Home · 2016 Chevrolet Malibu Hev · Complaints

What 859 owners told NHTSA about the 2016 Chevrolet Malibu Hev

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 (859)Crash / fire / injury (27)Engine (309)Electrical system (233)Transmission & drivetrain (174)Speed control (158)Brakes (104)Electronic Stability Control (esc) (77)Fuel system (53)Steering (42)Body & structure (41)Lights (19)

309 of 859 complaints match · Engine · clear filters · page 9 of 13

Dec 2, 2019Engine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE MESSAGE CENTER DISPLAYED "ENGINE POWER REDUCED" AND THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. IN ADDITION, THE VEHICLE STARTED TO LOSE POWER. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER IN A PARKING LOT BEFORE DRIVING HOME. LEMAN'S CHEVY CITY (1602 MOMSSEY DR, BLOOMINGTON, IL 61704) WAS CONTACTED BY PHONE, BUT THEY DID NOT HAVE ANY APPOINTMENTS AVAILABLE FOR AT LEAST THREE WEEKS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 31,239.

NHTSA ODI 11286340

Dec 1, 2019Transmission & drivetrainEngine

SYSTEM READING 'ENGINE POWER REDUCED'

NHTSA ODI 11283169

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 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

Oct 3, 2019Electrical systemEngine

FOR THE PAST TWO YEARS MY VEHICLE HAS BEEN TO THE DEALERSHIP 6 TIMES FOR THE SAME ISSUE. ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS THE CAR WHILE TRAVELING BOTH ON THE HIGHWAY AND IN THE CITY THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ONE AND IT GOES INTO REDUCED POWER MODE. ON THE HIGHWAY THIS CAN BE A HUGE ISSUE. AFTER MULTIPLE 'FIXES' IT'S SEEMS TO BE OK. HOWEVER ON 10/3/2019 WHILE SITTING AT A RED LIGHT THE AUTO STOP FEATURE KICKED ON. NOTHING NEW THERE HOWEVER WHEN I TOOK MY FOOT OFF THE BRAKE THE CAR COMPLETELY STALLED AND THE DOORS ALL UNLOCKED. AFTER ABOUT 10 SECONDS IT STARTED BACK UP AGAIN. NOW THE AUTO STOP DOESN'T KICK ON AT ALL AND THE CAR WILL NOT LET ME USE AUXILIARY POWER. THE CAR IS ONLY 3 YEARS OLD AND SHOULDN'T HAVE THIS MANY ISSUES. WHEN I TAKE IT TO THE DEALER THEY PUT IT ON THE COMPUTER AND SAY NOTHING IS WRONG. WHAT IS IT GOING TO TAKE FOR GM TO FIX THIS ISSUE IN THESE MALIBU'S? IS SOMEONE GOING TO HAVE TO BE INJURED?

NHTSA ODI 11265996

Oct 2, 2019Electrical systemElectronic Stability Control (esc)BrakesEngineHybrid Propulsion System

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE REDUCE POWER IN THE ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE GRADUALLY BEGAN TO LOSE POWER. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER AND RESTARTED THE VEHICLE; HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT TRAVEL OVER 60 MPH. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE BRAKES FAILED WHILE APPROACHING A STOP LIGHT. WHILE DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL, THE BRAKES FAILED TO RESPOND IN A TIMELY MATTER. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO ALL AMERICAN CHEVROLET OF KILLEEN (1802 E CENTRAL TEXAS EXPY, KILLEEN, TX 76541, 254-213-5397) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE BRAKE BOOSTER AND VACUUM PUMP WERE DEFECTIVE AND THE BATTERY WAS OVERCHARGED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 16V521000 (HYBRID PROPULSION SYSTEM) AND 16V272000 (ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL). THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED BY THE DEALER THAT DUE TO THE BUMPER TO BUMPER WARRANTY, A RECALL REPAIR COULD NOT BE PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE REMAINED IN THE POSSESSION OF THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 71,493.

