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NHTSA-Verified · Common Problems

2016 Chevrolet Malibu Eco
Common Problems

Ranked from 357 federal NHTSA complaints. Every problem links to the complaint IDs behind it.

6
High severity
5
Medium

11 Common Problems

Ordered by how often owners reported each one to NHTSA. The bar shows how common a problem is relative to the most-reported on this vehicle. Expand any problem to see the federal complaint IDs.

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  1. 1

    Engine Power Reduction During Driving

    246complaints
    High severityEngine

    The engine experiences a significant loss of power during driving, leading to reduced speed and difficulty accelerating.

  2. 2

    Electrical System Issues Causing Dashboard Malfunctions

    97complaints
    High severityElectrical

    Electrical system issues cause dashboard lights to malfunction, leading to warnings and loss of functionality.

  3. 3

    Shift to Park Warning Message

    64complaints
    High severityElectrical

    The vehicle displays a 'Shift to Park' warning message when already in park, preventing the car from turning off completely.

    $200–$2,500est. drivetrain diagnosis + repair · 1–8 hrs labor
    Get local quotes
  4. 4

    Inability to Shift into Park

    23complaints
    Medium severityTransmission

    The car cannot be shifted into park, and the dashboard displays a message to shift to park, preventing the car from being turned off.

    $200–$2,500est. drivetrain diagnosis + repair · 1–8 hrs labor
    Get local quotes
  5. 5

    Electrical System Failures Causing Unpredictable Behavior

    5complaints
    Medium severityElectrical

    The electrical system malfunctions unpredictably, causing issues such as the car shutting off unexpectedly or the inability to start the engine.

  6. 6

    Faulty Gear Shifter Causing Inability to Park Properly

    4complaints
    High severityOther

    The gear shifter malfunctions, preventing the car from properly entering park mode and potentially causing the car to move unexpectedly.

    $200–$2,500est. drivetrain diagnosis + repair · 1–8 hrs labor
    Get local quotes
  7. 7

    Stability Control and Electronic Stability Control (ESC) Issues

    4complaints
    Medium severityElectrical

    Stability control and electronic stability control systems fail, leading to loss of vehicle control and potential accidents.

  8. 8

    Brake Pedal Becomes Stiff During Driving

    2complaints
    Medium severityBrakes

    The brake pedal becomes stiff during driving, requiring significant force to slow the vehicle, increasing the risk of accidents.

    $150–$1,000est. brake system diagnosis + repair · 1–4 hrs labor
    Get local quotes
  9. 9

    Engine Stall at Idle Due to Stop-Start System Failure

    2complaints
    Medium severityEngine

    The vehicle stalls at idle, likely due to a malfunction in the stop-start system, leading to potential accidents.

    $150–$900est. stop-start system diagnosis · 1–4 hrs labor
    Get local quotes
  10. 10

    Steering wheel locking up or failing to turn

    2complaints
    High severitySteering

    The steering wheel locks up or becomes unresponsive, making it difficult to control the vehicle.

    $200–$1,500est. power-steering / eps repair · 1–6 hrs labor
    Get local quotes
  11. 11

    Water Intrusion and Electrical Malfunctions

    2complaints
    High severityOther

    Water enters the vehicle, causing electrical system failures and malfunctions, including dashboard warnings and engine issues.

Other years & sources

2017 Chevrolet Malibu EcoAll NHTSA complaints for this vehicle →

Data source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) owner complaints and recalls. Problems are clustered and ranked from the complaint record; occurrence counts reflect corroborating complaints, not total incidence. Vehicle image is illustrative. Repair-cost figures are typical U.S. independent-shop ranges (parts + labor) for the class of repair shown — actual quotes vary by region, engine, and diagnosis; always confirm with a local shop.