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 19 of 33

Jan 8, 2020Transmission & drivetrainEngineFuel system

CHECK ENGINE LIGHTS BLINKS ON AND OFF CAR DEFECTS AS IF IT WILL CUT OFF FOUND OUT ITS THE PISTON AND THROTTLE BODY FROM FIELDSMAN CHEVROLET NOW IM OUT OF A CAR WITH NO LOANER CAR BECAUSE THEY ARE BACKED THIS CAR WAS CALLED FOR RECALL FOR THESE REPAIRS

NHTSA ODI 11297891

Jan 8, 2020Electrical systemSpeed controlEngine

THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL CENSOR IS FAULTY AND CAUSES THE VEHICLE TO START TO POWER DOWN. THIS COMMON IN MANY CHEVROLET MODELS FROM THE IMPALA, TO THE MALIBU AND CRUZE.

NHTSA ODI 11298034

Jan 6, 2020Electrical system

MY WIFE WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN SUDDENLY A MESSAGE COME ON THE DASH STATING REDUCED ENGINE POWER THEN THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. OUR 2016 MALIBU CURRENTLY HAS 62510 MILES AND UPON RESEARCHING I HAVE FOUND IT TO BE LINKED TO THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL POSITION SENSOR. I HAVE FOUND MANY COMPLAINTS ONLINE, AND ONE PERSONS LAWSUIT

NHTSA ODI 11297501

Jan 4, 2020Electronic Stability Control (esc)EngineFuel system

SO I FEEL LIKE THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL IF I HAD TO READ A LOT OF STORIES THAT ARE SIMILAR TO MINE. MY VEHICLE WAS DRIVING FINE AND THEN I GET A SIGNAL ON MY DASH AS I AM GOING UP A HILL SAYING THAT "ENGINE POWER REDUCED" AND MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. I'M IN THE MIDDLE OF A STREET TRYING TO GET TO WORK AND I COULD BARELY GET UP THE HILL. THANK GOODNESS THERE WASN'T A LOT OF TRAFFIC THAT TIME OF DAY. I MANAGED TO MAKE IT TO A STORE TO GET IT CHECKED OUT AND THE SAID SOMETHING ABOUT A THROTTLE UNIT REPLACEMENT. IT IS SUPPOSED TO CONTROL MY ACCELERATION. THIS IS QUITE DANGEROUS TO KEEP HAPPENING AND NOTHING BE DONE ABOUT IT WHEN I HAVE SEEN MULTIPLE COMPLAINTS ON IT. I JUST WANTED TO SHARE MY STORY TOO AND HOPEFULLY SOMETHING CAN BE FIXED.

NHTSA ODI 11297075

Jan 3, 2020Body & structure

HAD HEAVY RAIN AND I WOKED UP TO REAR SIDE CAR SEATS WET AND CARPET SOAKED AND WET THE CAR SMELLED REALLY BAD AFTER SOME DAYS . I HAD TO TAKE OUT THE RUGS OUT MY CAR . MY CAR IS SO HUMID INSIDE I SEEN MOLD GROWING ON MY CARPET ! MY CAR WINDOWS ALSO HAVE SO MUCH CONDENSATION IN THE INSIDE IT DRIPS . COME TO FIND OUT WATER IS COMING FROM THE 3BRAKE LIGHT !!!!!! THIS NEEDS A RECALL TOO MANY PEOPLE HAVING THE SAME ISSUE WITH THESE CARS !!!!!

