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)

291 of 810 complaints match · Engine · clear filters · page 5 of 12

Jun 29, 2021Engine

The contact owns a 2016 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated while driving 55 mph, the vehicle lost motive power and failed to accelerate. The contact pulled over to the side of the roadway and had the vehicle towed to a local dealer to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the failure was with the accelerator pedal. The vehicle was repaired however, the failure persisted. The contact took the vehicle back to the dealer to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the engine failure was related to the turbocharger, and several gaskets and seals. The vehicle was repaired however, the failure persisted. The dealer was then unable to duplicate the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 70,200,

NHTSA ODI 11422773

Jun 16, 2021BrakesEngine

The first incident happen on 2/27/2019. I was existing the highway on highway 75 in Kennesaw, Georgia going north bound and coming off on Barrett Parkway. As I exited the highway my brakes was stuck and my brakes wouldn't press. I panicked because I was going at least 60 mph trying to slow down to get on the exit with semi trucks in the front and in the back, because I was a little skilled with cars I down shifted my car and stepped on my emergency brakes and ran the car off the road into the grass. I towed the car to my mechanic in Hiram, GA. (Donnie's Automotive) to have him work on the issue as I wasn't sure what was going on. I got my car back on 3/1/2019. Now the next incident happen on 8/16/21 my engine decreased and my car wouldn't accelerate more than 40 mph. Took it to my mechanic again and it was the throttle sensor. Now the most recent incident happen 6/12/21 where my brakes failed to pressed again and bc I was aware of this incident happening in 2019 I did the same thing and ran my car off the road. My kids were scared. Now all these issues have been a issue with Chevy and they even had a class action lawsuit against them for the throttle sensor issue. My car wasn't part of the recall but my car has suffered the same issues they've know about for years. I called Thornton Road chevy and they told me it's nothing they can do. I've also emailed the CEO and all others for CHEVY. I want chevy to repair my car before this car KILLS ME OR MY KIDS.

NHTSA ODI 11421218

Jun 14, 2021Engine

Okay so I’ve been getting this “engine power reduced” sign on my dash off and on for the past half year. I take it to the shops to get fix. They do some temporary fix and it’s good for a month or two then the problem persists. I’ve dodged very close attempts at death due to this. Driving on the highway or interstate (at respected speed) and then suddenly the car just slows down abruptly. Scared me half to death due to the fact that I’m on busy roadways. I’ve managed to get over on the shoulder or nearest exit without collision. One time is happened on a turnpike and I came like inches away from hitting the wall. For all of those times I was able to cut the engine off for a bit and then worked good enough to get home or to a shop. For this last time though was the worst. I was in the turning lane of busy intersection and the car like pulled as I was making the turn and then it just cut off. Causing cars to have to swerve around me which could’ve caused other incidents. I turned the car on and off many times but I still could not regain normal speed. It wouldn’t pass 18 then 27 and finally 36. I had to ride with the hazards on and what was supposed to be a 20 minute drive ended up being a 60 minute drive (after sitting in a parking lot for hours). I have lost one job due to the fact that I had to call off so many days. I have lost privileges at other jobs that effects how I’m able to provide for my family. So this is really hitting me hard. Most mechanics seem to know what the problem is but no one has actually fixed it directly. I hope GM does something about this please. This is my first and only car and I’m proud of it, but far as the performance. It’s a death trap. That’s why I don’t allow anyone to ride with me or drive it, because I just never know. I would rather be in the car when something bad happens than someone else. It’s feels like a stick shift/like a sticky clutch or something of that nature when I drive.I don’t know much about cars but that’s not right

NHTSA ODI 11420842

May 31, 2021SuspensionTransmission & drivetrainEngine

Every month my car will randomly say engine power reduced and will go no higher than 30mph. Which has happened on the highway and is super dangerous! I have seen many reports of the same problem but nothing being done about it. I took it to the dealership I got it from and I paid $100 dollars for diagnostics and the mechanic said the car computer needed updated...alright, the next day the message came back up and car couldn’t go higher than 30. I haven’t had this car for a year, and the shocks have popping noises, and whenever I put the car in park a message will appear saying shift car to park. And I have to literally roughly giggle the lever for it to read it’s in park or my car won’t turn off. I truly love this car but it has to many issues that shouldn’t be happening.

NHTSA ODI 11419120

May 24, 2021Transmission & drivetrainEngine

A power reduced engine light came on and slowed the car down to 20 miles per hour very abruptly, it was very dangerous. It keeps doing this, the engine light turns off so it can't be detected, and now we can't take it into a dealership because its out of warranty.

