2016 Chevrolet Malibu UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Owner-reported problems and safety issues filed with NHTSA. Review common failures, severity levels, and complaint trends over time.
Complaint Timeline
Chronological view of owner reports
AFTER I PUT THE CAR IN PARK AND PUSH THE BUTTON TO TURN IT OFF, IT SAYS TO SHIFT TO PARK. I HAVE TO RESTART THE CAR AND PUT IT IN REVERSE AND DRIVE AGAIN. SOMETIMES THIS WORKS, BUT IT IS GETTING MORE DIFFICULT TO GET THE CAR TO SHUT OFF. THE CAR BEEPS AT ME AND WON'T SHUT THE RADIO OFF WHEN I PUSH THE BUTTON TO TURN THE CAR OFF. I CAN'T LOCK THE DOORS BECAUSE THE CAR DOESN'T RECOGNIZE THAT I HAVE SHIFTED TO PARK. THIS STARTED HAPPENING IN JULY, 2020. AT FIRST THIS ONLY HAPPENED OCCASIONALLY. NOW IT IS HAPPENING EVERY TIME I TURN THE CAR OFF.
THE PAINT IS FAYING ON IT AS IF THE PAINT IS GOING DOWN TO THE METAL.
I HAVE NOTICED A POPPING NOISE ON THE BACK END OF MY CAR FOR OVER A YEAR NOW. I WENT TO THE CHEVY DEALERSHIP WHERE I PURCHASED MY CAR. I WENT ABOUT 3 TO 4 TIMES BY THE TIME THEY COULD HEAR WHAT I WAS TALKING ABOUT. IN JUNE 2020 THEY INSTALLED WASHERS TO PREVENT CONTACT FROM THE STRUT. THAT DID NOT WORK. WHEN I LEFT THE DEALERSHIP IT WAS STILL MAKING THAT SOUND. IT SEEMS TO BE LOUDER WHEN DRIVING SLOW OR WHEN IT HEATS UP OUTSIDE LATER ON IN THE DAY. IT ALSO MAKES THAT POPPING NOISE WHEN I TAKE MY FOOT OFF BRAKE AT A STOP LIGHT BEFORE I ACCELERATE. IT MAKES THE POPPING NOISE SOMETIMES WHEN I SIT DOWN IN THE CAR. ONE DAY I WAS BOUNCING IN THE DRIVER SEAT TO SEE IF I COULD DUPLICATE THE SOUND AND IT WAS POPPING LOUDLY.
THE MAIN REAR WINDOW DIDN'T HAVE A PROPER SEAL. ON BOTH SIDES IN THE CORNERS OF THE REAR WINDOW OF THE VEHICLE, THERE IS A LEAKAGE. EVERY TIME IT RAINS, YOU CAN SEE WATER DAMAGE. YOU CAN ALSO SEE THE AFTER EFFECTS OF THE CEILING BEING STAINED. REALIZED THIS AFTER IT RAINED WHILE I WAS DRIVING.
I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY TODAY WHEN I HEARD A LOUD POP AND MY SUNROOF SPONTANEOUSLY EXPLODED. IT WAS AFTER THE EXPLOSION THAT SMALL SHARDS OF GLASS STARTED TO RAIN DOWN ON US. WHEN I LOOKED UP THE ENTIRE SUNROOF WAS SHATTERED. I WAS ABLE TO GET THE INSIDE SUN SHADE CLOSED BEFORE ANYONE WAS INJURED. I LOOKED TO SEE IF THERE WAS ANY EVIDENCE OF ANYTHING HITTING THE CAR, HOWEVER THERE WAS NONE. THE SUNROOF WAS IN THE CLOSED POSITION WHEN IT EXPLODED.
