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 20 of 33

Nov 21, 2019Engine

ENGINE REDUCED POWER NOTIFICATION. 2016 MODEL HAS DONE THIS 4 TIMES.

NHTSA ODI 11281491

Nov 19, 2019Engine

DRIVING AT 55 MPD THE "REDUCED ENGINE CAPACITY" LIGHT COMES ON AND THE CAR SLOWS TO 30 MPD WITH NO ABILITY TO ACCELERATE. WAS ABLE TO GET IT TO THE SERVICE AT DEALERSHIP 11 MILES AWAY... NO PART AVAILABLE, THEY HAVE TO KEEP THE CAR. THEY STATE IT IS THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL THAT NEEDS REPLACED HOPING THIS FIXES IT BECAUSE THIS WAS SCARY

NHTSA ODI 11281076

Nov 15, 2019Speed controlEngine

I WAS DRIVING HOME ON THE HIGHWAY GOING 60MPH AND THE REDUCED ENGINE POWER SENSOR AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON! THE CAR SPEED REDUCED TO 20MPH AND I HAD TO SWERVE TO THE FAR RIGHT LANE TO AVOID GETTING HIT BY THE OTHER VEHICLES ON THE HIGHWAY. THIS ALMOST COST ME MY LIFE! I GOT OFF THE NEAREST EXIT TAKING THE STREET WAY HOME. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME I HAVE SEEN THIS SENSOR GO OFF. THE FIRST TIME IT CAME ON (APRIL 2019) NOTHING HAPPEN TO MY CAR, IT WAS DRIVING PERFECTLY FINE AND THE SENSOR DISAPPEAR 2 DAYS LATER AND I HAVEN'T SEEN IT SINCE UNTIL NOW. WHEN THE SENSOR DISAPPEAR, THEN MY CAR BEGIN SHAKING WHEN ITS IN IDLE. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE NEAREST CHEVROLET DEALERSHIP AND THEY STATED THAT I HAD A LEAKING GASKET. I COULDN'T BELIEVE IT BECAUSE MY CAR NEVER LEAKED ANY OIL AND I HAD MY OIL CHANGES ON TIME. A RECALL NEED TO BE ADDED FOR THIS ISSUE AS IT APPEARS THAT PEOPLE ENCOUNTER THIS PROBLEM REGULARLY!

NHTSA ODI 11280306

Nov 12, 2019Engine

WHEN I WAS DRIVING ON THE EXPRESSWAY THE REDUCE ENGINE POWER ALERT POPPED UP ON THE DASH ALONG WITH MY ENGINE LIGHT REDUCING MY SPEED TO 30MPH. I THOUGHT IT WAS BECAUSE I WAS DUE FOR AN OIL CHANGE. SO WENT TO GET AN OIL CHANGE AS SOON AS THE REDUCE ENGINE POWER ALERT CAME ONE. WHEN I LEFT THE SHOP MY CAR WAS FINE. NO ENGINE LIGHT EITHER. FAST FORWARD A WEEK LATER I'M HEADED TO WORK AGAIN AND THE ALERT POPS UP. I WAS ALREADY CLOSE TO MY JOB SO I KEPT GOING. WHEN I GOT OFF OF WORK THE ALERT AND ENGINE LIGHT WAS OFF. FAST FORWARD ANOTHER WEEK, YESTERDAY, I'M LEAVING WORK AND THE ENGINE LIGHT POPS UP AND MY ENGINE REDUCED THE SPEED AGAIN. I'VE MADE AN APPOINTMENT THE NEAREST GM DEALERSHIP FOR THEM TO LOOK AT MY CAR. THIS IS A DANGEROUS SITUATION TO BE IN ON THE EXPRESSWAY. ESPECIALLY IN CHICAGO WHEN THE WEATHER IS BAD. I SEARCHED THIS PROBLEM ON GOOGLE AND IT SEEMS TO BE A PROBLEM THAT TO MANY CHEVY MALIBU CAR OWNERS ARE HAVING. SEEMS LIKE ENOUGH FOR THEM TO DO A RECALL.

NHTSA ODI 11279576

Nov 11, 2019Electronic Stability Control (esc)Engine

BROUGHT THE CAR AUGUST 2019. BEGAN HAVING PROBLEMS THE NEXT MONTH. WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. MY ENGINE LIGHT POPPED ON AND A WARNING MESSAGE READ, "ENGINE SPEED REDUCING." I WAS ALMOST REAR-ENDED BECAUSE OF THIS. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS AND A COMMON PROBLEM THAT NEEDS TO BE FIXED. NOTHING IS COVERED UNDER WARRANTY.

