Ninth generation
2016 Chevrolet Malibu
The most reported problem on the 2016 Chevrolet Malibu is stalling, with 118 complaints, usually around 44,000 miles.
- 837owner complaints
- 9recalls
- 23involved a crash
- 51,000median miles at failure
Newest report Sep 4, 2026 · checked Oct 2, 2026
What is your Malibu doing?
Each one opens a sheet built from the owner reports of that problem on the 2016 model year.
Is the 2016 Chevrolet Malibu reliable?
The 2016 Chevrolet Malibu has 837 owner complaints on file with NHTSA, 3.6 times the median of 232 for 2016 sedans on this site. Of the 12 Malibu model years since 2014, it has the most complaints. Complaint counts rise with sales as well as faults, so read what owners report below before deciding.
At a glance
- Next to the 2017
- At 76 complaints for each year on the road, the 2016 runs close to the 2017 (70). That's the only adjacent model year with enough complaints to set beside it.
- Top problem
- Two problems run close. Stalling has 118 complaints and misfire has 106, out of 837 in all. A quarter of the 79 owners who gave a mileage for stalling saw it by about 28,000 miles, and half by about 44,000.
- Crash, fire and injury reports
- 27 of the 837 complaints (3%) report a crash, a fire or an injury, a little under the 6% typical of vehicles on this site. Counted separately (one report can carry more than one), 23 reports mention a crash, 2 mention a fire and 14 people were hurt. The reports record 1 death. The most crash reports, 11 of 23, fall under brake wear.
- Recalls behind the top problems
- No recall on file is on the same system as stalling, misfire and brake wear. For those, the complaints are all there is.
- When owners filed
- Filings peaked in 2019 at 199 and have dropped every year since, to 46 in 2025. So far in 2026, 18 more have come in.
When each problem shows up
Each bar covers the middle half of the mileages owners reported for that problem. A quarter saw it earlier, a quarter later. The tick is the median. Most reported: engine stalls or loses power while driving, 118 complaints.
middle half of reports, median tick. The heavier grey bars have 75 or more reports.
Behind you
Around your mileage
Ahead of you
How this compares
837 complaints is 3.3 times the median 2016 model on this site and 3.6 times the median 2016 sedan. Among the 7 Malibu model years here it ranks 1st for complaints. Counts follow sales volume as much as reliability, so a truck that sells 700,000 a year draws more reports than a sedan that sells 200,000.
Service bulletins for the 2016 Chevrolet Malibu
Chevrolet filed 1,548 bulletins and other notices with NHTSA that list the 2016 Chevrolet Malibu. 129 of them deal with a problem owners have reported on this car. Newest first.
Federal rules make a manufacturer send NHTSA a copy of any notice about a defect that goes to more than one dealer or owner. Most of these are service bulletins, the repair instructions manufacturers send to dealers. NHTSA generally leaves safety recall bulletins out of this file, and recalls are listed separately.
Engine stalls or loses power while driving 7 bulletins · 118 complaints
This service bulletin provides a procedure to inspect and possibly repair terminals that may be damaged to correct customer concerns of Loss of Power, Malfunction Indicator Lamp (MIL) Illuminated, Gauges Inoperative and/or Multiple Warning Lights/Messages ...
This Preliminary information communicates A vehicle may have a concern of running poor and stalling. No trouble codes may be set referencing this condition. Fuel trims around -20% may be observed on both banks.
5 more on this problem
This Preliminary information communicatesIn ambient temperatures 100F (37.7 C)degrees or higher, DTCs P2635 and/or P018B may set.The vehicle may also exhibit a hesitation or stalling condition.Excessively Hot and sustained ambient temperatures over 100F (37.7 ...
THIS PRELIMINARY INFORMATION COMMUNICATION ADVISES THE TECHNICIAN TO CONTACT GM TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE CENTER TO REPORT THE CONCERN AND OBTAIN A CASE NUMBER WHEN A CUSTOMER MAY COMMENT THAT THEY WILL HAVE THE RADIO SHUT OFF, AND WHEN RESTARTING THE VEHICLE THE ...
THIS PRELIMINARY INFORMATION COMMUNICATION IS TO CONTACT GM TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE CENTER TO REPORT THE CONCERN AND OBTAIN A CASE NUMBER.
This Preliminary Information communication advises the technician that some vehicles may have a radio that turns on unwanted at start up.
This preliminary informational bulletin provides repair information to correct a customer concern of loss of power steering assist, hard to steer, and/or "Service Power Steering" message on in DIC.
