2016 Chevrolet Malibu reliability record
NHTSA consumer complaints and recall campaigns for the 2016 Chevrolet Malibu from the dataset labeled 2026. The source file does not provide an exact snapshot date. Use the reported issues to guide further checks; these counts do not establish failure rates or repair costs.
- NHTSA complaints
- 1,436
- Dataset year: 2026; snapshot day not provided
- Top problem area
- ENGINE
- 300 complaints
- Recalls on record
- 9
- see below
- Reported harm
- 39 reported crashes · 29 injuries · 3 deaths · 3 fires
How this record compares
raw NHTSA counts, not defect ratesCounts are not adjusted for vehicles sold, time in service or reporting frequency. A larger count does not establish a higher chance of failure, and these comparisons do not set the maintenance budget in our calculator.
Complaint rank
#189
of 4,194 vehicle records
Vs Chevrolet median
+1,128
median 308 across 473 Chevrolet records
Vs 2014-2018
+1,139
median 298 complaints in 596 records
Top component share
21%
Engine: 300 complaints
What owners report fails — 2016 Chevrolet Malibu
- ENGINE 300
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 220
- UNKNOWN OR OTHER 171
- POWER TRAIN 162
- VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 150
9 recalls on record for the 2016 Chevrolet Malibu
- NHTSA 21V649000 · 2021 · SEAT BELTS:REAR/OTHER:RETRACTOR An improperly secured seat belt retractor may not function properly in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
- NHTSA 18V358000 · 2018 · FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP A damaged fuel line can create a fuel leak, increasing the risk of a fire.
- NHTSA 18V400000 · 2018 · AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION In the event of a crash, improper air bag deployment can increase the risk of injury.
- NHTSA 16V084000 · 2016 · ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:SOFTWARE An unbelted driver is at a greater risk of injury in a crash.
- NHTSA 16V125000 · 2016 · AIR BAGS:FRONTAL An improperly inflated air bag increases the risk of injury.
Estimate the 5-year cost to own a 2016 Chevrolet Malibu
Build a separate budget with your purchase price, insurance quote, mileage and maintenance estimate. Complaint counts do not enter that calculation. Unknown local taxes and fees stay listed as costs to confirm.
Open TCO calculatorThese are unverified consumer reports and manufacturer recalls filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration — not validated defect rates, and not adjusted for how many 2016 Chevrolet Malibu units were produced or sold. High-volume and older vehicles naturally accumulate more complaints. Use this as one research signal, not a verdict on any individual vehicle. Dataset year: 2026; exact snapshot day not supplied. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (public domain).
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2016 Chevrolet Malibu reliable?
NHTSA has 1,436 consumer complaints on record for the 2016 Chevrolet Malibu and 9 recalls. The most-reported problem area is engine (300 reports). These are unverified consumer reports filed with the government, not validated failure rates, and are not adjusted for how many 2016 Chevrolet Malibu units were produced — popular vehicles naturally accumulate more reports.
What are the most common problems with the 2016 Chevrolet Malibu?
Owners most often report problems with: engine (300), electrical system (220), unknown or other (171), power train (162). Each figure is the number of complaints filed with NHTSA for this exact model year.
How much does it cost to own a 2016 Chevrolet Malibu?
This complaint dataset does not measure repair prices or predict a maintenance budget for the 2016 Chevrolet Malibu. Use your purchase price, insurance quotes, fuel use and a maintenance estimate in the separate five-year cost calculator. It does not convert complaint counts into repair costs, and any unknown taxes remain excluded and clearly listed.