Is the 2016 Chevrolet MALIBU reliable?

The 2016 Chevrolet MALIBU has 1439 complaints filed with NHTSA (2.6x the segment average). Our reliability verdict: below-average. Most common issue: ENGINE problems.

What are common problems with the 2016 Chevrolet MALIBU?

Top problems: ENGINE (303 complaints, avg repair $500); ELECTRICAL (222 complaints, avg repair $500); OTHER (176 complaints, avg repair $500). Issues typically appear around 50K miles.

Are there any recalls on the 2016 Chevrolet MALIBU?

Yes, there are 9 recall(s): AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION, FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP, ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC), AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:SOFTWARE, AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW, AIR BAGS:FRONTAL, SEAT BELTS:CRITICAL FASTENERS. Contact any Chevrolet dealer to verify if recalls have been completed on your specific vehicle.

How much does it cost to fuel a 2016 Chevrolet MALIBU?

The 2016 Chevrolet MALIBU gets 28 MPG combined. At current US average gas prices, driving 12,000 miles per year costs roughly $1714. See the interactive fuel cost calculator on this page for state-specific pricing.

How much does it cost to insure a 2016 Chevrolet MALIBU?

Estimated US average full-coverage insurance for the 2016 Chevrolet MALIBU is approximately $1,473/year (sedan-midsize class). Actual quotes vary heavily by state, driver age, driving record, and credit — see the interactive insurance estimator on this page for state-specific pricing.

2016 Chevrolet MALIBU

Q: Is the 2016 Chevrolet MALIBU often stolen?

The Chevrolet MALIBU was the #19 most-stolen vehicle in the United States in 2025 with approximately 5,300 thefts (NICB Hot Wheels data). Theft risk tier: above-avg.

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Below Average

Quick Summary

The 2016 Chevrolet MALIBU has 1439 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 2.6x the segment average of 561. The most common issue is engine problems (21% of all complaints), specifically: tl* the contact owns a 2016 chevrolet malibu. while driving 45 mph, the speed reduced inadvertently and a message that the speed reduced to 25 mph appeared. the check engine warning indicator illuminated. the contact stated that onstar sent an email advising that a critical engine and transmission r. There are 9 recalls issued for this model year. ⚠️ 1 fire report filed.

1 fire report 30 crash reports 25 injuries

1439

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

5/5

Safety Stars

2.6x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems(top 5 of 8)

ENGINE

303 complaints

21%

• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE SPEED REDUCED INADVERTENTLY AND A MESSAGE THAT THE SPEED REDUCED TO 25 MPH APPEARED. THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ONSTAR SENT AN EMAIL ADVISING THAT A CRITICAL ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION R
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE ISSUE OCCURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES, BUT THE DIAGNOSIS WAS UNKNOWN. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN
• TAKATA RECALL- EXPERIENCE ISSUES WITH CAR AFTER TWO WEEKS OF OWNING.CAR BEGAN RATTLE WHEN PARKED, SLOW TO ACCELERATE "DRAGGED". LATER DISCOVER AFTER RETURNING TO SHOP FOR REPAIR , CAR WAS SOLD WITH RECALL ISSUED 25PLUS DAYS PRIOR TO PURCHASE. WAS NOT NOTIFIED BY DEALER

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 1 fire reports💥 5 crashes

“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE SPEED REDUCED INADVERTENTLY AND A MESSAGE THAT THE SPEED REDUCED TO 25 MPH APPEARED. THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ONSTAR SENT AN EMAIL ADVISING THAT A CRITICAL ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION R”

— NHTSA complaint filing

When Problems Appear on the 2016 Chevrolet MALIBU

Based on 889 owner complaints that included an odometer reading. Median mileage at time of complaint: 50K miles. Most complaints cluster in the 30-60K miles range.

Overall complaint distribution by mileage

0-30K

218

30-60K

308

60-100K

286

100-150K

150-200K

200K+

BRAKES

Reported earliermedian 57K mi · 63 reports

0-30K

30-60K

60-100K

100-150K

150-200K

200K+

WHEELS

Reported earliermedian 23K mi · 8 reports

0-30K

30-60K

60-100K

100-150K

150-200K

200K+

ENGINE

In line with typicalmedian 52K mi · 173 reports

0-30K

30-60K

60-100K

100-150K

150-200K

200K+

ELECTRICAL

In line with typicalmedian 52K mi · 135 reports

0-30K

30-60K

60-100K

100-150K

150-200K

200K+

TRANSMISSION

In line with typicalmedian 42K mi · 107 reports

0-30K

30-60K

60-100K

100-150K

150-200K

200K+

OTHER

In line with typicalmedian 45K mi · 99 reports

0-30K

30-60K

60-100K

100-150K

150-200K

200K+

Mileage figures are self-reported by owners in NHTSA complaint filings. Peak bucket = the mileage range with the most complaints for that component; it reflects when owners noticed and reported problems, not necessarily when the fault first occurred.

Recalls (9)

AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION14/06/2018

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2016-2018 Chevrolet Malibu vehicles. During servicing, a Passenger Presence System (PPS) may have been installed that was not correctly calibrated to the vehicle's seat type. As a result, the PPS may not properly identify an adult passenger from a child passenger in the front passenger seat, potentially causing the air bag to not deploy when it should, or causing the air bag to deploy when it shouldn't.