NHTSA ODI 11418370

May 4, 2021Engine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE VEHICLE OVERHEATED. THE CONTACT STATED NO WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED WITH THE HEAD GASKET NEEDING TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT YET REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER HAD BEEN INFORMED OF THE FAILURE AND REFERRED THE CONTACT TO NHTSA TO FILE A COMPLAINT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 100,000.

NHTSA ODI 11415113

Apr 27, 2021Engine

WE GOT A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON. CHECKED FOR CODES AND P2097 CAME UP. VEHICLE HAS SOME HESITATION WHEN ACCELERATING.

NHTSA ODI 11414085

Apr 14, 2021WheelsEngine

REDUCE ENGINE POWER LIGHT APPEARS WHILE DRIVING ON HIGHWAY. THE CAR SLOWED DOWN LIGHTS FLASHED THEN IT STATED SOMETHING ABOUT 25 MPH. IT FLASHED SO FAST

NHTSA ODI 11408008

Apr 8, 2021Transmission & drivetrainEngine

I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AT 55MPH - 2-LANE ROAD (4 DAYS AGO) WHEN A WARNING CAME ACROSS MY DASH THAT STATED "REDUCING ENGINE POWER". IT SLOWED MY VEHICLE DOWN A MININUM OF 20MPH AND WOULDN'T PICK UP SPEED. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. I PULLED OVER AND TURNED OFF MY VEHICLE. I RESTARTED IT AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT STAYED ON. I WAS ABLE TO MAKE IT TO AN AUTO SHOP AND THEY HOOKED IT UP. IT READ A P2138 CODE. IF I HAD BEEN ON THE HIGHWAY, THIS COULD'VE CAUSED A DEVISTATING CRASH. I FOUND WHERE GM EXTENDED THE WARRANTY AND THIS FIX SHOULD NOT COST ME ANYTHING - I WILL SEE WHEN I TAKE IT IN TOMORROW.

NHTSA ODI 11407081

Apr 6, 2021LightsBody & structureEngineCrash

ENGINE LIGHT IS ON. INVOLVED IN A COLLISION

NHTSA ODI 11406747

Apr 3, 2021Engine

AS I ACCELERATED FROM A STOP, THE VEHICLE LOST POWER AND THE REDUCED POWER WARNING CAME ON ALONG WITH MY ENGINE LIGHT. I COULD NOT GO OVER 30MPH UNTIL I PULLED OVER AND RESTARTED THE VEHICLE. I WAS THEN ABLE TO PROCEED HOME AT NORMAL SPEED THE CHECK GNOME LIGHT IS STILL ON.

NHTSA ODI 11406244

Mar 26, 2021Speed controlEngineFuel system

I WAS COMING TO A STOP AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT. I RECEIVED AN ALERT ON MY DASH "REDUCED ENGINE POWER" AND MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. MY CAR BECAME MUCH LESS RESPONSIVE TO PRESSING ON THE ACCELERATOR AND SEEMED TO BE HAVING TROUBLE GOING MORE THAN ~30 MPH. AN INSPECTION OF THE PROBLEM GAVE THE ERROR CODE P2138 AS THE SOURCE OF THE ISSUE.

NHTSA ODI 11405011

Mar 26, 2021Speed controlEngine

I WAS DRIVING ON A SECONDARY ROAD GOING ABOUT 45 MPH WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN MY CAR DECELERATED TO 20 MPH IN A MATTER OF SECONDS. THE DASH SHOWED ME AN "ENGINE POWER IS REDUCED" MESSAGE AND MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. I WAS ABLE TO SAFELY PULL OFF THE ROAD AND WAS ABLE TO GET HOME SAFELY. I TURNED THE CAR OFF FOR ABOUT 10 MINUTES AND RESTARTED IT AND IT SEEMINGLY IS FINE NOW BUT THIS IS TERRIBLY UNSAFE. TO MY KNOWLEDGE THERE IS NO RECALL OR ANY WORD ON THIS FROM GM.

NHTSA ODI 11405097

Mar 18, 2021Transmission & drivetrainElectrical systemEngine

WHEN I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK TONIGHT. I WAS TAKING THE RAMP TO GET ON TO THE HIGHWAY AND MY CAR GAVE ME A WARNING THAT THE ENGINE POWER WAS REDUCED AND MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND MY CAR WAS IMMEDIATELY RESERVED TO ONLY GOING 20 MPH. THIS IS VERY UNSAFE AS I WAS TRYING TO MERGE ONTO THE HIGHWAY.

