Home · 2016 Chevrolet Malibu Eco · Complaints

What 810 owners told NHTSA about the 2016 Chevrolet Malibu Eco

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 (810)Crash / fire / injury (24)Engine (291)Electrical system (217)Transmission & drivetrain (170)Speed control (152)Brakes (91)Electronic Stability Control (esc) (75)Fuel system (46)Body & structure (39)Steering (39)Suspension (19)

Newest first · 810 complaints · page 14 of 33

Nov 3, 2020Speed controlElectronic Stability Control (esc)

WHILE ON MY WAY TO WORK MON MORNING FOR THE 5 OR 6 TIME THE ENERGY REDUCTION LIGHT CAME ON IM THE MIDDLE OF THE HIGHWAY ALMOST CAUSES ME TO GET REAR ENDED IN THE ROAD I QUICKLY TURNED MY EMERGENCY LIGHTS ON TO KEEP FROM BEING HIT PULLED OVER ON THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF AND CALLED THE DEALERSHIP THEY TELL ME ITS A RECALL ON THE VEHICLES THERES NOTHING THEY CAN DO FOR ME TO CONTACT THE GMC DEALERSHIPS I PAY ALMOST 500 ON CAR PAYMENTS TO BE EXPERIENCING THIS DANGEROUS ON THE HIGHWAY SOMEONE COULD HAVE BEEN BADLY HURT I NEED HELP WITH THIS PROBLEM.

NHTSA ODI 11372801

Nov 3, 2020Fuel system

CAR STALLED AFTER AUTO STOP WHILE TRYING TO EXCELERATE. ERROR MESSAGE SAYING EMISSIONS CONTROL. MECHANIC STATED THAT IT WAS UNKNOWN AND POSSIBLE A RECALL. HAS HAPPENED THREE TIMES.

NHTSA ODI 11372802

Nov 3, 2020Body & structureBrakes

I FIRST NOTICED THE PROBLEM ON MY 2016 MALIBU LS WHEN GOING THROUGH A CAR WASH. I'M NOT SURE WHEN EXACTLY THE ISSUE HAPPENED, BUT ACCORDING TO THE BODY SHOP IT APPEARS TO BE FAULTY DESIGNING. THE WATER AND CHEMICALS WERE LEAKING AT THE REAR WINDOW. HEAVY RAINS WOULD ALSO RESULT IN THE CAR LEAKING NON-STOP. I TOOK THE CAR IN AND THE FOUND THAT THE THIRD BRAKE LIGHT WAS NOT SECURED FULLY AND WATER WAS SPILLING THROUGH THERE. APPARENTLY IT WAS LOSE TO THE POINT WHERE IT DIDN'T TAKE MUCH TO TAKE THE LIGHT OUT. I WAS INFORMED THAT THIS WAS A KNOWN PROBLEM FOR OTHER YEARS BUT MY CAR WASN'T INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. IF THE PROBLEM EXISTED WITH MY CAR I'M SURE OTHERS ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM. WATER WAS ALSO GETTING INTO THE TRUNK AND NOW I HAVE A HUGE MOLD/MILDEW PROBLEM. ADDITIONALLY, THEY FIRST THOUGHT THE LEAK WAS COMING FROM THE SIDE PANEL WINDOWS AS THE ADHESIVE TO PUT THOSE WINDOWS IN WAS FAULTY.

NHTSA ODI 11372857

Nov 3, 2020Transmission & drivetrainElectrical system

WHEN I COME TO A STOP AND SHIFT MY 30K MILES 2016 MALIBU INTO "PARK", I SOMETIMES GET A MESSAGE ON THE DASH: "SHIFT TO PARK". THE "P" FOR "PARK" IS LIT NEAR THE GEAR SHIFTER. THE CAR IS IN PARK. BUT, MY HEADLIGHTS STAY ON AND I CAN'T LOCK MY CAR, BECAUSE THE VEHICLE COMPUTER THINKS THE CAR IS NOT IN "PARK". I LOCK THE DOORS WITH THE SWITCH ON THE INSIDE OF THE DOOR, BUT THE CAR UNLOCKS IMMEDIATELY. SOMETIMES, THE SITUATION CLEARS UP BY REPEATEDLY STARTING/SHIFTING/BRAKING/TURNING OFF THE CAR. THE PROBLEM IS INTERMITTENT, BUT GETTING WORSE.

