2016 Chevrolet Malibu Power Train
Owner-reported problems and safety issues filed with NHTSA. Review common failures, severity levels, and complaint trends over time.
Complaint Timeline
Chronological view of owner reports
WHEN IN PARK, WILL NOT ALLOW THE ENGINE TO BE SHUT OFF.THE SHIFT LEVER IS IN PARK, AND BRAKE IS ENGAGED. IT INDICATES THE CAR IS NOT IN PARK.THIS OCCURS FREQUENTLY AND HAS SINCE 05/01/2020
WHEN THE CAR IS PUT IN PARK IT WONT SHUT OFF AND GIVES THIS MESSAGE "SHIFT TO PARK". THIS IS HAPPENING MORE FREQUENT.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THEIR DAUGHTER WAS UNABLE TO IMMEDIATELY SHUT THE VEHICLE OFF, AFTER SWITCHING TO THE PARK POSITION THE "SHIFT TO PARK" MESSAGE HAD DISPLAYED. AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS, THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO BE SHUT OFF. THE LOCAL DEALER (UNKNOWN) AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE BUT NO ASSISTANCE WAS OFFERED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 19,000. THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE ENGINE SHUTS OFF AT HIGH SPEEDS. THE SHIFT TO PARK PREVENTS THE START BUTTON FROM STARTING THE VEHICLE .
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO SHIFT THE VEHICLE TO THE PARK POSITION, THE VEHICLE FAILED RECOGNIZE THAT IT WAS IN PARK, WHICH MADE IT DIFFICULT TO TURN OFF AND LOCK THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED SEVERAL ATTEMPTS WERE NEEDED TO TURN OFF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER THE MOST RECENT OCCURRENCE, THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN TO MORAN CHEVROLET FORT GRATIOT (4511 24TH AVE, FORT GRATIOT TWP, MI 48059, (812) 202-4062) WHO REPLACED THE SHIFTER DUE TO A DEFECTIVE SWITCH. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL FOR THE ISSUE. THE MANUFACTURER OPENED A CASE REGARDING THE MATTER. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 19,000. *BF *AS
SECOND TIME IN LESS THEN A YEAR I HAVE TO TAKE MY CAR INTO THE REPAIR SHOP FOR THIS ISSUE. I WILL PUT MY CAR IN PARK, TURN OFF THE CAR AND A NOTIFICATION COMES ON THE SCREEN THAT STATES 'SHIFT TO PARK' I HAVE TO REPEATEDLY START MY CAR, SHIFT TO REVERSE THEN BACK TO PARK AND THEN SHUT OFF MY CAR UNTIL THE MESSAGE DOESN'T APPEAR. THIS SEEMS TO BE A VERY COMMON ISSUE YET A RECALL HAS NOT BEEN ANNOUNCED.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT UPON PLACING THE VEHICLE INTO PARK AND PRESSING THE OFF BUTTON, THE SHIFT TO PARK WARNING MESSAGE APPEARED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO RICK HENDRICK CHEVROLET NORFOLK (6252 E VIRGINIA BEACH BLVD, NORFOLK, VA 23502) WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED WITH A DEFECTIVE TRANSMISSION HARNESS AND SHIFTER CABLE. THE VEHICLE HAD YET TO BE REPAIRED AND REMAINED IN THE CUSTODY OF THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER HAD BEEN NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS GIVEN A CASE NUMBER AND INFORMED THAT SHE WOULD RECEIVE A CALL BACK IN RELATION TO THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT HEARD BACK FROM THE MANUFACTURER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
GETTING AN ERROR ( SHIFT TO PARK) WHEN PUTTING THE CAR IN PARK AFTER ATTEMPTING TO GO FROM DRIVE TO PARK TO TURN VEHICLE OFF. I START VEHICLE ON AGAIN AND SHIFT TO DRIVE AND BACK TO PARK AND IT THEN GOES AWAY AND SLOWS ME TO TURN VEHICLE OFF.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER STOPPING THE VEHICLE AND SHIFTING THE GEAR SHIFTER TO THE PARK POSITION, THE INSTRUMENT PANEL DISPLAYED THE TRANSMISSION NOT IN PARK MESSAGE. ADDITIONALLY, ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO TURN THE VEHICLE OFF. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS THE DOORS FAILED TO REMAIN SECURELY LOCKED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. NEITHER THE DEALER NOR THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 71,000.
I PUT THE CAR IN PARK TURN OFF BUT I GET THE MESSAGE SHIFT INTO PARK. SOME TIMES I DO THIS SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE I CAN LOCK THE DOORS. I LOOKED UP RECALLS THERE IS A RECALL LISTED FOR THIS. BUT IT SAYS MY CAR ISN'T LISTED. THERE IS DEFINITELY A PROBLEM.
THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THAT THIS HAS HAPPENED WITH THIS VEHICLE. AFTER ARRIVING AT MY DESTINATION, I PARKED MY CAR AND SHIFTED TO PARK. UPON TURNING THE CAR OFF, AN ERROR MESSAGE APPEARS DIRECTING ME TO "SHIFT TO PARK." THE CAR ONLY HAS 56000 MILES. THIS HAS BEEN FIXED PREVIOUSLY (CAR HAD ALMOST 40000 MILES AT THE FIRST OCCURENCE) AND NOW IT IS HAPPENING AGAIN. VERY FRUSTRATING. THE CAR WILL NOT ALLOW YOU TO FULLY TURN THE CAR OFF WITH THIS ERROR MESSAGE AND IF YOU GET OUT AND SHUT THE DOOR, THE CAR ACTS AS IF IT IS STILL RUNNING BY HONKING AND NOT ALLOWING YOU TO LOCK YOUR VEHICLE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE ENGINE REDUCED MESSAGE DISPLAYED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL AND THE VEHICLE INDEPENDENTLY DECELERATED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO GUIDE THE VEHICLE OFF OF THE ROADWAY SAFELY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER APPROXIMATELY 15 MINUTES THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED AND OPERATED AS DESIGNED. GEORGE MATICK CHEVROLET (14001 TELEGRAPH RD, REDFORD CHARTER TWP, MI 48239) WAS CONTACTED BY PHONE AND INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT SINCE THE WARNING LIGHT WAS NO LONGER ILLUMINATED, THE TECHNICIAN WOULD BE UNABLE TO RETRIEVE A FAULT CODE OR DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE FAILURE WAS INTERMITTENT. THE MANUFACTURE WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 29,959.
WHEN STOPPING THE VEHICLE THE SHIFTER CONTROL MODULE DOES NOT RECOGNIZE WHEN THE VEHICLE IS IN THE PARK POSITION. WHEN THIS HAPPENS THE VEHICLE DISPLAY'S A MESSAGE AND A WARNING BELL SOUNDS WHEN YOU OPEN THE CAR DOOR. THE INTERIOR LIGHTS, DASH AND RADIO OF THE VEHICLE WILL NOT TURN OFF UNTIL THE VEHICLE BELIEVES IT'S PROPERLY PUT INTO PARK. NO ERROR CODE IS STORED IN THE CARS MEMORY. GM HAS A FIX FOR THIS BUT THE PROBLEM KEEPS RECURRING. MY VEHICLE'S SHIFTER MODULE WAS REPLACE UNDER THE ORIGINAL WARRANTY. THAT FIX FAILED 2 YEARS LATER. THE MOST RECENT FIX WAS TO REPLACE A HARNESS IN THE SHIFTER MODULE. THE DEALER WOULD NOT FIX THIS UNDER THE EXISTING CPO WARRANTY EVEN THOUGH IT WAS A RECURRING ISSUE AND THERE HAVE BEEN MULTIPLE SERVICE BULLETINS CONCERNING THIS ISSUE AND ORIGINALLY REPAIRED UNDER THE ORIGINAL WARRANTY. THIS MOST RECENT FIX HAS FAILED AGAIN AFTER 6 WEEKS OF BEING REPLACED. IF THE VEHICLE DOES NOT RECOGNIZE WHAT GEAR IT IS IN I BELIEVE THIS COULD BE A SAFETY ISSUE. AS IT IS WHEN THE VEHICLE DOES NOT RECOGNIZE THAT THE VEHICLE (SHIFTER MODULE) IS IN THE PARK POSITION THE VEHICLE STAYS ACTIVE AND DRAINS THE BATTERY UNTIL THE ERROR IS CORRECTED. YOU ALSO CANNOT LOCK THE VEHICLE. THE CAR HAS TO BE RESTARTED AND MOVED AND IF YOU ARE LUCKY WHEN THE VEHICLE IS SHUT DOWN IT WILL FINALLY RECOGNIZE THAT THE VEHICLE IS IN PARK. AS THIS HAPPENS INTERMITTENTLY IF THE VEHICLE IS TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP THEY WILL NOT ADDRESS THE ISSUE IF THEY DO NOT SEE THE ERROR MESSAGE ON THE VEHICLES DRIVER INFORMATION SCREEN WHEN THE VEHICLE IS BROUGHT IN FOR SERVICE.
