NHTSA (USA)High Risk
At a glance
What can fail
The rear seat belt retractors may have loose or missing fasteners, affecting their secure attachment to the vehicle.
This page covers 10 recalls, 852 owner complaints, NHTSA crash-test ratings and EPA fuel economy for the 2016 Chevrolet Malibu.
26–46 mpg combined
5.1–9 L/100km
Midsize Cars
Fuel economy data from fueleconomy.gov (EPA / U.S. Dept. of Energy). Annual cost based on 15,000 mi/yr at 55% city driving and current fuel prices. MPG is U.S. gallons; L/100km converted. Ranges reflect the 3 tested variants for this model year.
5/5 Overall
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Rating
Engine and powertrain complaints dominate the 2016 Malibu's report history. Owners frequently describe excessive oil consumption, misfires, and internal engine damage, including cracked pistons and scored cylinder walls, often showing up well before 100,000 miles. Main seal failures and check engine lights tied to cylinder-specific issues come up repeatedly. The vehicle speed control and powertrain categories add another layer of complaints centered on reduced engine power events, where the car revs high but barely moves, sometimes accompanied by messages prompting a shift to park while the vehicle is already in park. Owners report the shift-to-park cable being replaced more than once without permanently resolving the condition. A separate recurring thread involves clear coat peeling and oxidation on horizontal surfaces like the hood and roof, which owners describe as widespread and appearing earlier than expected for normal wear.
852
Total Complaints
23
Crash-Related
2
Fire-Related
10
With Injuries
By System
The 2016 Chevrolet Malibu has 10 recalls, the most serious being a fuel pump that can detach and damage the high-pressure fuel line, creating a fuel leak and raising the risk of fire.
Several recalls involve the airbag system. Front airbags on certain vehicles may inflate improperly in a crash, and two issues affect the side airbags: the cushion fabric can tear during deployment, and mounting studs can fracture and let the bag shift out of position. A passenger seat sensor may also have been miscalibrated during a prior service visit, causing the front airbag to deploy incorrectly in a crash. Rear seatbelt retractors may have loose or missing fasteners that prevent them from holding properly. On the brake side, a memory chip in the brake control module can fail and disable anti-lock brakes and electronic stability control. The electronic park lock may allow the ignition key to be removed while the transmission is still out of Park, leaving the vehicle free to roll. Malibu Hybrid models have an additional concern where a high-voltage battery switch issue can cause an unexpected stall. A lower-severity recall covers a radio that may not chime when the key is left in the ignition or when the driver's seatbelt is unfastened.
At a glance
What can fail
The rear seat belt retractors may have loose or missing fasteners, affecting their secure attachment to the vehicle.
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Driver Assistance
Ratings from NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program (NCAP).
Complaints are owner-reported and reflect individual experiences, not confirmed defects. They are distinct from recalls. Data sourced from the national vehicle safety complaint database. See trending complaints →
What the fix does
Dealers will inspect and tighten the rear seat belt retractors as needed at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The passenger detection system in the front seat may not be properly calibrated to your vehicle, so it cannot correctly tell the difference between an adult and a child passenger. This could prevent the air bag from deploying when needed or cause it to deploy unexpectedly.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the front passenger detection system seat service kit at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The high pressure fuel pump can separate from its mounting flange, potentially damaging the high pressure fuel line.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the high pressure fuel pump and fuel pipe at no cost.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The side-impact air bag cushion fabric may tear when the air bag deploys.
What the fix does
Dealers will inspect and replace the air bag module if needed, at no cost.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The manual service disconnect switch for the high-voltage battery may not be properly installed and could fail to lock into position, causing unexpected disconnection of high-voltage power while driving and stalling the vehicle.
What the fix does
Dealers will inspect the service disconnect switch and correct the installation as needed at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The electronic park lock lever may allow you to remove the ignition key even when the transmission is not in PARK, which can lead to unintended vehicle movement.
What the fix does
Dealers will inspect and replace the key cylinder lock housing if necessary, at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
A memory chip in the electronic brake control module can fail, causing loss of anti-lock brakes and electronic stability control.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the electronic brake control module at no charge.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The weld studs holding the front and rear side airbags may crack and separate from the airbag when it deploys.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the side airbag modules at no cost.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The driver frontal air bag may inflate improperly during its second stage of deployment in a high-speed crash.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the driver side frontal air bag module at no cost.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The radio may fail to sound warning chimes for an unremoved key in the ignition or unfastened seat belt.
What the fix does
Dealers will update the radio software at no cost to restore the warning chimes.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.