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)

75 of 810 complaints match · Electronic Stability Control (esc) · clear filters · page 2 of 3

Nov 4, 2019Electronic Stability Control (esc)Engine

THE CAR WHEN STOP AT TRAFFIC LIGHT SHUTS OFF AND WILL NOT START. ON STAR DIAGNOSTIC HAVE STATED SEVERAL TIMES ITS DUE TO ENGINE ISSUES. IT SOMETIMES SEEMS AS IF IT'S DROPS IN SPEED WHEN DRIVING. I WAS INFORMED BY THE CHEVYLAND DEALERSHIP THAT I HAD A SOFTWARE UPDATE AND A THOTTLE BODY INJECTION ISSUES THAT IRONICALLY MY CAR DIDN'T MAKE THE RECALL LAST HOWEVER THE SAME MAKE, MODEL CARS HAVE BEEN LISTED.

NHTSA ODI 11277961

Oct 28, 2019Electronic Stability Control (esc)

THE HIGH MOUNTED TAIL LIGHT POPS UP AND HAS CAUSED LEAKAGE INSIDE THE VECHILE. ALSO THE ESC WARNING LIGHT COME ON FOR NO REASON UNDER REGULAR DRIVING CONDITIONS AND OCCASIONALLY WHEN YOU PUT CAR IN PARK IT WILL STATE THE CAR IS NOT IN PARK SO YOU HAVE TO PLAY WITH THE SHIFTER A LITTLE.

NHTSA ODI 11271572

Oct 4, 2019Electronic Stability Control (esc)BrakesFuel system

AS I WAS DRIVING FROM THE VA HOSPITAL IN NEW ORLEANS COMING DOWN THE HIGH RISE BRIDGE IN DEAD TRAFFIC THE CAR CUT OFF THE BREAKS GOT STIFF IT WOULDNT START BACK UP THE ENGINE POWER REDUCED LIGHT CAME ON THE STEARING COULDNT BE CONTROLLED I THOUGHT I WAS GOING TO DIE ROLLING OUT OF CONTROL DOWN THE BRIDGE THANK GOD POEOPLE MOVED OUT THE WAY IT COULD HAVE BEEN REALLY BAD I STRUGGLED TO TURN THE STEARING WHEEL SO I WOULDNT GO OF THE SIDE OF THE BRIDGE AND I FINALLY ROLLED ALL THE WAY DOWN THE BRIDGE AND GOT ON THE SIDE I SAT FOR ALITTLE TRIED TO START IT THE BRAKES WAS SO STIFF THAT IT WOULDNT START AT FIRST THEN I PUSHED HARD AND IT STARTED BUT THE BREAKS DIDNT WORK AND IT WOULD ONLY GO 20 TO 30 MILES AN HOUR EVERY TIME I HIT THE BREAKS THE CAR WOULD TURN OFF I FEARED FOR MY LIFE BECAUSE I HAD TWO MORE BRIDGES TO GO OVER UNTIL I GOT HOME AND BEEN SITTING AT HOME NO TRANSPERTATION CALLED CHEVY MATT BOWERS AND THEY TOLD ME I HAD TO PAY TO HAVE IT TOWED PLUS PAY 135.00 DOLLARS AN HOUR FOR THEM TO JUST LOOK AT IM A DISABLED VETERAN I BOUGHT THIS BRAND NEW CAR THINKING IT WAS LIABLE TRANSPERTATION TO GET ME BACK AND FORTH TO MY DOCTORS I BOUGHT THIS CXAR BRAND NEW IN 2016 AND HAD NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS WITH IT IM NOT A HEALTHY MAN AND I DEPEND ON THIS TO GET ME TO MY DOCTORS I GET ALITTLE MONEY AND DIDNT BUY THIS CAR SO IT COULD BREAK DOWN THIS EARLY IN TIME I TRUSTED THEM WITH MY LIFE AND THEY TOLD ME I WOULDNT HAVE ANY PROBLEMS GETTING TO MY DOCTORS AT THE VETERANS HOSPITAL IN NEW ORLEANS.

