general problems of the 2016 Chevrolet Malibu - part 1

My car caught on fire under the hood. As I was driving on road I heard a sound and my car started slowing down and smoke started coming from under the hood got out the car not a minute later flames of smoke engulfed the car.

The vehicle went into shift to park and will not turn off. This is a known problem with all gm vehicles that hasn’t been fixed or offered a warranty for. It’s dangerous and causes the car not to move shut off in traffic and drains the battery. My car currently isn’t working due to this issue and the repair to fix is too much with no assistance from gm for a known defect. My car was almost hit because of the car had to be towed because it’s unable to be moved.

On December 16, 2025 the check engine light and service stabiltrek warning light appeared on my 2016 chevy Malibu hybrid. On December 17, 2015 I took the car the capital cheverolet service dept who has been servicing my car regularly for the past five years. They performed a complete diagnostics on my car that determined I need to "replace the ebcm with brake pressure modulator valve" and said it would cost over $2800. 00. Upon further research I discovered that the same make model and year was recalled under recall #39440. I also learned the my VIN number was not included in this recall. This is a safety defect that has rendered my car not drivable until I get it fixed. As a senior citizen on a fixed income I am unable to fixed. I would like to know why was my car not included in the recall and if its possible to get it on the recall list so it can be fixed.

My 2016 Malibu has a severe ebcm-related safety defect causing all four brakes to drag and overheat (reaching 240°f), leading to unstable handling. This condition mirrors the 2016 Malibu ebcm recall (gm recall 39440). I sought help from gm. A gm-certified dealer-monken in centralia, IL performed a “diagnostic scan” which documented the core hydraulic failure: a constant, uncommanded 6. 839 psi residual brake line pressure when the pedal was released. (a healthy system should be near 0 psi) this 6. 839 psi is actively forcing the brakes to drag. The dealer ignored their own scientific data and submitted a fraudulent diagnosis of ("rust buildup") to gm, which gm used to deny the claim based on mileage. “rust buildup” doesn’t create hydraulic pressure. Gm is aware of this specific, documented, quantifiable safety defect (the 6. 839 psi pressure) and is refusing to investigate it further. I stressed to gm that the vehicle wasn’t safe to drive and that I have a small child who has to ride in the car with me. Gm dismissed my concerns by stating the dealership won’t release my car unless its safe to drive. I then had to drive the car 22 miles back home with all 4 brakes dragging. I requested the full diagnostic scan report (that the mechanic confirmed he could provide me with when I dropped my car off there) numerous times and never did I get one. I informed them that I would be filing a complaint hadn’t I received it by a certain time. The new kid in service then did send me screenshots of a generic obdii scanner where I saw the 6. 839 psi. I knew what the issue was prior to taking my car to monken. I had an independent scan done prior. I only took the car there to comply with gm’s protocol to be eligible for assistance. I am requesting NHTSA investigate gm for failure to address a documented hydraulic control safety defect that causes brake dragging and overheating, which is non-compliant with safety standards. I can give further info please call me for further details.

Urgent complaint: no response to demand for rescission - odometer fraud, deceptive practices - banner Ford of monroe, la.

The contact owns a 2016 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that after driving and parking the vehicle, the contact entered the residence; however, upon returning to the vehicle, the vehicle failed to start. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer, and the contact was informed that the battery needed to be replaced. The battery was replaced. The vehicle was diagnosed, and determined that the camshaft, fuel vacuum pump, and camshaft sensor needed to be replaced. The oxygen sensors were replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 146,000.

Intermittent shift to park message displayed while vehicle in park. Two states have sued and won to have this safety problem taken care of by gm. (ohio and tenn. ) should be a recall item. Why not. Gm service bulletin 19-na-206, march2024.

2016 chevy Malibu is experiencing a “shift to park” issue, where the car does not recognize it is in park even after shifting correctly. This prevents the vehicle from turning off, leaving lights and electronics running, which can drain the battery. A service advisor at autonation Chevrolet orlando confirmed this is a common problem in gm vehicles like the traverse and silverado. She explained the repair—replacing the faulty sensor/shifter assembly—typically costs around $800. Beyond battery drain, there are safety concerns, since the system’s failure to recognize park could risk the car rolling if the brakes disengage. The issue first appeared about four months ago, went away, and has now reoccurred.

Vehicle isn’t recognizing that it’s in park, shift to park keeps coming on dashboard which is also causing my vehicle not to change gears correctly.

The contact owns a 2016 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that after driving vehicle and shifting into park(p), there was a dinging alert sounded, with the “shift to park" message displayed. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to turn off. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact stated that the failure was a known issue and was related to NHTSA campaign number: 16v502000 (electrical system, power train). The local dealer was contacted and instructed the contact to shift to neutral and then park. The instruction worked once, but the failure persisted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact called an independent mechanic who was uncertain of how to repair the vehicle and suggested that the contact check for recalls. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 90,000. The VIN was not available.

