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2016 Chevrolet Malibu: won't start

18 of the 841 complaints about the 2016 Chevrolet Malibu describe won't start.

owner complaints
18
of this car's complaints
2%
typical mileage
70,600
recalls
0
Is there a fix? 268 service bulletins cover this area of the car. See below

Won't start by model year

What owners say

Filed Feb 24, 2026 · Engine · FL

Fuel Injector Backing ring Failing causing O-ring to dislodge and Rupture due to high pressure fuel leaking past the seal. This is causing a Major fire Hazard. Gm seal kits will not fix the problem do to Backer ring not being in the kit. part number for the o-ring kit is 12673056. this part should not be sold without the backer ring. if installed without the rings they will fail and will be Leaking fuel on the hot Cylinder next to the ignition coils. Misfire and bad fuel smell and possible no start or Fire!!

Filed May 22, 2024 · Electrical, Engine · 176,000 miles · MD

The contact owns a 2016 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle independently engine seized and the check engine warning light illuminated. In addition, the contact stated that the battery would not stay charged. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed with a no-start dead battery. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact was informed of TSB 16-NA-209 in which the failure description was similar to that of the contact's vehicle. The contact was advised to take the vehicle to the dealer for repair. The dealer was contacted and made aware of the failure and the vehicle had a scheduled service appointment. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 176,000.

Filed May 10, 2024 · CA

THIS HAS HAPPENED ON AN ALMOST DAILY BASIS SINCE 4/30/2024 stabilitrack warning on Ipc, security light, power steering goes out on freeway-while turning in an intersection-going 75 on the freeway while changing lanes, IPC displays ice warning when 90• outside, erratic shifting(being stuck in 2nd gear until it shifts to 4th), no start no crank condition ( I replaced the battery,had alternator tested, tested fuses, fuel pressure test, checked spark plugs and coil packs) key fob not unlocking doors or remote starting (battery was changed) passenger seat will only recline on one side, power mirrors erratically moving without user adjustment, Climate control sporadically disconnects (no lights in dash no power at all) I have not taken it to a dealership I can’t afford the outrageous prices. I have had my father (certified ford technician) inspect the car. This car has become unsafe for me to drive with my children and I am terrified that it’s going to cause us to wreck and cause serious injury or death

Filed Aug 25, 2021 · Electrical, Engine · LA

Drove home from work and grocery shopping, killed the engine and noticed the fan was still running. Got back in the car and pressed to start the engine again. The engine stumbled to start but did start. I killed the engine again and everything went off (including the fan) as it should have. I decided to start the car again to see if it would repeat what happened. The car started, but no lights came on on the dashboard or radio. I had to press the start button again before any lights would come on. But the engine would die about 3 seconds after the lights came on. The light on the start button was green the entire time until I pressed it a third time. (I have video of this). After this the car wouldn't start at all. I left the car alone for the evening. The next morning I attempted to start the car and it wouldn't start at all, it was as if the battery was dead. I drove my daughter's car to work. The battery was purchased in early 2019 and was still under warranty, but the dealership wouldn't check the battery back unless it was in the car, which wouldn't start. I purchased a battery tester and the battery was dead. I recharged the battery and the car still stumbled to start but would eventually start after several tries. The car appears to drive ok, but won't start without charging the battery or getting a jump start. And once it starts, it's very hard to get it to start again immediately. This has been going on for 2 months now. I haven't been driving the car because I have an hour one way commute to work and can't chance the car giving me any issues. I periodically jump start the car and drive it for 5-10 miles. Yesterday, I jump started the car and when I killed the engine, the fan didn't go off again. It took about 6 tries to start the car again, once it started and I killed the engine the fan finally stopped. The check engine light has been on and off during these past 2 months with these current issues.

Filed Dec 1, 2020 · Electrical, Engine · 65,000 miles · DC

I get routine service to my car & my engine is clicking, loudly. The check engine light continuously goes on & off & I was told by chevrolet service department that they could not even run a diagnostics to see what the problem is because the check engine light was off when I got to the dealership. Sometimes 'service battery charging system' will illuminate but it too picks and chooses when to illuminate. Sometimes it shows 'battery saver activated' and this is the third battery I've purchased! The entire car will stall/shut off but the green light is illuminated to show the car is on but when I accelerate it won't budge! Dangerous considering my car could stall at anytime and cause a collision. I've nearly gotten t-boned twice coming out a gas station entering a road because my car stalled in the middle of the street while traffic was coming from both directions! A service man at the chevy dealership asked me was I experiencing issues with my auto start/stop when I told him what was happening. Yes! My car picks and chooses when it wants to do it. And when it does 'restart' the entire car reboots, the locks re-click, lights flicker, it'll be in drive and roll backwards until the ignition turns over! Chevy or at least the service techs are fully aware of an issue and won't fix it. Sometimes the car just won't start, all the power will go out. What happens when I'm out & the entire electrical system and engine won't start after at least starting 20 minutes prior! I've already got new pistons, a new alternator, 3 new batteries & get the routine maintenance. I have a mychevy account & every month my diagnostics report, shows an issue! If I'm in an accident & my child or I are injured, who is liable because my car decides to malfunction in the middle of a busy highway? Chevrolet for neglecting to service my car because the freaking check engine light isn't on!

Filed Aug 11, 2020 · Driver assistance, Electrical · 34,400 miles · ID

My malibu only has 34k miles on it and is meticulously cared for. On august 10th, I went to start it. It would not start or turn on the lights. So I trickle charged it and 4 hours later when it finally turned on I had the battery checked. The battery is fine. However, the stabilitrac is not coming back on along with my cruise control and lane assist. The back up camera, back up camera lines, crash aversion sensors, and screen were not working properly for the majority of the 10th of august after the car came back on. The sreen has had issues in the past as well with not turning on along with showing the proper time, temperature, and more.