AFTER I PUT THE CAR IN PARK AND TURN IF OFF, IT SAYS TO SHIFT TO PARK. I HAVE TO RESTART, MOVE IT BACK AND FORTH. IT'S GETTING MORE DIFFICULT TO CLEAR THE MESSAGE SO I CAN EXIT THE VEHICLE. THE CAR ONLY HAS 34K MILES. *TR
FOR THE PAST TWO YEARS I HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING A LOUD POPPING NOISE IN THE REAR OF MY VEHICLE WHILE OPERATING IT. I HAVE TAKEN IT IN FOR MAINTENANCE AT MY LOCAL CHEVROLET DEALER HOWEVER THEY CONTINUE TO TELL ME THAT THEY CANNOT DUPLICATE THE NOISE. THE NOISE SOUNDS LIKE IT MAY BE COMING FROM MY BACK AXLES AND DOESN'T SEEM TO BE AFFECTED BY A MINIMUM OR MAXIMUM SPEED. I HAVE ENSURED ALL BRACKETS ARE SECURED INSIDE OF MY TRUNK AS I THOUGHT THERE MIGHT HAVE BEEN SOMETHING LOOSE . *TR
THE CAR WILL BE IN PARK AND THE DASH IS SAYING IT ISN'T IN PARK AND ALL THE LIGTHS AND BATTARY WILL NOT SHUT DOWN CAUSING THE BATTARY TO DRAINA ND THE CAR IS NOT LOCKABLE , YOU HAVE TO TURN IT BACK ON AND PUT IT BACK IN DRIVE SOMETIMES SEVREL TIMES TO GET IT TO REGISTER THAT IT IS IN PARK AND THE CAR TO FULLY SHUT DOWN
WHEN GO TO PUT CAR IN PARK AND SHUT ENGINE OFF GET A MESSAGE SAYING SHIFT TO PARK AND CANT SHUT CAR OFF. *TR
I WAS DRIVING HOME FROM WORK THIS MORNING, AND THE SPEED OF THE CAR SLOWED DOWN AND WOULDN'T GO FASTER THAN 20 MILES PER HOUR. THERE WAS PLENTY OF CARS BEHIND ME MAKING THE SUDDEN DROP OF SPEED UNSAFE. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD IT WAS THE THROTTLE, AND THAT IT'S NOT COVERED BY MY WARRANTY. I HAVE HEARD IT'S COMMON IN 2016 MALIBU'S. I HAVEN'T HAD THIS CAR THAT LONG, AND IS CURRENTLY BEING WORKED ON.
CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES UP AND THEN SAYS ENGINE POWER REDUCED. CANNOT ACCELERATE AT THAT TIME. IT HAPPENS WHEN I AM ON THE INTERSTATE AND SPEED REDUCES UNSAFELY. I HAVE TO FIND A PLACE TO PULL OVER AND TURN CAR OFF AND RESTART. THIS HAS HAPPENED MULTIPLE TIMES.
WHEN I PARK THE CAR PUT SHIFT INTO PARK, A MESSAGE COMES UP SAYING: SHIFT INTO PARK WHEN I HAVE ALREADY SHIFTED TO PARK, SO I START THE CAR AND SHIFT INTO PARK AND THE MESSAGE GOES OFF AND SOMETIME I HAVE TO DO REPEAT THE PROCEDURE.
MY ELECTRONIC CONTROL SYSTEM IS MISFIRING FOR A FEW DAYS NOW. IT IS CAUSING MY STABILITY CONTROL LIGHT TO COME IN AND ALSO MY ENGINE LIGHT. WHEN THE STABILITY LIGHT COMES ON MY CAR SHAKES A LITTLE BIT WHILE DRIVING. I PUT MY VEHICLE ON A DIAGNOSTIC TEST AND THE CODES CAME BACK THAT THE ECM IS MISFIRING
LEAK IN 3RD BRAKE LIGHT CAUSED EXTREME MOISTURE IN TRUNK AND INTERIOR IF CAR SERIOUS BLACK MOLD AND OTHER MOLD AND BACTERIA
WHEN PUTTING THE CAR IN PARK AND TURNING OFF THE ENGINE, THE MESSAGE "SHIFT TO PARK" DISPLAYS IN THE DASHBOARD. THE CAR'S DOORS WILL NOT LOCK AND THE ELECTRONICS REMAIN ACTIVE. WE CANNOT PROPERLY SECURE THE CAR AND THE ACTIVE ELECTRONICS WILL DRAIN THE BATTERY. ATTACHED IS THE GM SERVICE BULLETIN DESCRIBING THE ISSUE. THE DEALERSHIP WANTS TO CHARGE $621.77 AND IT'S NOT COVERED UNDER THE WARRANTY.
