RoadVitals

2016 Chevrolet Malibu Visibility Problems

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

Data refreshed

Visibility 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.
15
Latest Mar 10, 2023
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.
2%
of 835 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 windshields, glass, wipers, defrosters and mirrors. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2016 Chevrolet Malibu submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 15 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 visibility

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

ElectricalVisibility
Filed Mar 10, 2023

The contact owns a 2016 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that she noticed water markings located on the inner hood lining of the vehicle and water had saturated the trunk of the vehicle. As a result, the alarm started to malfunction. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a body shop where it was determined that water had entered the vehicle by the windshield enclosure. The contact stated that she had the windshield replaced and the screws tightened; however, the failure recurred. The dealer was notified of the failure however, the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 100,000.

NHTSA ID
11511199
Incident
Dec 10, 2022
Mileage
100,000 mi
EngineVisibility
Filed Mar 9, 2023

Reduce engine power on dash I have received this message twice. Car goes to 60mph and it drops down dramatically to 20 mph this could case a big accident and gm needs to fix this problem immediately. This is a car I do not recommend it's been nothing but problems.

NHTSA ID
11510918
Incident
Feb 15, 2023
SteeringVisibility
Filed Jan 31, 2022

Issue 1: The rear backup camera is not viewable as the Infotainment Touch Screen will not power on. The soft-reset procedure did not work. I am unsure I can avoid hitting an individual while backing up. Issue 2: The steering wheel is very hard to turn. I am unsure if I could avoid a collision with a car or person.

NHTSA ID
11449520
Incident
Jan 21, 2022
Body & structureVisibility
Filed Sep 2, 2021

The contact owns a 2016 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated as the vehicle was being washed at the car wash, he noticed that there was water leaking into the rear passenger’s side of the vehicle. The contact also stated that the windows of the vehicle would become foggy while driving in all seasons of the year, affecting his visibility of the road. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The contact stated that the failure had been recurring. The dealer and the manufacturer were not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 36,000.

NHTSA ID
11431473
Incident
Nov 15, 2019
Mileage
36,000 mi
Body & structureVisibility
Filed Oct 28, 2019

THE TRUNK OF THE CAR IS FILLED WITH WATER THAT HAS BEEN DRIPPING OUT ALL DAY. THE REAR ROOF OF THE CAR IS SOAKED ON BOTH SIDES. THE CAR SMELLS MUSTY & ALL OF THE INSIDE WINDOWS HAD SO MUCH CONDENSATION IT WAS DRIPPING.

NHTSA ID
11271424
Incident
Oct 27, 2019
Body & structureVisibility
Filed Feb 14, 2019

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE'S TRUNK WAS FLOODED WITH RAIN WATER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO CHEVROLET OF MONTEBELLO (LOCATED AT 310 W WHITTIER BLVD, MONTEBELLO, CA 90640, (323) 680-5933) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE LEAK WAS COMING FROM THE THIRD BRAKE LIGHT REAR WINDSHIELD, WHICH NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. THE DEALER WAS IN THE PROCESS OF REPAIRING THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND PROVIDED CASE NUMBER: 95058953731. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 37,100.

NHTSA ID
11180178
Incident
Feb 7, 2019
Mileage
37,100 mi
SteeringVisibility
Filed Feb 14, 2019

NOTICED SHAKING IN THE STEERING WHILE DRIVING. HAD ALIGNED 3 TIMES ONCE AT A DIFFERENT SHOP. HAS NEW TIRES. TIRES ARE NOW CUPPED AND WILL WEAR UNEVENLY. STEERING WHEEL STILL SHAKES AND CAR FEELS LIKE IT'S BEING PUSHED FROM SIDE TO SIDE. HEATER CORE IS NOW BAD AND IT'S NOT EVEN 3 YEARS OLD. ALL WINDOWS FOGGED UP INCLUDING FRONT WINDSHIELD AND CAN SMELL COOLANT WHEN THE HEAT IS ON. WINDOWS BEGIN TO FOG UP DRIVING IN TOWN AND THEN COMPLETELY FOG UP HIGHWAY DRIVING.

NHTSA ID
11180144
Incident
Feb 13, 2019
Mileage
75,000 mi
Body & structureVisibility
Filed Jan 2, 2019

WATER SEEPS INSIDE CAR ENTERING BACK WINDOW. BACK LEAK SUSPECTED. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON AND OFF SEVERAL TIMES A WEEK. PURCHASED CAR WITH LESS THAT 5 MILES AND PURCHASED EXTENDED WARRANTY. I'M GETTING THE RUN AROUND FROM BOTH WARRANTY AND DEALER.

NHTSA ID
11164657
Incident
Jan 2, 2019
Visibility
Filed Jul 10, 2018

LEAK THROUGH 3RD BREAK LIGHT CAUSES MOISTURE TO BUILD UP IN CAR AND ONCE IT RAINS THE FRONT WINDSHIELD FOGS UP AND CAN YOU CAN NOT SEE DEFROST CANNOT FIX THIS ISSUE BECAUSE OF THE BUILD UP OF MOISTURE FROM THE LEAK IN THROUGH THE 3RD BRAKE LIGHT

NHTSA ID
11110436
Incident
Jun 12, 2018
Mileage
47,000 mi
Body & structureVisibility
Filed May 15, 2018

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE CONTACT NOTICED WATER ACCUMULATION IN THE BACK SEAT AND DRIPPING FROM THE CEILING. THE CONTACT DROVE THE VEHICLE TO SANDY SANSING CHEVROLET (6200 PENSACOLA BOULEVARD, PENSACOLA, FLORIDA 32505) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE BRAKE LIGHT ON THE REAR WINDSHIELD WAS ALLOWING WATER TO ENTER THE CABIN OF THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER ALSO FOUND THAT THE ANTENNA WAS LEAKING. THE ANTENNA WAS REPAIRED BUT, A WEEK LATER, A MILDEW ODOR DEVELOPED, EMERGING FROM THE TRUNK AREA. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE SAME DEALER, BUT THEY REFUSED TO REPAIR THE THIRD BRAKE LIGHT BECAUSE THEY HAD ALREADY REPAIRED THE ANTENNA. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000.

