"How reliable is the 2016 Chevrolet Malibu?"

"Based on 1424 NHTSA complaints, the 2016 Chevrolet Malibu has a median complaint mileage of 50000 miles. The most common issue is ENGINE."

"What are common problems with the 2016 Chevrolet Malibu?"

"The most frequently reported component in NHTSA complaints for the 2016 Chevrolet Malibu is ENGINE, accounting for a significant portion of the 1424 total complaints filed."

2016 Chevrolet Malibu: Reliability Data

Source: NHTSA — 1424 complaints

1424

Total Complaints

50,000mi

Median Mileage

ENGINE

Top Issue

Crash Reports

When Do Complaints Happen?

Distribution of NHTSA complaints by vehicle mileage at time of report.

30,000 25th Percentile

50,000 Median Mileage

72,000 75th Percentile

What Fails?

Most reported component issues from NHTSA complaints.

ENGINE

295

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

220

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

169

POWER TRAIN

162

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

150

SERVICE BRAKES

ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

STEERING

STRUCTURE:BODY

Severity Assessment

Crashes

Fires

Injuries

Deaths

Sample Complaint Reports

"TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH, THE VEHICLE MADE AN ABNORMAL NOISE WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE REAR DRIVER SIDE BRAKE PADS WERE INSTALLED BACKWARDS AND NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ..."

"TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT UPON REENTERING THE VEHICLE TO RESTART IT, THE REAR WINDSHIELD WINDOW SHATTERED. THE CONTACT WAS UNCERTAIN OF HOW THE FAILURE OCCURRED DUE TO NO OBJECT ENCOUNTERED THE REAR WINDSHIELD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER AND AN INDE..."

"DURING A MODEST DECELERATION OR WHILE THE CAR IS COASTING TOWARDS A STOP WITH BRAKE DEPRESSED, THE TRANSMISSION WILL AT TIMES SEEM TO DOWNSHIFT IN AN UNSMOOTH WAY. SEEMINGLY SKIPPING GEARS DOWN. THE VEHICLE AT TIMES CAN COAST AT AROUND 1500 RPMS THEN ALL OF THE SUDDEN THE RPMS JUMP TO ALMOST OR AR..."

Source: NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Names and identifying details omitted.

Data source: View this vehicle on NHTSA.gov | NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Public domain.

Methodology: Complaint counts and mileage distributions are computed directly from consumer-reported NHTSA complaints. This data represents reported issues, not failure rates — vehicles without complaints are not represented. Full methodology.

Data through: 2026-03-28