2016 Chevrolet MALIBU HYBRID: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
24 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
28,609 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2016 model year. Data snapshot: . 14 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Electrical System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 11 of 24 complaints (45.8%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 8 | 33.3% |
| Engine operation | 6 | 25.0% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 6 | 25.0% |
| Transmission and shifting | 4 | 16.7% |
| Steering behavior | 2 | 8.3% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Electrical System | 11 |
| Engine | 8 |
| Power Train | 8 |
| Unknown Or Other | 6 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 4 |
| Service Brakes | 3 |
| Vehicle Speed Control:Accelerator Pedal | 2 |
| Electronic Stability Control (Esc) | 1 |
Electrical System: 11; Engine: 8; Power Train: 8; Unknown Or Other: 6; Vehicle Speed Control: 4; Service Brakes: 3; Vehicle Speed Control:Accelerator Pedal: 2; Electronic Stability Control (Esc): 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 5 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 6 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 2 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 1 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 5; 25,000 to 49,999: 6; 50,000 to 74,999: 2; 75,000 to 99,999: 1; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 0
25,000 to 49,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (6). 10 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2017 | 2 |
| 2018 | 3 |
| 2019 | 4 |
| 2020 | 2 |
| 2021 | 4 |
| 2022 | 2 |
| 2024 | 3 |
| 2025 | 4 |
2017: 2; 2018: 3; 2019: 4; 2020: 2; 2021: 4; 2022: 2; 2024: 3; 2025: 4
Pattern summary
Electrical System leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 8 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 6 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 6 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10958850 · 2017-03-06 (March 6, 2017)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 CHEVROLET MALIBU HYBRID. WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE RESTARTED INDEPENDENTLY AFTER FIVE SECONDS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT THE ECM MAY HAVE POSSIBLY FAILED. THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED. AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED, A LOUD ABNORMAL NOISE EMITTED FROM THE TRANSMISSION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER WHERE THE COMPUTER SYSTEMS WERE FLASHED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. IN ADDITION, THE SENSORS BECAME…
Owner-reported narrative. 9,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10958850 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11004222 · 2017-07-11 (July 11, 2017)
VEHICLE IN MOTION IN LEFT HAND LANE, ON 5 LANE MAIN ROAD DURING RUSH HOUR, TRAFFIC GOING APPROX. 35 MPH. AS I WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE STALLED, ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND A WARNING MESSAGE SAID THE VEHICLE WAS "SLOWING DOWN" (IT STALLED COMPLETELY). I WAS UNABLE TO DRIFT INTO THE RIGHT LANE AND FORCED TO ABANDON MY CAR INTO THE CENTER LANE - USED FOR MERGING FROM OTHER LANES OF TRAFFIC. POLICE RESPONDED BUT NO REPORT WAS FILED. OFFICER SUGGESTED I LEAVE THE VEHICLE FOR MY OWN SAFETY & WHEN TOW TRUCK ARRIVED TO REQUEST THE AUTO BE TOWED TO A SAFE S…
Owner-reported narrative. 9,857 miles reported. Look up ODI 11004222 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11088391 · 2018-04-16 (April 16, 2018)
DRIVING HOME, TURNED OFF HIGHWAY, CAR STOPPED A FEW FEET ONTO SIDE ROAD--NO BRAKES, STEERING, NOTHING. THE ICON FOR THE CHECK ENGINE CAME ON AND STAYED ON.(MANUAL SAYS IT IS THE MALFUNCTION INDICATOR LAMP.) TURNED CAR OFF AND TRIED TO RESTART TO PUT CAR IN DRIVE. NO LUCK.; CALLED FOR A TOW. WAITED ALMOST 2 HOURS. TOWED HOME. THIS WAS IN THE EVENING. PRESENTLY WAITING FOR ANOTHER TOW TO A CHEVY DEALERSHIP, THE FOLLOWING DAY IN THE AFTERNOON.
