The 2016 Chevrolet Malibu's high safety profile includes 6 recall campaigns and 846 owner-reported complaints. Make recall verification part of your pre-purchase checklist.

Recalls

846

Complaints

Crashes

Fires

Recall Findings

16V5020002016-05-07

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION

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 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 and Rollaway Prevention."

If the key is removed without the transmission in PARK, the vehicle may rollaway as occupants are exiting, increasing the risk of injury.

View at NHTSA

18V4000002018-14-06

AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION

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, 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.

In the event of a crash, improper air bag deployment can increase the risk of injury.

View at NHTSA

16V2720002016-05-05

ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)

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 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."

If the EBCM fails the primary braking system will still function, however, the loss of ABS and ESC increase the risk of a crash.

View at NHTSA

View all 6 recalls

16V7810002016-26-10

AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW

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.

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.

View at NHTSA

16V1510002016-11-03

AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2016 Malibu vehicles manufactured February 16, 2016, to March 5, 2016. 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."

Fractured weld studs may allow the side air bag to move out of position during deployment, increasing the risk of injury.

View at NHTSA

21V6490002021-20-08

SEAT BELTS:CRITICAL FASTENERS

General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2016-2021 Chevrolet Malibu and 2019-2021 Cadillac XT4 vehicles. 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.

View at NHTSA

Source: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)

Top Complaint Areas

The 2016 Chevrolet Malibu has accumulated 846 NHTSA complaints over 1 years, with engine leading the pack. Know what to look for before you buy.

01Engine80

02Unknown Or Other75

03Power Train56

04Electrical System46

05Vehicle Speed Control38

846 total across 1 model years (2016–2016)Full data at NHTSA.gov

Chevrolet Malibu Fuel Economy

26–46mpg combined

22-47city

32-46hwy

$1,450-$2,600/yr

With 4 configurations tested, the 2016 Chevrolet Malibu ranges from 26 to 46 MPG combined. That's a 20 MPG gap that can add up to hundreds of dollars a year in fuel costs.

By Trim

Malibu Hybrid - Automatic (variable gear ratios)

46mpg

1.8L 4-cyl · Front-Wheel Drive

47 city46 hwy~$1,450/yr10/10 Clean

Malibu - Automatic 6-spd

30mpg

1.5L 4-cyl Turbo · Front-Wheel Drive

27 city36 hwy~$2,250/yr7/10 Clean

Malibu Limited - Automatic (S6)

27mpg

2.5L 4-cyl · Front-Wheel Drive

23 city33 hwy~$2,500/yr6/10 Average

Malibu - Automatic (S8)

26mpg

2.0L 4-cyl Turbo · Front-Wheel Drive

22 city32 hwy~$2,600/yr6/10 Average

Source: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

Where to Find 2016 Chevrolet Malibu

39States

21%in top 3

If you're near Texas, you're in luck: 8% of listings are there. But with 39 states represented, there's likely one near you too.

TXTexas

4918%

FLFlorida

3766%

MIMichigan

3366%

ILIllinois

3256%

MOMissouri

2755%

CACalifornia

2604%

DCWashington DC

2484%

NCNorth Carolina

2304%

INIndiana

2234%

PAPennsylvania

2164%

AZArizona

2154%

MDMaryland

2074%

GAGeorgia

1833%

OHOhio

1623%

DEDelaware

1573%

OKOklahoma

1412%

TNTennessee

1182%

WIWisconsin

1142%

WAWashington

1052%

NY101

MN93

VA92

AL77

KY77

NE76

NJ73

CO72

UT70

KS63

OR54

NV53

SC52

IA51

NH51

LA50

RI42

NM38

MA33

ID30

Geographic distribution reflects all active listings for this model, not just 2016.

2016 Chevrolet Malibu: Questions Buyers Ask

Pricing, reliability, and ownership answers

Is the 2016 Chevrolet Malibu a good car to buy?

The 2016 Chevrolet Malibu has its strengths and its watch-outs. 6 recalls have been issued, so verify completion with the dealer. Owners report engine as the area to watch most closely. Check the safety section for recall details and the pricing data to see if the numbers work for you.

Are there recalls on the 2016 Chevrolet Malibu?

Yes, 6 recalls on record. The good news: recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Check the safety report for specifics, and always run the VIN before buying.

What's the gas mileage of the 2016 Chevrolet Malibu?

Depending on configuration, the 2016 Chevrolet Malibu delivers 26–46 MPG combined. Choose wisely. The full comparison shows how engine choice affects your wallet.

What are common problems with the 2016 Chevrolet Malibu?

Out of 846 owner complaints, engine issues lead the pack. Get a pre-purchase inspection that specifically covers this area. The known issues breakdown has all the details.

How does the 2016 compare to other Chevrolet Malibu years?

Each Chevrolet Malibu model year has different pricing, recall counts, and owner satisfaction patterns. Compare all available years on the Chevrolet Malibu overview page.