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 5 of 7

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

Apr 26, 2020Transmission & drivetrainFuel system

COMPONENT POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

NHTSA ODI 11322316

Mar 13, 2020Transmission & drivetrain

THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THAT THIS HAS HAPPENED WITH THIS VEHICLE. AFTER ARRIVING AT MY DESTINATION, I PARKED MY CAR AND SHIFTED TO PARK. UPON TURNING THE CAR OFF, AN ERROR MESSAGE APPEARS DIRECTING ME TO "SHIFT TO PARK." THE CAR ONLY HAS 56000 MILES. THIS HAS BEEN FIXED PREVIOUSLY (CAR HAD ALMOST 40000 MILES AT THE FIRST OCCURENCE) AND NOW IT IS HAPPENING AGAIN. VERY FRUSTRATING. THE CAR WILL NOT ALLOW YOU TO FULLY TURN THE CAR OFF WITH THIS ERROR MESSAGE AND IF YOU GET OUT AND SHUT THE DOOR, THE CAR ACTS AS IF IT IS STILL RUNNING BY HONKING AND NOT ALLOWING YOU TO LOCK YOUR VEHICLE.

NHTSA ODI 11317839

Mar 10, 2020Transmission & drivetrain

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS SHIFTED TO PARK, THEN THE MESSAGE SHIFT TO PARK APPEARED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO RYDELL CHEVROLET LOCATED AT (18600 DEVONSHIRE ST, NORTHRIDGE, CA 91324), TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE SHIFTER CABLE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 53,000.

NHTSA ODI 11317316

Feb 21, 2020Transmission & drivetrain

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE ENGINE REDUCED MESSAGE DISPLAYED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND THE VEHICLE INDEPENDENTLY DECELERATED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO GUIDE THE VEHICLE OFF OF THE ROADWAY SAFELY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER APPROXIMATELY 15 MINUTES THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED AND OPERATED AS DESIGNED. GEORGE MATICK CHEVROLET (14001 TELEGRAPH RD, REDFORD CHARTER TWP, MI 48239) WAS CONTACTED BY PHONE AND INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT SINCE THE WARNING LIGHT WAS NO LONGER ILLUMINATED, THE TECHNICIAN WOULD BE UNABLE TO RETRIEVE A FAULT CODE OR DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE FAILURE WAS INTERMITTENT. THE MANUFACTURE WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 29,959.

NHTSA ODI 11310637

Jan 31, 2020Transmission & drivetrain

WHEN STOPPING THE VEHICLE THE SHIFTER CONTROL MODULE DOES NOT RECOGNIZE WHEN THE VEHICLE IS IN THE PARK POSITION. WHEN THIS HAPPENS THE VEHICLE DISPLAY'S A MESSAGE AND A WARNING BELL SOUNDS WHEN YOU OPEN THE CAR DOOR. THE INTERIOR LIGHTS, DASH AND RADIO OF THE VEHICLE WILL NOT TURN OFF UNTIL THE VEHICLE BELIEVES IT'S PROPERLY PUT INTO PARK. NO ERROR CODE IS STORED IN THE CARS MEMORY. GM HAS A FIX FOR THIS BUT THE PROBLEM KEEPS RECURRING. MY VEHICLE'S SHIFTER MODULE WAS REPLACE UNDER THE ORIGINAL WARRANTY. THAT FIX FAILED 2 YEARS LATER. THE MOST RECENT FIX WAS TO REPLACE A HARNESS IN THE SHIFTER MODULE. THE DEALER WOULD NOT FIX THIS UNDER THE EXISTING CPO WARRANTY EVEN THOUGH IT WAS A RECURRING ISSUE AND THERE HAVE BEEN MULTIPLE SERVICE BULLETINS CONCERNING THIS ISSUE AND ORIGINALLY REPAIRED UNDER THE ORIGINAL WARRANTY. THIS MOST RECENT FIX HAS FAILED AGAIN AFTER 6 WEEKS OF BEING REPLACED. IF THE VEHICLE DOES NOT RECOGNIZE WHAT GEAR IT IS IN I BELIEVE THIS COULD BE A SAFETY ISSUE. AS IT IS WHEN THE VEHICLE DOES NOT RECOGNIZE THAT THE VEHICLE (SHIFTER MODULE) IS IN THE PARK POSITION THE VEHICLE STAYS ACTIVE AND DRAINS THE BATTERY UNTIL THE ERROR IS CORRECTED. YOU ALSO CANNOT LOCK THE VEHICLE. THE CAR HAS TO BE RESTARTED AND MOVED AND IF YOU ARE LUCKY WHEN THE VEHICLE IS SHUT DOWN IT WILL FINALLY RECOGNIZE THAT THE VEHICLE IS IN PARK. AS THIS HAPPENS INTERMITTENTLY IF THE VEHICLE IS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP THEY WILL NOT ADDRESS THE ISSUE IF THEY DO NOT SEE THE ERROR MESSAGE ON THE VEHICLES DRIVER INFORMATION SCREEN WHEN THE VEHICLE IS BROUGHT IN FOR SERVICE.

