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)

217 of 810 complaints match · Electrical system · clear filters · page 5 of 9

Oct 18, 2020Electrical systemWheelsBrakes

WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE BRAKE PEDAL WADE AN ABNORMAL GRINDING SOUND. THE CONTACT STATED THAT EXTRA EFFORT WAS NEEDED TO DEPRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE ABS SYSTEM FAILED TO OPERATE AS DESIGNED INTERMITTENTLY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ON OCCASIONS THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND THE VEHICLE SLID BEFORE COMING TO A STOP. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO BE DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80877

NHTSA ODI 11364875

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 22, 2020Electrical system

I HAVE TWO PROBLEMS WITH THIS VEHICLE, FIRST IS THE ENGINE POWER REDUCE THING WHICH HAPPENED SO MANY TIMES WITH THIS CAR. SECOND IS THE SHIFT TO PARK PROBLEM THAT HAS BEEN APPEARING IN MY DASHBOARD FOR MONTHS NOW..

NHTSA ODI 11360384

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

Aug 27, 2020Electrical system

2016 CHEVY MALIBU LS.. AT TIMES MY ENGINE WILL NOT SHUT OFF. I HAVE TO KEEP STARTING AND TRYING TO TURN OFF . AN ALERT SAYS PLEASE PUT IN PARK, I DO AND HOLD IT IN PARK BUT DIFFICULT TO TURN OFF. THIS HAPPENS WHEN I HAVE STOPPED AT THE STORE , HOME OR WHEREVER IAM GOING TO LEAVE THE VEHICLE. THIS HAS HAPPENED MANY TIMES , THE WORST WAS TWO DAYS AGO AT HOME, TUESDAY , AUGUST 25, 2020

NHTSA ODI 11351612

Aug 13, 2020Electrical systemEngine

THE VEHICLE IS DRIVING NORMAL AND SUDDENLY SHUTS DOWN FOR NO APPARENT REASON. UPON PARKING, YOU TRY TO START THE CAR, AND IT WON'T. WAIT FOR APPROX. 30 MINS AND THE CAR STARTS BUT A BIT ROUGH FIRST AND THEN DRIVES.

NHTSA ODI 11348987

Aug 13, 2020Electrical system

I BOUGHT THIS CAR & DID NOT EVEN HAVE IT A MONTH AND THE SUNROOF WOULD START TO CLOSE AND THEN WOULD STOP AND OPEN OR GET STUCK HALF WAY OPEN. WHEN TRYING TO GET THIS TO CLOSE THE SUNROOF WOULD CLOSE WITHOUT PUTTING BEING PRESSED. THE WIRING HARNESS FAILED AND WAS BAD.

NHTSA ODI 11349073

Aug 11, 2020SteeringElectrical systemElectronic Stability Control (esc)

MY MALIBU ONLY HAS 34K MILES ON IT AND IS METICULOUSLY CARED FOR. ON AUGUST 10TH, I WENT TO START IT. IT WOULD NOT START OR TURN ON THE LIGHTS. SO I TRICKLE CHARGED IT AND 4 HOURS LATER WHEN IT FINALLY TURNED ON I HAD THE BATTERY CHECKED. THE BATTERY IS FINE. HOWEVER, THE STABILITRAC IS NOT COMING BACK ON ALONG WITH MY CRUISE CONTROL AND LANE ASSIST. THE BACK UP CAMERA, BACK UP CAMERA LINES, CRASH AVERSION SENSORS, AND SCREEN WERE NOT WORKING PROPERLY FOR THE MAJORITY OF THE 10TH OF AUGUST AFTER THE CAR CAME BACK ON. THE SREEN HAS HAD ISSUES IN THE PAST AS WELL WITH NOT TURNING ON ALONG WITH SHOWING THE PROPER TIME, TEMPERATURE, AND MORE.

NHTSA ODI 11348728

Aug 10, 2020Electrical system

MY SHIFT TO PARK INDICATOR DISPLAYS ON THE DASH WHEN MY CAR IS ALREADY IN PARK. THE CAR CAN'T BE TURNED OFF UNTIL THE INDICATOR GOES OFF. I USUALLY CHANGE GEARS AND PUT BACK IN PARK OR PUSH IT HARDER WHILE IT IS ALREADY IN PARK. I HAD THIS REPAIRED ON 9/14/18. THE CHEVY DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION CONTROL SHIFT LEVEL SELECTOR. IT IS NOW DOING IT AGAIN. IT STARTED THAT SHIFT TO PARK AGAIN ON 8/7/2020.

NHTSA ODI 11348498

Aug 4, 2020SteeringElectrical systemEngine

REDUCE ENGINE POWER AND THE BRAKES JUST CUT OFF GOING DOWN ROAD DRIVING NOT SAFE

NHTSA ODI 11343342

Jul 30, 2020Electrical systemElectronic Stability Control (esc)Engine

VEHICLE TRANSMISSION ISSUE. STABILITRAK SERVICE WARNINGS. ACCELERATION ISSUES.

