2016 Chevrolet Malibu problems and recalls

Owner complaints on the 2016 Chevrolet Malibu include 1 fatality report, 23 crashes and 2 fires across 860 filings.

860
Complaints
9
Recalls
23
Crash reports
2
Fire reports
17
Injuries
35.5
Severity index

Severity index 35.5 Low. The index weights crashes, fires, injuries and fatalities per 100 complaints. How it is calculated.

Middle half of all tracked vehiclesThis vehicle: 35.5p25 46p75 80cleanestworst
Severity index against the quartile range for all tracked vehicles.

Ranked 125 of 141 by severity index among 2016 vehicles with at least 40 complaints, highest first. 11% of those vehicles scored lower. Full 2016 ranking.

Components cited in complaints

EngineEngine: 310 complaints (36.0%)310 36%Electrical SystemElectrical System: 233 complaints (27.1%)233 27%Unknown Or OtherUnknown Or Other: 180 complaints (20.9%)180 21%Power TrainPower Train: 174 complaints (20.2%)174 20%Vehicle Speed ControlVehicle Speed Control: 158 complaints (18.4%)158 18%Service BrakesService Brakes: 106 complaints (12.3%)106 12%Electronic Stability Co…Electronic Stability Control (Esc): 77 complaints (9.0%)77 9%Fuel/Propulsion SystemFuel/Propulsion System: 51 complaints (5.9%)51 6%
A single complaint can cite more than one component, so shares total over 100%.
ComponentComplaintsShare of complaints citing it
ENGINE31036.0%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM23327.1%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER18020.9%
POWER TRAIN17420.2%
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL15818.4%
SERVICE BRAKES10612.3%
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)779.0%
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM515.9%

Complaints filed per year

01052102015: 12016: 172017: 382018: 952019: 2032020: 1542021: 982022: 792023: 542024: 542025: 502026: 17 (partial year)151617181920320212223242526
Complaints by the calendar year they were filed. The hatched bar is the current year to date.
YearComplaints
20151
201617
201738
201895
2019203
2020154
202198
202279
202354
202454
202550
2026 (year to date)17
Filings in 2023 to 2025 ran 0.5x those in 2020 to 2022 (158 against 331).

Recall campaigns

CampaignReportedComponentSummary
18V40000014/06/2018AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATIONGeneral 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 pa
18V35800031/05/2018FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMPGeneral 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
16V27200005/05/2016ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)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 includi
16V78100026/10/2016AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOWGeneral 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.
16V50200005/07/2016ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITIONGeneral 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, 2013-20
16V08400011/02/2016ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:SOFTWAREGenera 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 fa
16V15100011/03/2016AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOWGeneral 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 t
16V12500002/03/2016AIR BAGS:FRONTALGeneral 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
21V64900020/08/2021SEAT BELTS:CRITICAL FASTENERSGeneral 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.

Other Chevrolet Malibu model years

Severity index for every other model year on file. Compare all 13 years side by side.

Source. NHTSA public complaint and recall APIs (api.nhtsa.gov), retrieved 2026-09-06. Complaints are unverified consumer reports. Totals vary with units sold and years on the road. Not affiliated with NHTSA or any manufacturer.