Owner-reported narrative. 30,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11088391 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11120561 · 2018-08-17 (August 17, 2018)
5/4/2018 TOOK THE CAR TO SERVICE A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. THEY REPROGRAMED THE HYBRID POWERTRAIN CONTROL MODULE 2 - PER A FACTORY SERVICE BULLETIN BUT IT DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM, LIGHT CAME BACK ON. 5/26/2018 - 100 DEGREES. CAR SHUT DOWN WHILE DRIVING STRAIGHT AT 40 MPH ON CITY STREET. RESTARTED IN SOME KIND OF DEFAULT MODE WITHOUT EV COMPONENTS AFTER 30 MIN. NEXT DAY IT WORKED FINE. 8/12/2018 - 86 DEGREES. CAR SHUT DOWN WHILE DRIVING STRAIGHT ON CITY STREET GOING 30MPH. RESTARTED AND DROVE FINE BUT LATER THE SAME DAY AFTER STARTING THE …
Owner-reported narrative. 9,400 miles reported. Look up ODI 11120561 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11154550 · 2018-11-28 (November 28, 2018)
WATER FOUND IN REAR COMPARTMENT AND/OR REAR PASSENGER FLOOR AREA, LEAKING FROM THIRD BRAKE LIGHT AREA AND.OR REAR WINDOW. THE CAUSE OF THE CONDITION MAY BE THAT OVER TIME, THE CENTER HIGH MOUNT STOP LAMP (CHMSL) FASTENERS MAY LOSE TORQUE AND ALLOW WATER TO LEAK INTO THE REAR COMPARTMENT OR FLOOR AREA. THE FASTENERS MAY LOSE TORQUE DUE TO THERMAL EXPANSION AND CONTRACTION OF THE CHMSL MATERIAL
Owner-reported narrative. 40,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11154550 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11165602 · 2019-01-03 (January 3, 2019)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 29-34 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND "REDUCED ENGINE POWER" APPEARED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE CONTACT HAD TO WAIT A FEW MINUTES BEFORE THE VEHICLE WOULD RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO SOUTH BUCKNER CHEVROLET (9301 EARL THORNTON FREEWAY, DALLAS, TX 75228, [phone removed]) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEFECTIVE. A NEW ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS INSTALLED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 27,218.
Owner-reported narrative. 27,218 miles reported. Look up ODI 11165602 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11181585 · 2019-02-21 (February 21, 2019)
COMING OFF THE HWY MY VEHICLE SLOWED DOWN FROM 55 MPH TO ABOUT 40 MPH FAIRLY FAST THANKFULLY NO ONE WAS BEHIND ME. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON, TRIED PRESSING ON THE PEDALS BUT VEHICLE WAS NOT SPEEDING UP AT ALL. THE TRACTION LIGHT ALSO CAME UP. TOOK IT TO CHEVY DEALER RIGHT AWAY AND THEY SAID IT WAS THE ACCELERATOR SENSOR NOT COMMUNICATING WITH THE SYSTEM. TOOK ABOUT A WEEK TO GET MY CAR BACK FROM THE DEALERSHIP.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11181585 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11194372 · 2019-04-06 (April 6, 2019)
VEHICLE STALLED ON HIGHWAY WHILE DRIVING AT SPEED ON TWO DIFFERENT OCCASIONS DESPITE SERVICING AFTER THE FIRST INCIDENT. BOTH TIMES, POP UP ALERT SAYS "SHIFT TO PARK" AND THEN "ENGINE HAS REDUCED POWER" AFTER WHICH THE GAS PEDAL NO LONGER WORKS. AFTER PULLING TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, THERE WAS A LOW BATTERY ALERT.
Owner-reported narrative. 17,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11194372 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
1 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
16V521000 · Hybrid Propulsion System
Reported: 2016-07-08 (July 8, 2016)
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2016 Malibu Hybrid vehicles manufactured October 27, 2015, to June 3, 2016. The affected vehicles have a shut-off switch for the high voltage battery for use when servicing the vehicle. This manual service disconnect switch (MSD) may not be properly installed and thus may not lock into position, unexpectedly disconnecting the high-voltage power while driving, effectively stalling the vehicle.
Consequence: A vehicle stall increases the risk of a crash.
Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the MSD and correct the installation, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on August 10, 2016. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is 51230.
NHTSA campaign record ↗