2016 Chevrolet Malibu power train problems
166 owner complaints filed with NHTSA name the power train on the 2016 Chevrolet Malibu — 20% of all complaints for this model year.
What owners report
“My car will rev up to 4000 rpm’s and my car will not go about 20 mph. My cruise stopped working after my car went into reduce engine power. The dealership said they fixed all issues but was back to doing the high rev within a week. It started this week telling me to shift to park even though my car…”
filed Mar 21, 2026
“I am reporting a recurring safety defect related to GM’s known “Shift to Park” issue. My vehicle displays a “Shift to Park” warning even when the vehicle is already in park, preventing the car from shutting off properly and creating a safety risk. This issue has been widely reported and associated…”
filed Jan 2, 2026
Verbatim excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA. Reports are not independently verified.
Power Train problems in other Malibu years
| Year | Reports | Share |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 Malibu | 5 | 13% |
| 2023 Malibu | 8 | 12% |
| 2022 Malibu | 23 | 24% |
| 2021 Malibu | 28 | 32% |
| 2020 Malibu | 58 | 29% |
| 2019 Malibu | 66 | 35% |
| 2018 Malibu | 169 | 24% |
| 2017 Malibu | 139 | 20% |
| 2015 Malibu | 31 | 11% |
| 2014 Malibu | 52 | 15% |
| 2013 Malibu | 53 | 6% |
| 2012 Malibu | 49 | 5% |
Other reported problem areas on the 2016 Chevrolet Malibu
Counts are unique NHTSA complaints naming this component group. Complaints are unverified owner reports; mileage is computed only from complaints that included a usable odometer reading.