Chevrolet Malibu Problems by Year
Years with far more complaints than usual:
NHTSA has 19,348 owner complaints and 53 safety recalls on file for the Chevrolet Malibu, across 29 model years (1997–2025). The 2009 model year has the most complaints (1,509). The most reported problem area overall is steering.
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Chevrolet Malibu years to avoid? What the complaint data shows
These model years drew at least twice as many complaints as a typical Malibu year: 2009. Look at what owners reported before buying one, and check the VIN for open recalls.
Model years with the most complaints
- 2009 Malibu: 1,509 complaints, 5 recalls
- 2010 Malibu: 1,362 complaints, 3 recalls
- 2004 Malibu: 1,147 complaints, 6 recalls
Model years with the fewest complaints
- 2025 Malibu: 11 complaints, 1 recall
- 2024 Malibu: 43 complaints, 2 recalls
- 2023 Malibu: 71 complaints, 2 recalls
Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold or how long each year has been on the road, so newer and less popular years naturally have fewer complaints. Use them to spot problem patterns, not as a safety ranking.
Most common Chevrolet Malibu problems (all years)
| Problem area | Complaints | Model years | Crashes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Steering problems | 5,556 | 29 | 191 |
| Electrical System problems | 4,721 | 29 | 93 |
| Engine problems | 2,167 | 28 | 40 |
| Exterior Lighting problems | 1,924 | 26 | 23 |
| Power Train problems | 1,666 | 29 | 45 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic problems | 1,315 | 24 | 63 |
| Electronic Stability Control (esc) problems | 1,236 | 23 | 34 |
| Vehicle Speed Control problems | 1,181 | 28 | 60 |
| Service Brakes problems | 1,102 | 28 | 91 |
| Air Bags problems | 1,022 | 27 | 337 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling problems | 932 | 26 | 8 |
| Fuel/propulsion System problems | 691 | 28 | 6 |
| Suspension problems | 609 | 25 | 25 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline problems | 406 | 26 | 7 |
| Structure problems | 399 | 27 | 40 |
| Seats problems | 370 | 24 | 12 |
| Seat Belts problems | 281 | 24 | 45 |
| Tires problems | 280 | 25 | 12 |
| Visibility problems | 262 | 22 | 2 |
| Wheels problems | 214 | 26 | 12 |
| Latches/locks/linkages problems | 201 | 20 | 2 |
| Equipment problems | 200 | 20 | 1 |
| Visibility/wiper problems | 152 | 21 | 4 |
| Traction Control System | 92 | 12 | 4 |
| Service Brakes, Air | 84 | 13 | 6 |
| Back Over Prevention | 52 | 11 | 0 |
| Fuel System, Other | 47 | 10 | 0 |
| Forward Collision Avoidance | 39 | 15 | 4 |
| Interior Lighting | 17 | 9 | 0 |
| Lane Departure | 13 | 8 | 2 |
| Parking Brake | 13 | 10 | 2 |
| Service Brakes, Electric | 11 | 7 | 1 |
| Child Seat | 10 | 8 | 0 |
| Equipment Adaptive/mobility | 10 | 5 | 1 |
| Electronic Stability Control | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Other/i Am Not Sure | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| Chest Clip, Buckle, Harness | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Hybrid Propulsion System | 1 | 1 | 0 |
Chevrolet Malibu problems by model year
Problem areas with enough reports for their own page.
- 2020: engine (59) · power train (58) · electrical system (57)
- 2019: power train (67) · engine (64) · electrical system (62)
- 2018: engine (281) · electrical system (192) · power train (171) · vehicle speed control (114) · fuel/propulsion system (84) · service brakes (61)
- 2017: engine (253) · electrical system (161) · power train (139) · vehicle speed control (135) · service brakes (68) · fuel/propulsion system (57) · electronic stability control (esc) (53)
- 2016: engine (302) · electrical system (222) · power train (166) · vehicle speed control (152) · service brakes (94) · electronic stability control (esc) (76) · fuel/propulsion system (50)
- 2015: engine (70) · electrical system (68)
- 2014: engine (125) · electrical system (86) · power train (52)
- 2013: electrical system (376) · engine (204) · steering (181) · electronic stability control (esc) (72) · suspension (65) · air bags (59) · power train (54)
- 2012: electrical system (291) · exterior lighting (202) · steering (191) · electronic stability control (esc) (129) · air bags (101) · engine (99) · service brakes (66) · vehicle speed control (52) · fuel/propulsion system (51)
- 2011: electrical system (235) · steering (214) · electronic stability control (esc) (174) · engine (160) · exterior lighting (130) · power train (112) · air bags (93) · vehicle speed control (87) · seat belts (53)
- 2010: steering (454) · electrical system (294) · electronic stability control (esc) (227) · exterior lighting (194) · service brakes (184) · air bags (144) · power train (133) · vehicle speed control (116) · engine (115)
- 2009: steering (768) · electrical system (368) · electronic stability control (esc) (255) · exterior lighting (172) · service brakes (142) · power train (121) · vehicle speed control (73) · air bags (62) · engine (61) · latches/locks/linkages (56)
- 2008: steering (460) · electrical system (233) · exterior lighting (106) · power train (86) · latches/locks/linkages (71) · electronic stability control (esc) (68) · air bags (64) · engine (62) · service brakes (62)
- 2007: steering (667) · electrical system (113) · air bags (75)
- 2006: steering (811) · electrical system (142) · exterior lighting (63) · fuel/propulsion system (52) · service brakes (50)
- 2005: steering (506) · electrical system (180) · exterior lighting (153) · power train (65) · seats (62)
- 2004: steering (798) · electrical system (151) · exterior lighting (84) · seats (69) · power train (64)
- 2003: electrical system (289) · vehicle speed control (85)
- 2002: electrical system (259) · exterior lighting (143) · engine and engine cooling (63)
- 2001: electrical system (285) · engine and engine cooling (149) · exterior lighting (108) · service brakes, hydraulic (78)
- 2000: exterior lighting (241) · service brakes, hydraulic (228) · electrical system (199) · engine and engine cooling (174) · fuel system, gasoline (56)
- 1999: service brakes, hydraulic (292) · electrical system (144) · engine and engine cooling (138) · suspension (82) · tires (75) · exterior lighting (58)
- 1998: service brakes, hydraulic (347) · engine and engine cooling (144) · electrical system (130) · suspension (108) · exterior lighting (79) · steering (74) · visibility (63) · tires (58) · power train (50)
- 1997: service brakes, hydraulic (100) · electrical system (87) · steering (80) · engine and engine cooling (60) · suspension (55)
All Chevrolet Malibu model years
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls | Crash rating | Top problem | Compared with other years |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 Malibu | 11 | 1 | 5★ | Back Over Prevention | Far fewer complaints than other years |
| 2024 Malibu | 43 | 2 | 5★ | Electrical System | Far fewer complaints than other years |
| 2023 Malibu | 71 | 2 | 5★ | Back Over Prevention | Far fewer complaints than other years |
| 2022 Malibu | 98 | 1 | 4★ | Electrical System | Far fewer complaints than other years |
| 2021 Malibu | 90 | 2 | 4★ | Unknown or Other | Far fewer complaints than other years |
| 2020 Malibu | 198 | 1 | 4★ | Engine | Far fewer complaints than other years |
| 2019 Malibu | 192 | 1 | 4★ | Power Train | Far fewer complaints than other years |
| 2018 Malibu | 700 | 6 | 5★ | Engine | About as many complaints as other years |
| 2017 Malibu | 703 | 4 | 5★ | Engine | About as many complaints as other years |
| 2016 Malibu | 838 | 9 | 5★ | Engine | About as many complaints as other years |
| 2015 Malibu | 270 | 3 | 5★ | Engine | Far fewer complaints than other years |
| 2014 Malibu | 351 | 6 | 5★ | Engine | Far fewer complaints than other years |
| 2013 Malibu | 836 | 10 | 5★ | Electrical System | About as many complaints as other years |
| 2012 Malibu | 907 | 2 | 4★ | Electrical System | More complaints than other years |
| 2011 Malibu | 978 | 3 | 4★ | Electrical System | More complaints than other years |
| 2010 Malibu | 1,362 | 3 | — | Steering | More complaints than other years |
| 2009 Malibu | 1,509 | 5 | — | Steering | Far more complaints than other years |
| 2008 Malibu | 989 | 4 | — | Steering | More complaints than other years |
| 2007 Malibu | 977 | 3 | — | Steering | More complaints than other years |
| 2006 Malibu | 1,116 | 6 | — | Steering | More complaints than other years |
| 2005 Malibu | 975 | 3 | — | Steering | More complaints than other years |
| 2004 Malibu | 1,147 | 6 | — | Steering | More complaints than other years |
| 2003 Malibu | 569 | 2 | — | Electrical System | Fewer complaints than other years |
| 2002 Malibu | 567 | 2 | — | Electrical System | Fewer complaints than other years |
| 2001 Malibu | 721 | 2 | — | Electrical System | About as many complaints as other years |
| 2000 Malibu | 922 | 3 | — | Exterior Lighting | More complaints than other years |
| 1999 Malibu | 789 | 1 | — | Service Brakes, Hydraulic | About as many complaints as other years |
| 1998 Malibu | 976 | 3 | — | Service Brakes, Hydraulic | More complaints than other years |
| 1997 Malibu | 443 | 4 | — | Service Brakes, Hydraulic | Fewer complaints than other years |
More from Chevrolet: all Chevrolet models · Chevrolet VIN decoder
Frequently asked questions
Which Chevrolet Malibu years should you stay away from?
By NHTSA complaints, 2009 (1,509) drew at least twice as many complaints as a typical Malibu year. Counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, and newer years have had less time to collect complaints.
What is the biggest problem with the Chevrolet Malibu?
Steering, with 5,556 complaints across 29 model years.
How many recalls does the Chevrolet Malibu have?
53 safety recalls across all model years. Each model year page lists its recalls and fixes.