NHTSA ODI 11372867

Oct 29, 2020Transmission & drivetrain

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO RECOGNIZE THE POSITION OF THE GEAR SHIFTER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A WARNING LIGHT INFORMING THE CONTACT TO SHIFT THE VEHICLE TO PARK EVEN THOUGH THE VEHICLE WAS ALREADY IN PARK. OCCASIONALLY, THE PUSH TO START BUTTON FAILED TO TURN OFF THE VEHICLE CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO RUN CONTINUOUSLY. DUE TO THE FAILURE, THE HEADLAMPS FAILED TO ILLUMINATE INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO FAIRWAY CHEVROLET (3100 E. SAHARA AVE, LAS VEGAS, NV 89104; (702) 522-0580) AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE GEAR SHIFTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000.

NHTSA ODI 11367012

Oct 19, 2020Transmission & drivetrain

WHILE DRIVING EVERYTHING IS FINE, AS SOON AS I STOP AND PUT MY CAR IN PARK IT WILL SHOW AN INDICATION TO (PUT THE CAR IN PARK). I CAN LITERALLY SPEND 30 MINUTES JIGGLING THE SHIFTER BACK AND FORTH UNTIL THAT NOTIFICATION GOES AWAY. IF I DON'T MAKE IT GO AWAY, ALL THE LIGHTS STAY ON AND MY CAR WILL BEEP AT ME ONCE I CLOSE THE DOORS, THE DOORS WILL ALSO NOT LOCK DUE TO THIS. SO SPENDING 30 MINUTES TO MAKE IT GO AWAY SO IT DOESN'T KILL THE BATTERY AFTER A 12HOUR WORK SHIFT IS ALL I CAN DO.

NHTSA ODI 11365172

Oct 18, 2020Electrical systemWheelsBrakes

WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE BRAKE PEDAL WADE AN ABNORMAL GRINDING SOUND. THE CONTACT STATED THAT EXTRA EFFORT WAS NEEDED TO DEPRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE ABS SYSTEM FAILED TO OPERATE AS DESIGNED INTERMITTENTLY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ON OCCASIONS THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND THE VEHICLE SLID BEFORE COMING TO A STOP. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO BE DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80877

NHTSA ODI 11364875

Oct 11, 2020Transmission & drivetrain

"SHIFT TO PARK" ISSUE ON DIC WHEN VEHICLE ACTUALLY IS IN PARK, AS INDICATED BY THE SHIFTER LIGHT AND EVEN ON THE DIC, BUT THE VEHICLE WILL NOT SHUT DOWN THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FULLY. YOU CAN NOT EVEN LOCK THE DOORS, THE ANTI-THEFT SYSTEMS WILL NOT ENGAGE, AND THE BATTERY WILL DISCHARGE OVERNIGHT. THE MANUAL CLEARLY STATES THAT IF THE VEHICLE IS NOT PROPERLY IN PARK WHEN TURNING OFF THE VEHICLE, IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE THAT MUST BE ADDRESSED IMMEDIATELY. BUT IT IS NOT, EITHER BY GM OR THE NHTSA.

NHTSA ODI 11363789

Oct 8, 2020

I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY TODAY WHEN I HEARD A LOUD POP AND MY SUNROOF SPONTANEOUSLY EXPLODED. IT WAS AFTER THE EXPLOSION THAT SMALL SHARDS OF GLASS STARTED TO RAIN DOWN ON US. WHEN I LOOKED UP THE ENTIRE SUNROOF WAS SHATTERED. I WAS ABLE TO GET THE INSIDE SUN SHADE CLOSED BEFORE ANYONE WAS INJURED. I LOOKED TO SEE IF THERE WAS ANY EVIDENCE OF ANYTHING HITTING THE CAR, HOWEVER THERE WAS NONE. THE SUNROOF WAS IN THE CLOSED POSITION WHEN IT EXPLODED.

