2016 Chevrolet Malibu Electronic stability control Problems
- Complaints
- 76about this part
- Share
- 9%of 841 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 55,000miles
- Trend
- FallingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 76 complaints about the electronic stability control of the 2016 Chevrolet Malibu, 9% of the 841 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 55,000 miles. 1 of these say a crash was involved, according to the filers. 1 recall campaign on record is filed under a similar system.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“I was driving on my way to work and all of a sudden my cars lights come on the dash and say service stabilitytrak soon and reduced engine power as well as the check engine light. The car decrease speed to 25 MPH and almost caused a wreck. I was not able to go over 25 miles an hours and was finally able to pull off and stop”
NHTSA complaint #11321534, filed 2020-04, 120,000 miles“I was traveling on a highway, going around 70 MPH, as I was about to merge onto another freeway, my check engine light came on, and a notification came on that said reduced engine power. My car then dropped speed to about 40 MPH. I was unable to accelerate the rest of my route to work. I topped at 20 MPH. I checked my code reader and p2138 came up.”
NHTSA complaint #11163602, filed 2018-12, 45,000 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”
NHTSA complaint #11355156, filed 2020-09, 100,000 miles“While driving to my job and I pressed on the pedal brake, it felt like the brakes was having trouble to brake so I had to brake hard and drive carefully. It would make a sound when I would press down on the pedal. Took it to a mechanic and he told me that the ABS is broken and that's what giving me a hard time to brake. He checked all of my brakes are still good and nothing wrong with them.”
NHTSA complaint #11307181, filed 2020-02, 75,000 miles“Brought the car august 2019. Began having problems the next month. While driving on the highway. My engine light popped on and a warning message read, engine speed reducing. I was almost rear-ended because of this. This is very dangerous and a common problem that needs to be fixed. Nothing is covered under warranty.”
NHTSA complaint #11279407, filed 2019-11, 83,000 milesRelated recalls
- 16V272000May 5, 2016General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2016 Chevrolet Malibu vehicles manufactured March 7, 2016, through March 12, 2016. The memory chip in…Covers: Chevrolet Malibu 2016
Electronic stability control: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 1 | 1% |
| 2020 | 2 | 1% |
| 2019 | 1 | 1% |
| 2018 | 21 | 3% |
| 2017 | 53 | 8% |
| 2016 | 76 | 9% |
| 2015 | 16 | 6% |
| 2014 | 31 | 9% |
| 2013 | 72 | 9% |
| 2012 | 129 | 14% |
| 2011 | 174 | 18% |
| 2010 | 227 | 17% |
| 2009 | 255 | 17% |
| 2008 | 68 | 7% |
| 2007 | 22 | 2% |
| 2006 | 29 | 3% |
| 2005 | 30 | 3% |
| 2004 | 22 | 2% |
| 2003 | 3 | 1% |
| 2002 | 1 | 0% |
| 2001 | 2 | 0% |
| 2000 | 1 | 0% |
| 1999 | 1 | 0% |
| 1998 | 1 | 0% |
Other parts of the 2016 Chevrolet Malibu
304 complaintsElectrical system
222 complaintsOther or unknown
177 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
166 complaintsVehicle speed control
152 complaintsBrakes
104 complaintsFuel system
54 complaintsSteering
42 complaintsBody and structure
40 complaintsExterior lighting
19 complaintsSuspension
19 complaintsAir bags
18 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2016 Chevrolet Malibu
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 29, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology