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Chevrolet Malibu ClassicYears to avoid, problems & recalls

NHTSA has 312 owner complaints and 2 safety recalls on record for the Chevrolet Malibu Classic.

Chevrolet Malibu Classic
Years to avoidNoneBased on weighted complaintsBest years—Fewest complaints for their ageOwner complaints312Top: Electrical systemSafety recalls21978–2008 model years

Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports. Updated daily. How we score years. Photo: MercurySable99, CC BY-SA 4.0.

Best & worst years

Chevrolet Malibu Classic years to avoid

Complaints by model year, colored by the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the Malibu Classic median. Tap a year for its full report.

'78'97'98'99'00'01'02'03'04'05'07'08
  • Avoid
  • Caution
  • Solid
  • Best
  • Not rated
2008Not rated–/10021 complaints · 0 recalls2007Not rated–/10015 complaints · 0 recalls2005Not rated–/10092 complaints · 1 recall2004Not rated–/100116 complaints · 1 recall2003Not rated–/10016 complaints · 0 recalls2002Not rated–/10016 complaints · 0 recalls2001Not rated–/10013 complaints · 0 recalls2000Not rated–/10011 complaints · 0 recalls1999Not rated–/1004 complaints · 0 recalls1998Not rated–/1005 complaints · 0 recalls1997Not rated–/1003 complaints · 0 recalls1978Not rated–/1000 complaints · 1 recall
Complaints by system

Most common Chevrolet Malibu Classic problems

All model years combined: 312 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.

Box size = number of complaints naming that system. Darker = larger share. One complaint can name more than one system.
Complaints by system
SystemComplaintsCrash, fire or injury
Electrical system1636
Steering604
Exterior lighting250
Engine201
Fuel/propulsion system161
Air bags1510
Power train110
Electronic stability control (ESC)103
Engine and engine cooling81
14 other systems567
2 recalls

Chevrolet Malibu Classic recalls

Newest first. The ring shows the share of affected vehicles repaired, from the manufacturer's latest report to NHTSA.

22%Electrical system: ignition14V-400 · 2004–2005 · Jul 3, 2014 · 5,877,718 vehicles–Drum: wheel cylinders77V-181 · 1978 · Oct 17, 1977 · 636 vehicles
1 investigation

NHTSA investigations of the Malibu Classic

  1. LOSS OF ELECTRIC POWER STEERINGEA04018 · 2004 · closed May 10, 2005
    No recall