Complete 2016 Chevrolet safety rankings: 19 models ranked by complaints, recalls, and NHTSA ratings. 5280 complaints and 49 recalls total.
This page ranks every 2016 Chevrolet model by safety performance using NHTSA data. We analyze consumer complaints, manufacturer-issued recalls, crash test safety ratings, and computed reliability scores to give you a comprehensive picture of Chevrolet's 2016 lineup. Whether you are shopping for a new or used 2016 Chevrolet, this data can help you compare models and identify potential safety concerns before you buy.
The table below ranks all 2016 Chevrolet models from most to fewest NHTSA complaints. Vehicles with higher complaint counts may have more widespread issues, though popular models naturally accumulate more reports due to higher sales volume. Always consider complaint counts in context with the vehicle's overall sales numbers and the severity of reported issues.
| # | Model | Complaints | Recalls | Rating | Reliability |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2016 Chevrolet Malibu | 848 | 9 | ★★★★★ | 85/100 |
| 2 | 2016 Chevrolet Malibu Limited | 811 | 0 | ★★★★★ | 55/100 |
| 3 | 2016 Chevrolet Impala Limited | 787 | 0 | ★★★★☆ | 45/100 |
| 4 | 2016 Chevrolet Colorado | 681 | 4 | ★★★★☆ | 55/100 |
| 5 | 2016 Chevrolet Equinox | 387 | 1 | ★★★★☆ | 55/100 |
| 6 | 2016 Chevrolet Traverse | 289 | 5 | ★★★★★ | 8/100 |
| 7 | 2016 Chevrolet Tahoe | 251 | 7 | ★★★★☆ | 85/100 |
| 8 | 2016 Chevrolet Cruze | 242 | 4 | ★★★★☆ | 45/100 |
| 9 | 2016 Chevrolet Cruze Limited | 240 | 0 | ★★★★★ | 55/100 |
| 10 | 2016 Chevrolet Volt | 166 | 1 | — | 85/100 |
| 11 | 2016 Chevrolet Camaro | 137 | 1 | — | 85/100 |
| 12 | 2016 Chevrolet Trax | 111 | 5 | ★★★★★ | 55/100 |
| 13 | 2016 Chevrolet Impala | 109 | 0 | ★★★★★ | 5/100 |
| 14 | 2016 Chevrolet Corvette | 103 | 2 | — | 85/100 |
| 15 | 2016 Chevrolet Sonic | 48 | 2 | ★★★★★ | 8/100 |
| 16 | 2016 Chevrolet Spark | 42 | 1 | — | 72/100 |
| 17 | 2016 Chevrolet Ss | 24 | 7 | — | 82/100 |
| 18 | 2016 Chevrolet Silverado Hd | 3 | 0 | — | 87/100 |
| 19 | 2016 Chevrolet Cobalt | 1 | 0 | — | 85/100 |
Based on NHTSA's 5-star crash test ratings, these 2016 Chevrolet models earned the highest safety scores:
With 5280 2016 chevrolet complaints reported across 19 models spanning 2016–2016, this combination falls into a high signal band. In practice, that means the volume is at a level that frequently corresponds to either an active recall, an open investigation, or a Technical Service Bulletin issued to dealerships — owners should check whether their VIN is covered by any active campaign. Complaint volume is not the only thing that matters — severity (whether the defect caused crashes, fires, or injuries) and consistency (whether multiple owners describe the same failure mode) are equally important when assessing real-world risk.
The following Chevrolet models account for the bulk of safety complaints in our database. Vehicles near the top of the list have either widely-reported defects or simply higher production volumes — the per-model trim and year pages provide context to distinguish the two.
If your vehicle is exhibiting 2016 chevrolet issues that match the patterns described in NHTSA complaints, take these steps in order. First, check your VIN for active recalls using NHTSA's free recall lookup tool — recall remedies are repaired at no cost to the owner regardless of warranty status. Second, document the failure with dated photos or video, and keep copies of any service records, parts replacements, or dealer communications related to the issue. Third, file a complaint with NHTSA at nhtsa.gov/recalls — every complaint contributes to the pattern recognition that triggers investigations and, ultimately, recalls. The complaint should describe what happened, when, the vehicle's mileage at the time, and whether anyone was injured. Fourth, if the issue presents an immediate safety hazard (loss of braking, steering, throttle control, fire, or unintended airbag deployment), discontinue driving and have the vehicle towed to a qualified repair facility rather than risking a crash to reach a dealer.
The data on this page is drawn from three distinct NHTSA sources that owners frequently confuse. Complaints are reports submitted by individual vehicle owners describing a problem they experienced — they are unverified narratives, but in aggregate they reveal patterns. Recalls are formal manufacturer-initiated campaigns to repair a confirmed safety defect on a specified set of VINs; the manufacturer pays for the repair and is required to notify affected owners by mail. Investigations are NHTSA-led inquiries that often start when complaint volume crosses a threshold for a particular component or model — they may conclude with a manufacturer-issued recall, a finding of no defect, or remain open while data accumulates. A high complaint count without a corresponding recall does not mean the issue is unimportant; it sometimes means an investigation is ongoing or that NHTSA has not yet acted. Conversely, a small recall on a low-complaint model means the defect is severe enough that the manufacturer chose to remediate proactively.
This page aggregates 2016 chevrolet safety records published by the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Records are matched to make, model, and year using NHTSA's classifications, and complaint counts are deduplicated by ODI number. The dataset includes consumer complaints, manufacturer-issued recalls, Technical Service Bulletins, and crash investigations. Records are refreshed on a rolling basis as new complaints, recalls, and TSBs are published. Counts on this page reflect what is currently in our database; we do not include records flagged as duplicate, withdrawn, or outside the model-year window.
NHTSA's database currently shows 5280 2016 chevrolet complaints across 19 distinct models spanning 2016–2016. Complaint counts grow continuously as new owner reports are filed and processed.
The Malibu, Malibu Limited, Impala Limited lead the list, with the top model accounting for 848 reported safety complaints. The complete model breakdown is available in the table on this page.
Among the records on this page, the 2016 model year accounts for the highest safety complaint volume (5280 reports). A concentration in a single year often indicates a generation-specific defect; concentrations across consecutive years can suggest an ongoing supplier or design issue.
Recall status varies by VIN. Even when complaint volumes are high, recalls are issued per-defect, not per-component, so some 2016 chevrolet complaints lead to recalls while others remain unaddressed. Check your specific VIN against NHTSA's recall lookup or browse the recall pages linked from each vehicle profile to see which campaigns apply.
Complaints are unverified owner reports; recalls are formal manufacturer campaigns to repair confirmed defects on specified VINs at no cost to the owner. Complaints often come first and, when patterns emerge, can prompt investigations that lead to recalls. A high complaint count on a vehicle without a recall does not mean the issue is benign — it sometimes means investigation or remedy is still in progress.
It depends on (1) whether the issue is covered by an active recall and the recall has been performed, (2) the severity of the failure modes reported, and (3) whether the specific VIN has a documented service history showing the relevant repairs. A used-vehicle inspection by a qualified mechanic, plus a VIN check against NHTSA's recall database, are the practical minimum steps before purchase.
Submit safety complaints directly to NHTSA at nhtsa.gov/recalls — there is no fee, and you do not need to be the original owner. Include the VIN, model year, mileage at time of incident, a description of what happened, and whether anyone was injured. Each complaint contributes to the pattern recognition NHTSA uses to decide whether to open an investigation.