NHTSA ODI 11265632

Sep 29, 2019Electrical systemEngineCrash

I OWN A 2016 CHEVY MALIBU AND ONE OF ITS FEATURES IS AN AUTO STOP/START FEATURE IN THE CAR. WHEN THIS CAR ENTERS THIS MODE WHEN I TAKE MY FOOT OFF OF THE BREAK IT IS SUPPOSED TO START AGAIN BUT WHEN I TAKE MY FOOT OFF OF THE BREAK IT WILL JUST COMPLETELY SHUT DOWN, WHEN I TRY TO START THE CAR AGAIN IT WILL JUST STALL. I WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT ON JUNE 9TH 2019 WHERE THE CAR CUT OFF AND ROLLED BACK INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. THIS IS JUST ONE OCCASION OF THE CAR CUTTING OFF ON ME AND BECOMING IMMOBILE. I WAS TOLD IT WAS A BATTERY ISSUE AND A WIRING ISSUE I'VE GOTTEN BOTH ADDRESSED BUT IT STILL HAPPENS. I'VE RECEIVED A LETTER FROM CHEVY THAT MAY ADDRESS THE ISSUE BUT I HAVE TO SEE. MY CAR CURRENTLY WON'T START. TODAY IS SEPTEMBER 24,2019

NHTSA ODI 11258818

Sep 11, 2019Parking BrakeBrakesEngine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL ACTIVATED, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP OR SLOW DOWN WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE CONTACT HAD TO DRIVE ONTO THE SHOULDER AT SPEEDS OF MORE THAN 55 MPH IN ORDER TO AVOID CRASHING INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC. DURING THE INCIDENT, A 911 CALL WAS MADE AND POLICE RESPONDED BY PUSHING THE VEHICLE INTO A MEDIAN IN ORDER STOP IT AND PREVENT THE VEHICLE FROM CRASHING INTO OTHER VEHICLES. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE EMERGENCY BRAKE DID NOT OPERATE AND THE STOP/START BUTTON WAS PRESSED, BUT DID NOT TURN OFF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO BALE CHEVROLET (13101 CHNAL PKWY, LITTLE ROCK, AR) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE VACUUM FRACTURED AND CAUSED THE BRAKING SYSTEM TO FAIL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND PROVIDED CASE NUMBER: 9-531-1269174. NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE WAS OFFERED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 95,000.

NHTSA ODI 11254639

Sep 9, 2019Electrical systemEngine

THIS ISSUE HAPPENS AT RANDOM TIMES. WHEN I CRANK UP, WHEN I'M AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT, OR EVEN JUST AT A STOP SIGN, SOMETIMES MY CAR WILL TURN COMPLETELY OFF. IT WILL CRANK BACK UP, SOMETIMES, BUT SOMETIMES IT TAKES QUITE A FEW TIMES. ALSO, AGAIN AS I CRANK UP. IT GOES BACK TO OFF. INSTEAD OF GOING TO AUTO STOP, IT WILL CUT COMPLETELY OFF TOO. I HAVE NO ENGINE LIGHT OR ANY OTHER LIGHTS THAT COME ON TO ALERT ME THAT SOMETHING IS WRONG BUT IT HAPPENS RANDOMLY AND HAS BEEN HAPPENING MORE FREQUENTLY AND IT IS CONCERNING. ALSO, IT FEELS LIKE THE CAR IS KICKING OR FIRING BACK NOW WHEN I AM DRIVING. THIS IS RANDOM ALSO.

NHTSA ODI 11254304

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 27, 2019SteeringBrakesEngine

