How To Change Battery In 2016 Chevy Malibu Key Fob

GM claims that their 2018 Chevrolet Malibu is "beautifully balanced," but that's not our opinion after reading through the complaints. While they pride themselves on efficiency, engine troubles make the performance lackluster, at best. Furthermore, there are plenty of drivers that struggle with both the powertrain and electrical systems of the vehicle. Maybe GM meant that this car brings a perfect balance of issues.

Click on other model year to view more problems: 2017

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Problems with the Engine

Anyone who fell in love with the Malibu back in the days knows that it was a car with top performance. Drivers who get behind the wheel of the 2018 model might expect that same kind of performance, but find an interesting surprise instead.

Consumers have complained about speeds being reduced when the traction control is activated. At times, it's impossible to gain any ground. Just listen to what this driver posted on Edmunds. "Caution with this car — When the Traction Control is activated, the screen shows a notice of 'ENGINE POWER IS REDUCED.' When it states REDUCED, it means that you are in a lower than Low Gear and cannot accelerate above 10-15 miles per hour. You have to pull over, turn off motor for 15 to 30 seconds to get out of this driving mode. Then the check engine symbol comes on for 24 hours and will reset and disappear if nothing is wrong."

What could be scarier than having your speed reduced so low you have to worry about getting rear-ended? This isn't the performance you would expect from the Chevy Malibu, and neither do the people purchasing the car.

In GM Service Bulletin #PIP5557C, the automaker addresses a problem where the car gets stuck in 2nd gear and can't go above 30 mph. Their solution is to inspect the Control Valve Body spacer plate orifice #33 for blockage and replace it as needed. Of course, that's no consolation for the driver stuck on the freeway with their hazard lights on just trying to get to the next exit and pull over. Maybe the Malibu was meant for Grandma instead?
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Here are some actual complaints logged with the NHTSA about the 2018 Chevy Malibu Engine Problems:

THIS IS THE THIRD TIME THIS INSTANCE HAS OCCURED. THE VEHICLE DASH STATED "REDUCED ENGINE POWER" AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT APPEARS. THIS SLOWS THE VEHICLE TO AN ALMOST COMPLETE STOP. LUCKILY I HAVE EITHER BEEN IN TRAFFIC, IN A PARKING LOT AND A GREEN LIGHT WHEN THIS HAPPENS BUT THIS IS AN ISSUE. I AM IN MOTION.

CAR WILL LOSE POWER WHEN DRIVING. I WAS TURNING LEFT CROSSING TRAFFIC AND IT LOST POWER. CAR WOULD NOT ACCELERATE FOR 3 SECONDS ESSENTIALLY IT FELT LIKE THE CAR STALLED EVEN THOUGH IT WAS STILL RUNNING. I HAVE HAD THIS HAPPEN 3 OTHER TIMES AS WELL..

I BOUGHT MY CAR A FEW WEEKS AGO, MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COME ON AND OFF I HAVE A CERTIFIED WARRANTY. THE WARNING THAT POPS IS WHEN I START MY CAR SAY ?REDUCE ENGINE POWER? AND IT MESSES WITH MY LIGHTS AS WELL AS MY GAS PEDAL TO WHERE I CAN?T GO. IT?S VERY DANGEROUS, ESPECIALLY WHEN ON THE HIGHWAY

Problems with the Transmission

Just as you expect an engine to work the way it should, your powertrain should keep you moving down the road as well. Just as essential to driving down the road is the ability to stop the vehicle and get out. What happens when the car can't be placed in Park? That's a problem; there's no doubt about it.

Many drivers find that getting the Malibu into Park can be a difficult task. When you can't get it to recognize that it is in Park, it's also hard to turn it off. Let's read what one consumer said on Edmunds about this situation. "The car started acting up not recognizing it's in park and would not shut off at all. You would have to shift in and out of park to get the car to shut off. It shut off in the street while I was in the center lane and had no way of exiting the vehicle or putting on the hazards because the locks are all electric I couldn't even get out of the car. Three lights later the car just turns back on. I really could have died."

This isn't just an embarrassing situation, but also quite dangerous. Service Bulletin #18-NA-297 addresses the problem where the car prompts a driver to shift into Park even though it's already there. GM identified that the condition was caused by a faulty park switch in the transmission control shifter which doesn't pull the BCM signal properly. To repair it, the mechanic must replace the assembly completely.

To review, we have a car that doesn't want to drive and doesn't want to Park either – you can't seem to win.

Here are some actual complaints logged with the NHTSA about the 2018 Chevy Malibu Transmission Problems:

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE RPM GAUGE INCREASED; HOWEVER, THE TRANSMISSION GEARS FAILED TO CHANGE OVER WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. AS A RESULT, THERE WAS A DRASTIC REDUCTION IN SPEED AND THE CONTACT HAD TO MANEUVER THE VEHICLE WITH EXTREME DIFFICULTY TO PREVENT A CRASH. INITIALLY, PERFORMANCE CHEVROLET (1005 W EHRINGHAUS ST, ELIZABETH CITY, NC 27909, 252-338-9100) WAS UNABLE TO REPLICATE AND DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE WITH THE SERVICE CENTER MANAGER. FURTHER DIAGNOSTIC TESTING WAS NOT PROVIDED. A DEALER TEST DROVE THE VEHICLE WITH THE CONTACT AND DIAGNOSED THAT THE SPACER PLATE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. A LOANER VEHICLE WAS PROVIDED FOR TWO DAYS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE CONTACT WANTED THE VEHICLE BOUGHT BACK BY THE DEALER IF THERE WAS NO SOLUTION. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 45,000.