AFTER PUTTING MY CAR IN PARK I GET A WARNING THAT THE CAR IS NOT IN PARK. WHEN THIS HAPPENS THE CAR WILL NOT LOCK PLUS THE LIGHTS AND THE RADIO WILL NOT TURN OFF. MY CONCERN IS THAT THE CAR IS REALLY NOT IN PARK PLUS MY SECURITY WITH THE DOORS NOT LOCKING. HAVE HAD IT TO THE DEALER TWICE NOW THEY WANT ME TO REPLACE THE SHIFTER ASSEMBLY AT MY COST SINCE IT IS OVER 3 YRS OLD BUT STILL UNDER 30,000 MILES.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE THE GEAR SHIFT LEVER WAS PLACED IN THE PARK POSITION, THE PARK WARNING INDICATOR LIGHT ILLUMINATED INDICATING THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT IN PARK. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO (WATSON CHEVROLET 625 W AUTO MALL DR, TUCSON, AZ 85705 (520) 777-9425, WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED AND DETERMINED THAT THE TRANSMISSION CONTROL MODULE FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND A CASE WAS FILED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 27,000.
VEHICLE HAS VIBRATION AND MAKES A HUMMING NOISE AT ALL SPEEDS. WHEN HARD BRAKING THE VEHICLE PULLS TO THE RIGHT. TOOK VEHICLE TO A LOCAL DOBB'S TIRE AND AUTO CENTER AND THEN DIAGNOSED VEHICLE WITH EXCESSIVE RIGHT, FRONT MOVEMENT AT THE TRANSMISSION. POSSIBLY AN INTERNAL STUB AXLE? REPAIR SHOP ADVISED THAT THERE WAS A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN FROM OCTOBER 2019 STATING THE SAME ISSUE. REPAIR SHOP ALSO HAD ANOTHER 2016 MALIBU IN FOR AN OIL CHANGE AND UPON THEIR MULTI-POINT INSPECTION THEY ALSO FOUND EXCESSIVE MOVEMENT WITH THE RIGHT, FRONT AXLE AT THE TRANSMISSION.
MY VEHICLE IS GIVING ME A SHIFT TO PARK MESSAGE AFTER THE VEHICLE IS IN PARK. THE VEHICLE GIVES A DING NOISE TO INFORM ME THAT THE VEHICLE IS NOT IN PARK. IT TAKES MULTIPLE TIMES TO TURN THE VEHICLE OFF COMPLETELY.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF, THE MESSAGE 'SHIFT INTO PARK' DISPLAYED, THE RADIO REMAINED ON, AND THE TRANSMISSION INDICATOR REMAINED ILLUMINATED. LATER, WHILE IDLING, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY SHUT OFF AND BEGAN TO ROLL BACKWARDS DOWN A SLIGHT INCLINE. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURES WAS NOT DETERMINED. DAVIDSON CHEVROLET (18579 US ROUTE 11, WATERTOWN, NY) WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES, BUT NO ASSISTANCE WAS OFFERED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 22,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO PARK, THE VEHICLE DID NOT ENGAGE IN PARK. THE CONTACT DROVE THE VEHICLE TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO RECOMMENDED THAT THE VEHICLE BE TAKEN TO THE CHEVROLET DEALER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED SINCE APPROXIMATELY DECEMBER 2018 AND PROGRESSIVELY WORSEN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 19,865. *TR CONSUMER STATED NOW HOLD THE SHIFTER FOR A LONGER TIME BEFORE I PUSH THE STOP. HOPEFULLY THAT WAS MY PROBLEM. *JB
SINCE I PURCHASED THE CAR, IT HAS HAD REGULAR MAINTENANCE DONE ON TIME. I WAS DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE ON MY WAY HOME FROM WORK. AS I GOT OFF THE EXIT I NOTICED MY CAR ACTING FUNNY, AS I GOT TO THE END OF THE EXIT I NOTICED THAT I HAD NO BREAKS AND THAT I COULD NOT TURN THE STEERING AT ALL AND ACTUALLY COULD NOT COME TO A STOP AT THE END OF THE EXIT, HAVING TO RUN THE STOP SIGN AND INTO ON COMING TRAFFIC WHICH IF A POLICE OFFICER WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN THERE COULD HAVE BEEN A VERY BAD SITUATION. HAD MY CAR TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP TO FIND OUT THAT IT JUMPED TIME. WITH ONLY 70+ THOUSAND MILES ON MY CAR, WHY WOULD I EVEN THINK TO WORRY ABOUT MY CAR JUMPING TIME. I THEN FIND OUT MY WARRANTY ENDED AT 60,000 MILES. I HAVE READ THAT THERE ARE NUMBER OF CASES WITH THIS ISSUE. NOW I AM OUT $ 3000.00 FOR A MOTOR AND LABOR TO HAVE THE MOTOR INSTALLED.