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 was in park. The shift to park cable has been replaced twice now. I have been dealing with this since July of 2025. My car has been in the shop more times than I can count.

Have been getting reduced engine power since the summer on and off. Check engine light says its throttle bottle sensor and accelerator pedal position sensor. Which I was told there was a recall but my VIN isn’t listed.

Stability track warning randomly appears while driving and spontaneously causes total brake failure and the brakes fail to slow or stop vehicle. It has newer brakes but it’s very dangerous to drive. Currently being sent to Chevrolet dealership.

I am filing a complaint regarding ongoing and worsening issues with my Chevrolet vehicle, which appear to point to broader defects involving the engine and electrical systems. Months ago, while driving, the car suddenly lost power and displayed "engine power reduced. " I had to keep using it due to work needs. Over time, it hesitated more during acceleration and felt increasingly unsafe. When I finally brought it to a Chevrolet service center, I was told the issue involved the pistons. The vehicle also regularly shows a "shift to park" warning even when the gear is in park, raising concerns about the transmission's reliability. The power loss continues, especially when going uphill — again triggering the "engine power reduced" alert and dropping the speed to no more than 35 mph. A diagnostic showed a p0302 code for a cylinder 2 misfire. The radio head unit, already replaced once under warranty, failed again after just 9 months. Prior to the worsening idle and gear issues, I also received network-related codes involving the ecm and transmission computers. Although I’ve replaced the alternator, the car still shows "service electric system" warnings, suggesting ongoing electrical problems. I also noticed gm’s n182195660 campaign involving predictive monitoring for stochastic pre-ignition (spi) on scp platforms. My car has the 2. 0l turbo engine, and I’m concerned it may be experiencing spi or coolant intrusion issues affecting overall performance and system integrity. I’m requesting that Chevrolet investigate these problems thoroughly and determine whether my vehicle qualifies for recall, extended warranty, or defect coverage. These issues are persistent, serious, and deserve immediate attention. Thank you for your time. I hope to see resolution soon.

When I put the car in park and try to turn the car off the shift park message comes on preventing me from cutting the car completely off. I put in back in drive or reverse then back in park it still dings and shows the message. I takes a number of repeating these steps for it to stop and turn off and this is happening every time I'm trying to turn the car off.

To whom it may concern, I am writing to formally report a recurring safety-related issue with my 2016 Chevrolet Malibu. The vehicle consistently displays a “shift to park” warning message, even when the gear selector is properly in the park position. This malfunction prevents the car from turning off completely and poses a serious safety and reliability concern. This issue first occurred while the vehicle was under warranty, and the dealership performed a repair. However, the problem has returned, and my warranty has since expired. Despite the previous fix, the issue continues to persist. This malfunction is widely documented among other 2016–2019 chevy Malibu owners and appears to stem from a design or manufacturing flaw in the shifter assembly or park switch. I am concerned that this defect could: prevent the vehicle from being securely parked. Lead to battery drain due to the vehicle not shutting off. Pose a risk if the driver believes the car is in park when it is not. I am requesting that Chevrolet consider this a safety defect and either recall the affected vehicles or offer extended coverage for repairs. I also ask that NHTSA investigate this issue further as it compromises the safety, reliability, and proper functioning of the vehicle. Thank you for your attention to this matter. I would appreciate any assistance or updates regarding how this issue will be addressed. Vehicle info: 2016 Chevrolet Malibu e2 year: 2016 make: Chevrolet model: Malibu mileage: 60,000 VIN: already insert previous repair date(s): 02/21/2020 sincerely, [xxx] [xxx] [xxx] toledo, ohio information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

Vehicle will display on dashboard “shift to park” while the vehicle is placed in “p”. The engine will turn off, but the power remains on until the battery is disconnected from the vehicle. Codes have been verified by the Chevrolet dealership.

Shift to park message and park not fully engaging. This caused the vehicle to roll back when parked on an incline.