NHTSA ODI 11306359

Jan 28, 2020Transmission & drivetrain

AFTER PUTTING MY CAR IN PARK I GET A WARNING THAT THE CAR IS NOT IN PARK. WHEN THIS HAPPENS THE CAR WILL NOT LOCK PLUS THE LIGHTS AND THE RADIO WILL NOT TURN OFF. MY CONCERN IS THAT THE CAR IS REALLY NOT IN PARK PLUS MY SECURITY WITH THE DOORS NOT LOCKING. HAVE HAD IT TO THE DEALER TWICE NOW THEY WANT ME TO REPLACE THE SHIFTER ASSEMBLY AT MY COST SINCE IT IS OVER 3 YRS OLD BUT STILL UNDER 30,000 MILES.

NHTSA ODI 11302568

Jan 20, 2020Transmission & drivetrainSpeed controlEngineCrash2 injuries

ON JAN 6 2020. I WAS DRIVING A 2016 CHEVY MALIBU, WHEN THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND ENGINE REDUCE POWER LIGHT CAME ON. I PULLED OVER AND LET THE CAR SEAT FOR MAYBE 10 MINS. I RESTARTED THE VEHICLE AND BEGIN DRIVING AGAIN (IT WAS PULLING NORMAL). ABOUT 3 MILES DOWN THE ROAD I WAS MAKING A LEFT TURN AND THE CAR STOP PULLING AND THE REDUCE ENGINE POWER LIGHT COMES ON WHICH LEAVES ME IN THE MIDDLE OF A INTERSECTION SECTION CAUSING A VEHICLE COMING FROM MY RIGHT SIDE TO SLAM INTO THE SIDE OF VEHICLE DEPLOYING ALL OF MY AIRBAGS AND MAKING ON-STAR ASSISTANCE COME ON. IN THE RESULT I HAVE NECK, BACK AND SIDE INJURY FROM THE IMPACT. WHICH IN THE RESULT I'M GETTING SUED BECAUSE MY CAR STALLED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE TURN GOING LEFT. MY CAR WAS TOTALED OUT AND MY INSURANCE DON'T WANT TO PAY THE FULL VALUE OF WHAT I WAS LEASING IT FOR. WHICH I HAVE TO COME OUT THE POCKET WITH EXPENSES. AFTER REVIEWING THE "ENGINE REDUCE POWER" AND DOING MY RESEARCH I COME TO FIND OUT IT HAS BEEN NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS. I COULD HAVE LOST MY LIFE!

NHTSA ODI 11300466

Jan 16, 2020Transmission & drivetrain

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE THE GEAR SHIFT LEVER WAS PLACED IN THE PARK POSITION, THE PARK WARNING INDICATOR LIGHT ILLUMINATED INDICATING THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT IN PARK. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO (WATSON CHEVROLET 625 W AUTO MALL DR, TUCSON, AZ 85705 (520) 777-9425, WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED AND DETERMINED THAT THE TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND A CASE WAS FILED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 27,000.

