RoadVitals

2016 Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid Engine Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the engine system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Engine reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
8
Latest Mar 24, 2022
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
33%
of 24 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
0
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2016 Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 8 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming engine

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

ElectricalEnginePowertrain (other)
Filed Mar 24, 2022

I was driving my car home from work and all of a sudden my car starting showing in the dash engine power reduced. My car literally couldn't go anywhere. So I pulled over and shut the car off for a minute started it back up and it was running great and then I happen again a few minutes later. So I took it to the dealership were i purchsed it and they replaced the gas pedal they said a sensor was bad and that was causing the problem.So picked up the car a couple days later and it happen again about two weeks later...

NHTSA ID
11458179
Incident
Jan 13, 2022
ElectricalEnginePowertrain (other)
Filed Mar 24, 2022

May car loses power when acceleration I don't why but there is something going on

NHTSA ID
11458124
Incident
Feb 3, 2022
ElectricalEnginePowertrain (other)
Filed Aug 28, 2021

Car will randomly stall. I see GM recalled 500+ Malibu Hybrids for this problem, but mine is not one of them. This is the worst car I have ever owned.

NHTSA ID
11430832
Incident
Aug 27, 2021
ElectricalEngine
Filed Aug 11, 2019

ON JUNE 30, 2019, I WAS DRIVING MY CHEVROLET MALIBU HYBRID HOME ON THE FREEWAY WHEN SUDDENLY THE ENGINE LOST POWER AND STALLED. THE SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT TURNED ON AND A MESSAGE ON THE DASHBOARD SAID 'SHIFT TO PARK'. I COASTED TO THE NEXT EXIT AND STOPPED ON THE SIDE OF A STREET. I PRESSED THE OFF BUTTON AND SHIFTED TO PARK. I TRIED TO TURN ON THE CAR AND IT WOULDN'T EVEN CRANK THE ENGINE. I CALLED AAA AND AFTER 10 TO 15 MINUTES THE SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT TURNED OFF. I TRIED AGAIN TO START THE CAR AND IT TURNED ON. I CANCELED AAA AND DROVE THE CAR HOME. AFTER A COUPLE OF DAYS, I DECIDED TO SCAN THE TROUBLE CODES IN THE CAR WITH MY CODE SCANNER. THE REPORT SAID FOUR CONFIRMED TROUBLE CODES, NO PERMANENT TROUBLE CODES, NO PENDING TROUBLE CODES, NO BODY CONTROL MODULE TROUBLE CODES, 1 TELEMATICS TROUBLE CODES, NO HUMAN MACHINE INTERFACE MODULE TROUBLE CODES, AND FOUR ELECTRONIC BRAKE CONTROL MODULE TROUBLE CODES. I SAVED THE REPORT AND RESET THE TROUBLE CODES. COPY OF THE REPORT ATTACHED. THEN ON JULY 2, 2019, I WAS DRIVING ON THE CITY STREET AND THE CAR STALLED AGAIN WITH THE SAME MESSAGE TO SHIFT TO PARK. I COASTED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND PRESSED THE OFF BUTTON AND SHIFTED TO PARK. I TRIED TO START THE CAR AND IT DID START AND I DROVE IT HOME. NEXT DAY I SCANNED THE TROUBLE CODES AGAIN. THE REPORT SAID NO CONFIRMED TROUBLE CODES, NO PERMANENT TROUBLE CODES, NO PENDING TROUBLE CODES, 2 BODY CONTROL MODULE TROUBLE CODES, 3 FRONT CAMERA ACTIVE SAFETY TROUBLE CODES, 3 TRANSFER CASE CONTROL MODULE TROUBLE CODES, AND 1 ELECTRONIC BRAKE CONTROL MODULE TROUBLE CODES. I SAVED THE REPORT, COPY ATTACHED. NEXT DAY I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER FOR TROUBLE SHOOTING, AND REPAIR UNDER WARRANTY.

NHTSA ID
11243134
Incident
Aug 2, 2019
Mileage
13,000 mi
EngineFuel system
Filed Apr 6, 2019

VEHICLE STALLED ON HIGHWAY WHILE DRIVING AT SPEED ON TWO DIFFERENT OCCASIONS DESPITE SERVICING AFTER THE FIRST INCIDENT. BOTH TIMES, POP UP ALERT SAYS "SHIFT TO PARK" AND THEN "ENGINE HAS REDUCED POWER" AFTER WHICH THE GAS PEDAL NO LONGER WORKS. AFTER PULLING TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, THERE WAS A LOW BATTERY ALERT.

