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2016 Chevrolet Malibu Eco
Solid pick. The public record on this car is clean for its age. Inspect it, then negotiate with confidence.
810 owner complaints · 0 recalls · data verified July 24, 2026 · source: NHTSA
Why buy?
Engine problems dominate (36% of complaints, typically reported near 43k miles).
Zero recalls, rare for a car this age.
Complaint reports have faded. Early issues appear resolved or aged out.
Score breakdown, by factor
Full methodology →#298 of 563Among the 2016 models with a matured record, the 2016 Chevrolet Malibu Eco ranks #298, scoring higher than 45% of them. See the 2016 ranking →
Complaints filed per year
Fading = early teething worked out. Climbing = problems aging in.
How it crashes
NHTSA’s own crash tests, separate from the reliability score above.
5/5 overall
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Rating · 2016 Chevrolet Malibu Eco e-Assist 4 DR FWD
Rollover risk in a single-vehicle crash: 10%
1 open NHTSA defect investigation on file, separate from the recalls above.
Source: nhtsa.gov/ratings. Star ratings compare vehicles within the same class and size, not across every car on the road.
The road ahead
What breaks on a 2016 Chevrolet Malibu Eco, plotted where owners report it happening.
Mileage medians come from owners who mentioned an odometer reading in their NHTSA complaint, a rough guide, not a schedule.
Engine
36%291 complaints · typically near 43k mi · 18 in the last 2 years
“The contact owns a 2016 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated while driving on several occasions at various speeds, the check engine warning light illuminated, and the …”
Electrical system
27%217 complaints · typically near 28k mi · 17 in the last 2 years
“Stability track warning randomly appears while driving and spontaneously causes total brake failure and the brakes fail to slow or stop vehicle. It has newer brakes bu…”
Transmission & drivetrain
21%170 complaints · typically near 28k mi · 9 in the last 2 years
“The contact owns a 2016 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that after shifting to park, the message to shift to park was displayed. The failure occurred intermittent…”
Speed control
19%152 complaints · typically near 40k mi · 3 in the last 2 years
“Car showing warning : engine power reduced Car decelerate unexpectedly Car won’t accelerate past 20 mph intermittently - when putting car in park, car won’t recognize …”
Check it against this car’s mileage
Type the odometer reading on the actual car you’re looking at to see which of these problem areas owners tend to report before it, around it, or after it.
We can place 6 of this model's commonly reported problem areas against a mileage. Nothing is stored.
Read all 810 owner complaints in their own words → · just the 24 crash/fire/injury reports →
Recalls (0)
No recall campaigns on file for this model year.
Questions to ask the seller
Questions worth asking the seller of this Chevrolet before you buy, drawn from its public record:
- Owners of this model report engine problems more than anything else (owners tend to report it near 43k miles). Has this car shown any engine symptoms, and are there repair records for it?
- Owners of this model report electrical system problems more than anything else (owners tend to report it near 28k miles). Has this car shown any electrical system symptoms, and are there repair records for it?
- Has this car been in any accident or had any structural, airbag, or flood-related repair? Do you have a clean title and a recent history report (Carfax / AutoCheck)?
- How many owners has it had, do you have the maintenance records, and why are you selling it?
- Are you open to me having an independent mechanic inspect it before we settle on a price?
Before you hand over money
Check the VIN for open recalls
NHTSA’s free lookup shows whether this exact car had its recall remedies completed.
Free NHTSA VIN check ↗Get a pre-purchase inspection
A $150 to $250 independent inspection of this exact 2016 Chevrolet MALIBU ECO beats every score on the internet, including ours.
What to ask forNot set on the 2016? See how every Malibu Eco model year scores →
Cross-shopping? Compare the 2016 Chevrolet Malibu Eco against another car →
What owners say
Real owners of this exact model-year, shown separately from the NHTSA score. If they disagree, that’s worth knowing.