NHTSA ID
11093998
Incident
May 14, 2018
Mileage
40,000 mi
Body & structureVisibility
Filed Mar 1, 2018

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 CHEVROLET MALIBU. AFTER LEAVING A CAR WASH, WATER ENTERED THE VEHICLE WHERE THE QUARTER PANEL GLASS, REAR WINDSHIELD, AND PLASTIC COLUMN CONNECTED. ADDITIONALLY, THERE WAS WATER IN THE INTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE AND TRUNK. THE CONTACT CALLED A LOCAL DEALER (BOCKER AUTO GROUP, 801 E SOUTH ST, FREEPORT, IL 61032) AND WAS INFORMED TO SCHEDULE A SERVICE APPOINTMENT WITH THE GLASS SERVICE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND OPENED CASE NUMBER: 8-3935847660. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 43,032.

NHTSA ID
11075710
Incident
Feb 26, 2018
Mileage
43,032 mi
Visibility
Filed Feb 13, 2017

OVER THE PAST 8 MONTHS OF OWNING THIS CAR, I'VE HAD THIS VEHICLE'S WINDSHIELD CRACK OR CHIP ON SIX DIFFERENT OCCASIONS. IN THE PAST TEN YEARS, I'VE HAD A CHIPPED WINDSHIELD TWICE BEFORE OWNING THIS CAR. THIS HAS TO BE A DEFECT. MANY TIMES, I DON'T EVEN SEE A ROCK HIT THE WINDSHIELD, BUT HEAR IT. AFTER INSPECTING, I FIND THAT THE WINDSHIELD IS CHIPPED. MY DRIVING HABITS HAVE NOT CHANGED, NOR HAS MY ROUTE TO AND FROM WORK. THE DESIGN OF THE CAR HAS TO BE CAUSING THE ISSUE AS THE CHIPPING AND CRACKING IS OCCURRING WAY TOO FREQUENTLY..

NHTSA ID
10954370
Incident
Feb 13, 2017
Mileage
17,000 mi
Visibility
Filed Dec 21, 2016

THE DRIVERS SIDE REAR VIEW MIRROR DOES NOT ADJUST FAR ENOUGH AWAY FROM THE CAR. FROM MY DRIVER SEAT AT NORMAL DRIVING POSITION I CANNOT SEE A CAR APPROACHING, IN FACT I SEE MY BACK DOOR THIS IS A DANGEROUS BLIND SPOT. THE DEALER SAID THIS IS NORMAL. *TR

NHTSA ID
10936805
Incident
Jun 1, 2016
Visibility
Filed Jul 25, 2016

WINDSHIELD HAS THOUSANDS OF TINY , WHITE SPECS ACROSS ENTIRE FIELD. THESE SPECS AT FIRST EXAM LOOK LIKE PAINT OVERSPRAY. BUT CLOSER EXAM WITH A FLASHLIGHT AT A LOW , SKIMMING ANGLE, REVELS IMBEDDED PARTICLES. IN LATE OR EARLY SUNLIGHT, THIS CAUSES A FOGGY APPEARANCE TO SHADED AREAS, LIKE TREES OR BUILDINGS. CLARITY IS ABSOLUTELY IMPEDED. RECENTLY AS I EXITED A FREEWAY, DRIVING WESTWARD INTO THE 7 PM SUN, I MADE A RIGHT TURN ONTO MY STREET AND ALMOST RAN OVER THE CURB AS THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE WINDSHIELD BECAME A HAZE TOTALLY BLOTTING OUT CLEAR VISION OF THE CORNER. HAD THERE BEEN A PERSON OR ANY OBJECT IN THAT SPACE IT WOULD HAVE BEEN HIT. THAT WAS A PANIC FEELING I DID NOT NEED ! THE GM DEALER EARLIER THAT DAY COULD NOT SEE IT WELL BECAUSE THE SUNLIGHT WAS STILL HIGH IN THE SKY THUS NOT CAUSING THE EFFECT . THEY TRIED TO INSPECT IT WITH A POCKET FLASHLIGHT, BUT NOT CONVINCED SI I HAVE TO RETURN TO THEM EARLY IN A MORNING OR LATE IN THE DAY TO GET THE SAME EXPERIENCE I HAVE DAILY . MY WIFE BEARS WITNESS TO THIS UNSAFE SITUATION . ITEM TWO: THE REAR VIEW MIRROR IS SO SMALL IT IS RIDICULOUS. IT IS LIKE PEEPING THRU A CRACK IN A FENCE ! AND, ADJUSTING IT IS A TIGHT SQUEEZE FOR MY HAND WHERE THE HEADLINER COMES TOO CLOSE TO THE MIRROR.

NHTSA ID
10888071
Incident
Jul 22, 2016
Mileage
2,200 mi
Visibility
Filed Feb 25, 2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT UPON REENTERING THE VEHICLE TO RESTART IT, THE REAR WINDSHIELD WINDOW SHATTERED. THE CONTACT WAS UNCERTAIN OF HOW THE FAILURE OCCURRED DUE TO NO OBJECT ENCOUNTERED THE REAR WINDSHIELD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER AND AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 2,073.

NHTSA ID
10838155
Incident
Feb 9, 2016
Mileage
2,073 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 .