This service bulletin provides information on proper use of floor mats.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2015 Chevrolet Malibu cruise control problems
severe 23 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $600 · see cruise control across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
23
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$600
4crashes
2injuries
What stands out
No new NHTSA cruise control complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 4 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering cruise control on this vehicle — documented repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall (it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.
This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that may have the door locks will unlock immediately after auto locking usually at startup or while driving. Technician will need to remove power from the Sensing and Diagnostic Module. If doors no longer unlock unwanted the Sensing and Diagnostic Module should be replaced.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This Preliminary information communicates direction and examples when diagnosing multiple DTCs, one of which includes U**** Byte 71 DTC.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that the speedometer needle appears to be inaccurate. Dealer should advise the customer the specification for speedometer needle accuracy is +/- 2 MPH at any given speed when looking straight at the needle.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
Owners of 2015 Chevy Malibu cruise control systems describe two distinct patterns of failure.
Unintended acceleration occurs when the vehicle accelerates without driver input, sometimes forcefully. One owner reports the car surged from low to high speed without warning while approaching a traffic light, crashing into the vehicle ahead; another describes the vehicle accelerating on its own after an airbag deployment following a collision at 40 mph. A third reports the vehicle accelerating while parked with the engine off, RPMs rising in both park and drive. In most unintended-acceleration cases, owners say they had to apply hard brake pressure, shift to park, or restart the engine to regain control.
Reduced engine power limp mode is far more common. Owners report the dashboard displays "Engine Power is Reduced" or "Speed Reduced to 45 mph" (or similar countdown: 45 → 35 → 25 mph), often accompanied by Check Engine and Service StabiliTrak warnings. The vehicle then loses power and refuses to exceed 25 mph, sometimes stalling completely. This happens at highway speeds (68–74 mph), in traffic, and at low speeds. Owners universally report the only fix is turning the engine off, waiting 1–10 minutes, and restarting—sometimes requiring multiple restart cycles. Some owners report this recurs days after a dealer repair, and one mentions P16CF diagnostic code linked to an intake solenoid rocker arm (oil control valve). The limp-mode episodes create dangerous situations: owners unable to maintain safe speeds in traffic, on construction zones, or on busy highways with passing vehicles.
Same Chevrolet Malibu cruise control reports on nearby years: 2012 · 2013 · 2016 · 2017 · 2018
Failure modes owners describe
Unintended Acceleration
Vehicle accelerates without driver input, sometimes suddenly and forcefully, occurring at stops, while parked, or during normal driving. One incident triggered acceleration post-airbag deployment; another involved violent surge into traffic.
When: Various; one at 40 mph in rain post-collision, one at complete stop around 40k miles, one while parked with engine running at 20,534 miles, one at 45 mph, one while pulling into parking spot at 44k miles
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle accelerates without pressing accelerator pedal; Sudden violent surge from low to high speed; RPMs increase while vehicle is parked; RPMs increase in both park and drive; Unable to slow vehicle using brake pedal (in one collision scenario)
Repairs/costs cited: One owner reports vehicle not diagnosed or repaired at dealer; another states dealer found nothing wrong; one vehicle destroyed in collision and towed to dealership
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: One owner received case number from manufacturer; dealer unable to disable auto engine idle stop feature per owner request; most cases not reported to manufacturer
Reduced Engine Power Limp Mode
Vehicle enters limp mode with dashboard warning 'Engine Power is Reduced' or 'Speed Reduced,' forcing speed down to 25–45 mph, often with Check Engine and Service StabiliTrak lights. Vehicle loses acceleration capability and may stall. Only remedy is engine restart cycle (sometimes multiple restarts required).
When: Various highway and urban speeds; mileage not consistently reported; multiple incidents per trip documented; recurrence 1–3 days after dealer repair in one case
Symptoms owners cite: Dashboard warning 'Engine Power is Reduced' or 'Speed Reduced to 45 mph'; Rapid downward speed countdown (74 → 50 → 40 → 35 → 26 mph, etc.); Vehicle unable to exceed 25 mph; Check Engine light illuminated; Service StabiliTrak warning displayed; Vehicle may stall or shut down mid-drive; Hesitation/jerking on acceleration after incident; Inability to turn safely at reduced speed in traffic
Codes mentioned: P16CF
Repairs/costs cited: One owner reports intake solenoid rocker arm (oil control valve) issue with P16CF code; owner notes this was documented on earlier Malibu models. Another owner states dealer repaired issue twice but problem recurred 1–3 days later; third owner reports garage replacement did not resolve recurrence. No costs cited by owners.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: One owner received case number; one dealer provided case number; most cases appear unreported or unresolved
Synthesized from 23 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 1 most recent
On 11-11-21 my check engine light came on and message came up reducing engine power and also my speed was reduced. Stability track light came on. Took to shop they repaired but a week later same exact problems occurred. Took back to shop. So far hasn’t happened again. My husband Chevy equinox all of a sudden car does the same exact thing. The check engine light went off so he’s watching it
Had cruise control trouble with your 2015 Chevrolet Malibu?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the cruise control problem on the 2015 Chevrolet Malibu?
It's a meaningful issue. 23 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $600.
At what mileage does the cruise control typically fail?
Across the 8 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most cruise control failures cluster between 40,000 and 103,000 miles, with the median around 71,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 40,000; a quarter make it past 103,000. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $600 for cruise control repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to cruise control?
No active recalls currently cover cruise control issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2015/Chevrolet/Malibu.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.