The 2016 Chevy Malibu is at that awkward age where problems are becoming more prevalent, and the midsize car has fallen out of manufacturer warranty. While its issues are relatively few, they are concerning, and it’s down to the driver to cover repairs.
Key Points
- The 2016 Chevrolet Malibu‘s engine is the biggest source of complaints with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), with many drivers experiencing sudden speed reduction. The issue has not resulted in a recall.
- A recall was issued for 66 units with faulty electronic stability control, but these recalled units are outnumbered by 74 ESC complaints currently on file with the NHTSA.
- Airbag issues have resulted in four recalls, but the units affected number fewer than 4,500 total.
2016 Chevy Malibu’s Speed May Suddenly Drop on the Highway, Leaving Owners Scrambling to Get off the Road
Out of 605 complaints on the NHTSA website, over 200 are categorized under “Engine,” 37 under “Fuel and Propulsion,” 117 under “Vehicle Speed Control,” and 119 under “Powertrain.” No matter how you tally it up, it all points to problems under the hood.
The clearest pattern among these complaints: you’re driving at highway speeds, then you get a message on your dashboard warning of a reduction in engine power, the car slows to 20 mph, and you need to hurry up and get your vehicle off the road before someone rear ends you. Look through the complaints and you’ll see pretty much that exact chain of events over and over with very little variation.
There have been a few technical service bulletins issued for vehicle speed control problems, but not for this one in particular. There have been no investigations on the matter, either, and there have been no recalls.
According to NHTSA reports, the speed reduction problem may be a recurring issue. Or it may only happen now and then. Or it may happen just once, and never again. The incident has mostly been reported in conventional gas engine models, but there is at least one complaint on file from a hybrid driver.
Many of these point to a software issue, but, for the time being, there’s no official answer and no official solution on the books. With the 2016 Malibus now falling out of warranty, if this grows into a more severe problem, the repair bills will be coming out of the driver’s pocket. While this issue might not be common enough to turn you off of a 2016 Malibu entirely, it’s at least something worth considering when you hit the used car lot.
Stabilitrak Faulty Braking System Recall may not Cover All Affected 2016 Malibu Owners
The 2016 Malibu has had quite a few issues with its electrical system, numbering 157 complaints, and with the Stabilitrak system in particular, with 74 complaints on file for electronic stability control.
The specific complaints are all over the place, but collectively they simply point to “bad wiring.” Some drivers have reported that they may see an ABS warning light, and then their service brakes fail to engage. Others experience difficulty in acceleration or deceleration. More than a few drivers report going into the dealership and being told that the battery needs to be replaced, only for the problems to recur shortly thereafter.
GM did issue a recall for the Stabilitrak problems, specifically for the issue involving the ESC braking system failing to engage, but this recall only covered 66 vehicles in total, while ESC complaints number 74.
Two other recalls addressed a pair of electrical problems, one in February 2016 for the potential failure of the seatbelt reminder chimes in 139 units, and one in June of that year for the ignition key being able to be removed with the car in motion in 8,367 units.
2016 Chevy Malibu has Lots of Mostly Minor Airbag Recalls, Affecting Less than 4,500 Units Total
The 2016 Chevrolet Malibu has been recalled no fewer than four times for the airbags, but these recalls have affected a fairly small number of units.
In March 2016, just over 1,500 GM vehicles were recalled, including several Colorados and Canyons, for improper inflation of front driver airbags. That same month, just over 3,000 2016 Malibus were recalled for fractured weld studs which could allow the side airbags to move out of position.
In October 2016, 18 units were recalled for fabric tears in the side airbags, and in June 2018, the car’s passenger presence system was seen to prevent airbag deployment in 66 2016-2018 Malibus.
Total, we’re looking at well under 4,500 units that have been affected by airbag recalls. With Chevrolet having sold close to a quarter-million Malibus in 2016, this means that your odds of being affected by an airbag recall are somewhere around one in fifty. Be that as it may, unaddressed airbag issues are the last thing you want when driving on the highway. So, if you’re buying a used Malibu, make sure to check the VIN and find out if your car was included in any of these recalls.
2016 Chevrolet Malibu is Still Worth a Buy, But Only if You Know the Risk
There are far more problematic cars out there than the 2016 Chevrolet Malibu. Repair Pal suggests that the car should cost you an average of $565 a year to keep running, which ain’t bad at all. Some of the issues we’ve listed here can be quite severe, but the rate of incidence is pretty low, with fewer than 700 complaints on a five-year-old car.
But, the car’s biggest problems have not been addressed by a recall, and if you’re buying a 2016 right now, you’re not going to be able to get it protected under Chevrolet’s CPO warranty program.
In short: your odds of being affected by any of the car’s worst issues are slim. But if it does happen, you’re on your own. If that makes you anxious, you might feel a little safer in a certified pre-owned 2018.
Photos: Chevrolet