Check engine light or misfire 30 bulletins · 106 complaints
This Preliminary information communicates the possibility of dtc p0299 p0234 setting due to oil/moisture cndensate freezing in Turbocharger Wastegate Regulator Solenoid Valve (TCV) during cold weather driving
This service bulletin provides diagnostic tips/steps on testing for possible EVAP leaks in the system to correct a customer concern of an MIL Illuminated with DTCs P0442 and/or P0455 Set.
28 more on this problem
This service bulletin provides repair procedures, depending on model year, to correct a customer concern of a Malfunction Indicator Lamp (MIL) Illuminated with DTC P0172, P06DE and/or P0521 Set.
This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that have a Service Engine Soon Malfunction Indicator Lamp. Technician may find Diagnostic Trouble Code P06DE set in the Engine Control Module.
This technical bulletin provides a repair procedure to correct a condition of Malfunction Indicator Lamp (MIL) Illuminated - DTCs P0615, P0617, P305C, P305D, P305E and/or P3054 Set.
Special Coverage. In certain vehicles an electrical connection may fail in the hybrid battery cooling blower motor. If this occurs, the control system may inhibit the electric propulsion motor, the Malfunction Indicator Light (Check Engine Light) will ...
This technical bulletin provides repair information to correct a customer concern of Check Engine Light Illuminated, DTC P0606 Set in Engine Control Module.
This Preliminary Information communication provides the technician with the diagnosis and repair steps for a vehicle with a check engine light on with Diagnostic Trouble Code P015B or a reduced engine power message with Diagnostic Trouble Code P1101.
This Preliminary information communicates additional diagnostics and repair to assist in resolving a malfunction indicator lamp illumination due to any combination of diagnostic trouble codes P0068 P0101 P0106 P0171 P0131 P0137 P0324 P0326 P0331 P0506.
This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician related to vehicles that have a Malfunction Indicator Lamp on. A technician may find Diagnostic Trouble Code P050D set as current or history.
This engineering information PI ends the need for information from the field on vehicles that have the condition of Smoke or Burning Odor from Underhood with Malfunction Indicator Lamp Illuminated with DTC P305F or P058D.
This Preliminary information communicates the possibility of the high pressure fuel pump roller follower pin walking out and making contact with cylinder head causing the ignition timing to be serverly retarded on acceleration causing lack of power, ...
Plus 18 older ones not listed here.
Brakes grind, pulse or wear early 11 bulletins · 102 complaints
This service bulletin provides information for tire pressure monitoring (TPM) system concerns.
Rear Brake Squeak Type Noise Involved Region or Country North America and N.A. Export Regions Condition Some customers may comment on a squeak type noise heard from the rear brakes when cold.
9 more on this problem
This Technical bulletin provides a procedure to correct conditions of Service Stabilitrak Message on DIC, Rear Stop Lamps Inoperative, Traction Control Light On with DTCs C0595, C0277, U0422 Set.
This Bulletin provides information, tips and graphics regarding specific Hybrid vehicle hydraulic brake system failures, emphasizing disc brake caliper guide pin failures.
This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that have a crank but engine does not start concern.Technician will use this publication to reset the battery low state of charge concern after extended crank ...
This Technical bulletin provides information for rear brake pad replacement to correct a squeak type noise heard from the rear brakes when cold.
Rear Brake Squeak Type Noise Condition Some customers may comment on a squeak type noise heard from the rear brakes when cold. This noise will typically occur on first brake apply when the brakes are cold.
This technical bulletin provides a procedure to reprogram the EBCM to correct the customers concern of the brake stopping the vehicle all the way to 0 mph before being able to use the throttle again.
This informational bulletin provides mulitple starting points for concerns related to various hydraulic brake concerns and how to correct the conditions that may be associated with them.
24210 ? Customer Satisfaction Program. These vehicles may have a condition in which the brake pressure modulator valve contains debris from manufacturing processes.
This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that have a Diagnostic Trouble Code C025E sym 5A set history in the Electronic Brake Control Module.
"Shift to Park" or "Service Shifter" warning comes on 6 bulletins · 96 complaints
This service bulletin provides repair information to correct a customer concern of seeing an intermittent Shift to Park message displayed while vehicle is in Park.
This technical bulletin provides repair information to correct a customer concern of seeing an intermittent Shift to Park message displayed while vehicle is in park.
4 more on this problem
This technical bulletin provides repair information to correct a customer concern of message displaying shift to park when in park.
This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that have a Shift to Park message on the Driver Information Center. Technician will find Diagnostic Trouble Codes P1AEE, P1AEF, P1AF0, P1AF2, and P1E22.
This engineering informational bulletin ends the need for information from the field on vehicles that have the condition of Shift to Park Message Displayed.
This engineering informational bulletin is requesting information from the filed on vehicles that have the condition of Shift to Park Message Displayed.
