10.0
really awful- Crashes / Fires:
- 2 / 0
- Injuries / Deaths:
- 2 / 0
- Average Mileage:
- 41,125 miles
About These NHTSA Complaints:
The NHTSA is the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints can be spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem. See the Back button — blue bar at the very top of the page — to explore more.
« Read the previous 20 complaints
The car shuts off in traffic. I can be at a stop light and the car just shuts off. All the lights in car flash and vehicle just shuts off. The engine light stays on in vehicle. This has been happening everyday for about a month now.
- Lancaster, CA, USA
Warning notice comes on saying engine is power down while driving. While on the interstate going 70 miles an hour, it starts slowing down to 30 miles an hour or less and will not accelerate.
- Christiana, TN, USA
While driving in the highway the car slowed abrubtly, the engine light came on, and the dash gave out engine power reduced. This has happened on more than one occasion while I was driving at a high speed. I pulled over and turned off the car to reset it. The first time the light went off on its own the second and therafter it did not. Had the accelerator pedal replaced once and 7 months later it is doing the same exact thing. This is very dangerous for me as a driver and those around me!
- Minneapolis, MN, USA
I bought my 2016 Malibu March 8, 2019 at 40,177 miles and the radio does not come on. As well as any safety chimes and the onstar feature does not come on. A week after getting my car I was driving on a city road when my car reduced speed drastically and a message popped up saying engine speed reduced and the engine light came on. After I cut the car off and back on it seems fine and eventually the engine light goes off. This has happened several times since then. I think something could be wrong with the transmission because my car does not pick up speed in first and second gear very well. I know that there were recalls for these vehicles with the same issues but my car doesn't show any recalls.
- Detroit, MI, USA
While driving on highway, engine rapidly lost power and displayed "engine power has been reduced" alert and check engine light. Speed became much less controllable. As pressure on gas pedal was reduced, the car displayed a gradually decrementing "speed limited to X" message. However, upon increased pressure on gas pedal, the car would accelerate beyond the stated speed limiting - though with nearly total loss of power. Inconsistent engine performance nearly led to an accident as the car was not predictable. Was given a code P2138, drive by wire. Took to dealer, dealer said this is a common problem. They are to replace gas pedal. Request recall due to dangerous condition and repeated complaints regarding issue.
- Kansas City, KS, USA
The car constantly gets message of engine power reduced while driving with no previous issues or warnings. The check engine light comes on then my driving speed decreases while driving. This is very dangerous! this happens on city streets and on the highway. I have to pull over to shut the car off and wait a few minutes then restart the car. The car then starts normal without the check engine light or error codes.
- Redford, MI, USA
Hi, I leased a 2016 Chevy Malibu. While on the freeway, my engine power suddenly lowered and a notification popped up saying the same. The RPM increased to 5+ since I was trying to take exit and the car was losing control. I eventually got to GM service and they told me that the throttle sensor got bad which would cost $150+ to replace. However I have been driving it since then and once a month the same notification pops up and lowers my engine power until I turn it off and back on. Each time I do this, I have to suddenly stop my car on the shoulder. The sensor is not bad, the car just senses that the sensor is bad and reduces power. This seems like a scam where GM wants to make more money. Moreover, I've read hundreds of the same complaints where people describe how they almost lost control in the middle of the freeway because of the same issue. This is a concerning safety issue and GM should fix this as a recall. I want GM to accept that they installed a defective part and will fix it. Thanks. Sincerely, [xxx] information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
- Canton, MI, USA
The contact owns a 2016 Chevrolet mailbu. The contact stated that the vehicle experienced internal throttle pedal failure, which caused the speed to decrease drastically without warning. The failure occurred twice. On both occasions, the vehicle was taken to denooyer Chevrolet (127 wolf rd, albany, NY 12205) where they replaced the pedal assembly. The manufacturer was made aware of the failures. The vehicle was repaired. The failure mileage was 105,680.
- Clifton Park, NY, USA
I was on the highway and my 'reduce engine power' came on followed by an engine light. I was going 75 and greatly slowed down to 50 mph and almost got in a serious car crash. There is a lot of the same issue with this model and it needs to be recalled!!
