Lemon Law Check › 2016 Chevrolet Malibu

2016 Chevrolet Malibu Problems, Recalls & Complaints

The 2016 Chevrolet Malibu has 9 NHTSA recall campaigns and 855 owner complaints filed with federal regulators, with complaints concentrated in power train. Owners whose Malibu has needed repeated repairs for the same warranty problem may qualify for a buyback or compensation under state lemon laws.

Most-reported problem areas

Complaint counts by vehicle system, from 855 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2016 Chevrolet Malibu:

Power train168 complaints
Electrical system165 complaints
Unknown or other106 complaints
Vehicle speed control97 complaints
Engine92 complaints
Service brakes53 complaints

What owners told federal regulators

"Tl* the contact owns a 2016 chevrolet malibu. while the vehicle was in drive and stationary, it stalled and the drive assist warning indicator illuminated. the steering wheel also seized. the vehicle was able to be restarted. the vehicle was not taken to a dealer or independen…"
— owner complaint filed with NHTSA, 12/31/2018
"The contact owns a 2016 chevrolet malibu. the contact stated while driving approximately 70 mph, the check engine warning light illuminated, and the rpm decreased by approximately 4,000 revs per minute. the contact was able to pull over to the shoulder and cruised until the ve…"
— owner complaint filed with NHTSA, 12/30/2021
"Often, when i shift my car to park, a warning comes up and indicates shift into park. it already is in park. i have to play around until it recognizes it. happens randomly. annoying."
— owner complaint filed with NHTSA, 12/30/2020

NHTSA recall campaigns (9)

Air bags:sensor:occupant classification
14/06/2018 · 18V400000
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2016-2018 Chevrolet Malibu vehicles. During servicing, a Passenger Presence System (PPS) may have been installed that was not correctly calibrated to the vehicle's seat type. As a result, th…
Fuel system, gasoline:delivery:fuel pump
31/05/2018 · 18V358000
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2015-2018 GMC Canyon, 2016-2017 Buick Envision, 2016-2018 Chevrolet Colorado and Malibu, 2017-2018 GMC Acadia, 2018 Buick LaCrosse, Cadillac ATS, Chevrolet Equinox, and GMC Terrain vehicles. …
Electronic stability control (esc)
05/05/2016 · 16V272000
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2016 Chevrolet Malibu vehicles manufactured March 7, 2016, through March 12, 2016. The memory chip in the electronic brake control module (EBCM) may fail and cause the loss of elec…
Air bags:side/window
26/10/2016 · 16V781000
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2016 Chevrolet Malibu vehicles manufactured November 18, 2015, to June 7, 2016. The fabric of the side-impact air bag cushion may tear during deployment.
Electrical system:ignition
05/07/2016 · 16V502000
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2016-2017 Buick Verano and 2016 Chevrolet Malibu as the electronic park lock lever may allow the ignition key to be removed without the transmission being in PARK. Also, certain 20…
Electrical system:software
11/02/2016 · 16V084000
Genera Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2016 Chevrolet Camaro, Malibu, Silverado and GMC Sierra vehicles. The radio may intermittently fail to provide an audio warning when the key has been left in the ignition and the do…

Recall repairs are performed free of charge at franchised dealers. Check your specific vehicle with the free VIN recall checker.

Has your Malibu been in the shop repeatedly?

If the same warranty problem has needed 2+ repair attempts — or your Malibu has spent 30+ days out of service — it may qualify for a buyback, replacement, or cash compensation under your state's lemon law. Manufacturers pay the legal fees in most states, so the case review costs you nothing.

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Frequently asked questions

What are the most common problems with the 2016 Chevrolet Malibu?

Based on 855 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the most-reported problem areas for the 2016 Chevrolet Malibu are power train, electrical system, unknown or other.

How many recalls does the 2016 Chevrolet Malibu have?

NHTSA lists 9 recall campaigns for the 2016 Chevrolet Malibu. Recall repairs are always free at franchised dealers regardless of warranty status.

Is the 2016 Chevrolet Malibu a lemon?

A specific vehicle qualifies as a lemon based on its own repair history, not the model's overall record. If your Malibu has had power train or other warranty problems repaired 2–4 times without success, or has spent 30+ days in the shop, it may qualify under your state's lemon law — attorneys evaluate this free of charge.

Researching this car as a buyer instead? Read the full Carivo review of the 2016 Chevrolet Malibu.

All recall and complaint figures on this page come directly from National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) federal records for this make, model, and year, fetched at page build time and cached daily. Complaint excerpts are owner-submitted reports to NHTSA, lightly truncated. Carivo is an independent data site, not a law firm; lemon law eligibility is determined solely by attorneys under your state's statute.