016 Chevrolet Malibu
BUILT 2026-08-02

This year's complaint volume is within 30% of this model's typical year.

This verdict reflects complaint volume compared to this model's typical year. Recalls and safety issues below apply regardless of the verdict — always check them.

How is this computed?

COMPLAINTS PER YEAR

Complaints per year, Chevrolet Malibu Bar chart of distinct NHTSA complaints filed per model year, 2016 highlighted. 1980: 5 complaints 1980 1981: 3 complaints 1982: 2 complaints 1983: 1 complaints 1986: 1 complaints 1989: 3 complaints 1989 1997: 443 complaints 1998: 976 complaints 1999: 789 complaints 2000: 922 complaints 2001: 721 complaints 2001 2002: 566 complaints 2003: 569 complaints 2004: 1147 complaints 2005: 975 complaints 2006: 1115 complaints 2006 2007: 977 complaints 2008: 987 complaints 2009: 1509 complaints 2010: 1357 complaints 2011: 976 complaints 2011 2012: 904 complaints 2013: 834 complaints 2014: 349 complaints 2015: 267 complaints 2016: 834 complaints 2016 2017: 696 complaints 2018: 687 complaints 2019: 188 complaints 2020: 190 complaints 2021: 74 complaints 2021 2022: 86 complaints 2023: 49 complaints 2024: 24 complaints 2025: 7 complaints 2025
2016: 834 complaints
View as data table
YearComplaints
19805
19813
19822
19831
19861
19893
1997443
1998976
1999789
2000922
2001721
2002566
2003569
20041147
2005975
20061115
2007977
2008987
20091509
20101357
2011976
2012904
2013834
2014349
2015267
2016834
2017696
2018687
2019188
2020190
202174
202286
202349
202424
20257

KNOWN PROBLEM AREAS

ENGINE 36%

36% of complaints: engine — 301 distinct reports on file.

CRASH FIRE INJURY DEATH
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 26%

26% of complaints: electrical system — 220 distinct reports on file.

CRASH INJURY DEATH
Show complaint excerpts

Engine power reduced defect, causing affected models to lose power while driving at highway speeds. My son’s was driving 55 mph and then all of sudden the car decelerated to 20 mph in minutes before his 2016 Malibu stalled on [XXX].

NHTSA ODI report, 20250708

POWER TRAIN 19%

19% of complaints: power train — 162 distinct reports on file.

CRASH INJURY
Show complaint excerpts

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.

NHTSA ODI report, 20161230

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 18%

18% of complaints: vehicle speed control — 150 distinct reports on file.

CRASH INJURY DEATH
Show complaint excerpts

Engine power reduced defect, causing affected models to lose power while driving at highway speeds. My son’s was driving 55 mph and then all of sudden the car decelerated to 20 mph in minutes before his 2016 Malibu stalled on [XXX].

NHTSA ODI report, 20250708

WHILE I WAS PULLING INTO A PARKING SPOT, MY 2016 CHEVROLET MALIBU SUDDENLY ACCELERATED WITHOUT ANY WARNING.

NHTSA ODI report, 20170502

SERVICE BRAKES 11%

11% of complaints: service brakes — 94 distinct reports on file.

CRASH INJURY
Show complaint excerpts

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL, BUT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO A MEDIAN. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED.

NHTSA ODI report, 20180830

2/2/18. WAS TRAVELING AT 47 MPH WHEN A TRUCK STOPPED IN FRONT OF ME. I WAS APPROXIMATELY 10 CAR LENGTHS AWAY. I HIT THE BRAKE TO STOP, FELT THE PEDAL VIBRATE FOR A FEW SECONDS AND THEN THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR AND THE VIBRATION WENT AWAY.

NHTSA ODI report, 20180330

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL TRAVELED TO THE FLOORBOARD WHEN IT WAS DEPRESSED. THE WHEELS LOCKED UP AND THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE SLID INTO THE REAR OF THE PRECEDING VEHICLE.

NHTSA ODI report, 20161223

SAFETY TIMELINE

R 20160314 — electrical system

Genera Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2016 Chevrolet Camaro, Malibu, Silverado and GMC Sierra vehicles.

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.

Campaign 16V084000 — check if this car was fixed

R 20160414 — air bags

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...

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.

Campaign 16V125000 — check if this car was fixed

R 20160414 — air bags

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.

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.

Campaign 16V151000 — check if this car was fixed

R 20160617 — electronic stability control (esc)

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2016 Chevrolet Malibu vehicles manufactured March 7, 2016, through March 12, 2016.

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.

Campaign 16V272000 — check if this car was fixed

R 20161014 — electrical system, power train

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.

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.

Campaign 16V502000 — check if this car was fixed

R 20161027 — air bags

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.

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.

Campaign 16V781000 — check if this car was fixed

R 20180702 — fuel system, gasoline

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.

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.

Campaign 18V358000 — check if this car was fixed

R 20180807 — air bags

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.

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.

Campaign 18V400000 — check if this car was fixed

R 20210917 — seat belts

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.

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.

Campaign 21V649000 — check if this car was fixed

BUY-SMART CHECKLIST

2016 Chevrolet Malibu — pre-purchase inspection

  • Test/inspect for engine issues (301 reports on file for this year).
  • Test/inspect for electrical system issues (220 reports on file for this year).
  • Test/inspect for power train issues (162 reports on file for this year).
  • Verify recall 16V084000 (electrical system) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 16V125000 (air bags) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 16V151000 (air bags) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 16V272000 (electronic stability control (esc)) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 16V502000 (electrical system, power train) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 16V781000 (air bags) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 18V358000 (fuel system, gasoline) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 18V400000 (air bags) has been completed.
  • Verify recall 21V649000 (seat belts) has been completed.
Inspected by ______________ Date ______________

OTHER YEARS OF THIS MODEL

BEST YEARS

▲ 2023 ▲ 2021 ▲ 2022

WORST YEARS

■ 2009 ◆ 2010 ◆ 2004

See all years ranked →

FAQ

Is the 2016 Chevrolet Malibu reliable?

Based on NHTSA complaint volume compared to this model's typical year, the 2016 Chevrolet Malibu is rated "typical".

What are the most common problems with the 2016 Chevrolet Malibu?

The most-reported component is engine, accounting for 36% of complaints on file.

How many recalls does the 2016 Chevrolet Malibu have?

9 recalls on file for this model year.

Data updated 2026-07-11 · Complaints are unverified owner reports filed with NHTSA, not independently verified defects. Methodology.