NHTSA ODI 11299776

Jan 8, 2020Transmission & drivetrainEngineFuel system

CHECK ENGINE LIGHTS BLINKS ON AND OFF CAR DEFECTS AS IF IT WILL CUT OFF FOUND OUT ITS THE PISTON AND THROTTLE BODY FROM FIELDSMAN CHEVROLET NOW IM OUT OF A CAR WITH NO LOANER CAR BECAUSE THEY ARE BACKED THIS CAR WAS CALLED FOR RECALL FOR THESE REPAIRS

NHTSA ODI 11297891

Dec 22, 2019Transmission & drivetrainSpeed controlElectronic Stability Control (esc)

ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON A LEAST ONCE A WEEK. WHEN DRIVING MY CAR LOOSES SPEED WHEN PRESSING ON THE BRAKES. I WOULD HAVE TO PULL OVER BEFORE MY CAR CUTS OFF IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. AFTER PULLING OVER I WOULD HAVE TO RESTART MY CAR. I TOOK MY CAR TO THE DEALER THEY SAY THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH MY CAR. THE STABILITY LIGHT COMES ON AND OFF FOR NO REASON. I GET NOTIFICATIONS ON EMISSION RELATED TO MY FUEL TANK EVEN THOUGH I HAVE SUFFICIENT FUEL.

NHTSA ODI 11290703

Dec 1, 2019Transmission & drivetrainEngine

SYSTEM READING 'ENGINE POWER REDUCED'

NHTSA ODI 11283169

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

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 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, 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

Sep 30, 2019Transmission & drivetrainElectrical system

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS EXITING THE PARKED VEHICLE, 'ADDITIONAL ACTION REQUIRED, PLACE VEHICLE IN PARK' APPEARED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO SET THE VEHICLE ALARM AND THE HEADLIGHTS HAD TO BE TURNED OFF MANUALLY. GENESIS CHEVROLET (21800 GRATIOT AVE, EASTPOINTE, MI 48021, (586) 804-7977) WAS INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND PROVIDED CASE NUMBER: [XXX]. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 13,000. *JS

NHTSA ODI 11259107

Sep 24, 2019Transmission & drivetrain

SINCE I PURCHASED THE CAR, IT HAS HAD REGULAR MAINTENANCE DONE ON TIME. I WAS DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE ON MY WAY HOME FROM WORK. AS I GOT OFF THE EXIT I NOTICED MY CAR ACTING FUNNY, AS I GOT TO THE END OF THE EXIT I NOTICED THAT I HAD NO BREAKS AND THAT I COULD NOT TURN THE STEERING AT ALL AND ACTUALLY COULD NOT COME TO A STOP AT THE END OF THE EXIT, HAVING TO RUN THE STOP SIGN AND INTO ON COMING TRAFFIC WHICH IF A POLICE OFFICER WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN THERE COULD HAVE BEEN A VERY BAD SITUATION. HAD MY CAR TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP TO FIND OUT THAT IT JUMPED TIME. WITH ONLY 70+ THOUSAND MILES ON MY CAR, WHY WOULD I EVEN THINK TO WORRY ABOUT MY CAR JUMPING TIME. I THEN FIND OUT MY WARRANTY ENDED AT 60,000 MILES. I HAVE READ THAT THERE ARE NUMBER OF CASES WITH THIS ISSUE. NOW I AM OUT $ 3000.00 FOR A MOTOR AND LABOR TO HAVE THE MOTOR INSTALLED.

NHTSA ODI 11257628

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 12, 2019Transmission & drivetrain

MY VEHICLE IS GIVING ME A SHIFT TO PARK MESSAGE AFTER THE VEHICLE IS IN PARK. THE VEHICLE GIVES A DING NOISE TO INFORM ME THAT THE VEHICLE IS NOT IN PARK. IT TAKES MULTIPLE TIMES TO TURN THE VEHICLE OFF COMPLETELY.

NHTSA ODI 11255069

Sep 12, 2019Transmission & drivetrainElectrical system

I PARK, PLACE THE SHIFTER INTO PARK AND TURN THE CAR OFF BUT A MESSAGE APPEARS ON THE GAUGE CLUSTER SCREEN SAYING SHIFT INTO PARK. THE ENGINE IS OFF BUT THE LIGHTS AND RADIO STAY ON. THE SHIFTER IS LOCKED AND WILL NOT MOVE. THE SAME SCREEN SHOWS THAT THE CAR IS IN PARK BEFORE I SHUT THE CAR OFF, I CAN FEEL THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTING TOO. I HAVE TO TURN THE CAR BACK ON AND RUN THROUGH THE GEARS AND BACK OFF SEVERAL TIMES TO MAKE IT SHUT OFF. SEEMS TO HAPPEN MORE OFTEN ON SHORTER TRIPS. I WENT TO THE DEALER THEY HAVE A PART ON ORDER SEEMS TO BE A KNOWN ISSUE BUT I'M JUST OUT OF WARRANTY. I HAVE HAD THE CAR FOR 2.5 YEARS JUST OVER 35K MILES AND IT JUST STARTED.

