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 16 of 33

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

May 15, 2020Transmission & drivetrainElectrical systemBody & structureEngine

SHIFT TO PARK CABLE WENT OUT ONE TIME WITHIN FIRST COUPLE MONTHS. NOW ITS BAD AGAIN. ENGINE LIGHT ALWAYS ON. ROOF LEAKED FROM THIRD BRAKE LIGHT. REDUCED POWER MESSAGE ON DASH. *TR

NHTSA ODI 11324673

May 8, 2020Electrical system

WHEN STOPPING AND AUTO STOP KICKS ON THE CAR SHUTS DOWN AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON. THEN IT HAS TO BE PUT IN TO PARK AND RESTARTED. TURN SIGNALS AND RADIO HAVE NO SOUND WORKING AND SOMETIMES THERE IS A STEERING ASSIST WARNING MESSAGE APPEARS. I CHANGED MY BATTERY SEVERAL MONTHS AGO AND THIS HAS HAPPENED TO ME SEVERAL TIMES AND I'VE ALSO HAD THE ALTERNATOR CHECKED AND IT'S FINE AS WELL. AFTER TURNING THE VEHICLE OFF AND RESTARTING THE BLINKER HAS SOUND AND THE RADIO WORKS. I'M ALSO UNABLE.TO USE BLUETOOTH SERVICES WHEN ALL THE ABOVE HAPPENS. *TR

NHTSA ODI 11323935

May 7, 2020Speed control

WHILE DRIVING ON I-285,AT A SPEED OF AROUND 70MPH, THE VEHICLE DISPLAY SHOWED 'REDUCED ENGINE POWER.' ALL OF A SUDDEN THE CAR IMMEDIATELY SLOWS DOWN TO A SPEED OF 40 THEN LESS RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC. THANKFULLY, I WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER OFF SHOULDER. HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED SINCE IT WOULD NOT ACCELERATE TO AN APPROPRIATE SPEED. *TR

NHTSA ODI 11323795

May 6, 2020Electronic Stability Control (esc)

MY HUSBAND AND I HAVE A 2016 CHEVY MALIBU. WE BOUGHT IT BACK IN 2016 BRAND NEW. SINCE THEN, THIS HAS HAPPENED TO US MULTIPLE TIMES. WE'LL BE ON A BUSY HIGHWAY THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN IN THE MIDDLE OF FAST PACED TRAFFIC THE CAR SUDDENLY WON'T GO ABOVE 30MPH. IT'S VERY SCARY. THE THIRD TIME IT WAS WINTER AND I HAD ALL MY YOUNGER SIBLINGS IN THE CAR, AND I WAS PREGNANT (ALL UNDER THE AGE OF 13) AND WE WERE ON I-94 AND IT SUDDENLY WOULDN'T GO OVER 30MPH AGAIN LEAVING US TEMPORARILY STRANDED UNTIL A FAMILY MEMBER HAD TO COME PICK US ALL UP. WE BROUGHT IT IN AND PAID ABOUT $500 OUT OF POCKET DUE TO THROTTLE SENSORY ISSUES. NOW I AM CURRENTLY STUCK AT HOME TODAY (5/6/2020) ONCE AGAIN BECAUSE IT JUST HAPPENED AGAIN EVEN THOUGH WE GOT THE ISSUE FIXED A COUPLE MONTHS AGO. YESTERDAY I WAS ON A COUNTY ROAD IN THE MIDDLE OF THE COUNTRY WITH MY INFANT/BABY IN THE CAR AND IT HAPPENED AGAIN, THE ENGINE LIGHT WENT ON AND IT SAID 'ENGINE POWER IS REDUCED' AND WOULD NOT GO OVER 30MPH. IT TOOK ME AN HOUR TO GET TO AN 'AUTOZONE' SHOP AT THIS CRAWLING SPEED WITH MY FLASHERS ON (AND A RESTLESS SCREAMING BABY) TO HAVE THEM READ THE ENGINE CODE.. SURE ENOUGH THEY TOLD ME IT IS A THROTTLE SENSOR ISSUE. THIS IS EXHAUSTING AND DANGEROUS! *TR

NHTSA ODI 11323546

May 4, 2020Speed control

I ALREADY REPLACED THE PEDAL POSITION SENSOR ONCE AND WITHIN 6 MONTHS IT DID IT AGAIN. I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY WHEN MY CARS CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND IT GAVE A MESSAGE ON THE DASHBOARD THAT READ 'ENGINE POWER IS REDUCED'. IT SLOWED ME TO 44 MPH & WAS STUCK AT 3000 RPM. I WAS ABLE TO SAFELY MANEUVER THE VEHICLE OFF THE FREEWAY BUT I AM SERIOUSLY WORRIED ABOUT MY OWN SAFETY & THE SAFETY OF OTHER VEHICLES IF I CONTINUE TO DRIVE THIS CAR. LIKE I MENTIONED, THIS HAS ALREADY BEEN FIXED/REPLACED ONCE & NOW IT HAS HAPPENED AGAIN.

NHTSA ODI 11323309

May 2, 2020Electrical system

CAR WILL NOT SHUT OFF. EVEN AFTER I PUT THE CAR IN PARKING POSITION - THERE IS AN ERROR THAT COMES UP WHEN I TRY TO TURN THE CAR OFF USING THE ON/OFF BUTTON. THE ERROR MESSAGE IS 'SHIFT TO PARK' EVEN WHEN THE CAR IS IN PARK. THIS HAPPENS EVERY TIME WHEN I TURN OFF THE CAR. I WOULD SHIFT THE GEAR MULTIPLE TIMES BACK AND FORTH TILL I CAN GET IT TO TURN OFF BUT NOW ITS GETTING WORSE.

NHTSA ODI 11323051

Apr 26, 2020Transmission & drivetrainFuel system

COMPONENT POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

NHTSA ODI 11322316

Apr 23, 2020Electrical systemEngine

WHEN I PRESS THE GAS IT HESITATE TO MOVE FORWARD AND ALSO MY BATTERY SENSORY HAS GONE OUT. MY CAR IS ONLY 4 YEARS OLD I BELIEVE IT HAS SOMETHING TO DO WITH IT BEING AN ECO WHICH HAS CAUSED MAJOR ISSUES TO MY TRANSMISSION AND OTHER PARTS OF MY CAR.

NHTSA ODI 11322072

Apr 20, 2020Suspension

THERE IS A "POPPING" NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE CAR WHEN TAKING MY FOOT OFF OF THE GAS AND ACCELERATING. THE NOISE IS ALSO HEARD WHEN GETTING INTO THE CAR. THE CAR WAS SERVICED AT THE DEALERSHIP FOR THIS PROBLEM IN WHICH THEY STATED THEY ADDED A WASHER BUT THE NOISE IS STILL PRESENT ALL THE TIME.

NHTSA ODI 11321632

Apr 19, 2020Electronic Stability Control (esc)

I WAS DRIVING ON MY WAY TO WORK AND ALL OF A SUDDEN MY CARS LIGHTS COME ON THE DASH AND SAY SERVICE STABILITYTRAK SOON AND REDUCED ENGINE POWER AS WELL AS THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. THE CAR DECREASE SPEED TO 25 MPH AND ALMOST CAUSED A WRECK. I WAS NOT ABLE TO GO OVER 25 MILES AN HOURS AND WAS FINALLY ABLE TO PULL OFF AND STOP

NHTSA ODI 11321534

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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 →