One problem related to water pump has been reported for the 2016 Chevrolet Malibu. The most recently reported issues are listed below. Please also check out the statistics and reliability analysis of the 2016 Chevrolet Malibu based on all problems reported for the 2016 Malibu.
Just over 37000 miles, car starts running funny, alot of vibration in steering wheel. I get out of the car one day, I leave it running, I get back in just a minute and a half later the engine light is flashing along with the stabilitrack light and the car is really running rough and steam or smoke is coming from engine compartment. I took it in to the dealership they told me I would have to pay a couple hundered dollars for diagnosis. I call back the next day they tell me engine compression is low and chances are it's a cracked piston ring. I asked what could possibly cause that in a 2016, not even a two year old car? I was told that these parts wear, I mean if I could tell you why it's happening or what the cause was there would never be any problems, just be glad it's covered under your powertain warranty. I've driven chevys for twenty years and never had any problems like this, at the most serious problems have been the water pump. I've gone online since to search for info on this exact problem and there are so many complaints about this same problem. This sounds like a recall to me Chevrolet, gm.