Print this page

10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
3 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
2 / 0
Average Mileage:
27,748 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2016 Chevrolet Malibu drivetrain problems

drivetrain problem

Find something helpful? Spread the word.
Get notified about new defects, investigations, recalls & lawsuits for the 2016 Chevrolet Malibu:

Unsubscribe any time. We don't sell/share your email.

2016 Chevrolet Malibu Owner Comments (Page 4 of 8)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #91

Oct 082020

Malibu

  • 47,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

"shift to park" issue on dic when vehicle actually is in park, as indicated by the shifter light and even on the dic, but the vehicle will not shut down the electrical system fully. You can not even lock the doors, the anti-theft systems will not engage, and the battery will discharge overnight. The manual clearly states that if the vehicle is not properly in park when turning off the vehicle, it is a safety issue that must be addressed immediately. But it is not, either by GM or the NHTSA.

- Niagara Falls, NY, USA

problem #90

Sep 212020

Malibu

  • 34,000 miles
The contact owns a 2016 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that upon placing the gear shifter into park, the vehicle failed to recognize that the gear shifter was in the park position. The shift to park warning light was displayed on the instrument panel. The contact took the vehicle to napleton Buick GMC crystal lake (6305 northwest hwy, crystal lake, il 60014) and the vehicle was diagnosed with a defective gear shifter. The vehicle was repaired out of pocket. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The contact was informed that there was no recall on the vehicle. Upon investigation, the contact linked the failure to NHTSA campaign number: 16V502000 (electrical system, power train). The vehicle was repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 34,000.

- Algonquin, IL, USA

problem #89

Sep 252020

Malibu

  • 40,000 miles
When shifting to park the car doesn't know it's actually on park and after turning engine off it displays the message 'shift to park'

- Plymouth, MI, USA

problem #88

Jan 212019

Malibu

  • 65,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Stabilitrak code appears on dashboard - causing low or no acceleration, shaking when still and while in park. Meter reads as a 'misfire code'; total tune up was conducted (replaced all plugs & wiring/coil pack); was stable for about 3 days and then 'stabilitrak' code reappeared with car shaking again.

- Lawrenceville, GA, USA

problem #87

May 012020

Malibu

  • 23,000 miles
When in park, will not allow the engine to be shut off.the shift lever is in park, and brake is engaged. It indicates the car is not in park.this occurs frequently and has since 05/01/2020

- Tulsa, OK, USA

Search CarComplaints.com for these popular complaint phrases...

problem #86

Sep 142020

Malibu

  • 100,000 miles
I came to a red light the car went into auto stop mode, the brakes started loosing pressure I let off of the brakes it continued to roll backwards almost hitting the car behind me then it finally kicked into gear and said service stabilitrak and and also said power assist reduced drive with care then had the codes P3055 and P3056 and the car has 100,000 miles and is serviced regularly

- Mineral, VA, USA

problem #85

Sep 012020

Malibu

  • 69,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

When parking my vehicle in park, it will not notice the car is parked and the on light will come on. I have to wiggle the shifter for the on light to go off. The shifter was replaced before, now it's doing the same issues as before.. and the back end is making a very bad bumping noise. The Chevrolet dealership say that they replaced parts and it's doing the same thing. I am not happy with this car at all.

- Charlotte, NC, USA

problem #84

Sep 202017

Malibu

  • miles
The contact owns a 2016 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that upon placing the vehicle into park and pressing the off button, the shift to park warning message appeared on the instrument panel. The vehicle was taken to rick hendrick Chevrolet Norfolk (6252 E Virginia beach blvd, Norfolk, va 23502) where the vehicle was diagnosed with a defective transmission harness and shifter cable. The vehicle had yet to be repaired and remained in the custody of the dealer. The manufacturer had been notified of the failure. The contact was given a case number and informed that she would receive a call back in relation to the failure. The contact had not heard back from the manufacturer. The failure mileage was unknown.

- Virginia Beach, VA, USA

problem #83

Aug 052020

Malibu

  • 69,139 miles
When the car is put in park it wont shut off and gives this message "shift to park". this is happening more frequent.

- San Bernardino, CA, USA

problem #82

Aug 012020

Malibu 4-cyl

  • 19,000 miles
The contact owns a 2016 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated their daughter was unable to immediately shut the vehicle off, after switching to the park position the "shift to park" message had displayed. After several attempts, the vehicle was able to be shut off. The local dealer (unknown) and the manufacturer were notified of the failure but no assistance was offered. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 19,000. The consumer stated the vehicle engine shuts off at high speeds.