NHTSA ODI 11403785

Mar 13, 2021Electrical systemEngine

WHILE RIDING ON THE HIGHWAY AT 70MPH I EXPERIENCED A TOTAL LOSS OF POWER. THE CAR WARNED ME AND THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. I COULD NOT ACCELERATE BEYOND 30 MPH. WHEN I HAD IT CHECKED WITH A CODE SENSOR IT TOLD ME THERE WAS AN ISSUE WITH THE THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR. THE CODE WAS P2138. THIS CREATED A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION ON A QUICK MOVING HIGHWAY.

NHTSA ODI 11402725

Mar 11, 2021Engine

WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT ACCELERATED SPEED DASH WILL SAY REDUCE ENGINE SPEED IT WILL DROP TO 30MPH AND WILL NOT INCREASE, MIND YOU I'M ON THE HIGHWAY WITH OTHER CARS AND 18 WHEELERS. FORTUNATELY I WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER AND SIT THIS HAS HAPPENED MORE THAN ONCE, AND READING THE COMPLAINTS I'M NOT THE ONLY ONE. THANKFULLY THIS WAS NOT RESULTING IN A ACCIDENT/ DEATH. MY CONCERN IS WHY HAVEN'T THIS BEEN RECALLED! SOMEONE NEEDS TO LOOK INTO THIS MATTER. DUE TO THE FACT THAT NEXT TIME SOMEONE MAY NOT BE AS FORTUNATE AS THE REST OF US. CHEVY NEEDS TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE BEFORE IT TURNS TRAGIC. THEY HAVE MULTIPLE COMPLAINTS.

NHTSA ODI 11400336

Mar 8, 2021Engine

I WAS DRIVING ON THE PARKWAY AND MY CAR SUDDENLY MADE A CLUNKING NOISE WITH A NOTICE THAT POPPED UP SAYING REDUCED ENGINE POWER AND DROPPED DOWN TO 20 MPH. I WAS ABLE TO SAFELY PULL OVER, BUT THIS WAS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AND I ALMOST GOT HIT ON A 4 LANE ROAD HIGH SPEED ROAD. I WAS NOT ABLE TO ACCELERATE MY CAR PAST 20MPH. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT REMAINED ON EVEN AFTER PULLING OVER AND RESTARTING MY CAR AFTER 30 MINUTES. MY CAR IS OUT OF WARRANTY AND WILL NOT BE COVERED.

NHTSA ODI 11399702

Mar 1, 2021Electrical systemSpeed controlEngine

WHILE DRIVING AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED, MY ENGINE REDUCED LIGHT CAME ON AND WOULD NOT ALLOW ME TO DRIVE OVER 32 MPH. THIS COULD HAVE CAUSED AN ACCIDENT WITH SEVERE INJURY CONSIDERING WHERE I WAS DRIVING. I HAVE SEEN MANY OTHERS COMPLAIN ABOUT THIS, WHY HASN'T IT BEEN RECALLED, WHEN WILL IT BE RECALLED?

NHTSA ODI 11398498

Feb 22, 2021Speed controlEngine

AS I WAS DRIVING AT A HIGH SPEED MY ENGINE POWER REDUCED LIGHT CAME ON AND MY CAR SPEED SLOWED DOWN DRASTICALLY. WHEN DIAGNOSED IT SAID IT WAS THE ACCELERATOR POSITION PEDAL. THIS IS VERY UNSAFE AND ALMOST CAUSED A WRECK. FROM WHAT I HEAR THIS IS COMMON WITH THE MABILU AND NEEDS TO BE RECALLED SEEING THAT SOMEONE COULD LOSE THEIR LIFE.

NHTSA ODI 11397443

Feb 20, 2021Transmission & drivetrainElectrical systemEngine

CAR SHOWED A "REDUCED ENGINE POWER" NOTIFICATION AND COULD NOT ACCELERATE OVER 15 MPH.

NHTSA ODI 11397086

Feb 17, 2021Transmission & drivetrainSpeed controlEngine

AS I WAS EXITING THE HIGHWAY THE JUST SLOWED TO A CRAWL . THE SCREEN SAID REDUCED ENGINE POWER AND WOULDN'T ALLOW ME TO ACCELERATE PAST 15 - 20 MILES PER HOUR. LUCKILY THERE WERE NO CARS FOLLOWING BEHIND ME AT THE TIME . I PULLED OVER SHUT THE CAR OFF AND ISSUE CONTINUED. I PLUGGED UP A CODE READER AND GOT P2138

