Home · 2016 Chevrolet Impala Limited · Complaints

What 786 owners told NHTSA about the 2016 Chevrolet Impala Limited

These are the actual owner complaints behind this car’s reliability verdict, filed with the federal government, unedited. They’re unverified reports, not confirmed defects: read them as leads for your pre-purchase inspection, not a diagnosis.

All (786)Crash / fire / injury (23)Engine (283)Electrical system (206)Transmission & drivetrain (162)Speed control (146)Brakes (87)Electronic Stability Control (esc) (74)Fuel system (45)Steering (39)Body & structure (38)Suspension (19)

Newest first · 786 complaints · page 15 of 32

Jul 17, 2020SteeringSuspension

I BOUGHT MY CAR IN APRIL OF 2019. THE CAR HAS BEEN IN TWO DIFFERENT DEALERSHIPS, THREE DIFFERENT TIMES FOR THE SAME REASONS. THE FIRST ISSUE IS THAT WHENEVER THE CAR ACCELERATES FROM A STOPPED POSITION, AND WHENEVER SOMEONE IS IN THE BACKSEAT, THERE IS A KNOCKING SOUND COMING FROM UNDERNEATH THE REAR OF THE CAR. IT SOUNDS LIKE SOMETHING IS LOOSE. I HAVE COMPLAINED ABOUT THE NOISE THREE DIFFERENT TIMES, AND ALL THREE TIMES I WAS TOLD THEY DROVE THE VEHICLE (WITH PEOPLE IN THE BACK) AND COULDN'T "REPRODUCE" THE NOISE. ADDITIONALLY, I HAVE HAD THE GEARSHIFT CHANGED OUT TWICE WITHIN 8 MONTHS, BECAUSE THE CAR KEPT SAYING THAT THE VEHICLE WASN'T IN PARK AND WOULDN'T TURN OFF, EVEN THOSE IT WAS IN PARK. THE NOISE COMING FROM THE BACK IS DEFINITELY THERE, AND BASED UPON WHAT I HAVE READ, IT HAS HAPPENED TO OTHER MALIBU OWNERS AS WELL

NHTSA ODI 11339927

Jul 15, 2020Transmission & drivetrain

GETTING AN ERROR ( SHIFT TO PARK) WHEN PUTTING THE CAR IN PARK AFTER ATTEMPTING TO GO FROM DRIVE TO PARK TO TURN VEHICLE OFF. I START VEHICLE ON AGAIN AND SHIFT TO DRIVE AND BACK TO PARK AND IT THEN GOES AWAY AND SLOWS ME TO TURN VEHICLE OFF.

NHTSA ODI 11339497

Jul 15, 2020Electrical system

THE CIGARETTE LIGHTER LOOK TO HAVE CAUGHT ON FIRE AND BURNED THE BUTTONS ABOVE IT THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED NO KEY IN THE IGNITION

NHTSA ODI 11339589

Jul 5, 2020Transmission & drivetrain

I PUT THE CAR IN PARK TURN OFF BUT I GET THE MESSAGE SHIFT INTO PARK. SOME TIMES I DO THIS SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE I CAN LOCK THE DOORS. I LOOKED UP RECALLS THERE IS A RECALL LISTED FOR THIS. BUT IT SAYS MY CAR ISN'T LISTED. THERE IS DEFINITELY A PROBLEM.

NHTSA ODI 11337512

Jul 3, 2020Airbags

IM GETTING AN ALERT OF AIR BAG PROBLEM AND I RECEIVED A LETTER ABOUT AN AIRBAG PROBLEM RECALL. ALSO THE BRAKE PEDAL WHICH MY HUSBAND FIXED AND A ROOF WATER LEAK WHICH MY HUSBAND ALSO FIXED.

NHTSA ODI 11337376

Jul 2, 2020Engine

PROBLEM HAS HUGE ACCIDENT POTENTIAL. *DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY IN MODERATELY HEAVY TRAFFIC. *TRAVELING AT A 65-70 MPH TO KEEP UP WITH THE FLOW OF TRAFFIC, I BEGAN RECEIVING "ENGINE POWER IS REDUCED" MESSAGE ON MY INFO SCREEN. * THE ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON (AND I IMMEDIATELY START COUNTING HOW MUCH TIME AND MONEY THIS WILL COST ME). * THERE IS A SLIGHT JERK/PULL OF THE CAR WHERE IT IMMEDIATELY STARTS A DRASTIC REDUCTION IN SPEED DOWN TO 20-30 MPH. * I'VE HAD TO PULL TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD TO STOP THE CAR (I PRAY I AM ABLE TO DO THIS SAFELY). *EVENTUALLY, I FOUND THAT BY SHUTTING THE ENGINE OFF COMPLETELY FOR SEVERAL MINUTES, THE CAR SOMEHOW "RESETS" AND DRIVES NORMALLY. * OCCASIONALLY, THE ENGINE LIGHT WOULD GO AWAY IMMEDIATELY UPON RE-IGNITION. OTHER TIMES THE ENGINE LIGHT WENT OFF AFTER A COUPLE DAY. * THIS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES DURING WITHIN A (1) HOUR COMMUTE TO WORK. *TR

