Is the 2016 Chevrolet Malibu a bad year?
840 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine complaints: 305, 5.4× a quiet Malibu year.
Keep it, but watch the engine
Half of the engine complaints for this year were filed at 37k–80k miles, where you are now. Few of them say the car was towed: 12 of 305 filed since 2016.
The verdict moves with mileage: the same car reads differently at 30,000 and at 150,000 miles.
What 2016 Malibu owners report, by mileage
Each system owners named in five or more complaints, with the mileage range where the middle half of those complaints were filed. Read at 56,000 miles.
| SYSTEM | COMPLAINTS | MIDDLE HALF FILED AT | TYPICAL US REPAIR BILLS |
|---|---|---|---|
| EngineSTANDS OUT | 305 (36%) | 37k–80k miles · around this mileage | Valve cover gasket replacement $110–$500 · Timing chain replacement $1,000–$4,000 |
| Electrical systemSTANDS OUT | 221 (26%) | 32k–74k miles · around this mileage | 12-volt battery replacement $100–$400 · Starter motor replacement $350–$1,200 |
| Transmission and drivetrainSTANDS OUT | 166 (20%) | 25k–56k miles · around this mileage | CV axle / CV joint replacement (one side) $300–$1,500 · Automatic transmission replacement $2,500–$7,000 |
| Speed controlSTANDS OUT | 152 (18%) | 44k–73k miles · around this mileage | — |
| BrakesSTANDS OUT | 102 (12%) | 28k–91k miles · around this mileage | Brake pad replacement (one axle) $115–$390 · Brake pads and rotors replacement (one axle) $200–$1,084 |
| Stability controlSTANDS OUT | 75 (9%) | 38k–75k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Fuel system | 54 (6%) | 42k–71k miles · around this mileage | Fuel pump replacement $220–$1,500 · Fuel injector replacement (one injector) $300–$1,200 |
| Steering | 42 (5%) | 34k–71k miles · around this mileage | Steering rack and pinion replacement $700–$2,100 |
| Body structure | 40 (5%) | 36k–62k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Exterior lighting | 19 (2%) | 30k–73k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Air bags | 18 (2%) | 25k–84k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Visibility and wipers | 15 (2%) | 20k–63k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Suspension | 19 (2%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Wheels | 12 (1%) | too few with a mileage | — |
Bills are typical US ranges from the sources named in the tool (J.D. Power, Kelley Blue Book, CarParts.com and others), printed only for systems that stand out or sit at or ahead of 56,000 miles. Not a quote.
What owners reported alongside their complaints
Of 840 complaints: 23 mention a crash · 2 mention a fire · 9 report an injury · 31 say the car was towed.
30 complaints were filed in the last 12 months, the newest in Oct 2026.
Counts of what owners wrote in their complaints, not verified by anyone.
In owners' own words
Engine light came on and vehicle displayed " Reduced engine power". Vehicle lost acceleration and I had to pull to the side of the road.
I was driving vehicle and "Check engine" Light came on and message said engine power reduced. The car rapidly slowed down and would not speed up even though I pressed down hard on the gas pedal.
I was driving one day and all of a sudden, I have seen 'engine power reduced' warning on the dashboard. This warning reduces the car speed considerably and therefore slow the car no matter how fast you are going.
Unedited excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA, chosen by mileage (nearest 56,000 miles), not by content. Unverified.
Recalls for the 2016 Chevrolet Malibu: 9
The rear seat belt retractors may be improperly secured with loose or missing fasteners. An improperly secured seat belt retractor may not function properly in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
During servicing, a Passenger Presence System (PPS) may have been installed that was not correctly calibrated to the vehicle's seat type. In the event of a crash, improper air bag deployment can increase the risk of injury.
The high pressure fuel pump may detach from its mounting flange, possibly resulting in the pump damaging the high pressure fuel line. A damaged fuel line can create a fuel leak, increasing the risk of a fire.
The fabric of the side-impact air bag cushion may tear during deployment. If the air bag tears during deployment, the air bag may not perform as designed, increasing the risk of injury in the event of a crash.
Also, certain 2013 Buick Encore, 2011 Buick Regal, 2013-2014 Buick Verano, 2011-2016 Chevrolet Cruze, 2010-2013 Chevrolet Equinox 2013-2015 Chevrolet Malibu, and 2011-2013 GMC Terrain vehicles may have been serviced with similar defective replacement electronic park lock levers. If the key is removed without the transmission in PARK, the vehicle may rollaway as occupants are exiting, increasing the risk of injury.
The memory chip in the electronic brake control module (EBCM) may fail and cause the loss of electronically controlled brake systems including anti-lock brakes (ABS) and electronic stability control (ESC). If the EBCM fails the primary braking system will still function, however, the loss of ABS and ESC increase the risk of a crash.
The two weld studs that mount the front and rear side impact air bags may fracture and separate from the air bag during deployment. Fractured weld studs may allow the side air bag to move out of position during deployment, increasing the risk of injury.
The driver frontal air bag may improperly inflate during second-stage deployment in the event of a high speed crash. An improperly inflated air bag increases the risk of injury.
The radio may intermittently fail to provide an audio warning when the key has been left in the ignition and the door is opened or when the driver does not fasten their seat belt. An unbelted driver is at a greater risk of injury in a crash.
A recall may cover only some cars of a model year; the campaign size counts every model and year it lists. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls: dealers fix open recalls free.
Service bulletins from Chevrolet: 584
Repair instructions Chevrolet sent its dealers for symptoms seen in the shop on the 2016 Chevrolet Malibu. Ask a dealer or mechanic for a bulletin by its number.
If the vehicle stalls and set diagnostic trouble code P0191 and may also set P0172
Normal transmission shift condition and the delay in throttle response when the throttle plate is opened rapidly and advises the customer that it is normal…
Correct conditions of Poor Engine Performance in Extremely cold weather conditions, CAC Icing, MIL Illuminated with DTCs set
Guidelines to replace Oil Cooler, Oil Cooler Lines and Oil Tank if the engine was replaced where large amounts of debris has flowed throughout the oiling system
Neighbouring years
2015 Malibu: 270 complaints, keep it · 2017 Malibu: 705 complaints, keep it, but watch the engine.
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Questions
Is the 2016 Chevrolet Malibu a bad year?
840 owner complaints to NHTSA. Engine complaints: 305, 5.4× a quiet Malibu year. At 56,000 miles the tool says: Keep it, but watch the engine. Half of the engine complaints for this year were filed at 37k–80k miles, where you are now. Few of them say the car was towed: 12 of 305 filed since 2016.
What are the most common problems with the 2016 Chevrolet Malibu?
By owner complaints to NHTSA: engine (305), electrical system (221), transmission and drivetrain (166), speed control (152), brakes (102). Half of the engine complaints were filed between 37k–80k miles.
How many recalls does the 2016 Chevrolet Malibu have?
9 recall campaigns list this model year: Seat belts (NHTSA 21V-649), Air bags (NHTSA 18V-400), Fuel system (NHTSA 18V-358), Air bags (NHTSA 16V-781) and more. A recall may cover only some cars; check by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Method: counts of unverified owner complaints filed with NHTSA, compared only with other years of the same model (sales volumes are unknown, so no failure rate is computed). A system stands out at 40+ complaints and at least twice the model's quiet (lower-quartile) year, or twice the share across every vehicle of that model year. The mileage range is the 25th to 75th percentile of the mileages owners reported. Data received by NHTSA through November 5, 2026. Repair prices are typical US ranges from named sources, not quotes. Not a diagnosis and not financial advice. PulsCar is not affiliated with NHTSA. Check this car at your own mileage.