NHTSA ODI 11396726

Feb 10, 2021Transmission & drivetrainEngine

I NOTICED AN OIL LEAK IN MY GARAGE AND DRIVE WAY FROM MY VEHICLE WHICH IS AN ENVIRONMENTAL AND SAFETY HAZARD. I HAVE TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO THE MANUFACTURER'S DEALERSHIP AND AN INDEPENDENT SHOP AND THEIR CONCLUSION FOR THE CAUSE OF THE OIL LEAK IS FROM A HEAD GASKET AND UPPER OIL PAN GASKET LEAK. THIS VEHICLE IS 4.5 YEARS OLD AND HAS 78,000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE AND SHOULD HAVE NOT PRESENTED AN ISSUE LIKE THIS EARLY IN ITS LIFE EXPECTANCY. THE LEAKING HEAD AND UPPER OIL PAN GASKETS CAUSES ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS OF OIL NOT BEING DISPOSED OF PROPERLY THAT COULD AFFECT OUR WILDLIFE AND FOOD SUPPLY. THE SAFETY CONCERN IS THAT THERE ARE NO OTHER SIGNS OF THIS FAILURE THUS IT IS A SAFETY HAZARD FOR THE OCCUPANTS OF THE VEHICLE AND COMMUTERS ALONG SIDE THE VEHICLE.

NHTSA ODI 11395673

Jan 23, 2021Electrical systemSpeed controlEngine

DRIVING ON THE EXPRESSWAY WHEN MY CAR GOT A MESSAGE ON THE DASH SAYING 'REDUCED ENGINE SPEED' . I WENT FROM 60MPH TO 10MPS WITHIN SECONDS, THIS IS A SERIOUS LIFE THREATENING PROBLEM WHEN DRIVING. ONCE IT SLOWS COMPLETELY DOWN IT STOPS AND I HAVE TO TURN OFF MY CAR AND RESTART IT JUST FOR IT KEEP HAPPENING. WHEN I TOOK MY CAR TO A CHEVY DEALERSHIP THEY TOLD ME 'EVERYONE WITH A MALIBU IS HAVING THESE PROBLEM LAST AND THEY CAN NO FIX IT CAUSE THE CAN'T FIGURE OUT THE PROBLEM. THEY ALSO INFORMED ME WITH ALL THE MALIBU'S HAVING THE SAME EXACT PROBLEM IS SHOULD BE A RECALL. I WENT TO A ANOTHER CHEVY DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD THE EXACT SAME THING. CHEVY WANT US TO ENJOY THE CAR BUT WILL NOT GO THE EXTRA MILE TO DO RECALLS ON THEM WHEN THEY KNOW IT'S A BIG PROBLEM. MY CAR ALSO BE STUCK IN 'SHIFT TO PARK' WHEN IT'S ALREADY IN PARK, I HAVE TO CONSTANTLY RESTART MY CAR AND TURN IT OFF FOR THE MESSAGE TO GO ALWAYS AND MY CAR IS OFF, WHICH IS RIDICULOUS BECAUSE IF YOU LEAVE YOUR CAR IN SHIFT TO PARK THAT WILL COMPLETELY KILL YOUR BATTERY. ALSO, WHEN I START MY CAR IT SOUND LIKE A BUNCH OF WATER JUST MOVING AROUND BUT IT'S NOTHING LEAKING BUT YOU CAN HEAR THE WATER ONCE YOU START THE CAR. THE BRAKES ON THE CAR DO NOT LAST LONG ENOUGH! I WENT TO GET SOME BRAND NEW BRAKES IN OCTOBER AND WAS TOLD FROM TWO DIFFERENT CAR SHOPS THAT I NEED NEW BRAKES . THESE PROBLEMS IS RIDICULOUS AND DANGEROUS AND COULD BE FIXED BY RECALLING THE CARS AND FIXING THE PROBLEMS .

NHTSA ODI 11389541

Jan 21, 2021Engine

ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND VEHICLE DISPLAYED " REDUCED ENGINE POWER". VEHICLE LOST ACCELERATION AND I HAD TO PULL TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. AFTER TURNING OFF VEHICLE, WAITING A MINUTE, AND RESTARTING VEHICLE IT RAN OK FOR 5 MINUTES. SOMETIMES IT RUNS LONGER BEFORE THE LIGHT COMES BACK ON AND I LOSE POWER AGAIN. THIS IS DANGEROUS!!!

NHTSA ODI 11389297

Jan 20, 2021Speed controlEngine

WAS DRIVING ON HIGHWAY AT 60 MPH AND DASHBOARD LIT UP WITH WARNING ENGINE POWER REDUCED MODE AND CAR WENT INTO LOW SPEED. TRIED ACCELERATING CAR WOULD NOT GO BEYOND 20 MPH

NHTSA ODI 11389048

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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 →