AT ANY GIVEN TIME, WHEN VEHICLE IS STATIONARY AND SHIFT LEVER SET TO 'PARK', THE INSTRUMENT PANEL SCREEN DISPLAYS A 'SHIFT TO PARK' MESSAGE EVEN WITH THE LEVER SET TO THE 'PARK' POSITION. THE VEHICLE SEEMS TO BE IN 'PARK' HOWEVER, BATTERY POWER TO THE VEHICLE REMAINS AND WILL NOT SHUT OFF. CAR ELECTRICAL SYSTEM REMAINS ON AND HONKS THREE TIMES IF THE KEY FOB IS NOT IN RANGE. IT IS CONCERNING THAT THE VEHICLE IS NEVER FULLY IN 'PARK' MODE OR THAT THE VEHICLE IS NEVER FULLY TURNED OFF AND CAN CAUSE AN ACCIDENT IF UNATTENDED..

Problems with the Electrical System

When you are driving the 2018 Chevrolet Malibu, you want all the lights and electronics to work, but that seems to be an issue as well. Among the numerous electrical problems, it's possible to experience trouble with the power windows, radio and the Passenger Presence System (PPS) which offers faulty airbag information.

While not every electrical system seems monumental, they sure can be a pain to deal with. Take the example from this driver who complained about it on the NHTSA website. "My right blinker and brake light keep shorting out. It will be fine for a few days and then stop working."

GM Service Bulletin #19-NA-086 resolves a rear tail lamp turn signal that either intermittently or temporarily flashes too fast at lower temperatures. The company's fix is to inform the customer that the tail light is working as it was intended. They even go as far as to call it a "normal condition" of the vehicle and ask dealerships to share the bulletin within anyone that suffers from this situation.

If you enjoy visiting the dealership for constant repairs, then the Malibu should fit the bill. If you've gotten behind the wheel of this car not knowing what was ahead, it's safe to say that you probably learned your lesson.

Here are some actual complaints logged with the NHTSA about the 2018 Chevy Malibu Electrical Problems:

I WAS DRIVING MY 2018 CHEVY MALIBU LS THAT I HAVEN'T OWNED FOR MORE THEN 30 DAYS AND MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON IN THE DRIVEWAY WHEN I STARTED IT UP TO LET IT WARM SINCE IT WAS WINTER SO I TOOK IT TO CHRISTENSON CHEVROLET IN HIGHLAND INDIANA AND THE CODE U01B0 CAME UP WHICH IS THE BATTERY SENSOR MODULE AND THE DEALER TOLD ME THERE IS NO FIX FOR IT AND ENGINEERING IS LOOKING INTO IT AND THE PAPERWORK THEY GAVE ME SHOWS THEY HAVE HAD THIS PROBLEM WITH THE 2017 AND 2018 MODELS AND NO FIX YET. THEY ARE SELLING CARS WITH DEFECTS AND I TOLD THEM I WANTED A DIFFERENT MODEL OR SAME MODEL AND THEY TOLD ME I HAD TO TALK TO CORPORATE WHICH I DID AND CORPORATE TOLD ME I HAD TO TALK TO THE DEALER SO NOW I AM IN THE WORKINGS OF FILING A LAWSUIT FOR LEMON LAW SINCE THEY HAVE NO INTENTION ON FIXING THIS PROBLEM SINCE NOW THE REMOTE START WON'T WORK SINCE THIS ISSUE AND CORPORATE ISN'T DOING ANYTHING WHICH IS FINE BECAUSE THE COURTS WILL WORK THIS OUT CHEVROLET USE TO BE A GOOD RELIABLE COMPANY BUT NOT ANYMORE

MY VEHICLE HAS AN ELECTRICAL ISSUE WITH THE POWER WINDOWS AND THE RADIO. THE POWER WINDOWS WILL STOP WORKING IF I TRY TO ADJUST THEM TO THE PERFECT HEIGHT FOR ME, FORCING ME TO HAVE TO PRESS BUTTONS ON ANOTHER WINDOW IN ORDER TO BE ABLE TO GO BACK TO THE WINDOW THAT I WOULD LIKE TO ADJUST. THIS PROBLEM IS PRESENT IN ALL FOUR WINDOWS.

OIL LEAK NOTED ON GROUND AFTER BEING DRIVEN. STARTED OUT BEING SMALL DROPS BUT GRADUALLY WORSENED. DEALERSHIP STATED "WELD AROUND OIL PAN WAS NOT PROPERLY SEALED"

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About the Author:

Brian Jones spent more than 20 years working as an ASE Certified Master Tech and Parts Specialist at multiple dealerships. Brian has become an authority in the industry, traveling across the country to consult for car dealerships and contributing his expertise as a writer for several major automotive publications. In his spare time, Brian enjoys working on pickup trucks, muscle cars, Jeeps and anything related to motorsports.

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