Chevrolet Malibu stability control problems, 2016–2025
130 of the 2,995 complaints owners filed with NHTSA about the Chevrolet Malibu 2016–2025 name the stability control (NHTSA’s “Electronic Stability Control” heading — as ODI groups the complaints it receives). The loudest years: 2016 (77), 2017 (53). Filed under the same heading across these years: 1 recall campaign. Every figure is a linked federal record; none is a failure rate, none a repair cost, and none a verdict on one car.
Chevrolet Malibu stability control problems by model year
Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer communicationsOne row per model year on file, newest first. A year marked in depth has its own page: the complaints, the owners’ words and every document under this heading for that year.
| Model year | Complaints naming the stability control | Share of the year’s | Typically at | On file under the heading | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 0 | — | — | — | the year → |
| 2024 | 0 | — | — | — | the year → |
| 2023 | 0 | — | — | — | the year → |
| 2022 | 0 | — | — | — | the year → |
| 2021 | 0 | — | — | — | the year → |
| 2020 | 0 | — | — | — | the year → |
| 2019 | 0 | — | — | — | the year → |
| 2018 | 0 | — | 50k | — | the year → |
| 2017 | 53 | 7% | 55k | — | the year → |
| 2016 in depth | 77 | 9% | 55k | 1 recall | the record → |
Two things the counts carry that are not the car: how many of each year were sold, and how long each has been on the road — an older year out-counts a newer one before anything is wrong with it. The share column is the honest comparison across years: what part of that year’s complaints named the stability control. Nothing here is a rate.
When the stability control complaints were filed, and at what mileage
Source: NHTSA complaint databaseFiled per calendar year, every model year together: 2017: 2 · 2018: 21 · 2019: 64 · 2020: 39 · 2021: 1 · 2023: 1 · 2024: 1 · 2025: 1
Across the model years, half of the 126 owners who gave an odometer reading reported the stability control problem between 35,000 and 70,000 miles. A median of reports, not the life of a part.
In owners’ own words
Source: NHTSA complaint databaseFiled with NHTSA by the people who own these cars, about the stability control, from the model years with the most to say. Quoted as written, with anything identifying removed; unverified reports — what was said, not a finding that it was true.
Coming off the hwy my vehicle slowed down from 55 MPH to about 40 MPH fairly fast thankfully no one was behind me. Check engine light came on, tried pressing on the pedals but vehicle was not speeding up at all. The traction light also came up.
Around 50,000 miles sensor on throttle pedal went out and caused my car to stop accelerating with my kid in the car in the middle of the road driving. Next at 74,000 my 2016 chevy Malibu lt 1.5l turbo has a cracked piston. I believe recall 17019 stochastic pre egnition should be linked to my VIN.
While dropping off my children at school the car came to a complete stop and went into auto stop. When releasing the peddle so the car could turn back on the whole dash board and the radio screen completely cut off and when the car turned off it all switched back on.
While driving the vehicle I came to a complete stop while waiting to make a left turn on a busy city street and the vehicle shut off therefore remaining in the intersection from on coming traffic, in other terms the vehicle died on me.
What is on file about the stability control, across the years
Source: NHTSA recalls, investigations and manufacturer communicationsRecall campaign filed under this heading, any model year
- 16V272000 HighMay 5, 2016 · 66 vehicles
- General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2016 Chevrolet Malibu vehicles manufactured March 7, 2016, through March 12, 2016. The memory chip in the electronic brake control module (EBCM) may fail and cause the loss of electronically controlled brake systems including anti-lock brakes (ABS) and electronic stability control (ESC). As such, these vehicles fail to conform to Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 126, "Electronic Stability Control Systems."
Other systems with a record on the Chevrolet Malibu
Source: the same files- engine problems
- transmission and drivetrain problems
- electrical problems
- fuel system problems
- brake problems
Every system, every model year: Chevrolet Malibu problems by year →
Common questions
Source: NHTSA complaint database, recalls and manufacturer communicationsWhich Chevrolet Malibu years have the most stability control complaints?
2016, 77; 2017, 53. Raw counts, and an older year has had longer to collect them; by share of each year's own complaints the loudest is the 2016 (9%).
Is there a recall for the stability control on the Chevrolet Malibu?
Yes — one campaign is filed under this heading across these model years: 16V272000 (2016). A recall is matched by VIN, and applies to specific years; check yours at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
When do stability control problems show up on the Chevrolet Malibu?
Owners who gave an odometer reading reported it at a median of 53,000 miles across the model years; half of them between 35,000 and 70,000. That is when reports cluster, not the life of a part.
What does NHTSA's "Electronic Stability Control" heading cover?
The area of the vehicle ODI files the complaint under. Owners choose the heading when they file, so it says which area of the vehicle the complaint is about, not which part failed.