NHTSA ODI 11337151

Jul 1, 2020Transmission & drivetrain

VEHICLE HAS VIBRATION AND MAKES A HUMMING NOISE AT ALL SPEEDS. WHEN HARD BRAKING THE VEHICLE PULLS TO THE RIGHT. TOOK VEHICLE TO A LOCAL DOBB'S TIRE AND AUTO CENTER AND THEN DIAGNOSED VEHICLE WITH EXCESSIVE RIGHT, FRONT MOVEMENT AT THE TRANSMISSION. POSSIBLY AN INTERNAL STUB AXLE? REPAIR SHOP ADVISED THAT THERE WAS A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN FROM OCTOBER 2019 STATING THE SAME ISSUE. REPAIR SHOP ALSO HAD ANOTHER 2016 MALIBU IN FOR AN OIL CHANGE AND UPON THEIR MULTI-POINT INSPECTION THEY ALSO FOUND EXCESSIVE MOVEMENT WITH THE RIGHT, FRONT AXLE AT THE TRANSMISSION.

NHTSA ODI 11337051

Jun 30, 2020

AFTER I PUT THE CAR IN PARK AND TURN IF OFF, IT SAYS TO SHIFT TO PARK. I HAVE TO RESTART, MOVE IT BACK AND FORTH. IT'S GETTING MORE DIFFICULT TO CLEAR THE MESSAGE SO I CAN EXIT THE VEHICLE. THE CAR ONLY HAS 34K MILES. *TR

NHTSA ODI 11331692

Jun 29, 2020Transmission & drivetrainEngine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE ENGINE POWER REDUCED WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED, THE VEHICLE DECELERATED AND CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP. THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF AND RESTARTED BUT FAILED TO ACCELERATE ABOVE 30-35 MPH. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE VIVA CHEVROLET LOCATED AT 5915 MONTANA AVE, EL PASO, TX 79925, WHERE THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED AN UNKNOWN COMPUTER FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 75,000.

NHTSA ODI 11331554

Jun 26, 2020Suspension

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING OR PULLING OFF FROM A STOP, THERE WAS A KNOCKING SOUND COMING FROM UNDERNEATH THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO OURISMAN CHEVROLET OF BOWIE (16610 GOVERNOR BRIDGE RD, BOWIE, MD 20716), AND WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE REAR SUSPENSION KNUCKLES NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE BUT OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 96,990.

NHTSA ODI 11331027

Jun 23, 2020

FOR THE PAST TWO YEARS I HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING A LOUD POPPING NOISE IN THE REAR OF MY VEHICLE WHILE OPERATING IT. I HAVE TAKEN IT IN FOR MAINTENANCE AT MY LOCAL CHEVROLET DEALER HOWEVER THEY CONTINUE TO TELL ME THAT THEY CANNOT DUPLICATE THE NOISE. THE NOISE SOUNDS LIKE IT MAY BE COMING FROM MY BACK AXLES AND DOESN'T SEEM TO BE AFFECTED BY A MINIMUM OR MAXIMUM SPEED. I HAVE ENSURED ALL BRACKETS ARE SECURED INSIDE OF MY TRUNK AS I THOUGHT THERE MIGHT HAVE BEEN SOMETHING LOOSE . *TR

NHTSA ODI 11330329

Jun 22, 2020Transmission & drivetrain

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER STOPPING THE VEHICLE AND SHIFTING THE GEAR SHIFTER TO THE PARK POSITION, THE INSTRUMENT PANEL DISPLAYED THE TRANSMISSION NOT IN PARK MESSAGE. ADDITIONALLY, ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO TURN THE VEHICLE OFF. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS THE DOORS FAILED TO REMAIN SECURELY LOCKED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. NEITHER THE DEALER NOR THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 71,000.