NHTSA ODI 11266434

Oct 2, 2019Electrical systemElectronic Stability Control (esc)BrakesEngineHybrid Propulsion System

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE REDUCE POWER IN THE ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE GRADUALLY BEGAN TO LOSE POWER. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER AND RESTARTED THE VEHICLE; HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT TRAVEL OVER 60 MPH. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE BRAKES FAILED WHILE APPROACHING A STOP LIGHT. WHILE DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE BRAKES FAILED TO RESPOND IN A TIMELY MATTER. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO ALL AMERICAN CHEVROLET OF KILLEEN (1802 E CENTRAL TEXAS EXPY, KILLEEN, TX 76541, 254-213-5397) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE BRAKE BOOSTER AND VACUUM PUMP WERE DEFECTIVE AND THE BATTERY WAS OVERCHARGED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 16V521000 (HYBRID PROPULSION SYSTEM) AND 16V272000 (ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL). THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED BY THE DEALER THAT DUE TO THE BUMPER TO BUMPER WARRANTY, A RECALL REPAIR COULD NOT BE PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE REMAINED IN THE POSSESSION OF THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 71,493.

NHTSA ODI 11265632

Sep 13, 2019Transmission & drivetrainElectrical systemElectronic Stability Control (esc)

I HAVE HAD MY VEHICLE FOR 2 YEARS SINCE DAY 1 I HAVE HAD ISSUES WITH THE VEHICLE FROM CONTROL ARMS, ELECTRICAL IN DOORS AND CAR SYSTEMS, THROTTLE BODY, STABILITY TRACTION CONTROL. I THINK THE CAR HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP WELL OVER 12 TIMES WITH AT LEAST 5 TIMES BEING THE THROTTLE BODY WHERE THE CAR JUST LOOSES POWER AND YOUR UNABLE TO DRIVE MORE THAN 40 MPH. IT GENERALLY WOULD HAPPEN ON THE FREEWAY. I WOULD PULL OVER AND HAVE TO TURN MY CAR OFF AND SIT AND THEN TURN IT BACK ON. THE ABOVE ISSUES WITH THIS CAR IS JUST TO NAME A FEW. BY THE WAY I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE AT 27,000 MILES SO THERE IS NO REASON WHY THESE ISSUES SHOULD CONTINUOUSLY BE HAPPENING. I HAVE CALLED CHEVY NUMEROUS OF TIMES COMPLAING THAT THIS VEHICLE IS SOMETHING WRONG WITH IT. I BELIEVE THEY HAVE JUST ABOUT REPLACED EVERY PART EXCEPT FOR THE BRAKES, ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION AND I A SURE THOSE ARE GOING TO BE NEXT. I COULD GO ON AND ON ABOUT THIS VEHICLE HOWEVER, IT IS DEFINITELY SOMETHING WRONG. I JUST TOOK IT IN FOR CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AGAIN AND NOISE FROM REAR END SOUNDING LIKE A STRUT. AND THEY FOUND ISSUE WITH KEY THOB CAUSING CHECK ENGINE LIGHT, LEAKING STRUT, AND BAD WHEEL BEARINGS. NOW THAT JUST ADDS MORE TO THE LIST. NOT TO MENTION I GET HOME AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS BACK ON AGAIN AND THE NOISE IS SLIGHTLY STILL THERE. I HAVE PLENTY OF RECORDS I JUST HAVE TO MUCH TO UPLOAD HERE, BUT IF SOMEONE COULD PLEASE LOOK INTO MY SITUATION. THIS HAS TRULY BEEN A NIGHTMARE. WE CANNOT EVEN DRIVE THE CAR ON THE FREEWAY TO FAR BECAUSE WE ARE SCARED WE MAY GET STUCK.