NHTSA ODI 11342314

Jul 15, 2020Electrical system

THE CIGARETTE LIGHTER LOOK TO HAVE CAUGHT ON FIRE AND BURNED THE BUTTONS ABOVE IT THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED NO KEY IN THE IGNITION

NHTSA ODI 11339589

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 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 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 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 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 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 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

Mar 16, 2020Electrical systemEngine

I WAS DRIVING AND MY CAR HAD A MESSAGE THAT SAID ENGINE POWER REDUCING AND THE CAR DROPPED SPEED ON THE HIGHWAY TO 15MPH AND ALMOST CAUSED A WRECK. NOW MY ENGINE LIGHT IS ON SINCE THEN. MY CAR HAS BEEN IN AND OUT THE SHOP SINCE I BROUGHT IT BRAND NEW 0 MILES FOR SOME TYPE OF ENGINE RELATED FAILURE, SENSORS ETC. MY WARRANTY HAS EXPIRED AND NOW I AM FORCED TO PAY OUT OF POCKET FOR MAINTENCE.

NHTSA ODI 11318199

Mar 6, 2020Electrical systemSpeed controlEngine

I WAS DRIVING ON THE I-10 WEST HIGHWAY AT 70MPH WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN A ENGINE POWER REDUCED MESSAGE CAME ACROSS THE SCREEN & DUE TO THE LOSS OF ACCELERATION I WAS ALMOST REAR ENDED BY AN 18 WHEELER BECAUSE I COULDN'T PULL OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD FAST ENOUGH...ALSO, ON SOME DAYS WHEN I START MY CAR IT DOESN'T MAKE ANY NOISE SO THEREFORE THE RADIO WILL NOT WORK, THE SIGNAL LIGHT SOUNDS DOESN'T WORK, NOR DOES THE SEATBELT SOUNDS WORK .

NHTSA ODI 11316556

Feb 25, 2020Electrical systemSpeed controlFuel system

13 MONTHS AGO I BEGAN HAVING ACCELERATOR SENSOR ISSUES. DRIVING 40+ MPH AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, "ENGINE REDUCED POWER", "STABILITRAK" CAME ON MY HUD. MY FATHER HAS A 2017 MALIBU AND THIS HAD JUST HAPPENED TO HIM, SO I KNEW TO PULL TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, SHUT THE CAR OFF AND TURN IT BACK ON, BUT THE LIGHT STAYED ON AND THE CAR WOULDN'T ACCELERATE PAST 40MPH AND TOOK FOREVER TO GET UP TO SPEED. TOOK IT IN AND THEY "FIXED" IT. I HAD TO HAVE IT FIXED 3 TIMES IN 3 MONTHS. ALL SIMILAR SITUATIONS, DRIVING 45+ MPH. MY TOUCH SCREEN RADIO ALSO WENT OUT, AND HAD TO GET A NEW HEAD UNIT. STILL TO THIS DAY ONLY ONE OF THE USB SLOTS WORKS. SUMMER GOES ON, NO ISSUES. OCTOBER TIME FRAME, MY CAR SHUT OFF WHILE I WAS DRIVING 60 MPH FOR A SPLIT SECOND. HEADLIGHTS WENT OUT, RADIO, SPEEDOMETER, ALL OF IT AT 5AM. IT CAME BACK ON WITHIN 2 SECONDS AND THE CAR WAS FINE. NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT OR ANYTHING. HAD A BUDDY OF MINE RUN A CODE CHECK AND NOTHING SHOWED UP. A MONTH LATER I HAD ANOTHER ACCELERATOR SENSOR ISSUE, DRIVING 60+ MPH. HAD TO DRIVE ON THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD UNTIL I COULD GET IT TO THE DEALERSHIP. TOOK IT IN AND GOT IT FIXED FOR FREE SINCE THERE WAS A RECALL. 2 MONTHS GO BY, WE'RE IN JANUARY 2020 NOW, DRIVING 60+ AND MY CAR SHOWS "STABILITRAK" AND HAD THE SAME SYMPTOMS OF THE PREVIOUS LOW POWER, AND NOT ACCELERATING. TURNS OUT TO BE THE AIR CHARGE COOLER. NOT A WEEK LATER AFTER GETTING IT BACK, DRIVING 70+ MPH AND MY CAR LOSES POWER. HAD TO TOW IT SINCE I WAS IN A DIFFERENT STATE. CYLINDER 1 HAS LOW PRESSURE AND THE CHARGE AIR COOLER IS FLOODED WITH DEBRIS. AND NOW CHEVY IS TELLING ME I HAVE TO PAY FOR A NEW ENGINE!! WTF?

NHTSA ODI 11311438

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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 →