I HAVE A 2016 MALIBU THAT BACK WINDOW HAS BEEN LEAKING ( POURING) WATER THRU. RAIN AND CAN'T EVEN GET A CARWASH, WHICH, DEALERSHIP GAVE ME A CARE WASH KNOWING THAT THERE ARE WATER STAINS DUE TO THIS PROBLEM.WHEN I FIRST NOTICED THIS DEALERSHIP SAID I HAD TO PAY FOR THIS PROB A COUPLE MONTHS LATER HAD RECEIVED A LETTER OF A RECALL ABOUT THIS BUT DEALERSHIP SAID I WAS OVER MILES AND WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR THIS SERVICE.,? IF IT IS A RECALL.... WHY?
WHEN IT RAINS VEHICLES TRUNK AND TAIL LIGHTS WILL FILL WITH WATER. THE BACK OF THE INTERIOR PART OF THE ROOF ALSO FEELS WITH WATER WHICH HAS CAUSED A MUSTY SMELL ALONG WITH A WATER STAIN ON THE ROOF. THE TRUNK AND BACK PART OF THE ROOF LEAKS WHILE PARKED AND IN MOTION.
HAVE ISSUE WHERE I AM RECEIVING A SHIFT TO PARK MESSAGE AND MY VEHICLE IS IN A MODE AS IF IT'S NOT IN PARK. I HAVE TO PULL FORWARD AND SHIFT CAR FROM DRIVE TO PARK UNTIL IT TURNS OFF. OTHERWISE IF I LEAVE IT AS IS, ITS AWHILE BEFORE IT TURNS, IM AFRAID IT WILL RUN MY BATTERY DOWN. IT HAPPENS ON A DAILY BASIS. ALMOST LATE FOR WORK WAITING FOR IT TO TURN OFF AT TIMES. WILL NOT ALLOW YOU TO LOCK CAR WITH KEYLESS REMOTE EITHER WHEN IT'S LIKE THIS
WHEN CAR IS PLACED IN PARK IT IS NOT RECOGNIZED AND THE CAR WILL NOT SHUT DOWN. THIS WAS HAPPENING ONCE AND A WHILE BUT NOW IT IS VERY FREQUENT! THIS IS WHEN THE CAR IS PUT IN PARK. IT HAS TAKEN COUNTLESS TIMES AND IS BECOMING A REAL NUISANCE. OUR CAR IS ONLY 3YEARS OLD AND OUT OF WARRANTY AND ALREADY HAVE REPAIR BILLS. WE WERE TOLD THIS IS VERY COMMON WITH THE MALIBU AND WE HAVE SEEN MANY!!