NHTSA ODI 11363462

Oct 7, 2020Transmission & drivetrainElectrical system

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT UPON PLACING THE GEAR SHIFTER INTO PARK, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO RECOGNIZE THAT THE GEAR SHIFTER WAS IN THE PARK POSITION. THE SHIFT TO PARK WARNING LIGHT WAS DISPLAYED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO NAPLETON BUICK GMC CRYSTAL LAKE (6305 NORTHWEST HWY, CRYSTAL LAKE, IL 60014) AND THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED WITH A DEFECTIVE GEAR SHIFTER. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED OUT OF POCKET. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL ON THE VEHICLE. UPON INVESTIGATION, THE CONTACT LINKED THE FAILURE TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V502000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, POWER TRAIN). THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 34,000.

NHTSA ODI 11363275

Oct 4, 2020Body & structure

ON THE BOTH BACK SIDE, WHERE THE SEAT BELTS ARE NEXT TO SMALL WINDOWAND TOP PART OF ROOF WATERBIS LEAKING IN WHEN I WASH MY CAR AND MAYBE EVEN WHEN IT RAINS. THERE PROBABLY MILDEW, AND RUST. ALSO WHEN I PARK MY CAR THE WARNING LIGHT SAYS PUT CAR IN PARK, BUT ITS IN PARK.

NHTSA ODI 11362661

Sep 28, 2020Engine

I OWN A 2016 CHEVY MALIBU PREMIER I BOUT IT ON THE SAME YEAR WITH 3 THOUSAND MILES IN IT EVER SINCE I BEEN HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE CAR IN 2017 THE CAR HAD OVER 10 THOUSAND MILES IN IT N WATER WAS GETTING INSIDE THE VEHICLE SO I TOOK IT TO DEALERSHIP N THEY SED IT WAS A WEATHER STRIP OF THE BACK WINDOW SECOND TIME SAME YEAR IT WAS AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM OF THE SEATS 3RD PROBLEM IT WAS SUSPENSION NOW THIS IS 2020 NOVEMBER 27 N NOW THE CAR HAS 74 THOUSAND MILES IN IT N THE CAR SHAKES WILE ON DRIVE MODE JUST ON DRIVE MODE N THE WEIRDES THING IS THAT THERE'S NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT NOTHING EVERYTHING SIMS TO BE WRONG I NEED HELP I DO THINK IT'S FACTORY MADE

NHTSA ODI 11361444

Sep 28, 2020Transmission & drivetrain

WHEN SHIFTING TO PARK THE CAR DOESN'T KNOW IT'S ACTUALLY ON PARK AND AFTER TURNING ENGINE OFF IT DISPLAYS THE MESSAGE 'SHIFT TO PARK'

NHTSA ODI 11361450

Sep 22, 2020Electrical system

I HAVE TWO PROBLEMS WITH THIS VEHICLE, FIRST IS THE ENGINE POWER REDUCE THING WHICH HAPPENED SO MANY TIMES WITH THIS CAR. SECOND IS THE SHIFT TO PARK PROBLEM THAT HAS BEEN APPEARING IN MY DASHBOARD FOR MONTHS NOW..

NHTSA ODI 11360384

Sep 21, 2020Transmission & drivetrainElectronic Stability Control (esc)Engine

STABILITRAK CODE APPEARS ON DASHBOARD - CAUSING LOW OR NO ACCELERATION, SHAKING WHEN STILL AND WHILE IN PARK. METER READS AS A 'MISFIRE CODE'; TOTAL TUNE UP WAS CONDUCTED (REPLACED ALL PLUGS & WIRING/COIL PACK); WAS STABLE FOR ABOUT 3 DAYS AND THEN 'STABILITRAK' CODE REAPPEARED WITH CAR SHAKING AGAIN.