TAKATA RECALL MY CAR HAS COMPLETELY SHUT OFF ON ME TWICE IN TRAFFIC NOW, THIS IS DANGEROUS BECAUSE YOU LOOSE CONTROL OF YOUR STEERING AND BRAKE SYSTEM LUCKILY BOTH TIMES I WAS NOT GOING AT A HIGH SPEED AND I LET THE CAR SLOW ON IT'S OWN, BUT THERE ARE NO ERROR CODES POPPING UP, NO TYPE OF WARNING AT ALL THAT SOMETHING IS WRONG WITH THE CAR. SOMETIMES IT WON'T START IN THE MORNING SO AT FIRST I THOUGHT IT WAS THE BATTERY OR REMOTE BATTERY SO I CHANGED BOTH IT STARTED WORKING FOR ABOUT A WEEK SO I THOUGHT THE ISSUE WAS FIXED BUT IT STILL CUTS OFF A FEW TIMES A DAY, LIKE TODAY IT WOULDN'T START AND WHEN I FINALLY GOT IT STARTED MY HEAT AND AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM WOULD NOT WORK, OTHER TIMES MY HOME SCREEN WILL BE COMPLETELY BLACK AND NO POWER TO IT. I HOPE WHATEVER IS GOING ON WITH THESE VEHICLES ARE FIXED SOON BECAUSE IT IS VERY SCARY AND DANGEROUS WHEN THIS HAPPENS ESPECIALLY IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC. ANOTHER THING WHEN MY CAR IS STATIONARY AND IT WON'T START I WILL PUSH THE PUSH TO START BUTTON YOU WILL HERE A CLICKING SOUND AND THE ENGINE LIGHT WILL FLASH BUT THE ENGINE WILL NOT TURN ON ONCE I DO GET IT STARTED I GET THE WORD STABILETRAK, SO I TOOK MY CAR TO THE CHEVY DEALER ONCE AGAIN AND THEY ARE NOT ABLE TO FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH IT.

NHTSA ODI 11246598

Aug 26, 2019Electronic Stability Control (esc)BrakesEngine

'TAKATA RECALL' I FOUND 2 RECALLS THAT MATCH THE SYSTEMS OF MY VEHICLE PERFECTLY HOWEVER WHEN I PUT MY VIN IN. THE RECALLS DO NOT COME UP. HERE ARE THE RECALL NUMBERS I AM REFERRING TO. 51230, AND 39440. WHEN THE ENGINE POWER REDUCED HAPPENS USUALLY ON THE HIGHWAY ONLY HAS HAPPENED A FEW TIMES ON THE STREET. WHEN BRAKING A NOICE IS COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD AND THE ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON.

NHTSA ODI 11246408

Aug 13, 2019Electrical systemBrakesEngineCrash

EGINE POWER REDUCED LIGHT. THE CAR WONT GO OVER 20-30MPH. BRAKES MALFUNCTION CAUSING A SMALL FENDER BENDER. ITS HARD TO START WONT STAY RUNNING. IT EVEN LOST POWER ON THE HWY A FEW TIMES BEFORE THE WRECK.

NHTSA ODI 11243558

Aug 13, 2019Electronic Stability Control (esc)Engine

TAKATA RECALL- MY CAR IS DECREASING SPEED, SWITCHING GEARS WHILE DRIVING, MY CAR KEEPS TELLING ME TO 'SHIFT TO PARK' WHILE THE CAR IS ALREADY PARKED AND NOT CUTTING OFF. THE CAR KEEPS DROPPING TO ZERO ON MY DASH BOARD WHILE I'M DRIVING AND SHAKING WHILE I'M DRIVING. MY SENSOR SYSTEM KEEPS FLASHING 'STABILITALK' AND 'STEERING POWER SERVICE, REDUCED SPEED'

