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2016 Chevrolet Malibu fuel system problems
55 complaints (7% of all complaints for this car). Typical mileage when it fails: 56,000.
- owner complaints
- 55
- of this car's complaints
- 7%
- typical mileage
- 56,000
- crashes
- 0
- recalls
- 1
Which part fails
- Fuel injection system: throttlebody/manifold1
- Delivery: fuel pump1
At what mileage
Complaints by mileage at the time of the problem.
Chevrolet Malibu fuel system problems in other years
Specific symptoms reported on the 2016 Chevrolet Malibu fuel system
Phrases found in the owners' own descriptions, so one complaint can mention several symptoms.
Related recalls
Fuel system, gasoline: delivery: fuel pump
- What is wrong
- General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2015-2018 GMC Canyon, 2016-2017 Buick Envision, 2016-2018 Chevrolet Colorado and Malibu, 2017-2018 GMC Acadia, 2018 Buick LaCrosse, Cadillac ATS, Chevrolet Equinox, and GMC Terrain vehicles. The high pressure fuel pump may detach from its mounting flange, possibly resulting in the pump damaging the high pressure fuel line.
- Risk
- A damaged fuel line can create a fuel leak, increasing the risk of a fire.
- Remedy
- GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the high pressure fuel pump, and high pressure fuel pipe, free of charge. The recall began July 2, 2018. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1‑800‑521‑7300, Cadillac customer service at 1‑800‑458‑8006, Chevrolet customer service at 1‑800‑222‑1020, or GMC customer service at 1‑800‑462‑8782. GM's number for this recall is 18188.
Recall number 18V358000 · Recall details
What 2016 Chevrolet Malibu owners say
Most recent owner complaints, unedited.
I believe my fuel pump was cracked
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 there. I still don't feel good and neither the passengers in car. Car could've caught on fire gas leaking out when put in. Never experience this ever in my life. I may have to go to the hospital my chest feel very tight and I had a chronic asthmatic and my child in the car with me that's been on a breathing machine since last night and it's now 3:35 pm next day.
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 cracked which caused excessive oil consumption and misfires. The excess oil and unburned fuel overloaded the converter causing it to fail. The engine and converter will need to be replaced." In 2017, a recall was issued by GM to mitigate Stochastic Pre-Ignition (SPI) Causing Cracked Piston (17019). Between the initial purchase of the vehicle (11/2016) and performed service required by this recall (03/10/2017), there were approximately 5000 miles driven. No engine diagnosis was performed or recommended. After the 17019 was addressed, the engine misfires continued along with reoccurring CEL. C.S.P. N182195660 Predictive Monitoring for Stochastic Pre-ignition (SPI) released in 2019 states the 1.5 L LFV engines in certain 2016 and 2017 model year Chevrolet Malibu vehicles may have a preignition condition that requires immediate repair. This condition may cause the engine to perform poorly, misfire, run rough, and/or excessively consume oil. It may also illuminate the vehicle’s service engine light. Over time, if not repaired, the condition can damage the vehicle’s pistons and engine. The VIN for this Malibu was not attached to this notice despite it having SPI recall history. On 06/2023 (after the N182195660 program ended), at 80k miles a diagnosis revealed a potential cracked cylinder with no mention of the pre-ignition condition that could cause the crack, and the only way to fix is to replace the entire engine (as per dealer recomendation). Since vehicle was out of warranty, the repair est. was nearly $10k. I firmly believe my 2016 Malibu has suffered the consequences of poor mismanagement on this recall, and am demanding mitigation from GM to fix this issue.
Engine to power is reduced. Poor fuel efficiency. Rough idling while parked. Poor acceleration. Trouble starting up. Burning smell at times.
My 2016 Chevrolet Malibu Limited (VIN: [XXX] ) experienced sudden loss of power while driving on 9/11/2025 and set code P228C. The dealership diagnosed the problem as the bolts coming loose from the high-pressure fuel pump, which caused the pump to detach from the cylinder head and become damaged, requiring replacement. This failure directly matches the defect described in the federal safety agency Recall 18V‑358 (GM Campaign 18188/18268). That recall explains that the high-pressure fuel pump can detach from its mounting due to a weld failure, leading to oscillation, damage to the fuel system, and an increased risk of fire. Although the dealer phrased it as “bolts came loose,” the result is identical: the pump detached from the cylinder head and damaged the fuel system. Despite this, my VIN does not show an open recall. GM Customer Assistance told me the repair would not be covered because of the vehicle’s age and mileage (current mileage 129264), even though recalls are federal safety obligations that are not limited by warranty coverage. I am requesting that the federal safety agency review this exclusion and ensure Recall 18V‑358 coverage applies to my vehicle. This defect creates a serious safety risk of fuel leaks and fire. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
The high-pressure fuel pump detached from the cylinder head. The dealership confirmed diagnostic trouble code P228C and reported that one mounting bolt was missing and another bolt was broken off inside the cylinder head, causing the pump to come loose and fail. The damaged parts were replaced at my expense and the components are available for inspection if needed. This failure caused loss of engine power and unsafe drivability, putting my safety and the safety of others at risk. The problem was confirmed and documented by a Chevrolet dealer service center. General Motors has inspected the issue through their dealer network but has denied coverage because the vehicle’s VIN was not included in Recall 18V-18V‑358, even though the failure matches that recall description. Warning symptoms included weeks of engine misfires, loss of performance, and eventually complete power loss while driving. These symptoms first appeared shortly before the failure occurred.
Vehicle experiences a loss a power will driving. A lawsuit for defective throttle control and pedal position sensor was filed but eventually dismissed. GM is aware of the issue but has done nothing to fix it
The fuel pressure system is faulty and shutting the engine down and reducing speed
The contact owns a 2016 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated while driving on several occasions at various speeds, the check engine warning light illuminated, and the vehicle lost power. Additionally, the message “Engine Power Reduced" was displayed. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic and was diagnosed and determined that the throttle body sensor needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 107,000.
Questions about the 2016 Chevrolet Malibu fuel system
Does the 2016 Chevrolet Malibu have fuel system problems?
Owners have filed 55 complaints about the fuel system of the 2016 Chevrolet Malibu, 7% of all its complaints.
At what mileage do 2016 Chevrolet Malibu fuel system problems start?
The typical (median) mileage in owner complaints is 56,000 miles.
Was there a recall on the 2016 Chevrolet Malibu fuel system?
Yes, 1 recall: 18V358000. Check your VIN to see if your car still needs the free repair.
What year does the Chevrolet Malibu have the most fuel system problems?
The Chevrolet Malibu model years with the most fuel system complaints are 2018 (101 complaints), 2006 (96 complaints) and 2007 (87 complaints).
Other 2016 Chevrolet Malibu problems
Engine 305Electrical 222Transmission 166Acceleration 152Brakes 104Driver assistance 84Steering 42Body 40Lights 19Suspension 19Airbags 18Visibility 15Wheels 12Seat belts 9Seats 6Tires 3Locks 1
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