TL* THE CONTACT'S FATHER OWNS A 2016 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHEN PARKING THE VEHICLE AND SHIFTING GEARS, "SHIFT TO PARK" APPEARED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE CONTACT HAD TO MAKE FIVE TO TEN ATTEMPTS WITH SHIFTING THE GEARS FOR IT TO SHIFT INTO PARK. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO ALLEN GWYNN CHEVROLET (LOCATED AT 1400 S BRAND BLVD, GLENDALE, CA 91204, (818) 528-8597) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE GEAR SHIFTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 8,007.
CAR IS STALLING WHENEVER I COME TO A COMPLETE STOP. I HAVE TO TRY TO AVOID MAKING A LEFT TURN BECAUSE IT TAKES SO LONG FOR THE CAR TO REACT WHEN I GET ON THE ACCELERATOR TO GO. SOME DAYS IT WILL HESITATE A LITTLE AND GO, BUT LATELY IT HAS BEEN STALLING ALL THE WAY OUT AND IT TAKES A FEW MINS FOR IT TO REACT WHEN I'M TRYING TO PULL OFF!!
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE PARKING, THE START/STOP BUTTON WAS PRESSED AND FAILED TO TURN OFF THE VEHICLE. IN ADDITION, THE "PARK TO SHIFT" WARNING MESSAGE WAS DISPLAYED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE CONTACT HAD TO SHIFT GEARS AND BACK INTO PARK IN ORDER TO TURN OFF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT CALLED MCKENNEY CHEVROLET CADILLAC BUICK GMC (LOCATED AT 831 S MAIN ST, LOWELL, NC 28098, (855) 757-1635) AND INFORMED THEM OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 41,000.
2016 MALIBU 1.5 LITER ENGINE HAD RECALL FOR IGNITING TIMING CAUSES CRACKED PISTONS...7000 MILES THEY UPDATED THIS PROBLEM, BUT WAS TO LATE BY THEN AT 28000 MILES NEEDED ALL NEW PISTONS RODS BEARINGS REBUILT THE ENGINE TOP HALF, BUT NOW 2 TIMES IN 2 MONTHS RETURNED TO DEALER
WHEN PLACING THE CAR IN PARK TO SHUT OFF THE VEHICLE, A MESSAGE APPEARS STATING "ACTION REQUIRED" "SHIFT TO PARK." THE CAR IS IN PARK. SHIFTING IN AND OUT OF PARK DOES NOT SOLVE THE ISSUE. THIS INTERMITTENT PROBLEM OCCURRED OVER ABOUT 3 MONTHS. HAVE TO TURN OFF LIGHTS MANUALLY OR THEY WON'T GO OFF. DASH LIGHT REMAIN ON LONGER THAN USUAL. CAR BATTERY FINALLY DIED. REPLACED THE BATTERY/ PROBLEM PERSISTS. WHEN GETTING OUT OF CAR AND CLOSING DOORS, HORN HONKS 3 TIMES. REMOTE NOT DETECTED WHEN GETTING IN CAR AGAIN TO GO SOMEWHERE. PROBLEM STARTED SHORTLY AFTER WARRANTY EXPIRED. TOOK TO DEALER, COURTESY CHEVROLET. WAS TOLD WHILE THE PROBLEM WAS NOT "COMMON" IT WAS A "KNOWN" ISSUE. NEVER SUGGESTED THIS WAS SOMETHING TO LOOK AT ANY OTHER TIME THE CAR WAS IN FOR SERVICE. HAD TO REPLACE THE SHIFT GEAR. COST $450 INITIALLY, BUT AFTER COMPLAINING, THEY TOOK OFF ABOUT $100. WAS TOLD THAT THIS IS NOT COVERED BY POWER TRAIN WARRANTY EVEN THOUGH NHTSA DEFINES POWER TRAIN AS INCLUDING "SHIFT LEVER/GEAR CONTROL AND INDICATOR DEVICES." THERE IS A TSB OUT ON THIS PROBLEM AND MANY NHTSA COMPLAINTS AS WELL AS CHEVROLET MESSAGE BOARDS. CAR HAS ONLY 16,000 MILES ON IT.
WHEN CAR IS PUT IN PARK, AN ERROR "SHIFT TO PARK" APPEARS ON THE DASH. THE CAR WILL NOT TURN OFF. IT TAKES MULTIPLE TRIES TO GET THE CAR TO REGISTER THAT THE GEAR IS PUT INTO PARK.
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Quick Summary
The 2016 Chevrolet Malibu has 56 Power Train complaints on file. 1 crashes have been reported. Review the timeline above for detailed owner experiences.