I am writing to formally lodge a complaint regarding an ongoing issue I have encountered with my 2016 Chevrolet Malibu. Recently, I experienced a significant problem with the vehicle’s trunk and rear seat release mechanism, which has made it impossible for me to access the trunk or fold down the rear seats. The specific issues I am facing are as follows: trunk latch stuck: the trunk latch has become stuck, and I am unable to open the trunk manually or with the remote key fob. The latch mechanism appears to be malfunctioning, and it will not unlatch when attempting to open it. Remote key fob failure: the remote key fob, which is typically used to release the trunk, no longer works, making it impossible to access the trunk from outside the vehicle. Seat release mechanism: additionally, the release button for folding down the rear seats is also not functioning, and I cannot lower the seats from inside the cabin. Typically, this release mechanism can be accessed from the trunk; however, due to the trunk being inaccessible, I am unable to release the seats, which is an urgent issue. This situation is highly inconvenient and concerning, as I rely on the trunk and rear seats for storage and daily functionality. The inability to access the trunk or fold down the seats creates a major safety and usability issue, especially in situations where I need access to the trunk in emergencies. I kindly request that this issue be investigated and resolved as soon as possible. Ideally, I would like to have the trunk latch mechanism repaired and the seat release system fixed so that I can safely and reliably use my vehicle. Please let me know how we can proceed to address this matter, whether through an inspection, repair, or replacement of the defective components. Thank you for your prompt attention to this complaint. I look forward to your swift response and resolution to ensure that my vehicle remains functional and accessible.

The check engine light came on and we brought it to the shop where they said the code is for the electronic brake system modulator. It is also causing the abs to malfunction and be hypersensitive. There is a recall for the same make/model/year of vehicle, except the month before her car was manufactured. I believe this is a safety issue that needs to be looked into and that her car should also be a part of this recall. We purchased the car in mid November and the engine light showed up a couple weeks later. I contacted gm who said to contact this site to request further investigation for safety risks.

Took my car to chevy dealership to diagnose my car, as it was rough idling, causing hesitation, and knocking. . . All while the check engine light was on. They showed me two codes my car was giving from the check engine light. They said he would look further into it. They told me I needed a tune up, though I had gotten a tune up 4 months prior. They fixed some things and charged me over $4,000. The day I drove off the lot, the problems were still present. On my way home going about 50 mph, my car slowed down and the engine reduced power illuminated. I kept driving because I needed a car for work. The car continued to decline and acted like it didn't want to accelerate when pressing the gas. I finally took it back into chevy, and they told me it was my pistons. I'm 90% sure there is a defect that they won't tell me about, or the won't fix. I've had the car 2 years. Now the car won't run.

I experienced a check engine light and a "reduced engine power" message in the middle of traffic in the stromy rain. I was driving 35 to 40 mph before vehicle slowed to almost a stop and when pressed gas pedal it excel slowly creeped to less than 30 mph thankful I wasn't rear-ended. Pulled into nearest autozone part store and diagnostic scan showed the p2138 code. Dc severity, sensor, and accelerator pedal position - see photos attached. Waited with engine off for approx over 30 minutes then started vehicle , engine lght off and proceeded to my destination excell with no issues. This has happened several times since purchase of vehicle began 2019. Throttle body repairs, ecm replacements and harness repairs later still reoccurring documented at dealships and repair shops. This is a serious and costly hazard.

“shift to park” intermittently indicated when vehicle is in park. Power will not shut off while indicated. Was repaired twice but has returned.

There’s a warning on the display that says ‘shift to park’ while the vehicle is already in park. This is causing the battery to drain/die and needs jumpstart everyday. Battery was tested and does not need to be replaced. I’m surprised this hasn’t been recalled yet. Online search ‘chevy Malibu shift to park’ shows this is a common problem. Here’s a youtube link that includes comments to prove this further. [xxx] information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

The contact owns a 2016 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that while shifting into park(p), the vehicle failed to recognize that the transmission was in park(p). The contact had to manipulate and maneuver the gear shifter several times before the vehicle recognized that the gear shifter was in park(p). The message to "shift-to park" was illuminated. While receiving a routine oil change, the vehicle failed to start. The mechanic charged the battery; however, the vehicle failed to start. The vehicle was inspected, and it was determined that the was experiencing the "shift to park" failure. The contact found information of NHTSA campaign number: 16v502000 (electrical system, power train); and linked the failure to the recall. The dealer was contacted and confirmed that the VIN was not included in the recall. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 72,000.

On may 23,2024 I was on a very busy highway going 66. All of a sudden my 2016 Malibu lt aburtely slowed to 27 miles an hour and two warnings lights came on 1 -engine power is reduced 2 - speed reduced to 27 I barely avoided getting hit by two semi trucks, as well as a car. The car is available for inspection on request. An independent service person confirmed it was indeed a defective electron control and acceleration peddle position sensor. How very irresponsible of you not to put out a recall on the 2016-2018 models knowing very well of the many class action law suits that have arrived from this issue. I probably can guarantee none of you own a Malibu. How very incredious it is that you put people lives in danger knowing that there was issues with the problem. Unbelievable. I almost got killed because of the lack of responsibility because you dint make a recall.

The car has a seat belt electrical problem it makes sound once in a while indicating for the driver to put their seat belt on. Also there is issues with the brake sensor. The #1 issue is the transmission accumulator pressure pipe, when it breaks all your transmission oil pours out from the bottom of the vehicle. The part is about $20 but if not installed right you will think that your transmission is dead but it's not.