NHTSA ODI 11243803

Aug 11, 2019Electrical systemEngine

ON JUNE 30, 2019, I WAS DRIVING MY CHEVROLET MALIBU HYBRID HOME ON THE FREEWAY WHEN SUDDENLY THE ENGINE LOST POWER AND STALLED. THE SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT TURNED ON AND A MESSAGE ON THE DASHBOARD SAID 'SHIFT TO PARK'. I COASTED TO THE NEXT EXIT AND STOPPED ON THE SIDE OF A STREET. I PRESSED THE OFF BUTTON AND SHIFTED TO PARK. I TRIED TO TURN ON THE CAR AND IT WOULDN'T EVEN CRANK THE ENGINE. I CALLED AAA AND AFTER 10 TO 15 MINUTES THE SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT TURNED OFF. I TRIED AGAIN TO START THE CAR AND IT TURNED ON. I CANCELED AAA AND DROVE THE CAR HOME. AFTER A COUPLE OF DAYS, I DECIDED TO SCAN THE TROUBLE CODES IN THE CAR WITH MY CODE SCANNER. THE REPORT SAID FOUR CONFIRMED TROUBLE CODES, NO PERMANENT TROUBLE CODES, NO PENDING TROUBLE CODES, NO BODY CONTROL MODULE TROUBLE CODES, 1 TELEMATICS TROUBLE CODES, NO HUMAN MACHINE INTERFACE MODULE TROUBLE CODES, AND FOUR ELECTRONIC BRAKE CONTROL MODULE TROUBLE CODES. I SAVED THE REPORT AND RESET THE TROUBLE CODES. COPY OF THE REPORT ATTACHED. THEN ON JULY 2, 2019, I WAS DRIVING ON THE CITY STREET AND THE CAR STALLED AGAIN WITH THE SAME MESSAGE TO SHIFT TO PARK. I COASTED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND PRESSED THE OFF BUTTON AND SHIFTED TO PARK. I TRIED TO START THE CAR AND IT DID START AND I DROVE IT HOME. NEXT DAY I SCANNED THE TROUBLE CODES AGAIN. THE REPORT SAID NO CONFIRMED TROUBLE CODES, NO PERMANENT TROUBLE CODES, NO PENDING TROUBLE CODES, 2 BODY CONTROL MODULE TROUBLE CODES, 3 FRONT CAMERA ACTIVE SAFETY TROUBLE CODES, 3 TRANSFER CASE CONTROL MODULE TROUBLE CODES, AND 1 ELECTRONIC BRAKE CONTROL MODULE TROUBLE CODES. I SAVED THE REPORT, COPY ATTACHED. NEXT DAY I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER FOR TROUBLE SHOOTING, AND REPAIR UNDER WARRANTY.

NHTSA ODI 11243134

Aug 7, 2019Speed controlElectronic Stability Control (esc)Engine

I COULD BE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND IT'LL SAY ENGINE POWER REDUCED. IF I PRESS THE GAS, IT'LL SLOW DOWN. WHEN I PUT MY CAR IN PARK, AND TURN IT OFF IT'LL SAY SHIFT TO PARK.

NHTSA ODI 11242169

Jul 27, 2019Electronic Stability Control (esc)BrakesEngine1 injury

ENGINE FAILURE. MY CAR WENT COMPLETELY OUT WHILE DRIVING HOME. THE STABIKITRAK POP ON, ENGINE LIGHT POP ON, BRAKES LOCKED UP MAKING IT HARD FOR ME TO STOP THE CAR IN TRAFFIC. I HOPE THEY ARE PLANNING ON DOING SOMETHING ABOUT THIS BECAUSE I SHOULDN'T HAVE TO BE AFRAID FOR MY LIFE. THIS CAR IS DEFINITELY NOT SAFE.

NHTSA ODI 11235317

Jul 18, 2019Engine

AT 63K MILES, THE PISTON CRACKED AND THE ENGINE NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. THERE WAS A RECALL ON THIS SAME EXACT ISSUE, WHERE CHEVY DECIDED TO RETARD THE TIMING SO THIS WOULD FIX THE ISSUE. OBVIOUSLY, THIS DID NOT FIX THE ISSUE AND NOW THE ENGINE NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. I CONTACTED GM AS THIS IS A MANUFACTURERS DEFECT AND BECAUSE THE CAR IS OUT OF THE POWERTRAIN WARRANTY, THEY ARE ONLY WILLING TO PAY 40% OF THE TOTAL COST TO REPLACE THE ENGINE. ONLY 3K MILES OUT OF WARRANTY? MANUFACTURERS DEFECT AND I HAVE TO SPILL ALMOST $5K TO FIX THE VEHICLE, WHEN THEY KNEW THEY HAD A PROBLEM? THIS IS NOT FAIR OR CORRECT. THE CONSUMER NEEDS REPRESENTATION AND CHEVY NEEDS TO PUT OUT A RECALL TO ALL OF THESE VEHICLES AND STAND BEHIND THEIR LOYAL CUSTOMERS. THIS IS THE 8TH GM VEHICLE I HAVE OWNED IN MY LIFETIME.

NHTSA ODI 11232984

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Working with the data? Download all 859 complaints as CSV · fetched from NHTSA July 22, 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 Hev verdict →