NHTSA ODI 11255424

Sep 9, 2019Electronic Stability Control (esc)

WHEN I COME TO A STOP THE AUTO STOP COMES ON BUT WHEN I TRY TO ACCELERATE IT STALLS AND I GET A MESSAGE ON DASH STEERING ASST ASSIST REDUCED AND ANOTHER MESSAGE THST STATES SERVICE STABILITRAC, THEN THE CAR MOVES

NHTSA ODI 11254050

Sep 4, 2019Electrical systemAirbagsElectronic Stability Control (esc)

MY CAR JUST STOPPED CRANKING AND ITS LIKE I HAVE ALL THE POWER TURNED OFF, I WAS IN MY YARD. I THOUGHT IT WAS THE BATTERY, CHANGED IT STILL NO CHANGE. MY AIRBAG REPAIR LIGHT KEEPS COMING ON AND MY CAR HAD BEEN RUNNING FINE ALL DAY FINE UNTIL I PARKED IT AND EVERYTHING STOPPED.

NHTSA ODI 11253173

Aug 26, 2019Electronic Stability Control (esc)BrakesEngine

'TAKATA RECALL' I FOUND 2 RECALLS THAT MATCH THE SYSTEMS OF MY VEHICLE PERFECTLY HOWEVER WHEN I PUT MY VIN IN. THE RECALLS DO NOT COME UP. HERE ARE THE RECALL NUMBERS I AM REFERRING TO. 51230, AND 39440. WHEN THE ENGINE POWER REDUCED HAPPENS USUALLY ON THE HIGHWAY ONLY HAS HAPPENED A FEW TIMES ON THE STREET. WHEN BRAKING A NOICE IS COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD AND THE ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON.

NHTSA ODI 11246408

Aug 13, 2019Electronic Stability Control (esc)Engine

TAKATA RECALL- MY CAR IS DECREASING SPEED, SWITCHING GEARS WHILE DRIVING, MY CAR KEEPS TELLING ME TO 'SHIFT TO PARK' WHILE THE CAR IS ALREADY PARKED AND NOT CUTTING OFF. THE CAR KEEPS DROPPING TO ZERO ON MY DASH BOARD WHILE I'M DRIVING AND SHAKING WHILE I'M DRIVING. MY SENSOR SYSTEM KEEPS FLASHING 'STABILITALK' AND 'STEERING POWER SERVICE, REDUCED SPEED'

NHTSA ODI 11243803

Aug 7, 2019Speed controlElectronic Stability Control (esc)Engine

I COULD BE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND IT'LL SAY ENGINE POWER REDUCED. IF I PRESS THE GAS, IT'LL SLOW DOWN. WHEN I PUT MY CAR IN PARK, AND TURN IT OFF IT'LL SAY SHIFT TO PARK.

NHTSA ODI 11242169

Jul 27, 2019Electronic Stability Control (esc)BrakesEngine1 injury

ENGINE FAILURE. MY CAR WENT COMPLETELY OUT WHILE DRIVING HOME. THE STABIKITRAK POP ON, ENGINE LIGHT POP ON, BRAKES LOCKED UP MAKING IT HARD FOR ME TO STOP THE CAR IN TRAFFIC. I HOPE THEY ARE PLANNING ON DOING SOMETHING ABOUT THIS BECAUSE I SHOULDN'T HAVE TO BE AFRAID FOR MY LIFE. THIS CAR IS DEFINITELY NOT SAFE.

NHTSA ODI 11235317

Jul 25, 2019SteeringElectrical systemElectronic Stability Control (esc)

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE STABILITY CONTROL AND STEERING ASSIST REDUCED WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE THEN SHUT DOWN COMPLETELY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S HOME. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000.

