2016 Chevrolet Malibu Fuel/propulsion System Problems
Owners have filed 50 complaints with NHTSA about fuel/propulsion system problems on the 2016 Chevrolet Malibu, 6% of all complaints for this model year. Half of the reports with a mileage happened before 54,821 miles. The words owners use most often: “engine power” (44% of reports).
- 50fuel/propulsion system complaints
- 54,821median miles at failure
- 0mention a crash
- 0mention an injury
- 0related recalls
- 56%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 22 of 50 complaints (44%)
- Even though: mentioned in 5 of 50 complaints (10%)
At what mileage do fuel/propulsion system problems happen?
Based on 28 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
None of the 50 complaints report a crash, fire or injury.
Chevrolet Malibu fuel/propulsion system complaints by model year
| Model year | Fuel/propulsion System complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 Malibu | 2 | 5% | — |
| 2023 Malibu | 6 | 8% | — |
| 2022 Malibu | 8 | 8% | — |
| 2021 Malibu | 8 | 9% | — |
| 2020 Malibu | 14 | 7% | — |
| 2019 Malibu | 17 | 9% | 7,473 |
| 2018 Malibu | 84 | 12% | 29,000 |
| 2017 Malibu | 57 | 8% | 51,500 |
| 2016 Malibu | 50 | 6% | 54,821 |
| 2015 Malibu | 19 | 7% | 48,300 |
| 2014 Malibu | 24 | 7% | 82,500 |
| 2013 Malibu | 32 | 4% | 82,300 |
| 2012 Malibu | 51 | 6% | 93,000 |
| 2011 Malibu | 32 | 3% | 82,576 |
| 2010 Malibu | 31 | 2% | 83,500 |
| 2009 Malibu | 29 | 2% | 89,500 |
| 2008 Malibu | 45 | 5% | 94,244 |
| 2007 Malibu | 36 | 4% | 79,007 |
| 2006 Malibu | 52 | 5% | 111,668 |
| 2005 Malibu | 32 | 3% | 120,500 |
| 2004 Malibu | 13 | 1% | 153,000 |
| 2003 Malibu | 13 | 2% | 106,500 |
| 2002 Malibu | 6 | 1% | 128,090 |
| 2001 Malibu | 9 | 1% | 126,000 |
| 2000 Malibu | 12 | 1% | 128,500 |
| 1999 Malibu | 5 | 1% | 87,900 |
| 1998 Malibu | 1 | 0% | 81,000 |
| 1997 Malibu | 3 | 1% | — |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (0)
No safety recall lists fuel/propulsion system for the 2016 Chevrolet Malibu. A pattern of complaints does not always lead to a recall.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
I bought this car about 10 days ago. Throat was in pain, coughed up blood, dizzy, sweaty, and shaking. There's gas all over the ground coming from front under hood smelling through the vents. Very loud smelling. Took it to Chevrolet dealership on Covington hwy Decatur GA today and had to leave it…
On 04/28/2026, when diagnosing a reoccurring check engine light on the vehicle at a Chevy Certified Service, the mechanic "Borescoped cylinder 4 and found significant scuffs on the cylinder wall which along with the misfires indicate a cracked piston. The big picture appears to be the piston…
Engine to power is reduced. Poor fuel efficiency. Rough idling while parked. Poor acceleration. Trouble starting up. Burning smell at times.
Frequently asked questions
Do all 2016 Chevrolet Malibus have fuel/propulsion system problems?
No. NHTSA has 50 owner complaints about fuel/propulsion system for the 2016 Chevrolet Malibu (6% 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 fuel/propulsion system?
No recall currently lists fuel/propulsion system for this vehicle.
At what mileage do fuel/propulsion system problems start?
The median reported mileage is 54,821 miles: half of the reports with a mileage came before that.
What do owners say about fuel/propulsion system problems on the 2016 Chevrolet Malibu?
The most frequent phrase is “engine power”, in 22 of 50 complaints, followed by “even though” (5).
Other 2016 Chevrolet Malibu problems
See all 2016 Chevrolet Malibu problems or fuel/propulsion system problems across all Malibu years.