Chevrolet Malibu Engine and Engine Cooling Problems
Owners have filed 932 complaints with NHTSA about engine and engine cooling problems on the Chevrolet Malibu across 26 model years. The 2000 model year has the most (174). The words owners use most often: “intake manifold” (24% of reports).
- 932engine and engine cooling complaints
- —median miles at failure
- 8mention a crash
- 5mention an injury
- 0related recalls
- $1,400typical repair cost reported by owners
- 46%of reports with a speed happened at 50+ mph
What owners describe
Phrases that appear unusually often in these complaints compared with complaints about other cars.
- Intake manifold: mentioned in 224 of 932 complaints (24%)
How much does it cost to fix?
Owners who wrote down what they paid or were quoted put the typical engine and engine cooling repair on the Chevrolet Malibu at $1,400, and half of them between $1,100 and $1,900.
Based on 94 NHTSA complaints about this problem alone that state a repair bill or quote (1999–2015), converted to 2026 dollars with the U.S. consumer price index. These are owners' own figures, not a quote: they include dealer quotes, and owners who file complaints often faced larger repairs, so they can run higher than typical shop prices. Prices vary by shop, region and warranty coverage. How we calculate this.
At what mileage do engine and engine cooling problems happen?
Based on 550 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 932 complaints, 8 mention a crash, 4 a fire, 5 an injury.
Chevrolet Malibu engine and engine cooling complaints by model year
| Model year | Engine and Engine Cooling complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 Malibu | 4 | 6% | 85,000 |
| 2022 Malibu | 10 | 10% | 82,010 |
| 2020 Malibu | 3 | 2% | 80,000 |
| 2019 Malibu | 1 | 1% | 62,000 |
| 2018 Malibu | 6 | 1% | 103,167 |
| 2017 Malibu | 5 | 1% | 60,500 |
| 2016 Malibu | 2 | 0% | 117,750 |
| 2015 Malibu | 1 | 0% | 91,500 |
| 2014 Malibu | 3 | 1% | 105,670 |
| 2013 Malibu | 11 | 1% | 30,000 |
| 2012 Malibu | 4 | 0% | 113,000 |
| 2011 Malibu | 12 | 1% | 19,005 |
| 2010 Malibu | 11 | 1% | 989 |
| 2009 Malibu | 9 | 1% | 60,000 |
| 2008 Malibu | 12 | 1% | 56,650 |
| 2007 Malibu | 7 | 1% | 78,060 |
| 2006 Malibu | 25 | 2% | 68,000 |
| 2005 Malibu | 17 | 2% | 40,000 |
| 2004 Malibu | 20 | 2% | 31,376 |
| 2003 Malibu | 41 | 7% | 65,824 |
| 2002 Malibu | 63 | 11% | 62,396 |
| 2001 Malibu | 149 | 21% | 52,745 |
| 2000 Malibu | 174 | 19% | 61,010 |
| 1999 Malibu | 138 | 17% | 56,000 |
| 1998 Malibu | 144 | 15% | 60,000 |
| 1997 Malibu | 60 | 14% | 70,500 |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (0)
No safety recall lists engine and engine cooling for the Chevrolet Malibu. A pattern of complaints does not always lead to a recall.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
See attached document for complaint.
The contact owns a 2022 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that while attempting to start the vehicle, the check engine warning light illuminated. An independent mechanic was contacted. No warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed and…
The contact owns a 2022 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the message âEngine Power Reducedâ was displayed. The failure was a persistent failure. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed with turbocharger failure. The contact was…
The contact owns a 2022 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that while driving approximately 62 MPH, the vehicle lost motive power with the message "Reduced Engine Power" displayed, and the check engine warning light intermittently illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic…
The contact owns a 2023 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that while driving from a complete stop or while driving at various speeds, the vehicle hesitated and jerked while depressing the accelerator pedal. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the used car dealer…
Frequently asked questions
Do all Chevrolet Malibus have engine and engine cooling problems?
No. NHTSA has 932 owner complaints about engine and engine cooling for the Chevrolet Malibu. Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the Chevrolet Malibu engine and engine cooling?
No recall currently lists engine and engine cooling for this vehicle.
How much does it cost to fix engine and engine cooling problems on the Chevrolet Malibu?
Owners report a typical cost of $1,400 (half paid between $1,100 and $1,900), from 94 complaints that state a repair bill or quote, in 2026 dollars.
What do owners say about engine and engine cooling problems on the Chevrolet Malibu?
The most frequent phrase is “intake manifold”, in 224 of 932 complaints.
Other Chevrolet Malibu problems
- Steering problems (5,556)
- Electrical System problems (4,721)
- Engine problems (2,167)
- Exterior Lighting problems (1,924)
- Power Train problems (1,666)
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic problems (1,315)
- Electronic Stability Control (esc) problems (1,236)
- Vehicle Speed Control problems (1,181)
See all Chevrolet Malibu problems.