Vehicle Data Hub

2016 Chevrolet Malibu engine problems

306 complaints about engine have been filed for the 2016 Chevrolet Malibu, which is 21% of all its NHTSA complaints. It is the most reported problem area for this model year.

At a glance

Complaints
306 21% of this year's complaints
Typical mileage
53,000 miles 174 complaints with mileage
Crashes and fires
5 and 1
Injuries and deaths
7 and 1

Source: NHTSA owner complaints

When engine problems show up

Engine complaints by mileage, 2016 Chevrolet Malibu Complaints by odometer reading in 20,000-mile steps. The median is about 53,000 miles. 0k to 20k miles: 18 complaints 20k to 40k miles: 36 complaints 40k to 60k miles: 42 complaints 60k to 80k miles: 35 complaints 80k to 100k miles: 24 complaints 100k to 120k miles: 5 complaints 120k to 140k miles: 3 complaints 140k to 160k miles: 4 complaints 160k to 180k miles: 5 complaints 180k to 200k miles: 1 complaints 200k+ miles: 1 complaints 040k80k120k160k200k miles Typical: 53,000 miles
Based on 174 complaints that include mileage. 55% were reported before 60,000 miles. The amber marker shows the median: half of these complaints happened before that mileage.
View the numbers
MileageComplaints
0k to 20k miles18
20k to 40k miles36
40k to 60k miles42
60k to 80k miles35
80k to 100k miles24
100k to 120k miles5
120k to 140k miles3
140k to 160k miles4
160k to 180k miles5
180k to 200k miles1
200k+ miles1

What the data shows

Of the 174 engine complaints that report mileage, the median is about 52,000 miles, and 55% were reported before 60,000 miles.

These complaints mention 5 crashes, 1 fire, 7 injuries, 1 death.

What owners wrote

Engine power reduced defect, causing affected models to lose power while driving at highway speeds. My son’s was driving 55 mph and then all of sudden the car decelerated to 20 mph in minutes before his 2016 Malibu stalled on [XXX]. Unfortunately the car did not make it to the emergency lane and as a result a SUV hit his car killing my daughter who was 33 weeks pregnant. The baby survived with lifelong injuries.

January 2024 CrashInjuryDeath

Tl* the contact owns a 2016 chevrolet malibu. While operating the vehicle, the stabilitrak indicator illuminated. Also, after turning the ignition off, the engine continued to operate for approximately 30 seconds. Upon restarting the vehicle, it drove very roughly and would not accelerate properly. The vehicle was taken to red lion chevrolet (3220 cape horn rd, red lion, pa) where it was diagnosed that the engine was faulty and needed to be replaced. The engine was replaced.

Reported at 20,000 miles, March 2017

Other problems reported for the 2016 Chevrolet Malibu

Engine problems in other years

Engine problems across all Chevrolet models