NHTSA ODI 11234760

Jul 19, 2019Electrical systemElectronic Stability Control (esc)Brakes

WHEN SHIFTER WAS PLACED INTO PARK IN A PUBLIC PARKING LOT, THE VEHICLE DISPLAYED A "SHIFT TO PARK" ERROR AND WOULD NOT TURN OFF. THE ISSUE CONTINUED DESPITE TWO DEALER REPAIR ATTEMPTS. I HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO SHUT OFF THE VEHICLE IN MY GARAGE, IN MY DRIVEWAY, AND AT NUMEROUS PUBLIC PARKING LOTS. LATER, THE VEHICLE SMACKED THE BRAKES WITHOUT DRIVER INPUT WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AND DISPLAYED A "STABILITRAK" ERROR. WHEN I PULLED INTO A PARKING LOT AND SHIFTED TO PARK, IT AGAIN DISPLAYED THE "SHIFT TO PARK" ERROR AND WOULD NOT TURN OFF. EVENTUALLY I WAS ABLE TO TURN OFF THE VEHICLE. WHEN I RESTARTED IT, IT DISPLAYED "STABILITRAK" ERROR AND "POWER STEERING" ERROR. I DISABLED THE STABILITRAK SYSTEM IN ORDER TO GET BACK ON THE ROAD BECAUSE I WAS IN A REMOTE AREA WITH NO PLACE TO GET THE CAR FIXED. WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE WOULD TURN THE STABILITRAK SYSTEM BACK ON AND SMACK THE BRAKES. A FEW SECONDS LATER, THE SPEEDOMETER AND TACHOMETER DROPPED TO ZERO WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STILL MOVING ON THE HIGHWAY, AND THE CLIMATE CONTROL SYSTEM STOPPED WORKING. THIS ISSUE CONTINUED TO REPEAT ITSELF WHILE I WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIR.

NHTSA ODI 11233450

Jul 19, 2019Electrical systemElectronic Stability Control (esc)Brakes

WHEN SHIFTER WAS PLACED INTO PARK IN A PUBLIC PARKING LOT, THE VEHICLE DISPLAYED A "SHIFT TO PARK" ERROR AND WOULD NOT TURN OFF. THE ISSUE CONTINUED DESPITE TWO DEALER REPAIR ATTEMPTS. I HAVE BEEN UNABLE TO SHUT OFF THE VEHICLE IN MY GARAGE, IN MY DRIVEWAY, AND AT NUMEROUS PUBLIC PARKING LOTS. LATER, THE VEHICLE SMACKED THE BRAKES WITHOUT DRIVER INPUT WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AND DISPLAYED A "STABILITRAK" ERROR. WHEN I PULLED INTO A PARKING LOT AND SHIFTED TO PARK, IT AGAIN DISPLAYED THE "SHIFT TO PARK" ERROR AND WOULD NOT TURN OFF. EVENTUALLY I WAS ABLE TO TURN OFF THE VEHICLE. WHEN I RESTARTED IT, IT DISPLAYED "STABILITRAK" ERROR AND "POWER STEERING" ERROR. I DISABLED THE STABILITRAK SYSTEM IN ORDER TO GET BACK ON THE ROAD BECAUSE I WAS IN A REMOTE AREA WITH NO PLACE TO GET THE CAR FIXED. WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE WOULD TURN THE STABILITRAK SYSTEM BACK ON AND SMACK THE BRAKES. A FEW SECONDS LATER, THE SPEEDOMETER AND TACHOMETER DROPPED TO ZERO WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STILL MOVING ON THE HIGHWAY, AND THE CLIMATE CONTROL SYSTEM STOPPED WORKING. THIS ISSUE CONTINUED TO REPEAT ITSELF WHILE I WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIR.

