2016 Chevrolet Malibu · symptom sheet
"Shift to Park" or "Service Shifter" warning comes on
- 96owner reports
- 39,000median miles
- $500median quote
- 0involved a crash
Newest report Sep 16, 2025 · checked Sep 29, 2026
634 of the 837 complaints on this car are about the transmission and drivetrain. 96 of those describe shift to park warning.
Tick what matches of 96 reports
Shift to park warning 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.
What this problem usually is
This sheet covers a dash message that says "Shift to Park" or "Service Shifter" when the car is already in Park, or when it's sitting in Drive with the shifter lights glowing. Owners say it won't let them turn the car off, or it flashes up on the highway.
What got replaced
Owners who name the part that was replaced mention the shifter assembly (9 reports) and the wiring harness (5 reports).
Recalls and investigations
2 recalls on the transmission and drivetrain 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
NHTSA investigations into the transmission and drivetrain on the Malibu
Fleet vehicle recall completion audit. Closed dec 28, 2015.
Engine coolant boils over. Closed sep 24, 2002.
None of these investigations covers the 2016 model year.
What owners paid
12 of the 96 reports quote a price. Each dot is one quote. The middle half runs $300 to $800.
When it happens
The middle half of failures fell between 27,000 and 53,000 miles, from the 61 reports that gave a mileage.
Is this a known problem?
The manufacturer has sent NHTSA 6 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 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.
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.
2 more on the 2016 Chevrolet Malibu page.
What owners wrote
“Shift to park message and park not fully engaging. This caused the vehicle to roll back when parked on an incline.”
Filed May 28, 2025
“Car indicator states to shift into park upon stopping. Have to restart car move shift lever several times before car system will shut down. Same issue was repaired by Team Chevrolet of Goldsboro NC on9/7/2022. Repair cost 279.88. Dealership replaced harness and updated wiring. Situation has returned with worse condition. Spent 20 mins trying to "shift into park ". On off shift on off shift off.”
Filed Jul 26, 2023
“Shift to park displayed when gear was already in park I was traveling on the highway when I felt the speed decline and engine speed reduced was then displayed. Thank you.”
Filed Jul 8, 2023
“Intermittent "Shift to Park" message started to show up when attempting to turn off vehicle. GM does have a special bulletin 19-NA-206 but doesn't have the coverage stated in it. There is also class action law suits as well so this is a common concern.”
Filed Mar 19, 2023
Should you keep driving it?
This page can't tell you that. 0 of 96 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
- Infotainment, screen or backup camera fails 83 reports
- Traction control or StabiliTrak light comes on 78 reports
- Battery dies or the car will not start 44 reports
- Water leaks into the cabin 30 reports