2016 Chevrolet Malibu: jerking or lurching

Filed Jan 10, 2025 · Electrical, Engine · SC

I had my vehicle for about 2 years. I noticed that after I went over a certain amount of mileage, my car went into an engine power reduce mode. With the engine power reduce mode my vehicle could only go 25 mph. This was happening to me when I was driving on major highways, etc.. I would have to pull over and stop the vehicle because after certain amount of time it also would tell me oil pressure low to stop engine. I took it to the Chevy dealership to have it looked at. I got the runaround with trying to figure out exactly what the issue was. They kept telling me that it was something else I spent over $1600 in repairs due to them, telling me that they found the issue and corrected it. After about another week or two, The same issue happened, engine power reduced stop engine oil pressure low. The most dangerous part about it is again I’m driving on interstates heading to work, etc. and the car is slows down on the interstate not allowing me to go over 25 mph again having to pull over on the interstate to give the car a break, crank it back up and get to a safe location. After having multiple mechanics look at it, still unable to fix. It started to get worse where once it pops up engine power reduce, oil pressure low stop engine, the car started jerking & shaking really bad. The only way to stop this from happening is to again shut the car down. I can’t keep shutting the car down in the middle of the interstate and on major roads. I took the vehicle to the Chevy dealership first they couldn’t find the issue. They said it was another issue that wasn’t even the issue so I paid over $1600 for nothing. I took it to Rick Hendrick, who couldn’t find an issue and all they could tell me was to trade it in. This vehicle issue needs to be recalled. My bf is now having the exact same issue that my car was having & after researching, others are as well. Same year, same model, just a different color. This vehicle needs to be recalled for this ongoing safety issue ASAP!

Filed Jul 25, 2022 · Transmission · 159,000 miles · TX

The contact owns a 2016 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated while driving approximately 55 MPH, the gear selector indicator started fluctuating between park(P) and reverse(R). The vehicle started to jerk and hesitate while driving. The contact was able to stop and turn the vehicle off. After restarting the vehicle, the message "Shift to Park" was displayed. The vehicle was later towed to the residence. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The local dealer and manufacturer were not yet notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 159,000.

Filed Dec 15, 2020 · Electrical, Transmission · TX

Vehicle has been giving problems since I purchased from the dealer, well about 60days into my purchase. Real problem is that it jerks constantly at times it doesn't move due to according to my own diagnostics the transmission converter torque solenoid and this should be happening. It happens every time I'm on the hey it takes too long to accelerate and many times not accelerating at all. It causes my gas to decrease. The other day I was 30min from my residence and it took 5 hours, literally for me to get home. Computer system started blinking consistently. Engine light stays on. Winsdahield wooer lifts stays on. Tc lights stays on. Everything about this car within 60 days stays on. This is horrible.

Filed Sep 9, 2020 · Acceleration, Brakes · 50,000 miles · MN

Tl* the contact owns a 2016 chevrolet malibu. The contact stated while driving 70 MPH, the engine power reduced warning light illuminated with the accelerator pedal depressed. The vehicle started to decelerate. The contact coasted the vehicle to the shoulder of the roadway, turned the vehicle off and back on which resume back to normal operation. The contact aslo mentioned that while the brake pedal was depressed, the vehicle hesitated and jerked forward. The vehicle was taken to friendly chevrolet (7501 highway 65 ne, fridley, mn 55432) where it was diagnosed and it was determined that the vacuum pump and accelerator pedal assembly needed to be replaced. The accelerator pedal assembly was repaired however, the vacuum pump was not. The failure recurred with the brake pedal. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The contact was informed that the VIN was not subjected to a recall. The failure mileage was approximately 50,000.

Filed Jul 2, 2020 · Engine · 55,000 miles · CA

Problem has huge accident potential. *driving on the highway in moderately heavy traffic. *traveling at a 65-70 MPH to keep up with the flow of traffic, I began receiving "engine power is reduced" message on my info screen. * the engine light comes on (and I immediately start counting how much time and money this will cost me). * there is a slight jerk/pull of the car where it immediately starts a drastic reduction in speed down to 20-30 MPH. * I've had to pull to the side of the road to stop the car (I pray I am able to do this safely). *eventually, I found that by shutting the engine off completely for several minutes, the car somehow "resets" and drives normally. * occasionally, the engine light would go away immediately upon re-ignition. Other times the engine light went off after a couple day. * this happened several times during within a (1) hour commute to work.

Filed Jun 22, 2020 · Acceleration, Transmission · 54,000 miles · CA

Problem has huge accident potential. *driving on the freeway in moderately heavy traffic. *traveling at a 65-70 MPH to keep up with the flow of traffic, I began receiving "engine power is reduced" message on my info screen. * the engine light comes on (and I immediately start counting how much time and money this will cost me). * there is a slight jerk/pull of the car where it immediately starts a drastic reduction in speed down to 20-30 MPH. * I've had to pull to the side of the road to stop the car (I pray I am able to do this safely). *eventually, I found that by shutting the engine off completely for several minutes, the car somehow "resets" and drives normally. * occasionally, the engine light would go away immediately upon re-ignition. Other times the engine light went off after a couple day. * this happened several times during within a (1) hour commute to work.

