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10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
3 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
2 / 0
Average Mileage:
27,290 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

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2016 Chevrolet Malibu Owner Comments (Page 4 of 8)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #95

Jul 012020

Malibu

  • miles

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

Vehicle has been giving problems since I purchased from the dealer, well about 60days into my purchase. Real problem is that it jerks constantly at times it doesn't move due to according to my own diagnostics the transmission converter torque solenoid and this should be happening. It happens every time I'm on the hey it takes too long to accelerate and many times not accelerating at all. It causes my gas to decrease. The other day I was 30min from my residence and it took 5 hours, literally for me to get home. Computer system started blinking consistently. Engine light stays on. Winsdahield wooer lifts stays on. Tc lights stays on. Everything about this car within 60 days stays on. This is horrible.

- Humble, TX, USA

problem #94

Nov 032020

Malibu

  • 30,000 miles
When I come to a stop and shift my 30K miles 2016 Malibu into "park", I sometimes get a message on the dash: "shift to park". the "P" for "park" is lit near the gear shifter. The car is in park. But, my headlights stay on and I can't lock my car, because the vehicle computer thinks the car is not in "park". I lock the doors with the switch on the inside of the door, but the car unlocks immediately. Sometimes, the situation clears up by repeatedly starting/shifting/braking/turning off the car. The problem is intermittent, but getting worse.

- Chagrin Falls, OH, USA

problem #93

Jun 012020

Malibu

  • 50,000 miles
The contact owns a 2016 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to recognize the position of the gear shifter. The contact stated that there was a warning light informing the contact to shift the vehicle to park even though the vehicle was already in park. Occasionally, the push to start button failed to turn off the vehicle causing the vehicle to run continuously. Due to the failure, the headlamps failed to illuminate intermittently. The vehicle was taken to fairway Chevrolet (3100 E. sahara ave, las vegas, nv 89104; (702) 522-0580) and the contact was informed that the gear shifter needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 50,000.

- Las Vegas, NV, USA

problem #92

Oct 182020

Malibu

  • 50,000 miles

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

While driving everything is fine, as soon as I stop and put my car in park it will show an indication to (put the car in park). I can literally spend 30 minutes jiggling the shifter back and forth until that notification goes away. If I don't make it go away, all the lights stay on and my car will beep at me once I close the doors, the doors will also not lock due to this. So spending 30 minutes to make it go away so it doesn't kill the battery after a 12hour work shift is all I can do.

- Redding, CA, USA

problem #91

Oct 082020

Malibu

  • 47,000 miles
"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

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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

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

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
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

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. The shift to park prevents the start button from starting the vehicle.

- Lucasville, OH, USA

problem #81

May 012020

Malibu 4-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 19,000 miles
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

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