NHTSA ODI 11297015

Jan 1, 2020Fuel system

DECEMBER 31, 2019 AT 1:18PM, DRIVING AT SPEED ON THE MOST DANGEROUS PORTION OF I-95 IN THE SPRINGFIELD, VA AREA, MERGING FROM A LEFT HIGHWAY ENTRANCE RAMP INTO THE FAR LEFT LANE OF THE HIGHWAY, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY DROPPED TO 20MPH AND THE WARNING LIGHT CAME ON FOR REDUCED ENGINE POWER. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT GAIN SPEED, PUTTING MY SON'S AND NUMEROUS OTHER DRIVERS' LIVES IN JEOPARDY. WAS ABLE TO GET TO A DEALER WHO INFORMED US THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM AND WILL 'PROBABLY' NOT COST ANYTHING TO REPAIR. THEY TOLD US IT IS SAFE TO DRIVE UNTIL REPAIRS CAN BE MADE IN 3 DAYS, BUT TO BE CAREFUL BECAUSE IT MIGHT HAPPEN AGAIN. THIS IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM AND I BELIEVE THE ADVICE FROM THE DEALER TO CONTINUE DRIVING IT THIS WAY IS RIDICULOUS. THERE SHOULD BE A RECALL IN PLACE FOR THIS PROBLEM BECAUSE THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF REPORTS OF THIS VERY SAME PROBLEM. WE WILL NEVER KNOW HOW MANY PEOPLE HAVE ALREADY DIED DUE TO THIS PROBLEM AND CHEVROLET AND THE NHTSA FAILING TO DO ITS JOB OF REQUIRING A RECALL.

NHTSA ODI 11292393

Dec 29, 2019BrakesEngine

VEHICLE PURCHASED IN SEPTEMBER 2015 WITH 18 MILES. 3 WEEKS LATER WHEN BRAKES WERE PRESSED, THEY STARTED MAKING THIS GRINDING SOUND. THE SOUND APPEARED OCCASIONALLY EVERY FEW MONTHS FOR A FEW SECONDS. BRAKE NOISE STILL OCCASIONALLY OCCURRING IN 2019, DEALERSHIPS SAID IT'S JUST MOISTURE. THINK IT'S SOMETHING ELSE. 3 WEEKS AFTER PURCHASE ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON WITH CODE P2097, THEN LIGHT CUTS OFF A FEW DAYS LATER, DEALER STATES JUST NEEDS COMPUTER UPDATE. THE ENGINE LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON EVERY FEW MONTHS READING THE SAME CODE P2097. RECEIVE A SHIFT TO PARK MESSAGE WHEN VEHICLE IS IN PARK AND OFF, HAVE TO CUT VEHICLE ON AND OFF UNTIL THE MESSAGE DISAPPEARS. TOOK TO DEALERSHIP PAID $300 TO REPLACE A SENSOR. STILL EXPERIENCING THE SAME PROBLEM EVERY FEW WEEKS. THE VEHICLE RUNS FINE MINUS THESE REOCCURRING ISSUES SINCE PURCHASED.

NHTSA ODI 11291945

Dec 28, 2019Electrical systemElectronic Stability Control (esc)Fuel system

PRESS ON THE GAS AND THE CAR SLOWS DOWN TO AN ALMOST STOP POSITION. WHILE DRIVING ON A STREET OR ON THE FREEWAY, THE CAR DECIDES IT WANTS TO SHUT DOWN. ALL ELECTRICAL REGARDING THE FRONT AND BACK CAMERAS HAVE GONE BLACK.

NHTSA ODI 11291709

Dec 22, 2019Transmission & drivetrainSpeed controlElectronic Stability Control (esc)

ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON A LEAST ONCE A WEEK. WHEN DRIVING MY CAR LOOSES SPEED WHEN PRESSING ON THE BRAKES. I WOULD HAVE TO PULL OVER BEFORE MY CAR CUTS OFF IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. AFTER PULLING OVER I WOULD HAVE TO RESTART MY CAR. I TOOK MY CAR TO THE DEALER THEY SAY THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH MY CAR. THE STABILITY LIGHT COMES ON AND OFF FOR NO REASON. I GET NOTIFICATIONS ON EMISSION RELATED TO MY FUEL TANK EVEN THOUGH I HAVE SUFFICIENT FUEL.

NHTSA ODI 11290703

Dec 21, 2019Speed control

ADAPTIVE CRUISE DISABLES WHILE DRIVING AND THEN ERROR MESSAGE IS 'ADAPTIVE CRUISE TEMPORARILY UNAVAILABLE'. THE VEHICLE WAS ON INTERSTATE WITH CRUISE SET AT 70 MPH. IT WAS GOING STRAIGHT.