NHTSA ODI 11360306

Sep 20, 2020Transmission & drivetrain

WHEN IN PARK, WILL NOT ALLOW THE ENGINE TO BE SHUT OFF.THE SHIFT LEVER IS IN PARK, AND BRAKE IS ENGAGED. IT INDICATES THE CAR IS NOT IN PARK.THIS OCCURS FREQUENTLY AND HAS SINCE 05/01/2020

NHTSA ODI 11360062

Sep 15, 2020Transmission & drivetrainElectrical systemElectronic Stability Control (esc)

I CAME TO A RED LIGHT THE CAR WENT INTO AUTO STOP MODE, THE BRAKES STARTED LOOSING PRESSURE I LET OFF OF THE BRAKES IT CONTINUED TO ROLL BACKWARDS ALMOST HITTING THE CAR BEHIND ME THEN IT FINALLY KICKED INTO GEAR AND SAID SERVICE STABILITRAK AND AND ALSO SAID POWER ASSIST REDUCED DRIVE WITH CARE THEN HAD THE CODES P3055 AND P3056 AND THE CAR HAS 100,000 MILES AND IS SERVICED REGULARLY

NHTSA ODI 11355156

Sep 14, 2020SuspensionTransmission & drivetrain

WHEN PARKING MY VEHICLE IN PARK, IT WILL NOT NOTICE THE CAR IS PARKED AND THE ON LIGHT WILL COME ON. I HAVE TO WIGGLE THE SHIFTER FOR THE ON LIGHT TO GO OFF. THE SHIFTER WAS REPLACED BEFORE, NOW IT'S DOING THE SAME ISSUES AS BEFORE.. AND THE BACK END IS MAKING A VERY BAD BUMPING NOISE. THE CHEVROLET DEALERSHIP SAY THAT THEY REPLACED PARTS AND IT'S DOING THE SAME THING. I AM NOT HAPPY WITH THIS CAR AT ALL.

NHTSA ODI 11355001

Sep 9, 2020Speed controlBrakes

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE ENGINE POWER REDUCED WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED WITH THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL DEPRESSED. THE VEHICLE STARTED TO DECELERATE. THE CONTACT COASTED THE VEHICLE TO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROADWAY, TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF AND BACK ON WHICH RESUME BACK TO NORMAL OPERATION. THE CONTACT ASLO MENTIONED THAT WHILE THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, THE VEHICLE HESITATED AND JERKED FORWARD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO FRIENDLY CHEVROLET (7501 HIGHWAY 65 NE, FRIDLEY, MN 55432) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED AND IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE VACUUM PUMP AND ACCELERATOR PEDAL ASSEMBLY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL ASSEMBLY WAS REPAIRED HOWEVER, THE VACUUM PUMP WAS NOT. THE FAILURE RECURRED WITH THE BRAKE PEDAL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT SUBJECTED TO A RECALL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 50,000.

NHTSA ODI 11353945

Sep 8, 2020Transmission & drivetrain

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT UPON PLACING THE VEHICLE INTO PARK AND PRESSING THE OFF BUTTON, THE SHIFT TO PARK WARNING MESSAGE APPEARED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO RICK HENDRICK CHEVROLET NORFOLK (6252 E VIRGINIA BEACH BLVD, NORFOLK, VA 23502) WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED WITH A DEFECTIVE TRANSMISSION HARNESS AND SHIFTER CABLE. THE VEHICLE HAD YET TO BE REPAIRED AND REMAINED IN THE CUSTODY OF THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER HAD BEEN NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS GIVEN A CASE NUMBER AND INFORMED THAT SHE WOULD RECEIVE A CALL BACK IN RELATION TO THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT HEARD BACK FROM THE MANUFACTURER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

