InsightArise CarsU.S. Owner Complaint Index
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Chevrolet Malibu Electrical problems

1.14 vs. all vehicles Rising

250 of the 1,391 complaints about the Chevrolet Malibu (18.0%) concern Electrical, making it the model's third-largest problem area. That share is 1.1× the Electrical share across all tracked vehicles.

250Complaints · Electrical
18.0%Share of complaints
1.14×vs. all vehicles
89Last 12 months
4.8%Share involving a crash or fire
2Related recalls

Analysis

By model year, Electrical complaints peak with the 2018 model (85, 12% of that year's complaints) and are lowest for the 2025 model (8). 89 Electrical complaints were filed in the last 12 months versus 35 in the 12 months before — the pace is rising.

Owners most often describe: “shift park”, “prevention”, “park message”, “shut” and “reduced”. 12 of these reports (4.8%) describe a crash or fire, with 4 injuries and 0 deaths mentioned.

2 recall campaigns relate to this area, most recently campaign 26V212000 (2026-04-02, model years 2023, 2024 and 2025).

By model year

2018: 85 85 2018 2019: 40 40 2019 2020: 37 37 2020 2021: 17 17 2021 2022: 15 15 2022 2023: 25 25 2023 2024: 23 23 2024 2025: 8 8 2025
YearComplaintsShare of complaints
20188512.1%
20194020.9%
20203719.0%
20211719.3%
20221516.0%
20232536.8%
20242359.0%
2025872.7%

When complaints were filed

2018: 1 1 2018 2019: 6 6 2019 2020: 27 27 2020 2021: 18 18 2021 2022: 23 23 2022 2023: 27 27 2023 2024: 34 34 2024 2025: 39 39 2025 2026: 75 75 2026

Last 12 months: 89 · Previous 12 months: 35

Common terms in reports

  • shift park74
  • prevention27
  • park message21
  • shut45
  • reduced26
  • camera37

What owners report

Excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA, trimmed for length. The ODI number is NHTSA's record identifier.

Related recalls

BACK OVER PREVENTION: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERA Campaign 26V212000 · 2026-04-02 · Model years: 2023, 2024, 2025

Summary: General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2023-2025 Chevrolet Malibu vehicles. The rearview camera screen may display a distorted or blank image.

Remedy: Dealers will inspect, and if necessary, replace the rearview camera, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 20, 2026. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is N262551720. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on April 2, 2026.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:SOFTWARE Campaign 19V642000 · 2019-09-06 · Model years: 2018

Summary: General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2018 Chevrolet Malibu vehicles equipped with 1.5L turbo engines. An error in the Engine Control Module (ECM) software may result in the fuel injectors being disabled.

Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the ECM software, free of charge. The recall began October 16, 2019. Owners may contact GM customer service at 1-800-630-2438. GM's number for this recall is N192221960.

Problem areas · Chevrolet Malibu

Chevrolet Malibu problems, complaints & recalls by model year ›

Related reading

Frequently asked questions

How common are Electrical problems on the Chevrolet Malibu?

250 of the 1,391 complaints about the Chevrolet Malibu (18.0%) concern Electrical, making it the model's third-largest problem area. That share is 1.1× the Electrical share across all tracked vehicles.

Which Chevrolet Malibu model years have the most Electrical complaints?

By model year, Electrical complaints peak with the 2018 model (85, 12% of that year's complaints) and are lowest for the 2025 model (8).

Is there a recall for Chevrolet Malibu Electrical problems?

2 recall campaigns relate to this area, most recently campaign 26V212000 (2026-04-02, model years 2023, 2024 and 2025).