2016 Chevrolet Malibu: ABS light or ABS activating

Filed Apr 28, 2026 · Brakes, Driver assistance · 144,000 miles · TN · crash · 1 injury

The contact owns a 2016 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that while driving approximately at 55 MPH in a rain storm and making a right turn, the ABS and Traction Control warning lights had illuminated, and the driver suddenly lost control of the steering and crashed into a tree. During the incident the driver sustained a concussion and neck and shoulder injuries which later required medical treatment. No police report was filed. The vehicle was later towed to the local mechanic. The cause of the failure was not determined. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was offered. The local dealer was not contacted. The failure mileage was 144,000.

Filed Oct 6, 2025 · Brakes · IL

My 2016 Chevy Malibu Limited is experiencing Electronic Brake Control Module (EBCM) failure symptoms that match Recall 39440, even though my VIN is not listed in the recall. Details of the problem: -The brakes would randomly feel like they were sticking and the car being held back -Brake lights would remain on -Car would float all over the road -ABS and StabiliTrak warning lights illuminated in the dash once. -ABS and ESC functions stop working, leaving only based braking available. -These failures occur intermittently but increased to everytime. -All 4 brakes are dragging, pulsing (no lights illuminated), reaching 240 degrees -Confirmed by mechanic EBCM This is a safety hazard. The vehicle becomes more difficult to control in adverse conditions without ABS/ESC. I transport my special-needs child in this vehicle, and I am deeply concerned for our safety. Why I believe recall expansion is needed: GM has acknowledged this exact defect in Recall 39440 (affecting other 2016 Malibus built during specific production dates). My vehicle is showing the same failure, and I request the federal safety agency investigate whether the recall population should be expanded to include additional VINs.

Filed Jul 12, 2023 · Brakes, Driver assistance · 64,000 miles · CA

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 panel. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who diagnosed a failure with the ABS control module. The failure was related to the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 16V272000 (Electronic Stability Control) however, the VIN was not included. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 64,000.

Filed Jul 6, 2021 · Driver assistance · 90,000 miles · TX

The contact owns a 2016 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated while driving 60 mph, the vehicle stalled. The contact also stated that the brakes would not engage when the brake pedal was depressed. The contact stated that the abs warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer where it was diagnosed with the battery needing to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired however, the failure recurred. The contact took the vehicle back to the dealer where it was diagnosed with the battery needing to be replaced again. The vehicle was repaired however, the failure persisted. The contact was relating the failure to the federal safety agency campaign number: 16V272000 (Electronic Stability Control). The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 90,000.

Filed Apr 30, 2021 · Brakes, Driver assistance · 93,315 miles · TX

Service stabilitrak and ABS. It previously happened last year and the vehicle was in park. Since it's been happening when vehicle is at a slow crawl or in reverse. Sometimes the light will come on however the just of the times, when braking, the car will grind and stutter when braking

Filed Mar 11, 2021 · Brakes, Electrical · 125,000 miles · OH

The vehicle runs fine other than when the problems start acting up. It is a bcm issue involving the stabilitrak and ABS. Every few weeks or so, I'll get 3 service light ups in my dash stating 'service vehicle soon, service stabilitrak, service brake assist, reduced power steering drive with care' after coming to a stop. When I go to take off the car will rev up and down then those messages pop up as I cannot speed up or drive. Once the vehicle comes to a stop it shuts off and won't turn back on until about 10 minutes later. I've put $700 in it replacing speed sensors, vacuum pump and vacuum sensor and the problem still occurs. If it were to happen on the highway this could be very dangerous as it already occurred at an intersection stoplight in columbus ohio

Filed Nov 9, 2020 · Brakes · 100,000 miles · AR

Tl* the contact owns a 2016 chevrolet malibu. The contact stated that while driving approximately 35 MPH, the brake pedal was depressed and ceased and failed to release from the floorboard. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the ABS system was faulty. The vehicle was towed to george nunnally chevrolet located at 2700 se. Moberly ln, bentonville, ar 72712, who was unable to duplicate the failure. The manufacturer was not notified. The failure mileage was 100,000.

Filed Oct 18, 2020 · Brakes, Electrical · 80,000 miles · LA

While driving at various speeds, the brake pedal wade an abnormal grinding sound. The contact stated that extra effort was needed to depress the brake pedal. The contact also stated that the ABS system failed to operate as designed intermittently. The contact stated that on occasions the brake pedal was depressed and the vehicle slid before coming to a stop. The vehicle was not taken to be diagnosed nor repaired. The contact referenced the federal safety agency campaign number: the approximate failure mileage was 80877

Filed Mar 10, 2020 · Brakes, Driver assistance · 76,000 miles · DC

Tl* the contact owns a 2016 chevrolet malibu. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the brake pedal wade an abnormal grinding sound. The contact stated that extra effort was needed to depress the brake pedal. The contact also stated that the ABS system failed to operate as designed intermittently. The contact stated that on occasions the brake pedal was depressed and the vehicle slid before coming to a stop. The vehicle was not taken to be diagnosed nor repaired. The contact referenced the federal safety agency campaign number: 16v272000 (electronic stability control) however, the VIN was not included. Neither the dealer nor the manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 76,000.

Filed Feb 5, 2020 · Driver assistance · 75,000 miles · TX

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.

Filed Apr 21, 2019 · Brakes, Driver assistance · 21,220 miles · IN

Stablitrack not working, ABS not working and steering assistance not working intermittently. Car had only 21220 miles on it. Dealer says it has an internal malfunction in the electronic control module, code c056d. Problem occurred while in motion in a straight line on a city street at about 35 miles per hour and then verified while vehicle was stationary. The steering assistance problem happen while stationary, then verified while in motion turning on a city street at a slow speed. Verification was in accordance to instructions in the owners manual.

Filed Mar 30, 2018 · Brakes · 19,950 miles · PA · crash

2/2/18. Was traveling at 47 MPH when a truck stopped in front of me. I was approximately 10 car lengths away. I hit the brake to stop, felt the pedal vibrate for a few seconds and then the pedal went to the floor and the vibration went away. Pumped the pedal again and slowed the vehicle and was able to get over to the right before hitting the truck. The air bags did not deploy, the auto stop feature did not work. The onstar did not activate.the roads were dry, and the road was flat. Gm sent someone to retrieve the data from the computers, we have copies of the report. The data shows 5 seconds before the crash. According to the braking data, the brake was applied at 47 MPH and the vehicle slowed but did not stop. After getting the vehicle back from the body shop, we had the codes pulled and found numerous codes in the different modules. There was a code u0415-71- invalid data received from electronic brake control module present as a history code. We took the vehicle to a chevy dealer and they confirmed all the same codes. We had to take the car back to the original dealer that did the body work in case it was accident related. The second dealer is claiming that even though codes are present there is nothing they can find wrong. I believe the ABS failed on this vehicle and was the direct cause of the accident.