2016 Chevrolet Malibu problems and complaints
Owners have filed 863 complaints with NHTSA about the 2016 Chevrolet Malibu. The most-reported areas: Engine (311), Electrical System (233), Unknown Or Other (180).
Key takeaways
- 863 owner complaints on file with NHTSA.
- 24 involve a crash, 2 a fire, 17 reported injuries.
- Complaints are unverified owner reports; recalls are confirmed defects.
| Component | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | 311 | 36% |
| Electrical System | 233 | 27% |
| Unknown Or Other | 180 | 21% |
| Power Train | 174 | 20% |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 158 | 18% |
| Service Brakes | 106 | 12% |
| Electronic Stability Control (esc) | 77 | 9% |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 51 | 6% |
| Steering | 42 | 5% |
| Structure | 41 | 5% |
| Exterior Lighting | 19 | 2% |
| Suspension | 19 | 2% |
One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
| Version | Overall | Front | Side | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 Chevrolet Malibu 4 DR FWD | 5/5 | 5/5 | 5/5 | 4/5 |
Latest complaints, as filed
Owner-written and unverified by NHTSA.
Engine - filed 2026-10-14
My vacuum pump has failed. Causing extremely dangerous driving conditions and potentially damaging my engine.
Fuel System, Gasoline - filed 2026-10-12
I believe my fuel pump was cracked
Air Bags - filed 2026-09-04
The contact owns a 2016 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that while driving approximately 15 MPH and taking her children to school, there was an abnormally loud banging sound coming from the vehicle. The contact stated that several air bags deployed. The steering wheel air bag struck the contact, and she was knocke...
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More for the 2016 Chevrolet Malibu
Complaints are reports filed by owners with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. NHTSA publishes them without verifying them, and counts rise with how many cars were sold, so compare years of the same model rather than different models. Crash ratings are NHTSA's own 5-Star Safety Ratings results.