2016 Chevrolet Malibu: Recalls, Problems & MPG
Here are the deets on the 2016 Chevrolet Malibu: 9 recalls, 837 owner complaints and up to 30 mpg combined.
Recalls
9 vehicle recalls from the manufacturer. Repairs are free. Check your VIN to see if one is still open on your car.
Electrical Vehicle recall #16V084000 · 2016 · 139 vehicles
What's wrong: 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. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standards (fmvss) number 114, "theft protection", and/or 208, "occupant crash protection."
Why it matters: An unbelted driver is at a greater risk of injury in a crash.
The fix: Gm will notify owners, and dealers will update the radio software, free of charge. The recall began on March 14, 2016.
Airbags Vehicle recall #16V125000 · 2016 · 1,579 vehicles
What's wrong: The driver frontal air bag May improperly inflate during second-stage deployment in the event of a high speed crash.
Why it matters: An improperly inflated air bag increases the risk of injury.
The fix: 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.
Airbags Vehicle recall #16V151000 · 2016 · 3,137 vehicles
What's wrong: The two weld studs that mount the front and rear side impact air bags May fracture and separate from the air bag during deployment. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (fmvss) no. 214, "side impact protection."
Why it matters: Fractured weld studs May allow the side air bag to move out of position during deployment, increasing the risk of injury.
The fix: Gm will notify owners, and dealers will replace the side air bag modules, free of charge. The recall began on April 14, 2016.
Stability control Vehicle recall #16V272000 · 2016 · 66 vehicles
What's wrong: 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). As such, these vehicles fail to conform to Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (fmvss) number 126, "electronic stability control systems."
Why it matters: 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 fix: Gm will notify owners, and dealers will install a replacement ebcm, free of charge. The recall began on June 17, 2016.
Electrical, Transmission & drivetrain Vehicle recall #16V502000 · 2016 · 8,367 vehicles
What's wrong: 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. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (fmvss) number 114, "theft protection…
Why it matters: If the key is removed without the transmission in park, the vehicle May rollaway as occupants are exiting, increasing the risk of injury.
The fix: 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.
Airbags Vehicle recall #16V781000 · 2016 · 18 vehicles
What's wrong: The fabric of the side-impact air bag cushion May tear during deployment.
Why it matters: 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.
The fix: 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.
Fuel system Vehicle recall #18V358000 · 2018 · 895 vehicles
What's wrong: The high pressure fuel pump May detach from its mounting flange, possibly resulting in the pump damaging the high pressure fuel line.
Why it matters: A damaged fuel line can create a fuel leak, increasing the risk of a fire.
The fix: 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.
Airbags Vehicle recall #18V400000 · 2018 · 66 vehicles
What's wrong: 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, the pps May not properly identify an adult passenger from a child passenger in the front passenger seat, potentially causing the air bag to not deploy when it should, or causing the air bag to deploy when it shouldn't.
Why it matters: In the event of a crash, improper air bag deployment can increase the risk of injury.
The fix: Gm will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger pps seat service kit, free of charge. The recall began August 7, 2018.
Seat belts, Seat belts Vehicle recall #21V649000 · 2021 · 402 vehicles
What's wrong: The rear seat belt retractors May be improperly secured with loose or missing fasteners.
Why it matters: An improperly secured seat belt retractor May not function properly in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
The fix: Dealers will inspect and tighten the rear seat belt retractors, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on September 17, 2021.
Most-reported problems
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component. One complaint can list several components. 2 mention a fire, 14 injuries and 1 deaths were reported.
What owners describe
- Engine (302): the most common themes are warning light on (111), stalls / loses power (57).
- Electrical (222): the most common themes are electrical failure (67), stalls / loses power (56).
- Other / unknown (174): the most common themes are electrical failure (26), stalls / loses power (23).
- Transmission & drivetrain (166): the most common themes are hard / delayed shifting (97), warning light on (45), stalls / loses power (36).
The 2016 Chevrolet Malibu has 837 owner complaints, ranking #12 of 29 Malibu model years for complaints (about average; the typical year has 667). Complaints peaked in 2019 (199 filed that year). The typical problem showed up when the car was about 4 years old, at a median of 50,000 miles. Neighboring years: 2015 (270 complaints, 3 recalls), 2017 (703 complaints, 4 recalls).
Engines & fuel economy (EPA)
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | City | Hwy | Comb. | Fuel |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.5 L 4-cyl turbo | Automatic 6-spd | Front-Wheel Drive | 27 | 36 | 30 | Regular |
| 2.0 L 4-cyl turbo | Automatic (S8) | Front-Wheel Drive | 22 | 32 | 26 | Regular |
Want the full repair deets? Get the factory manual.
Recall and complaint data tells you what goes wrong. A service manual tells you how to fix it: torque specs, wiring diagrams, fluid capacities and step-by-step procedures for the 2016 Chevrolet Malibu.
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Most $25–$78, one-timePro-shop repair procedures, wiring diagrams and TSBs for your exact car.
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FAQ
Does the 2016 Chevrolet Malibu have any recalls?
Yes. NHTSA lists 9 vehicle recalls for the 2016 Chevrolet Malibu. Recall repairs are free at any dealer, no matter how old the car is. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What are the most common 2016 Chevrolet Malibu problems?
Owners have filed 837 complaints with NHTSA. The most-reported areas are engine (302), electrical (222), other / unknown (174).
What gas mileage does the 2016 Chevrolet Malibu get?
EPA ratings run up to 30 mpg combined (1.5 L, Automatic 6-spd), across 2 engine and transmission combos.
Where can I get a 2016 Chevrolet Malibu repair manual?
eManualOnline sells downloadable manuals, Mitchell 1 DIY and ALLDATAdiy sell online access to factory repair data, and Haynes sells printed guides and online access. Pick a download if you want to keep it, or a subscription for wiring diagrams and TSBs.