2016 Chevrolet Malibu vs 2016 Nissan Sentra
Complaints, recalls, TSBs, investigations and safety ratings side by side, from official federal data. Last verified Aug 8, 2026. Raw complaint counts are not adjusted for sales volume.
| Metric | 2016 Chevrolet Malibu | 2016 Nissan Sentra |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 835 | 267 |
| Recall campaigns | 9 | 6 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 1,547 | 197 |
| Investigations | 0 | 0 |
| Crash reports | 22 | 18 |
| Fire reports | 2 | 2 |
| NCAP overall rating | 5/5 | 4/5 |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 26–46 | 30–32 |
| Median reported incident mileage | 51,000 mi | 63,500 mi |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Chevrolet Malibu | Nissan Sentra |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | 301 | 47 |
| Power Train | 166 | 126 |
| Electrical System | 222 | 44 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 152 | 27 |
| Service Brakes | 94 | 18 |
| Electronic Stability Control (esc) | 76 | 10 |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 50 | 17 |
| Structure | 40 | 10 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Check engine light | 118 | 24 |
| Loss of power | 58 | 14 |
| Stalling | 40 | 37 |
| Vibration / shaking | 23 | 19 |
| Hesitation / surging | 14 | 14 |
| Misfire / rough idle | 12 | 0 |
| Won’t start | 9 | 0 |
| Water leaks | 9 | 0 |
2016 Chevrolet Malibu
2016 Nissan Sentra
Compare all Chevrolet Malibu vs Nissan Sentra 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.