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10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
2 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
2 / 0
Average Mileage:
42,900 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 engine problems

engine problem

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2016 Chevrolet Malibu Owner Comments (Page 4 of 7)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #79

May 072020

Malibu 4-cyl

  • 61,470 miles

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

While driving on I-285, at a speed of around 70mph, the vehicle display showed 'reduced engine power.' All of a sudden the car immediately slows down to a speed of 40 then less right in the middle of traffic. Thankfully, I was able to pull over off shoulder. However, the vehicle had to be towed since it would not accelerate to an appropriate speed.

- Lithonia, GA, USA

problem #78

Apr 302020

Malibu

  • 75,000 miles
I already replaced the pedal position sensor once and within 6 months it did it again. I was driving on the freeway when my cars check engine light came on and it gave a message on the dashboard that read 'engine power is reduced'. it slowed me to 44 mph & was stuck at 3000 RPM. I was able to safely maneuver the vehicle off the freeway but I am seriously worried about my own safety & the safety of other vehicles if I continue to drive this car. Like I mentioned, this has already been fixed/replaced once & now it has happened again.

- Merced, CA, USA

problem #77

Mar 062020

Malibu

  • 74,000 miles
I purchased my car in 2017 and have had to replace my pedal sensor now what will be 3 times. Every time I had the pedal sensor replaced it was due to a message 'engine power reduced' that would come up on the dashboard. The car would lose power very quickly whether I was on the highway or main streets which would require me to pull over immediately to turn the car off and then turn it back on. Sometimes the message would clear out, but not too much longer while driving, the message would pop back up and I would lose power again. Each time that I had to replace this part, it was never covered under my warranty. This defect is beyond dangerous and can cause harm not just to the driver, but others on the road as well. The car's engine power reduces to 20-25mph from 60-70mph in a matter of seconds which could have caused me cause to be rear ended.

- Bally, PA, USA

problem #76

Mar 062020

Malibu

  • 124,000 miles

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

I was driving on the I-10 West highway at 70mph when all of a sudden a engine power reduced message came across the screen & due to the loss of acceleration I was almost rear ended by an 18 wheeler because I couldn't pull over to the side of the road fast enough...also, on some days when I start my car it doesn't make any noise so therefore the radio will not work, the signal light sounds doesn't work, nor does the seatbelt sounds work.

- Sunset, LA, USA

problem #75

Mar 012020

Malibu

  • 67,000 miles
Driving at 65 mph, car flashed warning of "decreasing engine power." Car began to slow to a speed of between 20-30 mph. This occurred while driving on the george Washington bridge with many large trucks and other vehicles behind me. Some had to swerve to miss hitting me until I could find a safe shoulder to get the car off of the road.

- Newark, NJ, USA

problem #74

Mar 022020

Malibu

  • 79,026 miles
The car was driving at a high speed and then suddenly slowed down dramatically. An error code, along with the check engine light, came on starting reduced engine speed. The car is not able to speed up at all. This has happened several times. While driving on the freeway, which is very dangerous.

- Conroe, TX, USA

problem #73

Feb 282020

Malibu

  • 65,000 miles

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

Engine power reduced. Car suddenly slowed down on freeway

- Canton, OH, USA

problem #72

Jan 302019

Malibu

  • 70,000 miles
13 months ago I began having accelerator sensor issues. Driving 40+ mph and the check engine light came on, "engine reduced power", "stabilitrak" came on my hud. My father has a 2017 Malibu and this had just happened to him, so I knew to pull to the side of the road, shut the car off and turn it back on, but the light stayed on and the car wouldn't accelerate past 40mph and took forever to get up to speed. Took it in and they "fixed" it. I had to have it fixed 3 times in 3 months. All similar situations, driving 45+ mph. My touch screen radio also went out, and had to get a new head unit. Still to this day only one of the usb slots works. Summer goes on, no issues. October time frame, my car shut off while I was driving 60 mph for a split second. Headlights went out, radio, speedometer, all of it at 5am. It came back on within 2 seconds and the car was fine. No check engine light or anything. Had a buddy of mine run a code check and nothing showed up. A month later I had another accelerator sensor issue, driving 60+ mph. Had to drive on the shoulder of the road until I could get it to the dealership. Took it in and got it fixed for free since there was a recall. 2 months go by, we're in January 2020 now, driving 60+ and my car shows "stabilitrak" and had the same symptoms of the previous low power, and not accelerating. Turns out to be the air charge cooler. Not a week later after getting it back, driving 70+ mph and my car loses power. Had to tow it since I was in a different state. Cylinder 1 has low pressure and the charge air cooler is flooded with debris. And now Chevy is telling me I have to pay for a new engine!! wtf?