- Lucasville, OH, USA

problem #81

May 012020

Malibu 4-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 19,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The contact owns a 2016 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that while attempting to shift the vehicle to the park position, the vehicle failed recognize that it was in park, which made it difficult to turn off and lock the vehicle. The contact stated several attempts were needed to turn off the vehicle. The contact stated that after the most recent occurrence, the vehicle was driven to moran Chevrolet fort gratiot (4511 24th ave, fort gratiot twp, mi 48059, (812) 202-4062) who replaced the shifter due to a defective switch. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue and informed the contact that there was no recall for the issue. The manufacturer opened a case regarding the matter. The approximate failure mileage was 19,000.

- Lexington, MI, USA

problem #80

Aug 152020

Malibu

  • miles
Second time in less then a year I have to take my car into the repair shop for this issue. I will put my car in park, turn off the car and a notification comes on the screen that states 'shift to park' I have to repeatedly start my car, shift to reverse then back to park and then shut off my car until the message doesn't appear. This seems to be a very common issue yet a recall has not been announced.

- Rives Junction, MI, USA

problem #79

Jul 012020

Malibu 4-cyl

  • 59,858 miles
Getting an error ( shift to park) when putting the car in park after attempting to go from drive to park to turn vehicle off. I start vehicle on again and shift to drive and back to park and it then goes away and slows me to turn vehicle off.

- San Antonio, TX, USA

problem #78

Jul 042020

Malibu

  • miles
I put the car in park turn off but I get the message shift into park. Some times I do this several times before I can lock the doors. I looked up recalls there is a recall listed for this. But it says my car isn't listed. There is definitely a problem.

- Many, LA, USA

problem #77

Jul 012020

Malibu 4-cyl

  • 52,500 miles
Vehicle has vibration and makes a humming noise at all speeds. When hard braking the vehicle pulls to the right. Took vehicle to a local dobb's tire and auto center and then diagnosed vehicle with excessive right, front movement at the transmission. Possibly an internal stub axle? repair shop advised that there was a technical service bulletin from October 2019 stating the same issue. Repair shop also had another 2016 Malibu in for an oil change and upon their multi-point inspection they also found excessive movement with the right, front axle at the transmission.

- Waterloo, IL, USA

problem #76

Jan 202019

Malibu

  • 75,000 miles
The contact owns a 2016 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that while driving approximately 60 mph, the engine power reduced warning light illuminated, the vehicle decelerated and came to a complete stop. The vehicle was turned off and restarted but failed to accelerate above 30-35 mph. The contact also stated that the check engine warning light remained illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the viva Chevrolet located at 5915 Montana ave, el paso, tx 79925, where the technician diagnosed an unknown computer failure. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 75,000.

- El Paso, TX, USA

problem #75

Jun 192020

Malibu 4-cyl

  • 54,000 miles
Problem has huge accident potential. *driving on the freeway in moderately heavy traffic. *traveling at a 65-70 mph to keep up with the flow of traffic, I began receiving "engine power is reduced" message on my info screen. * the engine light comes on (and I immediately start counting how much time and money this will cost me). * there is a slight jerk/pull of the car where it immediately starts a drastic reduction in speed down to 20-30 mph. * I've had to pull to the side of the road to stop the car (I pray I am able to do this safely). *eventually, I found that by shutting the engine off completely for several minutes, the car somehow "resets" and drives normally. * occasionally, the engine light would go away immediately upon re-ignition. Other times the engine light went off after a couple day. * this happened several times during within a (1) hour commute to work.

- Victorville, CA, USA

problem #74

May 222020

Malibu

  • 71,000 miles
The contact owns a 2016 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that after stopping the vehicle and shifting the gear shifter to the park position, the instrument panel displayed the transmission not in park message. Additionally, on several occasions the contact was unable to turn the vehicle off. The contact stated that on several occasions the doors failed to remain securely locked. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. Neither the dealer nor the manufacturer were notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 71,000.

- Auburn, GA, USA

problem #73

Feb 152020

Malibu 4-cyl

  • 27,000 miles
Shift to park issue is well known by Chevrolet service dept and I have checked other forums. When you shift car to park and try to turn off the car, it tells you to shift to park. The car won't shut off. I had to shift back and forth quite a few times for it to finally work. Service replaced the "harness" for roughly $100 which worked temporarily but started in again. So new shifter has been ordered at cost of approx $350. I don't understand why there hasn't been a recall with all the problems they have had. Mine is a 2016 with very low miles. They have lots of problems with '16, '17 and some '18. I hate fixing again and have it happen in another 20K miles..... recall please"!"!

- Blue Springs, MO, USA

problem #72

Jun 152020

Malibu 4-cyl

  • 124,579 miles
The gear shift is stuck in the park position. It's not moving and stuck in park.

- Chicago, IL, USA

Read the next 20 complaints »

Not what you are looking for?