2016 Chevrolet Malibu: Check engine light is on
Common wear/failure (not a recall)
Symptoms
Owners of the 2016 Malibu report: check engine light is on. CarComplaints.com lists 11 owner complaints, average mileage 32,450 miles.
NHTSA has 313 owner complaints for the 2016 Malibu in this area. Examples:
- NHTSA complaint ODI #11771743 (filed 10/16/2026): “The contact owns a 2016 chevrolet malibu. the contact stated that while driving at 61 mph, the vehicle unexpectedly began idling roughly. the contact stated that a loud noise was heard coming from the vehicle, and the cooling fan cycled on and off. the vehicle…”
- NHTSA complaint ODI #11771250 (filed 10/14/2026): “My vacuum pump has failed. causing extremely dangerous driving conditions and potentially damaging my engine.…”
Likely causes
Sources do not establish a single root cause; diagnosis is needed. Owner-reported fixes are listed below.
Fix, in plain English
Most common owner-reported solutions on CarComplaints.com: replace cracked piston (3 reports) engine replaced (1 reports) turbo system rebuilt (1 reports). Check for open recalls and extended warranty coverage with a dealer before paying out of pocket.
DIY difficulty: Pro
Internal engine work (lifters, oil consumption, fuel dilution diagnosis) requires engine teardown or dealer software/tests. (Our assessment.)
Cost
No sourced cost range: get a written quote after diagnosis.
Typical parts (search links, no affiliate codes)
AutoZone · O'Reilly · Advance · RockAuto
Sources
Page last updated .