2016 Chevrolet Malibu fuel system problems
52 of the 861 complaints owners filed with NHTSA about the 2016 Chevrolet Malibu name the fuel system (NHTSA’s “Fuel/Propulsion System” heading — fuel tanks, lines, pumps and injection — and on an EV, the propulsion battery and motors). Filed under the same heading: 72 manufacturer bulletins, 1 recall. Every figure below is a document in a federal file, linked; none is a failure rate, and none is a verdict on any one car.
What owners filed about the fuel system
Source: NHTSA complaint database0 of the 52 reports a crash · 0 a fire · 0 injuries. Self-reported, unverified.
Filed per year: 2017: 3 · 2018: 3 · 2019: 16 · 2020: 10 · 2021: 5 · 2022: 2 · 2023: 2 · 2024: 3 · 2025: 6 · 2026: 2
Half of the 29 owners who gave an odometer reading reported the fuel system problem between 37,000 and 70,000 miles. A median of reports, not the life of a part.
861 complaints in all about the 2016 Chevrolet Malibu, 2 filed in 2026. The whole picture, every system →
Counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects, and scale with how many of these were sold; nothing here is a rate. NHTSA groups complaints coarsely, so “Fuel/Propulsion System” means the same area of the vehicle, not one fault.
Across model years: Chevrolet Malibu fuel system problems, every year on file →
In owners’ own words
Source: NHTSA complaint databaseFiled with NHTSA by the people who own these cars, about the fuel system. Quoted as written, with anything identifying removed; unverified reports — what was said, not a finding that it was true.
I was driving on a highway approx 60 miles an hour when a message came in my dashboard stating reduction in engine power, the vehicle abruptly slowed to 20 mph without any warning and I was barely able to pull my vehicle off to the side of the road without being rear ended by the vehicle behind me on the highway
Car stalled after auto stop while trying to excelerate. Error message saying emissions control. Mechanic stated that it was unknown and possible a recall. Has happened three times
December 31, 2019 at 1:18pm, driving at speed on the most dangerous portion of I-95 in the springfield, va area, merging from a left highway entrance ramp into the far left lane of the highway, the vehicle suddenly dropped to 20mph and the warning light came on for reduced engine power.
Coming back in town from visiting a friend. Soon as I was making an exit my check engine light came on and my car started running funny making weird noises. I parked and let my car sit for 15 minutes and gain a little speed to it. Luckily I was down the street from a auto zone.
Ive noticed that the vehicle will not fill the gas tank up all the way. The gas tank fills 3/4 of the way. If you google chevy Malibu gas tank problem it will pop up. I think it shows how little GM cares about its customers by not addressing the issue. I can maximum get 250 miles after 'filling' my gas tank
What is on file about the fuel system
Source: NHTSA recalls, investigations and manufacturer communicationsRecall filed under this heading
- 18V358000 HighMay 31, 2018 · 895 vehicles
- 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.
72 manufacturer bulletins filed under this heading
The 0 newest are listed; every one is on the model year’s page. Quote the document number at a service desk — it is a diagnosis the maker has already written down.
Trouble codes named on this system
P050D P018B P0442 P2635 P0455 P2096
Codes a bulletin or an owner’s complaint about the 2016 Chevrolet Malibu names on this model year; a code with a record of its own links it.
Other systems with a record on the 2016 Chevrolet Malibu
Source: the same files- engine problems 312 complaints
- electrical problems 234 complaints
- transmission and drivetrain problems 174 complaints
- stability control problems 77 complaints
Common questions
Source: NHTSA complaint database, recalls and manufacturer communicationsAre fuel system problems common on the 2016 Chevrolet Malibu?
They are documented: NHTSA holds 52 owner complaints naming the fuel system on this model year (6% of everything owners filed about it), and 72 manufacturer bulletins, 1 recall are filed under the same heading. Whether it is a problem on one particular car is a diagnosis, not a count, and a count says nothing about how many were sold.
Is there a recall for the fuel system on the 2016 Chevrolet Malibu?
Yes — one campaign is filed under this heading: 18V358000. A recall is matched by VIN; check yours at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
When do fuel system problems show up on the 2016 Chevrolet Malibu?
Owners who gave an odometer reading reported it at a median of 53,641 miles; half of them between 37,000 and 70,000. That is when reports cluster, not the life of a part.
What does NHTSA's "Fuel/Propulsion System" heading cover?
Fuel tanks, lines, pumps and injection — and on an EV, the propulsion battery and motors. Owners choose the heading when they file, so it says which area of the vehicle the complaint is about, not which part failed.