NHTSA ODI 11330021

Jun 22, 2020Transmission & drivetrainSpeed control

PROBLEM HAS HUGE ACCIDENT POTENTIAL. *DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY IN MODERATELY HEAVY TRAFFIC. *TRAVELING AT A 65-70 MPH TO KEEP UP WITH THE FLOW OF TRAFFIC, I BEGAN RECEIVING "ENGINE POWER IS REDUCED" MESSAGE ON MY INFO SCREEN. * THE ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON (AND I IMMEDIATELY START COUNTING HOW MUCH TIME AND MONEY THIS WILL COST ME). * THERE IS A SLIGHT JERK/PULL OF THE CAR WHERE IT IMMEDIATELY STARTS A DRASTIC REDUCTION IN SPEED DOWN TO 20-30 MPH. * I'VE HAD TO PULL TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD TO STOP THE CAR (I PRAY I AM ABLE TO DO THIS SAFELY). *EVENTUALLY, I FOUND THAT BY SHUTTING THE ENGINE OFF COMPLETELY FOR SEVERAL MINUTES, THE CAR SOMEHOW "RESETS" AND DRIVES NORMALLY. * OCCASIONALLY, THE ENGINE LIGHT WOULD GO AWAY IMMEDIATELY UPON RE-IGNITION. OTHER TIMES THE ENGINE LIGHT WENT OFF AFTER A COUPLE DAY. * THIS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES DURING WITHIN A (1) HOUR COMMUTE TO WORK. *TR

NHTSA ODI 11330049

Jun 17, 2020Electrical systemSpeed controlEngine

THE DAY BEFORE THE CAR'S DASHBOARD SAID THAT THE CAR'S POWER ASSIST WAS TURNING OFF. THE NEXT MORNING AS I WAS GOING 75 MILES PER HOUR ON THE HIGHWAY THE CAR SAID THAT ENGINE WAS REDUCING POWER AND SPEED REDUCED TO 45 MPH. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT SUDDENLY WENT ON AND IT WAS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION THAT COULD HAVE KILLED ME. *TR

NHTSA ODI 11329306

Jun 17, 2020Transmission & drivetrain

SHIFT TO PARK ISSUE IS WELL KNOWN BY CHEVROLET SERVICE DEPT AND I HAVE CHECKED OTHER FORUMS. WHEN YOU SHIFT CAR TO PARK AND TRY TO TURN OFF THE CAR, IT TELLS YOU TO SHIFT TO PARK. THE CAR WON'T SHUT OFF. I HAD TO SHIFT BACK AND FORTH QUITE A FEW TIMES FOR IT TO FINALLY WORK. SERVICE REPLACED THE "HARNESS" FOR ROUGHLY $100 WHICH WORKED TEMPORARILY BUT STARTED IN AGAIN. SO NEW SHIFTER HAS BEEN ORDERED AT COST OF APPROX $350. I DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY THERE HASN'T BEEN A RECALL WITH ALL THE PROBLEMS THEY HAVE HAD. MINE IS A 2016 WITH VERY LOW MILES. THEY HAVE LOTS OF PROBLEMS WITH '16, '17 AND SOME '18. I HATE FIXING AGAIN AND HAVE IT HAPPEN IN ANOTHER 20K MILES..... RECALL PLEASE?!?! *TR

NHTSA ODI 11329389

Jun 16, 2020Electrical system

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO START THE VEHICLE, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AUTONATION CHEVROLET SOUTH CLEARWATER (15005 US HWY 19 N, CLEARWATER, FL 33764, (727) 266-3920) AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE BATTERY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE BATTERY WAS REPLACED HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED 4 TIMES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 20,000.

NHTSA ODI 11329117

Jun 15, 2020Transmission & drivetrain

THE GEAR SHIFT IS STUCK IN THE PARK POSITION. IT'S NOT MOVING AND STUCK IN PARK. *TR

NHTSA ODI 11329025

Jun 10, 2020Electrical systemElectronic Stability Control (esc)

THE MAIN ISSUE WITH MY VEHICLE IS THAT WHEN THE VEHICLE IS PARKED AND I TURN THE CAR OFF THE FRONT PANEL WILL SAY THAT THE VEHICLE IS NOT IN THE PARKED POSITION AND WON'T ALLOW THE CAR TO TURN OFF. I HAVE TO PUSH THE START BUTTON ON AND OFF MULTIPLE TIMES AND SHIFT THE CAR IN AND OUT OF PARK BEFORE THE SENSOR CAN GAUGE THAT THE CAR IS IN THE PARKED POSITION AND WILL ALLOW THE CAR TO BE TURNED OFF. THIS OFTEN TAKES 5-20 MIN. WHEN THIS HAPPENS THE RADIO WON'T TURN OFF, THE DASH BOARD WON'T TURN OFF AND CAR WON'T SHUT DOWN. ALSO THE CAR OFTEN GIVES ME INCORRECT READINGS ON THE DASH BOARD. *TR