NHTSA ODI 11233452

Jun 28, 2019Electrical systemElectronic Stability Control (esc)Engine

WHILE ON VACATION ROAD TRIP TO SEVERAL NORTHWESTERN STATES, WHILE TURNING AROUND IN A PARKING LOT, ABOUT TO EXIT, CAR COMPLETELY SHUTS OFF - NO WARNING LIGHTS OR NOTHING, JUST SHUTS OFF, LOOKED UNDER HOOD, NOTHING UNUSUAL, WAITED ABOUT FIVE MINUTES, CAR STARTED WITH STIIL NO WARNING LIGHTS . WE WERE ABLE TO MAKE IT BACK TO TEXAS WITH NO OTHER PROBLEMS. CHECKED INTERNET AND THERE WERE NO RECALLS - HOWEVER THERE WERE SEVERAL OTHER OCCURRENCES OF THIS HAPPENING TO OTHER MALIBUS. UPON RETURN HOME PHONED MY DEALERSHIP AND MADE THEM AWARE OF WHAT HAPPENED, THEY INFORMED ME THAT THEY WERE NOT AWARE OF ANYTHING LIKE THIS HAPPENING, THEY ENCOURAGED ME TO FILE THIS COMPLAINT BECAUSE THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO AT THIS TIME DUE TO THEY HAVE NOTHING STATING THIS HAS HAPPENED.

NHTSA ODI 11228315

Jun 23, 2019Transmission & drivetrainElectronic Stability Control (esc)Fuel system

TAKATA RECALL MY WINDOWS DON'T WORK AT TIMES NO POWER MY TRUNK WILL NOT RELEASE IT'S NOT UNLOCKING MY DASHBOARD READS ENGINE IS REDUCING POWER WHILE DRIVING & IT SHUTS OFF WHILE DRIVING MY RADIATOR LIGHT IS ON BEEN ON FOR 8MONTHS NOW THE CAR WON'T PICK UP SPEED WITHOUT ME SHIFTING THE CAR IN L6 WHILE DRIVING MY THROTTLE NOT WORKING THE FUEL SYSTEM HAS BEEN REPAIRED SEVERAL TIMES

NHTSA ODI 11222000

Jun 21, 2019Electrical systemSpeed controlElectronic Stability Control (esc)

THE CAR SHUTS OFF IN TRAFFIC. I CAN BE AT A STOP LIGHT AND THE CAR JUST SHUTS OFF. ALL THE LIGHTS IN CAR FLASH AND VEHICLE JUST SHUTS OFF. THE ENGINE LIGHT STAYS ON IN VEHICLE. THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING EVERYDAY FOR ABOUT A MONTH NOW.

NHTSA ODI 11221694

Jun 4, 2019Electrical systemElectronic Stability Control (esc)Brakes

WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY MY "STABILITRAK" LIGHT FLASHED ON AND I WAS UNABLE TO ACCELERATE. I PULLED OVER AND WHILE BREAKING THE CAR WAS HOPPING. TURNED THE CAR OFF AND BACK ON AND VARIOUS LIGHTS CAME ON (STABILITRAK, CHECK ENGINE, TRACTION CONTROL AND STEERING ASSIST). I ATTEMPTED TO START DRIVING AGAIN AND THE CAR WOULD NOT ACCELERATE APPROPRIATELY. HAD IT TOWED TO DEALERSHIP WHO COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH IT BECAUSE ALL THE ALERTS HAD TURNED OFF.

NHTSA ODI 11217765

May 17, 2019SteeringElectrical systemElectronic Stability Control (esc)

CAR COMPLETELY TURNED OFF AT A RED LIGHT AND HAD NO POWER. STEERING LOCKS UP AND HAD TO PUSH CAR HAVE TOWED& THEN IT STARTED RIGHT UP AFTER. THIS IS HAPPENING TO MANY PEOPLE AND IT STOPS EVEN WHEN THE CAR IS DRIVING. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE

NHTSA ODI 11208235

Apr 21, 2019SteeringElectronic Stability Control (esc)Brakes

STABLITRACK NOT WORKING, ABS NOT WORKING AND STEERING ASSISTANCE NOT WORKING INTERMITTENTLY. CAR HAD ONLY 21220 MILES ON IT. DEALER SAYS IT HAS AN INTERNAL MALFUNCTION IN THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE, CODE C056D. PROBLEM OCCURRED WHILE IN MOTION IN A STRAIGHT LINE ON A CITY STREET AT ABOUT 35 MILES PER HOUR AND THEN VERIFIED WHILE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY. THE STEERING ASSISTANCE PROBLEM HAPPEN WHILE STATIONARY, THEN VERIFIED WHILE IN MOTION TURNING ON A CITY STREET AT A SLOW SPEED. VERIFICATION WAS IN ACCORDANCE TO INSTRUCTIONS IN THE OWNERS MANUAL.