NHTSA ODI 11290584

Dec 18, 2019Speed control

THROTTLE CONTROL SYSTEM WENT OUR WHILE I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD. EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AS THERE IS NO WARNING!

NHTSA ODI 11289795

Dec 16, 2019Electrical systemSpeed control

WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD VEHICLE SHUTS DOWN WITH A NOTIFICATION SAYING ENGINE POWER REDUCED TO WHERE YOU HAVE TO PULL OFF THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND SHUT THE CAR OFF THREE OR FOUR TIMES BEFORE IT WILL GET BACK TO WHERE IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE. VERY UNSAFE WHEN IT SHUTS DOWN GOING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AT 55 AND IT SLOWS YOU DOWN TO UNDER 20 YOU HAVE TO PULL OFF WEAVING IN AND OUT OF TRAFFIC VERY DANGEROUS.

NHTSA ODI 11289308

Dec 11, 2019Fuel system

COMING BACK IN TOWN FROM VISITING A FRIEND. SOON AS I WAS MAKING AN EXIT MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND MY CAR STARTED RUNNING FUNNY MAKING WEIRD NOISES. I PARKED AND LET MY CAR SIT FOR 15 MINUTES AND GAIN A LITTLE SPEED TO IT. LUCKILY I WAS DOWN THE STREET FROM A AUTO ZONE. AUTOZONE WAS ABLE TO TELL ME MY FUEL REGULATOR PRESSURE WAS LOW. I DID CONTACT MY DEALERSHIP AND I NOW I HAVE TO TOW IT IN WHICH ILL COST ME HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS. I ALSO READ THAT THESE TYPES OF THINGS HAPPENS A LOT TO THESE TYPE CARS. IF I WOULD OF KNOWN THAT I WOULD OF WENT WITH A DIFFERENT CAR.

NHTSA ODI 11288307

Dec 11, 2019Electrical systemSpeed control

ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL WHICH CONTROLS VEHICLE SPEED TO ENSURE SAFE DISTANCE STOPPED WORKING RENDERING CRUISE CONTROL INOPERABLE. THIS ALSO CAUSED THE FORWARD CRASH AVOIDANCE TO NOT WORK. VEHICLE TROUBLE CODE UO269-00 STORED WHICH RESULTED IN REPLACING LONG RANGE RADAR MODULE TO CORRECT FOR $1055.00

NHTSA ODI 11288521

Dec 10, 2019Speed controlEngine

DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD, LOSS OF POWER. VEHICLE WOULD NOT GO OVER 20MPH. THIS HAS HAPPENED MULTIPLE TIMES.

NHTSA ODI 11288074

Dec 10, 2019

WHEN CAR IS PLACED IN PARK IT IS NOT RECOGNIZED AND THE CAR WILL NOT SHUT DOWN. THIS WAS HAPPENING ONCE AND A WHILE BUT NOW IT IS VERY FREQUENT! THIS IS WHEN THE CAR IS PUT IN PARK. IT HAS TAKEN COUNTLESS TIMES AND IS BECOMING A REAL NUISANCE. OUR CAR IS ONLY 3YEARS OLD AND OUT OF WARRANTY AND ALREADY HAVE REPAIR BILLS. WE WERE TOLD THIS IS VERY COMMON WITH THE MALIBU AND WE HAVE SEEN MANY!!

NHTSA ODI 11288239

Dec 9, 2019Fuel system

IVE NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE WILL NOT FILL THE GAS TANK UP ALL THE WAY. THE GAS TANK FILLS 3/4 OF THE WAY. IF YOU GOOGLE CHEVY MALIBU GAS TANK PROBLEM IT WILL POP UP. I THINK IT SHOWS HOW LITTLE GM CARES ABOUT ITS CUSTOMERS BY NOT ADDRESSING THE ISSUE. I CAN MAXIMUM GET 250 MILES AFTER 'FILLING' MY GAS TANK.

