Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (doors, hood, frame, rust, paint and trim).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2016 Chevrolet Malibu owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
The contact owns a 2016 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated as the vehicle was being washed at the car wash, he noticed that there was water leaking into the rear passenger's side of the vehicle. The contact also stated that the windows of the vehicle would become foggy while driving in all seasons of the year, affecting his visibility of the road. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The contact stated that the failure had been recurring. The dealer and the manufacturer were not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 36,000.
The contact owns a 2016 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that there was water leaking through the panel housing of the third brake light onto the headliner and the rear seats and trunk of the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the third brake light panel housing needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The contact was awaiting a call back from the manufacturer. The failure mileage was approximately 92,000.
I am writing to report a serious and unacceptable issue with the exterior paint and clear coat on my 2016 Chevrolet Malibu. The clear coat has become dull and faded on the hood and roof, and the side panels are beginning to chip and peel, despite regular washing and maintenance. This paint deterioration started well before what would be expected in a properly manufactured vehicle finish, especially for one that has been well cared for and is only a few years old. The vehicle has never been in an accident, and the finish failure appears to be due to a defect in the clear coat or paint application process at the factory. This not only affects the appearance and value of the vehicle, but also raises concerns about long-term body protection. Once the clear coat is compromised, the base paint and metal underneath are more susceptible to rust and corrosion. …
I own a 2016 Chevrolet Malibu (VIN: [redacted] , black, approx. 56,310 miles). The paint and clearcoat are failing prematurely, with peeling, cracking, and delamination appearing on the hood and roof panels. A repair estimate confirmed the need for full refinishing and corrosion protection to restore the exterior condition 2016 Chevrolet Malibu . This is not normal wear. The defect stems from faulty paint materials, defective clearcoat, or improper factory application. Although it manifests over time, GM knew or should have known of these issues but sold the Malibu without disclosure and refuses to provide assistance. The defect lowers the resale value, leaves the vehicle exposed to premature corrosion, and requires costly resanding and repainting. …
I was traveling home on JTB near Hodges coming from Jax Beach way at about 4:45-4:50pm today. In the far left lane. when I saw a vehicle in front of me swerve and then I saw a roll of carpet but it was to late for me to move over so I ran over it and it damaged my front end
Vehicle was parked on an inclined driveway. The car was rained on for 2 constitutive days. The 3rd brake light assembly just above the rear leaked into the roof of the care and the trunk. The leak was extremely fast and caused a pool about 1/2 an inch deep to build up in the spare tire storage compartment of the trunk. The leak caused damage to the roof panel on the interior of the car with significant water marks, and completely soaked the trunk as mentioned before with the pool of water. The car was purchase new and has never been involved in any motor vehicle accident or collision of any type. The technician that repaired the leak showed the leak was caused by a loose nut on the 3rd brake light assembly just above the rear window. I have attached the invoice from the repair shop that fixed the leak. …
I first noticed the problem on my 2016 Malibu ls when going through a car wash. I'm not sure when exactly the issue happened, but according to the body shop it appears to be faulty designing. The water and chemicals were leaking at the rear window. Heavy rains would also result in the car leaking non-stop. I took the car in and the found that the third brake light was not secured fully and water was spilling through there. Apparently it was lose to the point where it didn't take much to take the light out. I was informed that this was a known problem for other years but my car wasn't included in the recall. If the problem existed with my car I'm sure others are having the same problem. Water was also getting into the trunk and now I have a huge mold/mildew problem. …
Tl* the contact owns a 2016 Chevrolet Malibu. While driving approximately 35 MPH, the contact noticed water accumulation in the back seat and dripping from the ceiling. The contact drove the vehicle to sandy sansing Chevrolet (6200 pensacola boulevard, pensacola, florida 32505) where it was diagnosed that the brake light on the rear windshield was allowing water to enter the cabin of the vehicle. The dealer also found that the antenna was leaking. The antenna was repaired but, a week later, a mildew odor developed, emerging from the trunk area. The vehicle was taken back to the same dealer, but they refused to repair the third brake light because they had already repaired the antenna. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 40,000.
Everytime it rains the inside of my trunk is soaked and smells like mildew. Not to mention when I lifted my spare tire out from the trunk there was several inches of water just sitting in there. While driving in a thunderstorm I noticed there was water leaking inside near the back windows and I noticed the headliner is badly water stained. Spoke to my extended warranty coverage and they don't cover 'water damage'! Well I wouldn't have water damage if I had a decent made car that doesn't leak when it rains! I have small children that sit in the back seat and have to get rained on. Guess I will have to give them umbrellas while riding in the car. It's very unsafe for my children to be breathing/inhaling the mold that is in the trunk with their asthma/mold related allergies.
Tl* the contact owns a 2016 Chevrolet Malibu. Upon inspecting the vehicle, the contact detected mold on the rear seats, in the trunk, on the front passenger and driver seats, and the vehicle floor. The contact mentioned that there was a manufacturer communication regarding the center high mount third brake light, which caused water to enter the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to hessert Chevrolet (6301 e roosevelt blvd, philadelphia, pa 19149, [phone]) and the contact was informed that the third brake light needed to be replaced. The third brake light was replaced, but the mold was still present in the vehicle. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 22,400.
Body complaints in other Malibu years
Frequently asked questions
How common are body problems on the 2016 Chevrolet Malibu?
NHTSA has 40 complaints about the body & structure of the 2016 Chevrolet Malibu, 5% of the model year's 841 complaints. The component named most often is body (33 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2016 Chevrolet Malibu body problems?
No. NHTSA lists no body & structure recall for the 2016 Chevrolet Malibu, though it has 9 recalls for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2016 Chevrolet Malibu body problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 40,000 miles, and 17% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 1 crash, 0 fires and 0 injuries to body & structure problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.