NHTSA ODI 11202743

Apr 12, 2019Speed controlElectronic Stability Control (esc)

HI, I LEASED A 2016 CHEVY MALIBU. WHILE ON THE FREEWAY, MY ENGINE POWER SUDDENLY LOWERED AND A NOTIFICATION POPPED UP SAYING THE SAME. THE RPM INCREASED TO 5+ SINCE I WAS TRYING TO TAKE EXIT AND THE CAR WAS LOSING CONTROL. I EVENTUALLY GOT TO GM SERVICE AND THEY TOLD ME THAT THE THROTTLE SENSOR GOT BAD WHICH WOULD COST $150+ TO REPLACE. HOWEVER I HAVE BEEN DRIVING IT SINCE THEN AND ONCE A MONTH THE SAME NOTIFICATION POPS UP AND LOWERS MY ENGINE POWER UNTIL I TURN IT OFF AND BACK ON. EACH TIME I DO THIS, I HAVE TO SUDDENLY STOP MY CAR ON THE SHOULDER. THE SENSOR IS NOT BAD, THE CAR JUST SENSES THAT THE SENSOR IS BAD AND REDUCES POWER. THIS SEEMS LIKE A SCAM WHERE GM WANTS TO MAKE MORE MONEY. MOREOVER, I'VE READ HUNDREDS OF THE SAME COMPLAINTS WHERE PEOPLE DESCRIBE HOW THEY ALMOST LOST CONTROL IN THE MIDDLE OF THE FREEWAY BECAUSE OF THE SAME ISSUE. THIS IS A CONCERNING SAFETY ISSUE AND GM SHOULD FIX THIS AS A RECALL. I WANT GM TO ACCEPT THAT THEY INSTALLED A DEFECTIVE PART AND WILL FIX IT. THANKS. SINCERELY, [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ODI 11195856

Apr 10, 2019Electronic Stability Control (esc)

THIS HAPPENED TO ME ABOUT 2 WEEKS AGO, I WAS AT A RED LIGHT, THE ENGINE WENT INTO START/STOP, THE RADIO CUT OFF, THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WENT CRAZY WITH WARNINGS. THE CAR WOULD NOT CUT BACK ON, I WAS UNABLE TO EVEN USE ME HAZARDS. I HAD NO ELECTRICAL IN THE CAR WHATSOEVER. I HAD TO LITERALLY KEEP PULLING THE DOOR HANDLE TO EVEN GET OUT OF IT. FINALLY HAD SOMEONE COME HELP ME PUSH IT OFF TO THE SIDE, JUMPED IT AND IT WAS FINE. EVER SINCE IT HAS HAPPENED ABOUT 20 MORE TIMES THAT THE RADIO CUTS OFF AND ON THEN THE CAR DIES. I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE IT AT THIS POINT. EACH TIME THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON, BUT BY THE TIME I GET IT STARTED AGAIN IT IS OFF. THEN RANDOMLY THE ENGINE LIGHT WILL COME BACK ON AND OFF AGAIN. I HAVE TAKEN IT TO GET THE CODE READ, BUT NOTHING. THIS IS UNSAFE AND VERY SCARY.

NHTSA ODI 11195406

Apr 2, 2019SteeringElectronic Stability Control (esc)Engine

WHEN I STOPPED AT 3 RED LIGHTS ON MY WAY TO WORK THIS MORNING MY CAR SHUT COMPLETELY OFF WITH THE AUTO OFF SETTING BUT IT DIDN'T SHUT OFF UNTIL I LET GO OFF THE BREAK AND WHEN I LET GO AND IT SHUT OFF MY CAR STARTED GOING BACKWARDS AND THEN IT POWERED BACK ON.