- Syracuse, IN, USA

problem #71

Feb 082020

Malibu

  • 52,000 miles
When driving the vehicle first the engine light came on and I got a diagnostics it was the mass air flow sensor code coming up. I had the thotle cleaned.... the engine light went off 2 daya later. Then I was driving on the hwy and the engine light came on along with the message engine reduce power. I pulled over shut the car off for 10 seconds, start it again and drive it. It does it on a daily now. And im tired of it this is a brand new car. I got it at 28,000 miles it is now at 53,000 miles. Chevrolet know that this problem is going on with many of the mailibus they need to fix it. I just spent 1,100 on this car for the repairs

- Richmond, VA, USA

problem #70

Feb 062019

Malibu

  • 29,000 miles
Engine reduced light

- Fort Worth, TX, USA

problem #69

Jan 132020

Malibu

  • 27,943 miles

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

While driving, the car suddenly flashed the "reduced engine speed" message, and the engine warning light came on. The vehicle would not exceed 20 mph after the message came on. The earliest dealership appointment was for 1/20/20 in a city approximately 30 minutes away; I called the Chevrolet warranty line and was advised to try calling other dealerships and take my vehicle to be serviced there, despite my repeated explanations of the safety risk due to the engine failure. I received my car back today (1/22/20) and was told the accelerator wiring was replaced under a "special" warranty extension and that they are not providing the warranty rental car coverage.

- Bloomington, IN, USA

problem #68

Jan 062020

Malibu

  • 46,000 miles
On Jan 6 2020. I was driving a 2016 Chevy Malibu, when the check engine light and engine reduce power light came on. I pulled over and let the car seat for maybe 10 mins. I restarted the vehicle and begin driving again (it was pulling normal). About 3 miles down the road I was making a left turn and the car stop pulling and the reduce engine power light comes on which leaves me in the middle of a intersection section causing a vehicle coming from my right side to slam into the side of vehicle deploying all of my airbags and making on-star assistance come on. In the result I have neck, back and side injury from the impact. Which in the result I'm getting sued because my car stalled in the middle of the turn going left. My car was totaled out and my insurance don't want to pay the full value of what I was leasing it for. Which I have to come out the pocket with expenses. After reviewing the "engine reduce power" and doing my research I come to find out it has been numerous complaints. I could have lost my life!

- Stone Montain, GA, USA

problem #67

Oct 122019

Malibu

  • 77,615 miles
The acceleration sensor is making the engine reduce power, know as the throttle body.. it only comes on when it's raining outside or my car is driven in the rain, then next day this starts happening.. has to be some type of recalll on this sensor, very dangerous reduces your speed down to 40 or sometimes 20 when it comes

- Fort Worth, TX, USA

problem #66

Jan 132020

Malibu

  • 51,000 miles
My check engine light came on & I received an alert stating that my engine power had been reduced while driving. The car will not accelerate.

- Charlotte, NC, USA

problem #65

Jan 012020

Malibu

  • 190,000 miles
Going 80 mph and all of a sudden reduced engine power unable to accelerate beyond 20 miles per hour on 75 South in ocala fl.

- Ocala, FL, USA

problem #64

Jan 082020

Malibu

  • 150,000 miles
The accelerator pedal censor is faulty and causes the vehicle to start to power down. This common in many Chevrolet models from the Impala, to the Malibu and Cruze.

- Houston, TX, USA

problem #63

Dec 122019

Malibu

  • 65,000 miles
Engine light comes on a least once a week. When driving my car looses speed when pressing on the brakes. I would have to pull over before my car cuts off in the middle of the road. After pulling over I would have to restart my car. I took my car to the dealer they say there is nothing wrong with my car. The stability light comes on and off for no reason. I get notifications on emission related to my fuel tank even though I have sufficient fuel.

- Laurel, MD, USA

problem #62

Dec 212019

Malibu

  • 50,615 miles
Adaptive cruise disables while driving and then error message is 'adaptive cruise temporarily unavailable'. the vehicle was on interstate with cruise set at 70 mph. It was going straight.

- Crawfordsville, AR, USA

problem #61

Dec 182019

Malibu

  • 69,000 miles
Throttle control system went our while I was driving down the road. Extremely dangerous as there is no warning!

- Stanton, MI, USA

problem #60

Dec 162019

Malibu

  • 67,694 miles
While driving down the road vehicle shuts down with a notification saying engine power reduced to where you have to pull off the side of the road and shut the car off three or four times before it will get back to where it's supposed to be. Very unsafe when it shuts down going down the highway at 55 and it slows you down to under 20 you have to pull off weaving in and out of traffic very dangerous.

- Phoenix, AZ, USA

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