NHTSA ODI 11353844

Sep 6, 2020Suspension

WHEN DRIVING, HITTING A BUMP, GOING OVER AN UNEVEN ROAD, OR EVEN PULLING INTO A DRIVE WAY MY CAR MAKES A CREEPING, THUMPING SOUND IN THE REAR. EVEN WHILE IN PARK IF SOMEONE PUSHES DOWN ON THE TRUNK IT MAKES THE NOISE. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS THE REAR SHOCK ABSORBERS. I HAD BOTH REPLACED AND THE NOISE HAS GOTTEN WORSE. ALSO, EACH TIME IT RAINS THERE IS WATER UNDERNEATH MY SPARE TIRE AND MY FLOOR GETS WET ON THE BACK ROW.

NHTSA ODI 11353431

Sep 5, 2020Body & structure

EVERYTIME IT RAINS THE INSIDE OF MY TRUNK IS SOAKED AND SMELLS LIKE MILDEW. NOT TO MENTION WHEN I LIFTED MY SPARE TIRE OUT FROM THE TRUNK THERE WAS SEVERAL INCHES OF WATER JUST SITTING IN THERE. WHILE DRIVING IN A THUNDERSTORM I NOTICED THERE WAS WATER LEAKING INSIDE NEAR THE BACK WINDOWS AND I NOTICED THE HEADLINER IS BADLY WATER STAINED. SPOKE TO MY EXTENDED WARRANTY COVERAGE AND THEY DON'T COVER 'WATER DAMAGE'! WELL I WOULDN'T HAVE WATER DAMAGE IF I HAD A DECENT MADE CAR THAT DOESN'T LEAK WHEN IT RAINS! I HAVE SMALL CHILDREN THAT SIT IN THE BACK SEAT AND HAVE TO GET RAINED ON. GUESS I WILL HAVE TO GIVE THEM UMBRELLAS WHILE RIDING IN THE CAR. IT'S VERY UNSAFE FOR MY CHILDREN TO BE BREATHING/INHALING THE MOLD THAT IS IN THE TRUNK WITH THEIR ASTHMA/MOLD RELATED ALLERGIES.

NHTSA ODI 11353363

Aug 30, 2020Transmission & drivetrain

WHEN THE CAR IS PUT IN PARK IT WONT SHUT OFF AND GIVES THIS MESSAGE "SHIFT TO PARK". THIS IS HAPPENING MORE FREQUENT.

NHTSA ODI 11352179

Aug 27, 2020Electrical system

2016 CHEVY MALIBU LS.. AT TIMES MY ENGINE WILL NOT SHUT OFF. I HAVE TO KEEP STARTING AND TRYING TO TURN OFF . AN ALERT SAYS PLEASE PUT IN PARK, I DO AND HOLD IT IN PARK BUT DIFFICULT TO TURN OFF. THIS HAPPENS WHEN I HAVE STOPPED AT THE STORE , HOME OR WHEREVER IAM GOING TO LEAVE THE VEHICLE. THIS HAS HAPPENED MANY TIMES , THE WORST WAS TWO DAYS AGO AT HOME, TUESDAY , AUGUST 25, 2020

NHTSA ODI 11351612

Aug 26, 2020Transmission & drivetrain

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THEIR DAUGHTER WAS UNABLE TO IMMEDIATELY SHUT THE VEHICLE OFF, AFTER SWITCHING TO THE PARK POSITION THE "SHIFT TO PARK" MESSAGE HAD DISPLAYED. AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS, THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO BE SHUT OFF. THE LOCAL DEALER (UNKNOWN) AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE BUT NO ASSISTANCE WAS OFFERED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 19,000. THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE ENGINE SHUTS OFF AT HIGH SPEEDS. THE SHIFT TO PARK PREVENTS THE START BUTTON FROM STARTING THE VEHICLE .

NHTSA ODI 11351422

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Working with the data? Download all 810 complaints as CSV · fetched from NHTSA July 24, 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 Malibu Eco verdict →