2020 Chevrolet Malibu problems, complaints & recalls
FewerWithin ±30% year on year
NHTSA has received 198 owner complaints about the 2020 Chevrolet Malibu, or 29.2 per year on the road — fewer complaints than typical (complaint index 0.72, where 1.00 is the average of all tracked vehicles). Among the 83 model-year 2020 vehicles we track, it ranks #48 of 83 by complaints per year (#1 = fewest). Against other Chevrolet models its rate is 37% lower; against other Midsize sedans it is 23% lower.
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
Complaints filed between 2020-02-18 and 2026-09-08. Median delay from incident to filing: 14 days.
198Complaints
29.2Complaints per year on the road
0.72Complaint index vs. all tracked vehicles
1Recalls
5.1%Share involving a crash or fire
41Last 12 months
Analysis
The previous model year (2019) drew 24.9 complaints per year, fewer than this one. The following model year (2021) drew 15.5 per year, fewer than this one. In its first two years on the road the 2020 model collected 22 complaints, 61% lower than the average vehicle of the same model year.
The most common problem area is Engine (30.8% of complaints), followed by Transmission / powertrain (24.7%) and Electrical (18.7%). 10 reports (5.1%) describe a crash or fire; owners mention 7 injuries and 1 death.
Half of the reported incidents happened within 52 months of the model year's start; the busiest period was years three to five (41% of incidents). In the last 12 months 41 new complaints were filed, versus 44 in the 12 months before — down 7%.
NHTSA lists 1 safety recall for this model year. 1 NHTSA investigation covers this model year; the most recent is “DTN Air Bag Inflator Rupture” (engineering analysis, opened 2025-10-21, still open).
Complaint index
vs. all tracked vehicles0.72
vs. other Chevrolet models0.63
vs. other 2020 models0.78
vs. other Midsize sedans0.77
Complaints in first 2 years on the road · vs. same-year average (22)0.39
Vehicle stalled/lost power while driving due to auto start/stop system.
Unspecified or other · 2026-04-28 · ODI 11734207 · Crash
Got this car Oct 16 2025 and check engine lights on the place in Greenbriar dreka passed emmission and the shop explicit auto sold me car for 7500 been having problems with car since owner told me to do what I need to do no refund nothing in writing saying as…
Electrical · 2026-01-18 · ODI 11711718 · Crash
The contact owns a 2020 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that while attempting to depress the brake pedal, the brakes failed to respond and seized, causing the contact to engage the parking brake.
Brakes · 2026-09-08 · ODI 11762742
The contact owns a 2020 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that the message "Steering Assist Reduced - Drive with Care" was intermittently displayed on the instrument panel while driving.
Steering · 2026-09-08 · ODI 11762753
The vehicle's transmission shifter mechanism has failed for a second time, preventing the vehicle's computer from communicating with the gear shifter.
Transmission / powertrain · 2026-09-08 · ODI 11762898
Excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA, trimmed for length. The ODI number is NHTSA's record identifier.
Summary: General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2016-2021 Chevrolet Malibu and 2019-2021 Cadillac XT4 vehicles. The rear seat belt retractors may be improperly secured with loose or missing fasteners.
Risk: An improperly secured seat belt retractor may not function properly in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and tighten the rear seat belt retractors, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on September 17, 2021. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020 and Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006. GM's number for this recall is N212333380.
EA25005 · engineering analysis · AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE · Opened 2025-10-21 · Model years: 2020
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…