NHTSA ODI 11279407

Nov 8, 2019Transmission & drivetrainSpeed controlEngine

NOTHING BUT ISSUES AFTER ISSUES AFTER ISSUE! THE DEALER DOESN'T EVEN KNOW WHAT IS WRONG WITH MY CAR. I HAD REDUCING ENGINE ISSUES, TOOK TO DEALER AND SEEMS AS IF THEY JUST CUT A WIRE. I STILL GET THE REDUCED ENGINE POWER WITHOUT THE MESSAGE APPEARING. THEN AN OIL LEAK OUT OF NOWHERE AND NOW MY CAR WILL NOT START, ON LUNCH AT WORK 30 MILES FROM HOME. EVERYONE WITH THIS CAR JUST SHOULD BE GIVEN A NEW ONE. I FEEL LIKE WERE TEST DUMMIES, NOT COOL! OR SAFE!!

NHTSA ODI 11278911

Nov 8, 2019Electrical system

WHEN THE VEHICLE IS IN "PARK", TURNING OFF THE ENGINE A "SHIFT TO PARK" MESSAGE IS DISPLAYED. THE ENGINE TURNS OFF, ALL OTHER ELECTRICAL ITEMS REMAIN ON. REPEATED RESTARTS ARE REQUIRED TO ELIMINATE THE "SHIFT TO PARK" MESSAGE. NOVEMBER 6 2019 THE "DEALER DID NOT HAVE THE PARTS REQUIRED TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM.10

NHTSA ODI 11279093

Nov 6, 2019SteeringElectrical system

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL FAILED. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS AT A COMPLETE STOP, "ACTION REQUIRED STEERING ASSIST REDUCED" APPEARED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND THE STEERING JERKED. THE ENGINE SHUT OFF, BUT THEN RESTARTED INDEPENDENTLY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE WAS EXPERIENCED SEVERAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO COVINA CHEVROLET (635 SOUTH CITRUS AVENUE, COVINA, CA 91723, (626)-732-1100) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THERE WAS A SHORT IN THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 35,000.

NHTSA ODI 11278501

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

Nov 4, 2019Engine

MY LOW ENGINE POWER LIGHT CAME ON. THEN MY VEHICLE REDUCED SPEED TO 10-20 MPH.

NHTSA ODI 11277964

Nov 2, 2019Engine

WHILE DRIVING AT 55MPH CAR ALL OF A SUDDEN SLOWED DOWN AND A WARNING SAYING 'ENGINE POWER REDUCED' APPEARED. CAR WOULD NO LONGER ACCELERATE PROPERLY

NHTSA ODI 11277679

Nov 1, 2019

WITHIN THE LAST MONTH MY CAR HAS COMPLETELY SHUT OFF WHILE DRIVING THREE SEPARATE TIMES. FIRST TIME I WAS DRIVING AND AT A STOP LIGHT ON A HILL THE CAR COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN. I TRIED STARTING IT MULTIPLE TIMES . AT FIRST ALL THE LIGHTS AND RADIO WILL TURN ON AND THEN MINUTES LATER THAT CAR STARTED BACK UP. SECOND TIME I WAS AT ANOTHER STOP LIGHT AND THE CAR COMPLETELY SHUT OFF AGAIN. SAME THING STARTED BACK UP AFTER ABOUT 2-3 MIN OF RE TRYING. THIRD TIME WAS YESTERDAY I PULLED INTO A PARKING LOT AND TURNED THE CAR OFF AND THEN WENT TO RE START IT AND NOTHING. AFTER ABOUT FIVE MINUTES IT STARTED BACK UP AGAIN. CALLED THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID IT CAN TAKE HOURS TO DAYS TO FIGURE OUT THE PROBLEM. THEY TOLD ME THEY WOULD HAVE TO WAIT FOR THE PROBLEM TO HAPPEN AGAIN. I DONT EVEN WANT TO DRIVE MY CAR ANYMORE CONSIDERING I COULD HARM MYSELF AND POTENTIALLY OTHER PEOPLE WITH THIS PROBLEM. THEY SAID THERE IS NO RECALL OR BULLETINS ON THE PROBLEM. DOING RESEARCH ONLINE LOOKS LIKE A GOOD AMOUNT OF PEOPLE ARE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM.

