Chevrolet Malibu Fuel/propulsion System Problems
Owners have filed 691 complaints with NHTSA about fuel/propulsion system problems on the Chevrolet Malibu across 28 model years. The 2018 model year has the most (84). The words owners use most often: “fuel pump” (19% of reports).
- 691fuel/propulsion system complaints
- —median miles at failure
- 6mention a crash
- 5mention an injury
- 0related recalls
- $1,100typical repair cost reported by owners
- 43%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.
- Fuel pump: mentioned in 133 of 691 complaints (19%)
- Engine power: mentioned in 80 of 691 complaints (12%)
How much does it cost to fix?
Owners who wrote down what they paid or were quoted put the typical fuel/propulsion system repair on the Chevrolet Malibu at $1,100, and half of them between $870 and $1,350.
Based on 12 NHTSA complaints about this problem alone that state a repair bill or quote (2012–2019), 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 fuel/propulsion system problems happen?
Based on 417 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 691 complaints, 6 mention a crash, 2 a fire, 5 an injury.
Chevrolet Malibu fuel/propulsion system complaints by model year
| Model year | Fuel/propulsion System complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 Malibu | 2 | 5% | — |
| 2023 Malibu | 6 | 8% | — |
| 2022 Malibu | 8 | 8% | — |
| 2021 Malibu | 8 | 9% | — |
| 2020 Malibu | 14 | 7% | — |
| 2019 Malibu | 17 | 9% | 7,473 |
| 2018 Malibu | 84 | 12% | 29,000 |
| 2017 Malibu | 57 | 8% | 51,500 |
| 2016 Malibu | 50 | 6% | 54,821 |
| 2015 Malibu | 19 | 7% | 48,300 |
| 2014 Malibu | 24 | 7% | 82,500 |
| 2013 Malibu | 32 | 4% | 82,300 |
| 2012 Malibu | 51 | 6% | 93,000 |
| 2011 Malibu | 32 | 3% | 82,576 |
| 2010 Malibu | 31 | 2% | 83,500 |
| 2009 Malibu | 29 | 2% | 89,500 |
| 2008 Malibu | 45 | 5% | 94,244 |
| 2007 Malibu | 36 | 4% | 79,007 |
| 2006 Malibu | 52 | 5% | 111,668 |
| 2005 Malibu | 32 | 3% | 120,500 |
| 2004 Malibu | 13 | 1% | 153,000 |
| 2003 Malibu | 13 | 2% | 106,500 |
| 2002 Malibu | 6 | 1% | 128,090 |
| 2001 Malibu | 9 | 1% | 126,000 |
| 2000 Malibu | 12 | 1% | 128,500 |
| 1999 Malibu | 5 | 1% | 87,900 |
| 1998 Malibu | 1 | 0% | 81,000 |
| 1997 Malibu | 3 | 1% | — |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (0)
No safety recall lists fuel/propulsion system 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.
The wiring harness in the 2008 Chevy Malibu hybrid has a open ground somewhere in the wiring harness it is draining the 12 volt battery and affecting the starter and the alternator generator in the hybrid it will not let the starter engage all fuses appear to be good after checking all of them…
My Malibu has numerous electrical problems. Often involving the start stop feature. The door locks have locked and unlocked themselves The engine and battery warning light will come on but we don't know why. A metal piece of the front frame broke off and went through the condenser. I had to have…
Driving along the highway the CEL light came on followed by reduced engine power warning. Vehicle abruptly slowed down to 35mph (limp mode). Were there to be another vehicle behind me, they would have to do emergency braking. My vehicle would not start after pulling over to the shoulder. A tow…
The vehicle is experiencing an apparent fuel-system malfunction. The vehicle has a very strong raw gasoline odor, significant difficulty starting, and appears to be consuming fuel at an abnormally high rate. After filling the fuel tank completely, I drove approximately 20 miles at most and the fuel…
Fuel sensors failing, codes obd are not fixing issue, auto stop, shuts radio off when brake is applied, resets all electric components in car. Every time braking at a stop or signal.
Frequently asked questions
Do all Chevrolet Malibus have fuel/propulsion system problems?
No. NHTSA has 691 owner complaints about fuel/propulsion system 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 fuel/propulsion system?
No recall currently lists fuel/propulsion system for this vehicle.
How much does it cost to fix fuel/propulsion system problems on the Chevrolet Malibu?
Owners report a typical cost of $1,100 (half paid between $870 and $1,350), from 12 complaints that state a repair bill or quote, in 2026 dollars.
What do owners say about fuel/propulsion system problems on the Chevrolet Malibu?
The most frequent phrase is “fuel pump”, in 133 of 691 complaints, followed by “engine power” (80).
Other Chevrolet Malibu problems
- Steering problems (5,556)
- Electrical System problems (4,722)
- Engine problems (2,168)
- 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.