Filed Jun 3, 2020 · Acceleration, Electrical · DC

It's amazing me reading all the complaints about this issue and gm hasn't issues a recall. However, I purchased a 2016 chevy malibu used about a year ago. Within the year, I've had my acceleration pedal be faulty, my car speed will drastically reduce from 60-70mph to 20-25mph which as I'm sure everyone knows is a safety hazard. Then less than 2 weeks later, the same thing happened but this time it was the alternator. Now not even 2 months later, my stop/start is malfunctioning. If I brake and the car turns off, my 'start' function does not start! I have to shift the car to park, turn the car on, then shift back to drive. All of which is dangerous! Obviously, these complaints are not being read or are not being taken serious because I just read multiple complaints similar to this. On top of it all, because of everything I don't feel safe driving a car I paid for! And none of these issues are not my doing yet I'm the one in the dealership paying for it.

Filed Nov 8, 2019 · Acceleration, Engine · 70,600 miles · PA

Nothing but issues after issues after issue! The dealer doesn't even know what is wrong with my car. I had reducing engine issues, took to dealer and seems as if they just cut a wire. I still get the reduced engine power without the message appearing. Then an oil leak out of nowhere and now my car will not start, on lunch at work 30 miles from home. Everyone with this car just should be given a new one. I feel like were test dummies, not cool! Or safe!!

Filed Nov 4, 2019 · Driver assistance, Engine · 90,000 miles · LA

The car when stop at traffic light shuts off and will not start. On star diagnostic have stated several times its due to engine issues. It sometimes seems as if it's drops in speed when driving. I was informed by the chevyland dealership that I had a software update and a thottle body injection issues that ironically my car didn't make the recall last however the same make, model cars have been listed.

Filed Oct 4, 2019 · Brakes, Driver assistance · 989,000 miles · LA

As I was driving from the va hospital in new orleans coming down the high rise bridge in dead traffic the car cut off the breaks got stiff it wouldnt start back up the engine power reduced light came on the stearing couldnt be controlled I thought I was going to die rolling out of control down the bridge thank god poeople moved out the way it could have been really bad I struggled to turn the stearing wheel so I wouldnt go of the side of the bridge and I finally rolled all the way down the bridge and got on the side I sat for alittle tried to start it the brakes was so stiff that it wouldnt start at first then I pushed hard and it started but the breaks didnt work and it would only go 20 to 30 miles an hour every time I hit the breaks the car would turn off I feared for my life because I had two more bridges to go over until I got home and been sitting at home no transpertation called chevy matt bowers and they told me I had to pay to have it towed plus pay 135.00 dollars an hour for them to just look at im a disabled veteran I bought this brand new car thinking it was liable transpertation to get me back and forth to my doctors I bought this cxar brand new in 2016 and had nothing but problems with it im not a healthy man and I depend on this to get me to my doctors I get alittle money and didnt buy this car so it could break down this early in time I trusted them with my life and they told me I wouldnt have any problems getting to my doctors at the veterans hospital in new orleans.

Filed Sep 29, 2019 · Electrical, Engine · 5 miles · MD · crash

I own a 2016 chevy malibu and one of its features is an auto stop/start feature in the car. When this car enters this mode when I take my foot off of the break it is supposed to start again but when I take my foot off of the break it will just completely shut down, when I try to start the car again it will just stall. I was involved in an accident on june 9th 2019 where the car cut off and rolled back into another vehicle. This is just one occasion of the car cutting off on me and becoming immobile. I was told it was a battery issue and a wiring issue I've gotten both addressed but it still happens. I've received a letter from chevy that may address the issue but I have to see. My car currently won't start. Today is september 24,2019

Filed Aug 27, 2019 · Brakes, Engine · 51,000 miles · CO

Takata recall my car has completely shut off on me twice in traffic now, this is dangerous because you loose control of your steering and brake system luckily both times I was not going at a high speed and I let the car slow on it's own, but there are no error codes popping up, no type of warning at all that something is wrong with the car. Sometimes it won't start in the morning so at first I thought it was the battery or remote battery so I changed both it started working for about a week so I thought the issue was fixed but it still cuts off a few times a day, like today it wouldn't start and when I finally got it started my heat and air conditioning system would not work, other times my home screen will be completely black and no power to it. I hope whatever is going on with these vehicles are fixed soon because it is very scary and dangerous when this happens especially in the middle of traffic. Another thing when my car is stationary and it won't start I will push the push to start button you will here a clicking sound and the engine light will flash but the engine will not turn on once I do get it started I get the word stabiletrak, so I took my car to the chevy dealer once again and they are not able to find anything wrong with it.

Questions about the 2016 Chevrolet Malibu won't start

Is won't start a common problem on the 2016 Chevrolet Malibu?

18 of 841 owner complaints about the 2016 Chevrolet Malibu (2%) mention won't start. The model year with the most reports is 2002.

Is there a recall or service bulletin for this on the 2016 Chevrolet Malibu?

There are 0 recalls and 268 service bulletins for the same area of the car. Check them below with your VIN.

Other symptoms on the 2016 Chevrolet Malibu

Check engine light 181Loss of power 110Stalling 30Engine failure 26Battery drain 18Water leak 18Headlights 16Misfire 14ABS 13Grinding brakes 13Hesitation 13Won't shift 13Jerking 12Steering lock-up 9Brake failure 8Adaptive cruise 7Door locks 7Knocking 7Start-stop 7Warning lights 7No deployment 6Backup camera 6Fuel pump 6Overheating 6Fire or smoke 5Key fob 5Transmission failure 5

All model years of the Chevrolet Malibu

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