2016 Chevrolet Malibu reliability record
Every consumer complaint and recall the U.S. government (NHTSA) has on file for the 2016 Chevrolet Malibu — the repair risk behind the ownership cost.
- NHTSA complaints
- 1,436
- 529 in the last 5 years
- Top problem area
- ENGINE
- 300 complaints
- Recalls on record
- 9
- see below
- Reported harm
- 39 reported crashes · 29 injuries · 3 deaths · 3 fires
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
A vehicle's complaint record hints at the repair and maintenance budget you'll need. Add your state, purchase price, and mileage to the TCO calculator for the full picture.
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. Data as of 2026. 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?
Ownership cost depends on your state taxes, insurance, fuel, and the maintenance the vehicle's reliability record implies. Use the CarOutlay 5-year TCO calculator to estimate the full cost including the repair risk this complaint record suggests.