I HAVE A 2016 CHEVROLET MALIBU WITH ROUGHLY 50,000 MILES ON IT. FOR A LITTLE OVER A YEAR NOW, IT IS NO LONGER RECOGNIZING WHEN THE CAR IS PLACED IN PARK. I TOOK THE VEHICLE INTO MY LOCAL CHEVY DEALER (WHERE WE HAVE ALL OIL CHANGES/WORK DONE ON THE VEHICLE) AND THEY STATED THE SHIFTER ASSEMBLY NEEDS REPLACING. I AM QUITE UPSET OVER THIS AS THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF COMPLAINTS OF THIS HAPPENING TO INDIVIDUALS AND GM IS NOT TAKING RESPONSIBILITY FOR IT. I SHOULD NOT HAVE TO REPLACE A SHIFTER ASSEMBLY IN THIS NEW OF A CAR AND ESPECIALLY A CAR THAT HAS BEEN WELL TAKEN CARE OF. I HAVE BEEN QUOTED $1,000 TO REPLACE THE SHIFTER ASSEMBLY. I HAVE MAINTAINED MY VEHICLE DOING ALL THE NECESSARY WORK/OIL CHANGES AND ALL RECOMMENDED MAINTENANCE. ONCE THE VEHICLE IS IN PARK AND YOU GO TO SHUT THE VEHICLE OFF, AN ALARM DINGS AND DISPLAYS A MESSAGE SAYING "SHIFT TO PARK." THE VEHICLE IS IN PARK, YOU CAN REMOVE YOUR FOOT FROM THE BRAKE AND IT DOES NOT ROLL. YOU CAN NOT WALK AWAY FROM THE VEHICLE BECAUSE THE BATTERY WILL THEN DRAIN. NORMALLY, VEHICLE HAS TO BE RESTARTED AND PLACED IN DRIVE THEN SHIFT BACK TO PARK IN ORDER FOR IT TO GO OFF. THIS IS HAPPENING CONSISTENTLY NOW. THIS COULD BECOME EVEN A GREATER ISSUE THAN GM IS REALIZING AS IF YOU DO NOT PAY ATTENTION TO THE MESSAGE, YOUR CAR CAN REMAIN ON AND INDIVIDUALS COULD DIE FROM CARBON MONOXIDE. THIS IS AN ISSUE THAT GM & CHEVY NEEDS TO ADDRESS SOONER THAN LATER.
MY TOUCH SCREEN, BACK UP CAMERA, AND BLUETOOTH DOES NOT WORK AND I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I BOUGHT IT AND THEY COULD NOT FIX IT. I ONLY HAD THE CAR FOR 3 MONTHS AND IT QUIT WORKING. IT STARTED TO GLITCH AND I DID THE TROUBLE SHOOTING AND NOTHING. IT STOP WORKING WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON SR 28 IN TIPTON INDIANA.
WHEN I TURN OFF MY CAR. THE MESSAGE SHIFT TO PARK POPS UP AND I HAVE TO KEEP TURNING ON AND OFF THE CAR UNTIL THE MESSAGE " SHIFT TO PARK" DISAPPEARS. IF I LEAVE IT LIKE THAT THE RADIO TURNS ON REALLY LOUD. MY CAR IS NOT EVEN 3 YEARS OLD. THIS STARTED ABOUT A MONTH AGO AND IT WENT AWAY FOR A FEW DAYS AND IT CAME BACK AGAIN.
WHEN IS THIS GOING TO BE A RECALL FOR THIS SHIFT TO PARK IN THE MALIBU. THIS CAUSES THE BATTERY TO DIE SO BOTH PARTS HAVE TO BE REPLACED. CHEVY HAS SEVERAL COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE SHIFT TO PARK. I CAN SPEND UP TO 10 MINUTES TRYING TO GET THAT MESSAGE OFF. I AM VERY DISAPPOINTED THAT THE DEALERS KNOW THIS IS AN ONGOING ISSUE FOR THE 2016 MALIBU BUT NOTHING IS BEING DONE. I HAVE FILED A COMPLAINT! I WILL ALSO BE GOING TO THE MEDIA WITH THIS.
DASH SAYS TO SHIFT TO PARK WHEN SHUTTING CAR OFF, EVEN THOUGH IT'S ALREADY IN PARK
TAKATA RECALL WHEN SHIFTING INTO PARK IT WILL NOT GO INTO PARK AND YOU HAVE TO MESS WITH IT FOR A FEW MINUTES TO GET INTO PARK. WHEN INTO A FORUM AND IT SEEM TO BE A COMMON ISSUE
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Quick Summary
The 2016 Chevrolet Malibu has 75 UNKNOWN OR OTHER complaints on file. 1 crashes have been reported. Review the timeline above for detailed owner experiences.