NHTSA ID
11194372
Incident
Apr 6, 2019
Mileage
17,000 mi
Driver assistanceEngine
Filed Jan 3, 2019

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING BETWEEN 29-34 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND "REDUCED ENGINE POWER" APPEARED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE CONTACT HAD TO WAIT A FEW MINUTES BEFORE THE VEHICLE WOULD RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO SOUTH BUCKNER CHEVROLET (9301 EARL THORNTON FREEWAY, DALLAS, TX 75228, 469-294-3000) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEFECTIVE. A NEW ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS INSTALLED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 27,218.

NHTSA ID
11165602
Incident
Jan 19, 2018
Mileage
27,218 mi
EnginePowertrain (other)
Filed Aug 17, 2018

5/4/2018 TOOK THE CAR TO SERVICE A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. THEY REPROGRAMED THE HYBRID POWERTRAIN CONTROL MODULE 2 - PER A FACTORY SERVICE BULLETIN BUT IT DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM, LIGHT CAME BACK ON. 5/26/2018 - 100 DEGREES. CAR SHUT DOWN WHILE DRIVING STRAIGHT AT 40 MPH ON CITY STREET. RESTARTED IN SOME KIND OF DEFAULT MODE WITHOUT EV COMPONENTS AFTER 30 MIN. NEXT DAY IT WORKED FINE. 8/12/2018 - 86 DEGREES. CAR SHUT DOWN WHILE DRIVING STRAIGHT ON CITY STREET GOING 30MPH. RESTARTED AND DROVE FINE BUT LATER THE SAME DAY AFTER STARTING THE CAR AND SHIFTING TO REVERSE THE CAR MOVED FORWARD, CAR WAS IN EV MODE. SHIFTED TO NEUTRAL AND CAR STILL MOVED FORWARD, STILL IN EV MODE. SHIFTED TO REVERSE AND NEUTRAL AGAIN THE CAR STILL MOVED FORWARD, STILL IN EV MODE. TURNED OFF ENGINE, RESTARTED AND WORKED FINE, STILL IN EV MODE. 8/16/2018 - 85 DEGREES. CAR SHUT DOWN WHILE DRIVING, RESTARTED AND WORKED. BUT LATER THAT DAY I STARTED THE CAR AND SHIFTED INTO REVERSE AND THE CAR MOVED FORWARD, CAR IN EV MODE. I SHIFTED TO NEUTRAL BUT AT THE SAME MOMENT THE ENGINE STARTED AND I FELT AND HEARD A SHIFTING NOISE AND THE CAR WORKED FINE. 2ND APPOINTMENT WILL DEALER ON 8/20/16, APPEARS A COMMON FACTOR IS WARM DAYS WHEN I PARK THE CAR OUTSIDE IN THE SUN. NO MATTER WHAT THE PROBLEM MAY BE THERE IS A SERIOUS AND POTENTIALLY DEADLY SYMPTOM OF A PROBLEM WITH MY CAR AND COULD BECOME A COMMON PROBLEM. THE NEXT STEP THE DEALER WILL DO IS REPLACE A WIRING HARNESS, AGAIN PER A SERVICE BULLETIN SO THE MANUFACTURER DOES KNOW OF A PROBLEM.

NHTSA ID
11120561
Incident
Aug 12, 2018
Mileage
9,400 mi
Driver assistanceEngine
Filed Jul 11, 2017

VEHICLE IN MOTION IN LEFT HAND LANE, ON 5 LANE MAIN ROAD DURING RUSH HOUR, TRAFFIC GOING APPROX. 35 MPH. AS I WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE STALLED, ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND A WARNING MESSAGE SAID THE VEHICLE WAS "SLOWING DOWN" (IT STALLED COMPLETELY). I WAS UNABLE TO DRIFT INTO THE RIGHT LANE AND FORCED TO ABANDON MY CAR INTO THE CENTER LANE - USED FOR MERGING FROM OTHER LANES OF TRAFFIC. POLICE RESPONDED BUT NO REPORT WAS FILED. OFFICER SUGGESTED I LEAVE THE VEHICLE FOR MY OWN SAFETY & WHEN TOW TRUCK ARRIVED TO REQUEST THE AUTO BE TOWED TO A SAFE SPOT FOR REMOVAL OF PERSONAL ITEMS. THIS SITUATION WAS NOT ONLY DANGEROUS TO MYSELF BUT OTHERS. A CRASH COULD HAVE BEEN THE RESULT. ACCORDING TO DEALER, NO RECALL ON THIS ISSUE. DID HAVE A TRANSMISSION PROBLEM. LESS THAN 10,000 MILES ON CAR APPROX 18 MOS OLD. DEALER HOPES GM FIX WILL WORK, BUT I AM NOW NERVOUS ABOUT DRIVING THE VEHICLE.

NHTSA ID
11004222
Incident
Jun 24, 2017
Mileage
9,857 mi

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .