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

1.54 vs. all vehicles Rising

477 of the 1,391 complaints about the Chevrolet Malibu (34.3%) concern Engine, making it the model's largest problem area. That share is 1.5× the Engine share across all tracked vehicles.

477Complaints · Engine
34.3%Share of complaints
1.54×vs. all vehicles
96Last 12 months
1.5%Share involving a crash or fire
0Related recalls

Analysis

By model year, Engine complaints peak with the 2018 model (285, 40% of that year's complaints) and are lowest for the 2024 model (3). 96 Engine complaints were filed in the last 12 months versus 42 in the 12 months before — the pace is rising.

Owners most often describe: “engine power”, “reduced”, “engine light”, “check engine” and “vacuum”. 7 of these reports (1.5%) describe a crash or fire, with 6 injuries and 0 deaths mentioned.

No recall campaign addresses Engine for the tracked model years.

By model year

2018: 285 285 2018 2019: 64 64 2019 2020: 61 61 2020 2021: 14 14 2021 2022: 34 34 2022 2023: 16 16 2023 2024: 3 3 2024 2025: 0 0 2025
YearComplaintsShare of complaints
201828540.4%
20196433.5%
20206131.3%
20211415.9%
20223436.2%
20231623.5%
202437.7%
202500.0%

When complaints were filed

2018: 6 6 2018 2019: 41 41 2019 2020: 62 62 2020 2021: 81 81 2021 2022: 76 76 2022 2023: 49 49 2023 2024: 31 31 2024 2025: 56 56 2025 2026: 75 75 2026

Last 12 months: 96 · Previous 12 months: 42

Common terms in reports

  • engine power145
  • reduced169
  • engine light128
  • check engine137
  • vacuum37
  • shift park47

What owners report

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

Related recalls

No recall campaign addresses Engine for the tracked model years.

Problem areas · Chevrolet Malibu

Chevrolet Malibu problems, complaints & recalls by model year ›

Related reading

Frequently asked questions

How common are Engine problems on the Chevrolet Malibu?

477 of the 1,391 complaints about the Chevrolet Malibu (34.3%) concern Engine, making it the model's largest problem area. That share is 1.5× the Engine share across all tracked vehicles.

Which Chevrolet Malibu model years have the most Engine complaints?

By model year, Engine complaints peak with the 2018 model (285, 40% of that year's complaints) and are lowest for the 2024 model (3).

Is there a recall for Chevrolet Malibu Engine problems?

No recall campaign addresses Engine for the tracked model years.