NHTSA ODI 11328103

Jun 9, 2020Transmission & drivetrainElectrical system

CAR WILL NOT SHUT OFF AS IT DOES NOT REGISTER THAT THE VEHICLE IS IN PARK WHEN SHIFTED TO THE PARK POSITION. *TR

NHTSA ODI 11327911

Jun 6, 2020Transmission & drivetrainElectrical system

WHEN I PLACE THE CAR IN PARK AND HIT THE BUTTON TO TURN THE CAR OFF IT KEEPS TELLING ME THE SHIFT TO PARK WHEN THE CAR IS OFF. I WILL HAVE TO TURN IT OFF AND ON MULTIPLE TIMES TO GET THE MESSAGE TO STOP SHOWING UP. I WILL HAVE TO SHIFT IT TO DRIVE AND PARK MULTIPLE TIMES AS WELL TO GET THE MESSAGE TO GO AWAY. THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING FOR SOME TIME NOW. *TR

NHTSA ODI 11327587

Jun 5, 2020Transmission & drivetrainEngine

WHEN I PUT THE VEHICLE IN PARK AND TRY TO SHUT OFF THE ENGINE, THE ENGINE WILL NOT SHUT OFF. IT KEEPS RUNNING. IT APPEARS THAT THE VEHICLE DOES NOT KNOW IT IS IN PARK. THE VEHICLE IS STATIONARY BUT KEEPS ON RUNNING. *TR

NHTSA ODI 11327361

Jun 3, 2020Electrical systemSpeed controlEngine

IT'S AMAZING ME READING ALL THE COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS ISSUE AND GM HASN'T ISSUES A RECALL. HOWEVER, I PURCHASED A 2016 CHEVY MALIBU USED ABOUT A YEAR AGO. WITHIN THE YEAR, I'VE HAD MY ACCELERATION PEDAL BE FAULTY, MY CAR SPEED WILL DRASTICALLY REDUCE FROM 60-70MPH TO 20-25MPH WHICH AS I'M SURE EVERYONE KNOWS IS A SAFETY HAZARD. THEN LESS THAN 2 WEEKS LATER, THE SAME THING HAPPENED BUT THIS TIME IT WAS THE ALTERNATOR. NOW NOT EVEN 2 MONTHS LATER, MY STOP/START IS MALFUNCTIONING. IF I BRAKE AND THE CAR TURNS OFF, MY 'START' FUNCTION DOES NOT START! I HAVE TO SHIFT THE CAR TO PARK, TURN THE CAR ON, THEN SHIFT BACK TO DRIVE. ALL OF WHICH IS DANGEROUS! OBVIOUSLY, THESE COMPLAINTS ARE NOT BEING READ OR ARE NOT BEING TAKEN SERIOUS BECAUSE I JUST READ MULTIPLE COMPLAINTS SIMILAR TO THIS. ON TOP OF IT ALL, BECAUSE OF EVERYTHING I DON'T FEEL SAFE DRIVING A CAR I PAID FOR! AND NONE OF THESE ISSUES ARE NOT MY DOING YET I'M THE ONE IN THE DEALERSHIP PAYING FOR IT. *TR

NHTSA ODI 11327087

May 30, 2020

WHEN GO TO PUT CAR IN PARK AND SHUT ENGINE OFF GET A MESSAGE SAYING SHIFT TO PARK AND CANT SHUT CAR OFF. *TR

NHTSA ODI 11326609

May 28, 2020Speed control

EVERY COUPLE MONTHS I WILL BE DRIVING MY 2016 CHEVROLET MALIBU ON THE HIGHWAY AND IT WILL SUDDENLY WARN ME THAT THE ENGINE POWER HAS BEEN REDUCED. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WILL ILLUMINATE AND THE CAR WILL DROP FORM 50-7MPH TO ABOUT 20-30MPH. THIS HAS HAPPENED MANY TIMES AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND CODE ALWAYS DISAPPEAR BEFORE I CAN GET IT REPAIRED, BUT THE PROBLEM KEEPS OCCURRING AND IS INCREDIBLY DANGEROUS. *TR

NHTSA ODI 11326296

May 18, 2020Body & structure

THE TRUNK BUTTONS FAIL. WITH IN THE FIRST 2 YEARS. CANNOT OPEN OR CLOSE THE TRUNK ONCE THE SYSTEM FAILS. WAS IN PARKING LOT AT A STORE. COULDN'T DRIVE HOME. *TR

NHTSA ODI 11325060

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Working with the data? Download all 786 complaints as CSV · fetched from NHTSA July 26, 2026

How to use these: a complaint is one owner’s report, filed voluntarily and published unverified. Patterns matter more than any single story. If several owners describe the same failure at similar mileage, put that system at the top of your pre-purchase inspection list. Back to the full 2016 Chevrolet Impala Limited verdict →