- Santaquin, UT, USA
Reduced engine power while traveling at 65 mph on the freeway. Speed dropped to 40 mph. I was just able to put on my hazards and pull over with several cars behind me slamming on their brakes.
- Antioch, CA, USA
While in traffic engine light & engine power reduced came on a vehicle wouldn't accelerate past low speed, which almost caused accident. Got engine read and it was due to accelerator pedal which is very common in this car
- Lima, OH, USA
I was driving down the highway and a message piped up on my dash saying my car was losing power. I tried to press the gas, my my speed decreased. I pull over to the side and shut my car off for a while, crunk it back up and it drove normal. 5 minutes later and it did the same thing.
- Hamburg, AR, USA
I was driving on the interstate when my car began to slow down and gave the message that engine was loosing power. When I mashed the accelerator, the car would not pick up speed. I could have been hit. I had to slowly make my way to an exit ramp and stop the car. I turned the car off and restarted after a while and I was able to get home. This happened several two more times before I was able to get to the dealership. I was told the accelerator pedal had to be replaced. This should be a recall instead of me having to pay out of pocket. I am disappointed because I thought Chevrolet was a little more reliable than this. Chevrolet really need to investigate this and recall this before someone is killed.
- Brandon, MS, USA
Driving along and my 2016 with 39,000 miles loses acceleration power and receive warning 'engine power is reduced'. I limp it to the Chevy dealership and they get it in and I get a call later with them telling me they have seen this in two other cars and they are waiting on the accelerator throttle pedal sensor that needs replaced. They reset and cleaned the sensor and sent me on my way. It's happened three other times since then and I limp it back to shop every time to get reset. I should not be having this issue with it barely out of warranty. It says a lot of one shop to have three Malibu's waiting for this part to become available. I love the Malibu's but with the issues with this car I've had it's hard to keep my faith in Chevrolet. They know this model is having issues yet has not recalled my vehicle yet and I'm out of pocket. I'm a single mom that needs a reliable car.
- Rogers, AR, USA
The contact owns a 2016 Chevrolet Malibu. While driving various speeds the ''engine power reduce'' message was displayed and the speed suddenly decelerated to 20 mph. After turning off and restarting the engine, the vehicle operated normally; however the failure recurred. The vehicle was taken to bredenann Chevrolet (1401 West dempster St, parkridge, il) where it was diagnosed that the throttle body needed to be cleaned and the accelerator pedal was faulty and needed to be replaced. The contact was informed that the accelerator pedal was on backorder and there was no estimated of when the part would be available. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 44,000.
- Chicago, IL, USA
Accelerator pedal sensor keeps malfunctioning while driving
- Washington, DC, USA
The contact owns a 2016 Chevrolet Malibu. While driving 65 mph, the vehicle decelerated and would not exceed 20 mph. Also, the fuel sensor warning indicator illuminated. The vehicle was taken to serra Chevrolet (28111 telegraph rd, southfield, mi 48034, (248) 354-6001) where the contact was informed that they were aware of the failure and the accelerator pedal position sensor needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 34,874.
- Farmington Hills, MI, USA
My car stabilitrak comes on every other 20 mins when driving. If I try to accelerate my cars check engine light will come on and then say engine power reduced almost stopping my vehicle on the interstate I can only drive it in town under 40 mph. Diagnostic showed nothing and of course no recalls but every recall Chevy has with the Malibu fits my model. Very disappointing. It has become very dangerous. Today I was headed to pick up my daughter from daycare and my brake pedal became very stiff and I could not stop causing me to roll through an intersection thankfully it was a green light and let the car roll until it stopped. I was terrified. I have not had the car long and it is a headache.
- Murfreesboro, TN, USA
When I was resuming adaptive cruise control the vehicle took off after a semi tractor trailer that was in front of me; I had to brake hard to avoid from hitting the semi truck. I was traveling about 55 mph at the time this incident happened & it has happened two more times after that initial incident. Then it stopped working and I had to take it in to the dealership. They said there was no recall on the vehicle & did a recalibration on the front camera & long range radar modules.
- Madison Heights, MI, USA
- Hiawassee, GA, USA