Infotainment, screen or backup camera fails 67 bulletins · 83 complaints
This technical bulletin provides a repair procedure to correct a customer concern of radio display blank, instrument cluster gauges Inoperative or steering stiff conditions.
This informational bulletin provides information on Normal Radio Display Operation ? Display Does Not Remain Off at Times After Being Turned Off in Settings and no parts should be replaced due to this condition.
65 more on this problem
This technical bulletin provides repair information to correct a customer concern of seeing an intermittent Shift to Park message displayed while vehicle is in park.
This technical bulletin provides a procedure to correct a condition of a Side Detection Message Being Displayed on DIC.
This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician for a concern with the radio going blank briefly after an auto stop event and the engine is cranking to restart.
This informational bulletin provides Information on Using Voice Pass-Thru to Access Voice Recognition Commands on Cell Phone and how it does not work on models equipped with IOA and IOB radios.
This Preliminary Information communication provides the technician with inspection and repair instructions for vehicles with Service Engine Soon lamp when locking, unlocking, going into gear, and when vehicle is running.
This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that the Navigation radio does not have a global positioning system location but OnStar is able to accurately locate the vehicle.
This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that may have an issue when using Bluetooth voice recognition with an iPhone.
This technical bulletin provides a procedure to install a battery ground cable to correct a radio display blank, instrument cluster gauges Inoperative or steering stiff conditions
This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that the radio will not retain the previous settings and will go to the Home Icon screen when the vehicle is restarted.
This informational bulletin provides information for the technicians on multi-media infotainment tester (MIT), does not function properly when diagnosing infotainment complaints, which may lead to mis-diagnosis.
Plus 55 older ones not listed here.
Traction control or StabiliTrak light comes on 1 bulletin · 78 complaints
This informational bulletin provides information on Some vehicles may rock or move slightly forward or rearward while in Park at start up after cold soak. This condition may be accompanied by a clunk noise.
Battery dies or the car will not start 5 bulletins · 44 complaints
This technical bulletin provides a procedure on how to diagnosis a possible resistance concern in the battery system.
This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that have a crank but engine does not start concern.
3 more on this problem
This Preliminary Information communication provides information to help the dealership technicians perform a parasitic drain test for the OnStar module.
This preliminary informational bulletin provides a Diagnostic Tip for DTC P305F to inspect for a unsecured ground wire at the auxiliry batter cables
This preliminary informational bulletin provides information on a learn procedure on the battery sensor module on vehicles that have conditions of Stop/Start System is Inoperable After a System Repair and No DIC Message or DTC is Set
Brake pedal goes hard or the booster or vacuum pump fails 2 bulletins · 37 complaints
This service bulletin informs dealers that a new Power Brake Booster Vacuum Cap will need to be replaced when installing the revised Power Brake Booster Vacuum Pipe to correct DTCs being set due to misrouting of brake booster vacuum pipe.
This Technical bulletin provides a fix to update the ECM if technicians find DTC P050F set or stored in history to correct a condition of Brake booster Weak vacuum.
Complaints filed by year
199 complaints came in 2019, 2.2 times the year before. Owners file in waves when a problem gets press or an investigation, so a spike measures attention as much as failures.
Recalls that include the 2016 Chevrolet Malibu
Whether your car is included depends on its VIN. Check yours at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
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.
Risk and remedy
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.
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.
Risk and remedy
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.
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.
Risk and remedy
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.
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.
Risk and remedy
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.
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."
Risk and remedy
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.
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."
Risk and remedy
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.
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."
Risk and remedy
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.
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.
Risk and remedy
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.
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."
Risk and remedy
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.
All 9 recalls on the 2016 Chevrolet Malibu, with the owner complaints on each recalled system
Guide Buying one used? How to research one car’s history before you pay
Questions
What is the most common problem on the 2016 Chevrolet Malibu?
Stalling, with 118 of the 837 complaints. Owners who gave a mileage for it put the median at about 44,000 miles.
At what mileage do 2016 Chevrolet Malibu problems start?
Of the 535 complaints that give a mileage, a quarter came by about 33,000 miles and half by about 51,000.
Is the 2016 Chevrolet Malibu better or worse than the 2017?
Counted per year on the road, the 2016 has about as many complaints as the 2017: 76 a year against 70.
How many 2016 Chevrolet Malibu complaints involve a crash, fire or injury?
27 of them (3%). The typical vehicle on this site is at 6%.
Is there a recall for stalling on the 2016 Chevrolet Malibu?
No recall on file for the 2016 Chevrolet Malibu is on the same system as stalling. Another recall may still cover your car, so check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.