Risk: In the event of a crash, improper air bag deployment can increase the risk of injury.

Fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger PPS seat service kit, free of charge. The recall began August 7, 2018. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is 18208.

Above-average theft risk

#19 most stolen in 2025

The Chevrolet MALIBU was the #19 most-stolen vehicle in the United States in 2025, with approximately 5,300 thefts reported to law enforcement.

Notes: Popular midsize sedan

Source: NICB Hot Wheels 2025 report + HLDI theft loss studies. Model-year ranking; not all years of this model have identical risk.

Fuel Cost Calculator for 2016 Chevrolet MALIBU

Live EIA prices

Annual miles driven: 12,000

Your state (affects local gasoline price)

Per year

$1,715

Per month

$143

Per mile

14.3¢

MPG

City driving (worst-case MPG)

$2,182/yr

Highway driving (best-case MPG)

$1,334/yr

Based on EPA fuel-economy ratings and EIA weekly retail prices (2026-07-20). Real-world cost varies with driving style, trim/engine, terrain, and traffic.

5-Year Gas Price History

EIA weekly retail data · 2021 → today

Show:

Current

$4.00

5-year low

$2.78

5-year high

$5.01

Since 2021

+27%

Source: US Energy Information Administration weekly retail gasoline prices.

Estimated Insurance Cost for 2016 Chevrolet MALIBU

Estimate only, not a quote. Modeled from NAIC + HLDI averages for a hypothetical 35-year-old driver with clean record + full coverage. Your actual quote depends heavily on your age, driving history, credit, ZIP code, and insurer.

Your state (affects local premium average)

Full coverage / year

$1,473

Full coverage / month

$123

Liability only / year

$574

vs US avg

-12%

How this estimate is calculated

US base full-coverage premium$1674

× state (US)1.00x

× vehicle class (sedan-midsize)0.96x

× theft risk1.06x

× safety rating0.94x

× vehicle age0.92x

= Full coverage estimate$1473

Coverage assumed: 100/300/100 liability + comprehensive/collision, $500 deductibles. Data sources: NAIC 2024 + HLDI loss studies.

Maintenance & Warranty

Recommended Chevrolet MALIBU Service Intervals

Oil change

8K mi / 12 mo

Tire rotation

8K mi

Brake fluid

36 months

Transmission fluid

45K mi

Engine coolant

150K mi

Spark plugs

100K mi

Cabin air filter

23K mi

Engine air filter

45K mi

Differential (AWD/4WD)

45K mi

GM Oil Life System dynamically calculates oil change interval. DEXOS-approved oil required.

"Severe service" conditions (heavy towing, extreme temps, city stop-and-go) typically halve these intervals. Always consult your vehicle's owner's manual for the authoritative schedule.

Chevrolet New-Vehicle Warranty Coverage

Bumper-to-bumper (basic)

3 yr / 36K mi

Powertrain

5 yr / 60K mi

Hybrid/EV battery

8 yr / 100K mi

Corrosion (rust perforation)

6 yr / 100K mi

Roadside assistance

5 yr / 60K mi

These are the terms for a new Chevrolet. If you're buying a used 2016 MALIBU, remaining coverage is usually pro-rated from the vehicle's original in-service date. Not all coverage transfers between owners — check with a Chevrolet dealer for VIN-specific remaining warranty.

Estimated Repair Costs

ENGINE(~50K mi)

$500

ELECTRICAL(~50K mi)

$500

OTHER(~50K mi)

$500

TRANSMISSION(~50K mi)

$500

SPEED CONTROL(~50K mi)

$500

Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 1439 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
ENGINE: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE SPEED REDUCED INADVERTENTLY AND A MESSAGE THAT THE SPEED REDUCED TO 25 MPH APPEARED. THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ONSTAR SENT AN EMAIL ADVISING THAT A CRITICAL ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION R
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ELECTRICAL: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN STATED THAT IT WAS OPERATING AS DESIGNED TO SAVE FUEL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
OTHER: TAKATA RECALL- EXPERIENCE ISSUES WITH CAR AFTER TWO WEEKS OF OWNING.CAR BEGAN RATTLE WHEN PARKED, SLOW TO ACCELERATE "DRAGGED". LATER DISCOVER AFTER RETURNING TO SHOP FOR REPAIR , CAR WAS SOLD WITH RECALL ISSUED 25PLUS DAYS PRIOR TO PURCHASE. WAS NOT NOTIFIED BY DEALER
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
TRANSMISSION: DURING A MODEST DECELERATION OR WHILE THE CAR IS COASTING TOWARDS A STOP WITH BRAKE DEPRESSED, THE TRANSMISSION WILL AT TIMES SEEM TO DOWNSHIFT IN AN UNSMOOTH WAY. SEEMINGLY SKIPPING GEARS DOWN. THE VEHICLE AT TIMES CAN COAST AT AROUND 1500 RPMS THEN ALL OF THE SUDDEN THE RPMS JUMP TO ALMOST OR AR
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
RECALLS: Verify all 9 recalls have been completed — free at any Chevrolet dealer
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)