NHTSA ODI 11193349

Mar 14, 2019Electronic Stability Control (esc)EngineFuel system

I WAS DRIVING VEHICLE AND "CHECK ENGINE" LIGHT CAME ON AND MESSAGE SAID ENGINE POWER REDUCED. THE CAR RAPIDLY SLOWED DOWN AND WOULD NOT SPEED UP EVEN THOUGH I PRESSED DOWN HARD ON THE GAS PEDAL. I PULLED OVER AND PARKED, SHUT DOWN AND RESTARTED THE ENGINE. IT WORKED FINE. AS I DROVE TO GO BACK HOME, THE CAR COULD BARELY GO THE SPEED LIMIT. I PARKED THE CAR FOR MORE THAN 24 HRS. WHEN I STARTED THE CAR, THE ENGINE LIGHT HAD GONE OUT SO I DROVE OFF. WHILE DRIVING THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME BACK ON AND THE CAR'S SPEED SUDDENLY DROPPED DOWN TO A VERY SLOW PACE. THE SPEED LIMIT WAS 40 MPH. I PUSHED THE GAS PEDAL TO THE FLOOR BUT THE CAR WOULD ONLY GO ABOUT 10-20 MPH. SPEED CONTROL WAS A DEFINITE PROBLEM. THE DEALERSHIP WAS NOT FAR SO I DROVE IT THERE. I EXPLAINED THE PROBLEM AND THE SERVICE ATTENDANT TOLD ME WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS BEFORE HE CHECKED THE VEHICLE. IRONICALLY, THERE WAS ANOTHER CUSTOMER THERE WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. WE BOTH HAD THE SAME YEAR AND MAKE AND MODEL WITH APPROXIMATELY THE SAME AMOUNT OF MILEAGE. THE SERVICE ATTENDANT ADDRESSED BOTH OF US TOGETHER SINCE WE BOTH HAD THE SAME ISSUE. WE NEEDED A APP PEDAL SENSOR. THEY DIDN'T HAVE THE PART. IT WAS ON BACK ORDER. THIS TELLS ME THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS CAR. HAD I BEEN ON THE HIGHWAY AND THIS HAPPENED, I OR SOMEONE ELSE COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY HAZARD AND CHEVROLET NEEDS TO RECALL AND FIX IT QUICKLY. WHILE CHECKING THE WEB FOR INFORMATION ABOUT THIS ISSUE, I NOTICED THERE ARE NUMEROUS ONLINE COMPLAINTS REGARDING THIS PROBLEM FROM OTHER CONSUMERS.

NHTSA ODI 11186699

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

DRIVING ALONG AND MY 2016 WITH 39,000 MILES LOSES ACCELERATION POWER AND RECEIVE WARNING 'ENGINE POWER IS REDUCED'. I LIMP IT TO THE CHEVY DEALERSHIP AND THEY GET IT IN AND I GET A CALL LATER WITH THEM TELLING ME THEY HAVE SEEN THIS IN TWO OTHER CARS AND THEY ARE WAITING ON THE ACCELERATOR THROTTLE PEDAL SENSOR THAT NEEDS REPLACED. THEY RESET AND CLEANED THE SENSOR AND SENT ME ON MY WAY. IT'S HAPPENED THREE OTHER TIMES SINCE THEN AND I LIMP IT BACK TO SHOP EVERY TIME TO GET RESET. I SHOULD NOT BE HAVING THIS ISSUE WITH IT BARELY OUT OF WARRANTY. IT SAYS A LOT OF ONE SHOP TO HAVE THREE MALIBU'S WAITING FOR THIS PART TO BECOME AVAILABLE. I LOVE THE MALIBU'S BUT WITH THE ISSUES WITH THIS CAR I'VE HAD IT'S HARD TO KEEP MY FAITH IN CHEVROLET. THEY KNOW THIS MODEL IS HAVING ISSUES YET HAS NOT RECALLED MY VEHICLE YET AND I'M OUT OF POCKET. I'M A SINGLE MOM THAT NEEDS A RELIABLE CAR.

NHTSA ODI 11185597

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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 →