The electrical chip in my ebcm has a malfunction and the brakes will grab and grind at random times. Also at the time electronic stability control will mess up increasing the risk of a crash. Other Malibu vehicles with the same year have had a recall on these parts. Mine however was not included but has the same malfunctioning part.

I'm adding to a complaint where I have found recall problems in the past on the model and the problem is still there the car shows the car is in park but it shows action is required shift the car to park and it's already in park I have a video I can't upload it. I purchased the car August 2023 for 28000 with a extended warranty that isn't right hopefully someone will investigate.

My shift to park light is coming on.

I bought this car August 2013 and I have been constantly having issues with it I contacted the bbb they showed them a check off list of the problem I was having to quiet them I was having rear in issues that they claim they did a full exspection of the vehicle which isn't true they tried to give me excuses now the car shows it's in part but it's saying action is required the car isn't in parking made a video on my phone so they can't make a excuse this should be a recall because I have read reviews with people having the same problem not once but two times after the first repair and it's not fair to the consumer someone need to investigate the dealerships. I can't get my video to upload I do have a short video on my cell phone.

I had my vehicle for about 2 years. I noticed that after I went over a certain amount of mileage, my car went into an engine power reduce mode. With the engine power reduce mode my vehicle could only go 25 mph. This was happening to me when I was driving on major highways, etc. . I would have to pull over and stop the vehicle because after certain amount of time it also would tell me oil pressure low to stop engine. I took it to the chevy dealership to have it looked at. I got the runaround with trying to figure out exactly what the issue was. They kept telling me that it was something else I spent over $1600 in repairs due to them, telling me that they found the issue and corrected it. After about another week or two, the same issue happened, engine power reduced stop engine oil pressure low. The most dangerous part about it is again I’m driving on interstates heading to work, etc. And the car is slows down on the interstate not allowing me to go over 25 mph again having to pull over on the interstate to give the car a break, crank it back up and get to a safe location. After having multiple mechanics look at it, still unable to fix. It started to get worse where once it pops up engine power reduce, oil pressure low stop engine, the car started jerking & shaking really bad. The only way to stop this from happening is to again shut the car down. I can’t keep shutting the car down in the middle of the interstate and on major roads. I took the vehicle to the chevy dealership first they couldn’t find the issue. They said it was another issue that wasn’t even the issue so I paid over $1600 for nothing. I took it to rick hendrick, who couldn’t find an issue and all they could tell me was to trade it in. This vehicle issue needs to be recalled. My bf is now having the exact same issue that my car was having & after researching, others are as well. Same year, same model, just a different color. This vehicle needs to be recalled for this ongoing safety issue ASAP!.

I am very upset right because I purchased this chevy Malibu 2016 from vroom. It was fine at first and then things start to go downhill. For starters my tire light came on first only a week after having the car, then the shift into was appearing on the dashboard as well as the engine light. Then my husband spent almost 2000 on the brakes because the car was making this horrible sound and I almost couldn't stop the car because the pedal was stuck and would not push down. Thank god no one was hurt. Then my car just shut off twice one day at a busy intersection, it went completely dead with my children in the car. This is a ongoing issue. Now I had a diagnostic test ran on my vehicle and it was said I needed a new motor only after having the car for only a year. This car is very dangerous and I wish they would take it off the market, because it will also reduce your speed while driving out of nowhere. Chevrolet should be responsible for all problems before they are aware of these issues!.

My car was started shaking really bad and the stabili trak sensor came on. My engine had to be replaced in February 2023. My car was at 66k miles. I rarely drove it. I worked from home for 3 years due to the pandemic. I purchased the car with about 12k miles. I was on my way home and my car just shut off. I could not get it to start at all. The stabili trak light came on. This was in January 2024 with 75k miles. The tow truck driver told me he had picked up multiple Chevrolets experiencing this same issue. It took the dealership almost two months to figure out that the crank sensor needed to be replaced.

Engine power reduced defect, causing affected models to lose power while driving at highway speeds. My son’s was driving 55 mph and then all of sudden the car decelerated to 20 mph in minutes before his 2016 Malibu stalled on the dallas texas highway. Unfortunately the car did not make it to the emergency lane and as a result a SUV hit his car killing my daughter who was 33 weeks pregnant. The baby survived with lifelong injuries. Despite this recall, gm failed to notify vehicle owners, including the owner of the vehicle involved in the fatal accident on January 6, 2024, in dallas, texas, resulting in my daughter’s death. This defect has been found in several 2016 Malibus, prompting a class action lawsuit against gm. Plaintiffs in the class action lawsuit reported having to restart their vehicles or replace faulty accelerator pedal position sensors to address the issue. Gm's failure to notify vehicle owners of the safety recall constitutes negligence and gross negligence.