Chevrolet Malibu problems, complaints & recalls by model year
Across 8 model years (2018–2025), NHTSA has logged 1,416 owner complaints and 10 safety recalls for the Chevrolet Malibu. That averages 26.4 complaints per year on the road — fewer complaints than typical (index 0.65 against all tracked vehicles). Within the Midsize sedans segment it ranks #3 of 5 by complaints per year (#1 = fewest); the segment average is 37.8.
Counts are normalized by time on the road, not by sales volume: a popular model generates more reports than a rare one, and complaints are not verified individually. How we count
Analysis
The trend is improving. Measured on complaints filed in the first two years on the road and compared with other vehicles of the same model year, the 2023 and 2024 models run 84% below the 2018 and 2019 models (9 early complaints per model year versus 61).
The 2018 model year has the highest rate (80.9 complaints per year) and the 2024 model year the lowest (15.4). The 2018 model year runs at least 50% above this model's average of 26.4 complaints per year on the road across its tracked model years. Model years 2021 and 2024 run at least 40% below this model's average of 26.4 complaints per year on the road.
Across all tracked model years the most common problem area is Engine (34.2% of complaints), followed by Transmission / powertrain (19.1%) and Electrical (17.8%). Engine complaints are 1.5 times as common here as across all tracked vehicles. 61 complaints (4.3%) describe a crash or fire; across all model years owners report 38 injuries and 1 death.
In the last 12 months owners filed 301 complaints versus 201 in the previous 12 months — up 50%. The 2018 model year generated the most recent reports (58). Across model years, half of all reported incidents occur within 44 months of the model year's start.
Recalls: 10 recall campaigns across the tracked model years, most of them received in 2018 (3). 2 NHTSA investigations have covered this model, 1 still open; the latest is “DTN Air Bag Inflator Rupture” (engineering analysis, opened 2025-10-21, still open).
Within its segment it has more complaints per year than Nissan Altima and Hyundai Sonata, but fewer than Toyota Camry and Honda Accord.
Model years at a glance
| Year | Complaints | Complaints per year on the road | Complaint index | Last 12 months | Recalls | Most common issue | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 ▲50%+ | 711 | 80.9 | 2.0 | 58 | 6 | Engine | View › |
| 2019 | 194 | 24.9 | 0.62 | 19 | 1 | Engine | View › |
| 2020 | 198 | 29.2 | 0.72 | 41 | 1 | Engine | View › |
| 2021 | 90 | 15.5 | 0.38 | 36 | 2 | Transmission / powertrain | View › |
| 2022 | 98 | 20.5 | 0.51 | 49 | 1 | Engine | View › |
| 2023 | 71 | 18.7 | 0.46 | 52 | 2 | Electrical | View › |
| 2024 Fewest complaints | 43 | 15.4 | 0.38 | 37 | 2 | Electrical | View › |
| 2025 Too new to rank | 11 | 6.2 | 0.15 | 9 | 1 | Electrical | View › |
▲50%+ = 50%+ above this model's average yearly rate. “Too new to rank”: under two years on the road, so the model year cannot be named the one with the fewest complaints yet. 1.00 means the same rate as the comparison group. 2.00 means twice as many complaints per year on the road. Complaints in first 2 years on the road: vs. same-year average. How we count
Trend · vs. same-year average
Complaints in first 2 years on the road ÷ All-vehicle average (1.00)
When complaints were filed
Last 12 months: 301 · Previous 12 months: 201 Rising
Problem areas
Engine ›
484 · 34.2% · 1.53 vs. all vehicles · Rising
Transmission / powertrain ›
271 · 19.1% · 1.64 vs. all vehicles · Within ±30% year on year
Electrical ›
252 · 17.8% · 1.13 vs. all vehicles · Rising
Unspecified or other ›
170 · 12.0% · 1.34 vs. all vehicles · Within ±30% year on year
Brakes ›
66 · 4.7% · 0.77 vs. all vehicles · Within ±30% year on year
Other
39 · 2.8% · 1.49 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
Fuel system
35 · 2.5% · 0.57 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
Steering
29 · 2.0% · 0.32 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
Airbags & seat belts
28 · 2.0% · 0.52 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
Body & structure
17 · 1.2% · 0.13 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
Wheels, tires & suspension
11 · 0.8% · 0.31 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
Lighting
9 · 0.6% · 0.41 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
Driver-assist systems
5 · 0.4% · 0.06 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
Only problem areas with at least 40 complaints get their own page.
Vehicle age at incident
Median age at incident: 44 months
What owners report
I own a 2023 Chevrolet Malibu with an open safety recall. General Motors/dealership has refused to repair the recall.
Unknown, I parked the vehicle, got out of it, left car running for AC, locked the doors. The car was in park. Locks unlocked door, rear view camera display cut off, AC still running. I am viewing a house, so I walk around house and car still in park, 0-5min.
I am reporting a potential safety concern involving the brake vacuum pump in Chevrolet Malibu vehicles. I have seen multiple reports from owners describing vacuum pump failures, brakes becoming difficult to press, and brakes reportedly stopping working.
This car has the same issues even after you get it replaced . this car is not a good car I have spent so much money replacing the oz sensor .the radio, and the turbo keeps going out .
Brake pedal assembly on 2024 Chevrolet Malibu became loose and wobbly under normal driving conditions at 36,300 miles. Dealer refused warranty repair."
Excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA, trimmed for length. The ODI number is NHTSA's record identifier.
Segment peers · Midsize sedans
| # | Models | Complaints | Complaints per year on the road | Complaint index | Trend | Recent activity | Recalls | Most common issue |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nissan Altima | 807 | 14.0 | 0.35 | Improving | Within ±30% year on year | 14 | Electrical |
| 2 | Hyundai Sonata | 1,243 | 24.3 | 0.6 | Stable | Within ±30% year on year | 11 | Engine |
| 3 | Chevrolet Malibu | 1,416 | 26.4 | 0.65 | Improving | Rising | 10 | Engine |
| 4 | Toyota Camry | 1,981 | 44.2 | 1.1 | Improving | Within ±30% year on year | 21 | Engine |
| 5 | Honda Accord | 4,373 | 79.6 | 1.97 | Improving | Within ±30% year on year | 19 | Engine |
Recalls by year received
- Campaigns: 10
- Do-not-drive / park-outside: 0
- Over-the-air fix: 0
Safety recalls: 2018 (6) · 2019 (1) · 2020 (1) · 2021 (2) · 2022 (1) · 2023 (2) · 2024 (2) · 2025 (1)
Investigations
- DTN Air Bag Inflator Rupture Open
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) has become aware of eight vehicle crashes in which a rupture of a Jilin Province Detiannuo Automobile Safety System Co., Ltd. (DTN) air bag inflator occurred during the deployment of the driver side air bag. All eight drivers in these crashes sustained serious or fatal injuries that appear linked to the ruptures. Six of those drivers sustained fatal injuri…
- Pedestrian alert sounds Closed
NHTSA received a petition on or about July 18, 2022, requesting that Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 141 be applied to all electric and hybrid vehicles operating in the United States. The petition can be reviewed at NHTSA.gov under ODI Number 11486072. FMVSS 141 establishes performance requirements for pedestrian alert sounds for motor vehicles. The standard applies to hybrid and ele…