NHTSA ODI 11277486

Oct 31, 2019Seats

THE DRIVERS SEAT MOVES (SHIFTS) WHEN TURNING LEFT OR RIGHT YOU FEEL IT MOVE, BUT DEALERSHIP SAID ITS NOT A WARRANTY ITEM AND HAVE COMPLAINED TO DEALERSHIP SINCE THE DAY I PURCHASED

NHTSA ODI 11277304

Oct 30, 2019Brakes

AFTER FILLING UP WITH GAS, BRAKES STARTED MAKING A LOUD NOISE AND SEEMED LIKE THEY WERE SLIPPING. THE FIRST TIME WAS ON MONDAY, OCTOBER 21. THERE WERE NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. AFTER 20 MINUTES OF DRIVING THE SOUND STOPPED AND BRAKES SEEMED FINE. AGAIN ON OCTOBER 28TH, THE EXACT THING HAPPENED AFTER GETTING GAS. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON BRIEFLY AND WENT OFF. AFTER 30 MINUTES OF DRIVING THE ISSUE STOPPED. THE SAME THING HAPPENED ON OCTOBER 29TH AFTER GETTING GAS. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND HAS STAYED ON. THE BRAKES MADE THE SAME LOUD NOISE AND SLIPPING FOR ABOUT 15 MINUTES, THEN WERE FINE. I STOPPED AT O'REILLY'S TO GET THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CODE. IT SAID "BREAK BOOSTER PRESSURE SENSOR" ERROR. MILEAGE 134,000 WHEN FIRST HAPPENED, CURRENTLY 134,511 MILES. UNFORTUNATELY THIS ISN'T THE FIRST ISSUE I'VE HAD WITH THIS CAR. PURCHASED JANUARY 29, 2016, GASKET LEAKED WATER IN CABIN 6/16@37K, VEHICLE STALLING MULTIPLE TIMES 7/16-10/16@45K-60K NO ISSUE FOUND, MASS AIR FLOW SENSOR REPLACED 11/16@70K, STALLING AGAIN IN TRAFFIC 12/16@70K NO ISSUE FOUND, ENGINE POWER REDUCED 1/17@71K NO ISSUE FOUND, ENGINE POWER REDUCED 1/17@72K ACCELERATOR SENSOR REPLACED, STALLING AGAIN MULTIPLE TIMES 2/17-9/17@75K NO ISSUES FOUND, SHIFT TO PARK MESSAGE WHEN IN PARK 11/17-2/18@80K ENTIRE GEAR SHIFT REPLACED. CONTINUED TO HAVE INTERMITTENT STALLING/SLUGGISH ISSUES. SERVICE STABILITRACK ERROR WITH ENGINE SHUTDOWN AFTER AUTOSTOP 11/18-12/18@98K DIAGNOSED AS BATTERY IN TRUNK (NO BATTERY ACTUALLY IN THE TRUNK) ISSUE CONTINUED TO 1/19, BATTERY REPLACED 1/19 BY ANOTHER DEALERSHIP. EXTENDED WARRANTY ENDED 2/19 DUE TO MILEAGE. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ONLY CAME ON FOR 3 OF THE ISSUES LISTED ABOVE. CAR WAS TAKEN TO 2 AUTHORIZED CHEVROLET DEALERSHIPS FOR ALL ISSUES EXCEPT CURRENT BRAKING ISSUE.

NHTSA ODI 11277229

Oct 28, 2019Body & structureVisibility & wipers

THE TRUNK OF THE CAR IS FILLED WITH WATER THAT HAS BEEN DRIPPING OUT ALL DAY. THE REAR ROOF OF THE CAR IS SOAKED ON BOTH SIDES. THE CAR SMELLS MUSTY & ALL OF THE INSIDE WINDOWS HAD SO MUCH CONDENSATION IT WAS DRIPPING.

NHTSA ODI 11271424

Oct 28, 2019SteeringSpeed control

MY DRIVE TO WORK IS A LONG COMMUTE, IT HAPPEN TO ME ON THE FREEWAY I WAS ON THE LAST LANE DRIVING 80 WHEN IT LITERALLY ' POWER ENGINE REDUCE ' COMES OUT ON MY SCREEN. IT LITERALLY STOPPED MY CAR TO LOWER SPEED AND COULDN'T STEP ON IT FOR THE CAR BEHIND ME I HAD TO PUT MY EMERGENCY LIGHTS ON SO THEY CAN MOVE AWAY FROM ME! AND HAD TO REACH THE SAFETY SIDE, IT WAS THE WORST EXPERIENCE AND IT ALWAYS HAPPENS TO ME EVERY OTHER 3-5 DAYS. THEN WHEN I'M ON TRAFFIC JAM, THE STEERING WHEEL REDUCE DRIVE WITH CARE POPS UP AND TURNS OFF MY CAR POWER AND RADIO AND EVEN UNLOCKS THE CAR. AND DOES IT WEIRD NOISE AND TURNS BACK ON AND STARTS OVER. KEPT HAPPENING TO ME ON TRAFFIC JAMS ON THE FREEWAY.

