2016 Chevrolet Malibu Electronic Stability Control (esc) Problems
Owners have filed 76 complaints with NHTSA about electronic stability control (esc) problems on the 2016 Chevrolet Malibu, 9% of all complaints for this model year. Half of the reports with a mileage happened before 55,000 miles. The words owners use most often: “engine power” (17% of reports).
- 76electronic stability control (esc) complaints
- 55,000median miles at failure
- 1mention a crash
- 1mention an injury
- 1related recalls
- 53%of reports with a speed happened at 50+ mph
What owners describe
Phrases that appear unusually often in these complaints compared with complaints about other cars.
- Engine power: mentioned in 13 of 76 complaints (17%)
- Turn off: mentioned in 11 of 76 complaints (14%)
- Shift park: mentioned in 8 of 76 complaints (11%)
At what mileage do electronic stability control (esc) problems happen?
Based on 63 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 76 complaints, 1 mention a crash, 1 an injury.
Chevrolet Malibu electronic stability control (esc) complaints by model year
| Model year | Electronic Stability Control (esc) complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 Malibu | 1 | 1% | 50,000 |
| 2020 Malibu | 2 | 1% | 13,650 |
| 2019 Malibu | 1 | 1% | 52,000 |
| 2018 Malibu | 21 | 3% | 50,000 |
| 2017 Malibu | 53 | 8% | 55,000 |
| 2016 Malibu | 76 | 9% | 55,000 |
| 2015 Malibu | 16 | 6% | 59,000 |
| 2014 Malibu | 31 | 9% | 68,500 |
| 2013 Malibu | 72 | 9% | 79,000 |
| 2012 Malibu | 129 | 14% | 93,438 |
| 2011 Malibu | 174 | 18% | 84,250 |
| 2010 Malibu | 227 | 17% | 85,125 |
| 2009 Malibu | 255 | 17% | 120,000 |
| 2008 Malibu | 68 | 7% | 100,000 |
| 2007 Malibu | 22 | 2% | 167,000 |
| 2006 Malibu | 29 | 3% | 107,100 |
| 2005 Malibu | 30 | 3% | 162,000 |
| 2004 Malibu | 21 | 2% | 129,662 |
| 2003 Malibu | 3 | 1% | 6,750 |
| 2002 Malibu | 1 | 0% | — |
| 2001 Malibu | 2 | 0% | 120,000 |
| 2000 Malibu | 1 | 0% | 170,000 |
| 1998 Malibu | 1 | 0% | — |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (1)
Electronic stability control (esc)
Problem: General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2016 Chevrolet Malibu vehicles manufactured March 7, 2016, through March 12, 2016. The memory chip in the electronic brake control module (EBCM) may fail and cause the loss of electronically controlled brake systems including anti-lock brakes (ABS) and electronic stability control (ESC). As such, these vehicles fail to conform to Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 126, "Electronic Stability Control Systems."
Risk: If the EBCM fails the primary braking system will still function, however, the loss of ABS and ESC increase the risk of a crash.
Fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will install a replacement EBCM, free of charge. The recall began on June 17, 2016. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020). GM's number for this recall is 39440.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
The contact owns a 2016 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that upon depression of the brake pedal, the brake pedal made an abnormal grinding sound and became stiff. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact's husband replaced the brake sensor; however, the failure recurred…
The contact owns a 2016 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated while driving 45 MPH, the vehicle lost motive power with the stability control warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the battery needed to be replaced and the engine needed to be deep…
The contact's client owns a 2016 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that while his client was driving at an undisclosed speed, upon depressing the brake pedal, the vehicle vibrated briefly and failed to stop in a reasonable amount of time. The ABS warning light was illuminated on the instrument…
Frequently asked questions
Do all 2016 Chevrolet Malibus have electronic stability control (esc) problems?
No. NHTSA has 76 owner complaints about electronic stability control (esc) for the 2016 Chevrolet Malibu (9% of the 839 complaints for this model year). Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the 2016 Chevrolet Malibu electronic stability control (esc)?
Yes: 1 safety recall list electronic stability control (esc). Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.
At what mileage do electronic stability control (esc) problems start?
The median reported mileage is 55,000 miles: half of the reports with a mileage came before that.
What do owners say about electronic stability control (esc) problems on the 2016 Chevrolet Malibu?
The most frequent phrase is “engine power”, in 13 of 76 complaints, followed by “turn off” (11).
Other 2016 Chevrolet Malibu problems
See all 2016 Chevrolet Malibu problems or electronic stability control (esc) problems across all Malibu years.