2016 Chevrolet Malibu Engine Problems

NHTSA component category: ENGINE · data through 07/14/2026

301Engine complaints

36.1%Of all 834 complaints

#1Most-reported category

Source: U.S. NHTSA complaint data. Complaints are unverified reports from vehicle owners — a complaint is not a confirmed defect.

How engine ranks on this vehicle

ENGINE301 · 36.1%

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM220 · 26.4%

Unspecified / other172 · 20.6%

POWER TRAIN162 · 19.4%

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL150 · 18%

Share of the 834 complaints citing each category; one complaint can cite several. Full breakdown on the 2016 Chevrolet Malibu overview page.

What owners report

“IN FEBRUARY 2016 I HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP OF PURCHASE THE NIGHT BEFORE I WAS DRIVING ON A PUBLIC STREET I CAME…”NHTSA complaint 11101259 — filed 06/11/2018

“THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE WOULD SUDDENLY DECELERATE AND THE "ENGINE POWER REDUCED" MESSAGE DISPLAYED. THE VEHICLE…”NHTSA complaint 11096366 — filed 05/16/2018

“TAKATA RECALL: I'VE BEEN HAVING AN ISSUE WITH MY 2016 MALIBU IT WILL STOP AND TAKE A FEW MINUTES TO START UP. WHILE DRIVING IT…”NHTSA complaint 11089060 — filed 04/20/2018

Excerpts are shortened and scrubbed of personal details; they are individual, unverified reports.

Engine complaints by year filed

Frequently asked questions

Does the 2016 Chevrolet Malibu have engine problems?

Engine is the most-reported problem area on the 2016 Chevrolet Malibu: 301 of 834 complaints on file (36.1%). Complaints are unverified owner reports, not confirmed defects.

How many complaints does the 2016 Chevrolet Malibu have in total?

834 complaints were on file with NHTSA as of 07/14/2026. Across all categories, 22 involved a crash, 2 involved a fire, 14 reported injuries, and 1 reported deaths.

What does NHTSA's engine category include?

NHTSA assigns each complaint to standard component categories; this page reports the ENGINE category exactly as NHTSA defines and records it.

About this data — Complaint figures on this page are consumer reports submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), a U.S. government agency. NHTSA does not verify individual complaints; a complaint is not proof that a defect exists, and counts reflect what owners chose to report, not confirmed failure rates. Recall information comes from official NHTSA safety recall campaigns; recall repairs are free at authorized dealers. Always check your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. CarModelProblems.com is an independent site and is not affiliated with NHTSA or any vehicle manufacturer. Data through 07/14/2026.