2016 Chevrolet Malibu · symptom sheet
Battery dies or the car will not start
- 44owner reports
- 61,000median miles
- 1involved a crash
Newest report Jan 2, 2026 · checked Oct 2, 2026
222 of the 837 complaints on this car are about the electrical system. 44 of those describe dead battery.
Tick what matches of 44 reports
Dead battery on other Malibu years
Report counts are for each model year on its own, so a newer car has had less time to collect them. Model years with too few reports of it for a sheet: 2014, 2015, 2019, 2020.
What this problem usually is
These owners walk out to a car that's dead. Some find it drained after sitting only a day or two, some need a jump start every week, and some have had the battery replaced more than once without the problem going away. A good number describe the dealer testing the battery, calling it fine, and sending them home.
What got replaced
Owners who name the part that was replaced mention the battery (42 reports), the alternator (7 reports) and the starter (3 reports).
Recalls and investigations
2 recalls on the electrical system cover the 2016 model year. A recall on the same system isn't always the same failure, so read the defect text.
As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 114, "Theft Protection and Rollaway Prevention."
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.
All 9 recalls on the 2016 Chevrolet Malibu, with the owner complaints on each recalled system
When it happens
The middle half of failures fell between 40,000 and 77,000 miles, from the 21 reports that gave a mileage.
Is this a known problem?
The manufacturer has sent NHTSA 17 service bulletins or notices for the 2016 Chevrolet Malibu that deal with this problem. 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.
This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that have an intermittent no crank, no start, or start stall concern with the security light coming on.
This Preliminary information communicates the possibility of a crank no start or extended crank condition due to exhaust cam reluctor being out of position.
This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about a no start or another concern after swapping an Engine Control Module or other modules from one vehicle to another.
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 ...
13 more on the 2016 Chevrolet Malibu page.
What owners wrote
“I'm having a problem with the car going into park. When it's in park, the doors will not lock in the vehicle will Just drain the battery.”
Filed Oct 16, 2023
Should you keep driving it?
This page can't tell you that. 1 of 44 reports involved a crash. Owners who file are the ones who had a bad experience, and nobody checks their reports. If the problem affects steering, braking, power or a fire risk, treat it as a safety fault and have it inspected before a long or high-speed drive.
File your own report with NHTSA. Complaint counts are how a problem gets an investigation. How reports land on this sheet.
Guide Paid for this repair before a recall covered it? How recall reimbursement works
Other problems on this car
- Engine stalls or loses power while driving 118 reports
- Check engine light or misfire 106 reports
- Brakes grind, pulse or wear early 102 reports
- "Shift to Park" or "Service Shifter" warning comes on 96 reports
- Infotainment, screen or backup camera fails 83 reports
- Traction control or StabiliTrak light comes on 78 reports
- Water leaks into the cabin 30 reports