2016 Chevrolet Malibu Reliability & Recall Report
Based on 9 NHTSA recalls and 865 owner complaints. All data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — free, no signup required.
F
19/100
Very High Reported Activity — 2016 Chevrolet Malibu
The 2016 Chevrolet Malibu shows very high recall and complaint activity in NHTSA data. Counts are raw and are higher for popular models, so see how we score this below. Review the issues and recalls carefully, and have the vehicle inspected before buying.
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9
NHTSA Recalls
9 recalls on record
865
Owner Complaints
Filed with NHTSA
24
Crash Reports
2 fire reports
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NHTSA Recalls — 2016 Chevrolet Malibu (9)
All recalls listed below must be repaired by an authorized Chevrolet dealer at no charge to the owner.
🔧 Air Bags: Sensor: Occupant Classification
In the event of a crash, improper air bag deployment can increase the risk of injury.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger PPS seat service kit, free of charge. The recall began August 7, 2018. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service…
🔧 Fuel System, Gasoline: Delivery: Fuel Pump
A damaged fuel line can create a fuel leak, increasing the risk of a fire.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the high pressure fuel pump, and high pressure fuel pipe, free of charge. The recall began July 2, 2018. Owners may contact…
🔧 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.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will install a replacement EBCM, free of charge. The recall began on June 17, 2016. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020). GM's…
🔧 Air Bags: Side/Window
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.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and, as necessary, replace the air bag module, free of charge. The recall began October 27, 2016. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer…
🔧 Electrical System: Ignition
If the key is removed without the transmission in PARK, the vehicle may rollaway as occupants are exiting, increasing the risk of injury.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and if necessary replace the key cylinder lock housing, free of charge. The recall began on October 14, 2016. Owners may contact…
🔧 Electrical System: Software
An unbelted driver is at a greater risk of injury in a crash.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will update the radio software, free of charge. The recall began on March 14, 2016. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, or…
🔧 Air Bags: Side/Window
Fractured weld studs may allow the side air bag to move out of position during deployment, increasing the risk of injury.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the side air bag modules, free of charge. The recall began on April 14, 2016. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at…
🔧 Air Bags: Frontal
An improperly inflated air bag increases the risk of injury.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver side frontal air bag module, free of charge. The recall began on April 14, 2016. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer…
🔧 Seat Belts: Critical Fasteners
An improperly secured seat belt retractor may not function properly in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and tighten the rear seat belt retractors, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on September 17, 2021. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service…
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Most Common Problems — 2016 Chevrolet Malibu
Based on 865 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. Bars show relative complaint frequency.
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Chevrolet Malibu — Complaints by Year
A spike means more owner complaints were filed for that model year. The 2016 model year is highlighted.
→ Recently checked Chevrolet Malibu VINs — free recall, safety and specs report for any VIN.
→ Decode a Chevrolet VIN — free Chevrolet VIN decoder guide: where to find the VIN and what each part means.
⚠ Higher-complaint years: 2010 — These model years have more owner complaints in NHTSA data than the other years compared.
✅ Best model years: 2015, 2019, 2020 — Lowest complaint rates for this model.
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Frequently Asked Questions — 2016 Chevrolet Malibu
Is the 2016 Chevrolet Malibu reliable?
Based on NHTSA data, the 2016 Chevrolet Malibu has 9 recall campaigns and 865 owner complaints. This model year shows elevated recall or complaint activity — review the details and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.
How many recalls does the 2016 Chevrolet Malibu have?
The 2016 Chevrolet Malibu has 9 NHTSA recalls. Affected systems include: see recall details above. All recalls are repaired free at authorized dealers.
What are the most common problems with the 2016 Chevrolet Malibu?
The most commonly reported problems for the 2016 Chevrolet Malibu are: Power Train, Electrical System, Unknown Or Other, Vehicle Speed Control. See the complaint breakdown above for full details.
Is the 2016 Chevrolet Malibu safe to buy?
The 2016 Chevrolet Malibu has some safety and reliability items to review before buying. Ensure all 9 recalls are completed at a dealer. A pre-purchase inspection by an independent mechanic is strongly recommended.
What year Chevrolet Malibu should I buy?
Based on NHTSA complaint data, the best years for the Chevrolet Malibu are: 2015, 2019, 2020. These show the lowest complaint rates. Years with higher complaint counts: 2010.
How we score this: The score starts at 100 and subtracts points for the number of NHTSA recall campaigns and owner complaints filed for this model year, and for complaints that report crashes or fires. Newer model years get a small bonus because they have had less time to collect reports. These are raw counts and are not adjusted for how many vehicles were sold, so popular models tend to have more recalls and complaints. Complaints are unverified owner reports. This grade is not a prediction about any individual vehicle and is not an inspection: check a specific car’s VIN for open recalls and get an independent pre-purchase inspection.
Data source: All recall and complaint data is sourced directly from the
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public API. Data is cached and refreshed every 7 days. Recall and complaint counts reflect data available at the time of last cache update.
For the most current recall status on a specific vehicle, enter the VIN above or visit
NHTSA.gov/recalls.