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)

170 of 810 complaints match · Transmission & drivetrain · clear filters · page 4 of 7

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 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 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

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 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 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

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 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

Aug 24, 2020Transmission & drivetrain

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO SHIFT THE VEHICLE TO THE PARK POSITION, THE VEHICLE FAILED RECOGNIZE THAT IT WAS IN PARK, WHICH MADE IT DIFFICULT TO TURN OFF AND LOCK THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED SEVERAL ATTEMPTS WERE NEEDED TO TURN OFF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER THE MOST RECENT OCCURRENCE, THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO MORAN CHEVROLET FORT GRATIOT (4511 24TH AVE, FORT GRATIOT TWP, MI 48059, (812) 202-4062) WHO REPLACED THE SHIFTER DUE TO A DEFECTIVE SWITCH. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL FOR THE ISSUE. THE MANUFACTURER OPENED A CASE REGARDING THE MATTER. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 19,000. *BF *AS

NHTSA ODI 11350951

Aug 16, 2020Transmission & drivetrain

SECOND TIME IN LESS THEN A YEAR I HAVE TO TAKE MY CAR INTO THE REPAIR SHOP FOR THIS ISSUE. I WILL PUT MY CAR IN PARK, TURN OFF THE CAR AND A NOTIFICATION COMES ON THE SCREEN THAT STATES 'SHIFT TO PARK' I HAVE TO REPEATEDLY START MY CAR, SHIFT TO REVERSE THEN BACK TO PARK AND THEN SHUT OFF MY CAR UNTIL THE MESSAGE DOESN'T APPEAR. THIS SEEMS TO BE A VERY COMMON ISSUE YET A RECALL HAS NOT BEEN ANNOUNCED.

NHTSA ODI 11349692

Jul 15, 2020Transmission & drivetrain

GETTING AN ERROR ( SHIFT TO PARK) WHEN PUTTING THE CAR IN PARK AFTER ATTEMPTING TO GO FROM DRIVE TO PARK TO TURN VEHICLE OFF. I START VEHICLE ON AGAIN AND SHIFT TO DRIVE AND BACK TO PARK AND IT THEN GOES AWAY AND SLOWS ME TO TURN VEHICLE OFF.

NHTSA ODI 11339497

Jul 5, 2020Transmission & drivetrain

I PUT THE CAR IN PARK TURN OFF BUT I GET THE MESSAGE SHIFT INTO PARK. SOME TIMES I DO THIS SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE I CAN LOCK THE DOORS. I LOOKED UP RECALLS THERE IS A RECALL LISTED FOR THIS. BUT IT SAYS MY CAR ISN'T LISTED. THERE IS DEFINITELY A PROBLEM.

NHTSA ODI 11337512

Jul 1, 2020Transmission & drivetrain

VEHICLE HAS VIBRATION AND MAKES A HUMMING NOISE AT ALL SPEEDS. WHEN HARD BRAKING THE VEHICLE PULLS TO THE RIGHT. TOOK VEHICLE TO A LOCAL DOBB'S TIRE AND AUTO CENTER AND THEN DIAGNOSED VEHICLE WITH EXCESSIVE RIGHT, FRONT MOVEMENT AT THE TRANSMISSION. POSSIBLY AN INTERNAL STUB AXLE? REPAIR SHOP ADVISED THAT THERE WAS A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN FROM OCTOBER 2019 STATING THE SAME ISSUE. REPAIR SHOP ALSO HAD ANOTHER 2016 MALIBU IN FOR AN OIL CHANGE AND UPON THEIR MULTI-POINT INSPECTION THEY ALSO FOUND EXCESSIVE MOVEMENT WITH THE RIGHT, FRONT AXLE AT THE TRANSMISSION.

NHTSA ODI 11337051

Jun 29, 2020Transmission & drivetrainEngine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE ENGINE POWER REDUCED WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED, THE VEHICLE DECELERATED AND CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP. THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF AND RESTARTED BUT FAILED TO ACCELERATE ABOVE 30-35 MPH. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE VIVA CHEVROLET LOCATED AT 5915 MONTANA AVE, EL PASO, TX 79925, WHERE THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED AN UNKNOWN COMPUTER FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 75,000.

NHTSA ODI 11331554

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, 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 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 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

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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 →