NHTSA ODI 11287883

Dec 9, 2019Speed controlElectronic Stability Control (esc)Engine

WHEN TAKING OFF FROM A COMPLETE STOP THE CAR HESITATES FOR 15-20 SECONDS BEFORE TAKE-OFF. THE LIGHTS AND RADIO GOES OFF AND THE DOME LIGHT GLITCHES. THE ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL LIGHT COMES-ON. THE CAR HAS A REAL SLOW TAKE-OFF. THIS PROBLEM WAS REPAIRED IN JULY 2018 AND IT STARTED OVER IN THE LAST TWO-WEEKS.

NHTSA ODI 11288020

Dec 8, 2019Speed controlElectronic Stability Control (esc)Engine

WHEN I AM DRIVING MY 2016 CHEVY MALIBU WILL REDUCE SPEED IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC. THE DASH READS 'ENGINE REDUCED POWER'. THIS HAS HAPPENED A LOT TIMES SINCE I PURCHASED MY VEHICLE IN SEPTEMBER 2016. THE DEALERSHIP HAS NOTES OF MANY TIMES I HAVE REPORTED.

NHTSA ODI 11287797

Dec 7, 2019Electrical system

EVERY TIME I PUSH THE BRAKE PEDAL AND THE AUTO STOP ENGAGES THE ENGINE TURNS OFF, BUT WHEN YOU TAKE YOUR FOOT OFF OF THE BRAKE PEDAL THE WHOLE DASH DISPLAY GOES OUT, INCLUDING THE TURN SIGNALS. IT TAKES ABOUT A MINUTE FOR THE DASH TO COME BACK ON. THIS HAPPENS SEVERAL TIME A DAY, AND IT HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR AT LEAST TWO YEARS. IT SCARES ME WHEN THIS HAPPENS.

NHTSA ODI 11287602

Dec 5, 2019Electronic Stability Control (esc)

EVERY SO OFTEN I GET A STABILITY CONTROL ERROR ON MY DASH AS WELL AS POWER ENGINE HAS BEEN REDUCED WITH A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. ALSO EVERY TIME IT RAINS MY CAR SEEMS TO BE GETTING WET FROM THE INTERIOR. ALL BACK REAR SEATS AND MY CEILING

NHTSA ODI 11287175

Dec 3, 2019Electrical systemSpeed controlFuel system

VEHICLE SAYS TO SHIFT TO PARK WHEN ALREADY IN PARK. VEHICLE IS HESITANT TO ACCELERATE SEEMS AS IF IT IS STRUGGLING TO GO AT TIMES. WHEN BLINKERS ARE IN USE , THERE IS NO SOUND AT TIMES THAT IS USUALLY ASSOCIATED WITH TURNING A TURN SIGNAL ON. ALL ISSUES HAPPENED DURING DIFFERENT OPERATIONS OF THE VEHICLE. WHILE STATIONARY , WHILE DRIVING , WHILE IDLED.

NHTSA ODI 11286532

Dec 2, 2019Engine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE MESSAGE CENTER DISPLAYED "ENGINE POWER REDUCED" AND THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE STARTED TO LOSE POWER. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER IN A PARKING LOT BEFORE DRIVING HOME. LEMAN'S CHEVY CITY (1602 MOMSSEY DR, BLOOMINGTON, IL 61704) WAS CONTACTED BY PHONE, BUT THEY DID NOT HAVE ANY APPOINTMENTS AVAILABLE FOR AT LEAST THREE WEEKS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 31,239.

NHTSA ODI 11286340

Dec 1, 2019Transmission & drivetrainEngine

SYSTEM READING 'ENGINE POWER REDUCED'

NHTSA ODI 11283169

Nov 28, 2019

WHEN IT RAINS VEHICLES TRUNK AND TAIL LIGHTS WILL FILL WITH WATER. THE BACK OF THE INTERIOR PART OF THE ROOF ALSO FEELS WITH WATER WHICH HAS CAUSED A MUSTY SMELL ALONG WITH A WATER STAIN ON THE ROOF. THE TRUNK AND BACK PART OF THE ROOF LEAKS WHILE PARKED AND IN MOTION.

NHTSA ODI 11282756

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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 →