NHTSA ODI 11255096

Sep 9, 2019Transmission & drivetrain

TL* THE CONTACT'S FATHER OWNS A 2016 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHEN PARKING THE VEHICLE AND SHIFTING GEARS, "SHIFT TO PARK" APPEARED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE CONTACT HAD TO MAKE FIVE TO TEN ATTEMPTS WITH SHIFTING THE GEARS FOR IT TO SHIFT INTO PARK. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO ALLEN GWYNN CHEVROLET (LOCATED AT 1400 S BRAND BLVD, GLENDALE, CA 91204, (818) 528-8597) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE GEAR SHIFTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 8,007.

NHTSA ODI 11254278

Sep 2, 2019Transmission & drivetrainEngineFuel system

THE CAR CONSTANTLY GETS MESSAGE OF ENGINE POWER REDUCED WHILE DRIVING WITH NO PREVIOUS ISSUES OR WARNINGS. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON THEN MY DRIVING SPEED DECREASES WHILE DRIVING. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS! THIS HAPPENS ON CITY STREETS AND ON THE HIGHWAY. I HAVE TO PULL OVER TO SHUT THE CAR OFF AND WAIT A FEW MINUTES THEN RESTART THE CAR. THE CAR THEN STARTS NORMAL WITHOUT THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT OR ERROR CODE

NHTSA ODI 11252725

Aug 8, 2019Transmission & drivetrain

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE PARKING, THE START/STOP BUTTON WAS PRESSED AND FAILED TO TURN OFF THE VEHICLE. IN ADDITION, THE "PARK TO SHIFT" WARNING MESSAGE WAS DISPLAYED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE CONTACT HAD TO SHIFT GEARS AND BACK INTO PARK IN ORDER TO TURN OFF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT CALLED MCKENNEY CHEVROLET CADILLAC BUICK GMC (LOCATED AT 831 S MAIN ST, LOWELL, NC 28098, (855) 757-1635) AND INFORMED THEM OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 41,000.

NHTSA ODI 11242488

Jun 28, 2019Transmission & drivetrain

WHEN PLACING THE CAR IN PARK TO SHUT OFF THE VEHICLE, A MESSAGE APPEARS STATING "ACTION REQUIRED" "SHIFT TO PARK." THE CAR IS IN PARK. SHIFTING IN AND OUT OF PARK DOES NOT SOLVE THE ISSUE. THIS INTERMITTENT PROBLEM OCCURRED OVER ABOUT 3 MONTHS. HAVE TO TURN OFF LIGHTS MANUALLY OR THEY WON'T GO OFF. DASH LIGHT REMAIN ON LONGER THAN USUAL. CAR BATTERY FINALLY DIED. REPLACED THE BATTERY/ PROBLEM PERSISTS. WHEN GETTING OUT OF CAR AND CLOSING DOORS, HORN HONKS 3 TIMES. REMOTE NOT DETECTED WHEN GETTING IN CAR AGAIN TO GO SOMEWHERE. PROBLEM STARTED SHORTLY AFTER WARRANTY EXPIRED. TOOK TO DEALER, COURTESY CHEVROLET. WAS TOLD WHILE THE PROBLEM WAS NOT "COMMON" IT WAS A "KNOWN" ISSUE. NEVER SUGGESTED THIS WAS SOMETHING TO LOOK AT ANY OTHER TIME THE CAR WAS IN FOR SERVICE. HAD TO REPLACE THE SHIFT GEAR. COST $450 INITIALLY, BUT AFTER COMPLAINING, THEY TOOK OFF ABOUT $100. WAS TOLD THAT THIS IS NOT COVERED BY POWER TRAIN WARRANTY EVEN THOUGH NHTSA DEFINES POWER TRAIN AS INCLUDING "SHIFT LEVER/GEAR CONTROL AND INDICATOR DEVICES." THERE IS A TSB OUT ON THIS PROBLEM AND MANY NHTSA COMPLAINTS AS WELL AS CHEVROLET MESSAGE BOARDS. CAR HAS ONLY 16,000 MILES ON IT.

NHTSA ODI 11228301

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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 →