2016 Buick Lacrosse vs 2016 Chevrolet Malibu
Complaints, recalls, TSBs, investigations and safety ratings side by side, from official federal data. Last verified Aug 7, 2026. Raw complaint counts are not adjusted for sales volume.
| Metric | 2016 Buick Lacrosse | 2016 Chevrolet Malibu |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 46 | 835 |
| Recall campaigns | 2 | 9 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 1,239 | 1,547 |
| Investigations | 0 | 0 |
| Crash reports | 4 | 22 |
| Fire reports | 2 | 2 |
| NCAP overall rating | — | 5/5 |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 20–21 | 26–46 |
| Median reported incident mileage | 40,000 mi | 51,000 mi |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Buick Lacrosse | Chevrolet Malibu |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | 3 | 301 |
| Electrical System | 2 | 222 |
| Power Train | 7 | 166 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 6 | 152 |
| Service Brakes | 4 | 94 |
| Electronic Stability Control (esc) | 0 | 76 |
| Steering | 12 | 42 |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 2 | 50 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Check engine light | 0 | 118 |
| Loss of power | 0 | 58 |
| Stalling | 0 | 40 |
| Vibration / shaking | 0 | 23 |
| Hesitation / surging | 0 | 14 |
| Misfire / rough idle | 0 | 12 |
| Won’t start | 0 | 9 |
| Water leaks | 0 | 9 |
2016 Buick Lacrosse
2016 Chevrolet Malibu
Compare all Buick Lacrosse vs Chevrolet Malibu years →
Method. Complaints are unique NHTSA reports. A vehicle that sold more units will naturally accumulate more complaints — use shares and read the underlying reports before drawing conclusions.