NHTSA ODI 11271478

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 25, 2019Brakes

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE VEHICLE DID NOT STOP WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DETERMINED THAT THE BRAKE BOOSTER PRESSURE SENSOR FAILED AND NEEDED REPLACEMENT. THE MANUFACTURER AND DEALER WERE NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 62,114.

NHTSA ODI 11271085

Oct 24, 2019Transmission & drivetrainSpeed control

ON OCT 22 AROUND 530 IN THE MORNING ON MY WAY TO TO WORK DRIVING ON A BUSY FREEWAY WHEN SUDDENLY THE REDUCE ENGINE LIGHT COME ON REDUCING MY SPEED FROM NEARLY 50MPH TO 20MPH ALL MOST CAUSING A NEAR FATAL ACCIDENT I'VE ONLY HAD THE CAR FOR 6 MONTHS OR SO I PLAN ON TAKING IT TO THE DEALERSHIP BUT I FEEL LIKE I GONNA BE STUCK WITH A HEFTY BILL FOR SOMETHING THAT SHOULD'VE BEEN A RECALL THAT CAN CAUSE A FATAL ACCIDENT.

NHTSA ODI 11270920

Oct 23, 2019Suspension

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, A POPPING NOISE WAS HEARD FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE WITHOUT WARNING. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE DID NOT WANT TO PAY FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 85,000.

NHTSA ODI 11270528

Oct 22, 2019SteeringElectrical systemSpeed control

WHEN AT A STP LIGHT, AND PRESS EXCELERATOR THE TOTAL ELECTRICAL SYSTEM H WILL GO OUT & CAR HESITATE TO MOVE. THEN, IT WILL KICK ON. ALSO, THIS THROWS MY SIRUS RADIO OUT COMPLETELY & I HAVE TO CUT THE CAR OFF COMPLETELY TO GET STATION BACK ON OR CALL FOR A REFRESH, BUT LOCAL STATIONS WILL REMAIN. NOW I GET A WARING ABOUT THE STEERING ABILITY-DRIVE CAREFULL.

NHTSA ODI 11270142

Oct 18, 2019

HAVE ISSUE WHERE I AM RECEIVING A SHIFT TO PARK MESSAGE AND MY VEHICLE IS IN A MODE AS IF IT'S NOT IN PARK. I HAVE TO PULL FORWARD AND SHIFT CAR FROM DRIVE TO PARK UNTIL IT TURNS OFF. OTHERWISE IF I LEAVE IT AS IS, ITS AWHILE BEFORE IT TURNS, IM AFRAID IT WILL RUN MY BATTERY DOWN. IT HAPPENS ON A DAILY BASIS. ALMOST LATE FOR WORK WAITING FOR IT TO TURN OFF AT TIMES. WILL NOT ALLOW YOU TO LOCK CAR WITH KEYLESS REMOTE EITHER WHEN IT'S LIKE THIS

NHTSA ODI 11269415

Oct 15, 2019Transmission & drivetrain

SHIFT TO PARK MESSAGE APPEARS WHEN IN PARK AND TURNING VEHICLE OFF. VEHICLE THEN WON'T SHUT DOWN.

NHTSA ODI 11268456

Oct 10, 2019Brakes

THE BRAKE PEDAL SQUEAKS WHENEVER I STEP IT, AS A 2016 CAR. THIS PROBLEM REALLY SHOULD NOT OCCUR. ALSO, I RESEARCH ONLINE AND FOUND OUT THAT I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE WHO HAVE THIS PROBLEM. MANY CHEVY USERS, INDEED MALIBU USERS REPORTED THIS PROBLEMS ONLINE.

NHTSA ODI 11267575

Oct 10, 2019Transmission & drivetrain

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF, THE MESSAGE 'SHIFT INTO PARK' DISPLAYED, THE RADIO REMAINED ON, AND THE TRANSMISSION INDICATOR REMAINED ILLUMINATED. LATER, WHILE IDLING, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY SHUT OFF AND BEGAN TO ROLL BACKWARDS DOWN A SLIGHT INCLINE. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURES WAS NOT DETERMINED. DAVIDSON CHEVROLET (18579 US ROUTE 11, WATERTOWN, NY) WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES, BUT NO ASSISTANCE WAS OFFERED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 22,000.

NHTSA ODI 11267714

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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 →