Filed Jan 28, 2020 · Brakes · 3,000 miles · IL

When braking to stop at light sometimes my car will jerk like it is trying to take off. Will have to push hard on the brake pedal to get it to stop. Won't happen for a while then it will happen 4 to 5 times in a row then won't happen again for a while. Sometime I feel like my car is going to jump out of control.

Filed Nov 6, 2019 · Electrical, Steering · 35,000 miles · CA

Tl* the contact owns a 2016 chevrolet malibu. The contact stated that the steering wheel failed. While the vehicle was at a complete stop, "action required steering assist reduced" appeared on the instrument panel and the steering jerked. The engine shut off, but then restarted independently. The contact stated that the failure was experienced several times. The vehicle was taken to covina chevrolet (635 south citrus avenue, covina, ca 91723, (626)-732-1100) where it was diagnosed that there was a short in the electrical system. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was 35,000.

Filed Jan 25, 2019 · Electrical, Engine · 57,000 miles · NH

At cruising speed on the freeway, approximately 65 MPH, the car jerked and lost a significant amount of power. The check engine light illuminated and the warning "engine power is reduced" displayed on the information panel. The car continued to lose a significant amount of power until I was able to get out of a separated toll lane and to the breakdown lane. After restarting the car, it was able to again gain power. Over several days, the car would go in and out of this mode and the check engine light went off and on multiple times, it again lost power on the freeway, lost significant power while driving up hills (dropping from a speed of 55 MPH to below 20 MPH within a minute). Cars behind my car had to move out from behind me and I had to pull in to the breakdown lane on several occasions to let other cars pass me as I was unable to maintain a legal speed. This problem was assessed by quirk chevrolet and determined to be caused by the throttle position sensor in the gas pedal and the engine control module. Quirk identified that these components are not covered under the powertrain warranty (despite the fact that they are necessary components in the powertrain) and that the total cost to replace these would be approximately $520 plus the cost of a rental car. They also were not able to locate an available gas pedal/throttle position sensor assembly by the end of the business day and were unable to identify a timeframe for the length of time this would take to complete because of this missing part. They also identified that they would not be able to reset the ECM until this sensor assembly was completed.

Filed Jun 22, 2018 · Brakes, Lights · TN

Tl* the contact owns a 2016 chevrolet malibu. Within five months of owning the vehicle, the contact took it to more than one dealer because the vehicle jerked and made an abnormal noise. Integrity chevrolet of chattanooga (2110 chapman rd, chattanooga, tn, 423‑535‑9455) and mountain view chevrolet (310 e 20th st, chattanooga, tn, 423‑266‑0181) were contacted and the transmission was replaced within six months of owning the vehicle; however, the transmission continued to make an abnormal noise. The cause of the failure could not be determined. In addition, the brake pedal traveled to the floorboard without warning. When it released, the brake pedal seized and caused the contact to drive through a red light, which almost caused a crash. The contact had to apply extreme force to the brake pedal to stop the vehicle. A passerby alerted the contact that the brake lights failed to illuminate. The manufacturer was notified and opened a case. The vehicle was not repaired and the failures continued. The contact was waiting for a response from the manufacturer. The failure mileage was not available.

Filed Aug 6, 2017 · Brakes, Driver assistance · 21,795 miles · OH

6/20/2017 - driving 65 on hwy vehicle lost power, tachometer and speedometer gauges dropped to 0. Also brakes and steering locked. Traction control system warning indicator, malfunction indicator lamp and power steering loss warning message came on. At dealership for 9 days said they replaced TCM. 7/27/17 -car would not start, brake pedal would not move, malfunction indicator lamp on. At dealership for 6 days. No work performed, inspection only. 8/4/2017 drove approximately 20 miles highway and city streets, applied brakes and terrible grinding noise (like metal on metal) car jerked and brake pedal locked. 8/5/2017 again applied brakes and terrible grinding noise (like metal on metal) car jerked and brake pedal locked. Car parked for approximately 2 hours. Then driving on highway 65 MPH tachometer and speedometer gauges dropped to 0 and traction control system light came on and power steering loss warning message came on. Contacting dealership again tomorrow.

Filed Jun 20, 2016 · Brakes · 61 miles · MI

Tl* the contact owns a 2016 chevrolet mailbu. While pulling out of a parking spot at 3 MPH, the ABS engaged without warning. There were no warning lights illuminated. While gradually depressing the brake pedal while driving, the ABS repeatedly jerked the vehicle for miles. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where no failures was diagnosed. The failure mileage was 61.