Chevrolet MalibuYears to avoid, problems & recalls

Based on 19,400 NHTSA owner complaints across 41 model years, no Chevrolet Malibu year stands out as one to avoid, and the strongest years are 2021, 2022, 2023 and 2024. The Malibu has 67 safety recalls on record.

Years to avoidNoneUse caution: 2004, 2006, 2009, 2010 Best years'21 '22 '23 '24Fewest complaints for their age Owner complaints19,400Top: Steering Safety recalls671973–2025 model years

Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports. Updated daily. How we score years. Photo: IFCAR, Public domain.

Best & worst years

Chevrolet Malibu 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 median. Tap a year for its full report.

0 1 2 0 2 4 5 3 2 1 1 3 4439767899227215675691,1489751,1199779891,5111,36397890783735127084170570119320390 10073 46 12

'73'74'75'77'78'79'80'81'82'83'86'89'97'98'99'00'01'02'03'04'05'06'07'08'09'10'11'12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19'20'21'22'23'24'25

Avoid
Caution
Solid
Best
Not rated

2025Too new–/10012 complaints · 1 recall 2024Best83/10046 complaints · 2 recalls 2023Best79/10073 complaints · 2 recalls 2022Best80/100100 complaints · 1 recall 2021Best85/10090 complaints · 2 recalls 2020Best73/100203 complaints · 1 recall 2019Best76/100193 complaints · 1 recall 2018Solid51/100701 complaints · 6 recalls 2017Solid54/100705 complaints · 4 recalls 2016Solid49/100841 complaints · 9 recalls 2015Best72/100270 complaints · 3 recalls 2014Best68/100351 complaints · 6 recalls 2013Solid48/100837 complaints · 10 recalls 2012Solid45/100907 complaints · 2 recalls 2011Solid44/100978 complaints · 3 recalls 2010Caution37/1001,363 complaints · 3 recalls 2009Caution35/1001,511 complaints · 5 recalls 2008Solid45/100989 complaints · 4 recalls 2007Solid45/100977 complaints · 3 recalls 2006Caution42/1001,119 complaints · 6 recalls 2005Solid42/100975 complaints · 3 recalls 2004Caution41/1001,148 complaints · 6 recalls 2003Solid57/100569 complaints · 2 recalls 2002Solid59/100567 complaints · 2 recalls 2001Solid51/100721 complaints · 2 recalls 2000Solid45/100922 complaints · 3 recalls 1999Solid49/100789 complaints · 1 recall 1998Solid45/100976 complaints · 3 recalls 1997Solid63/100443 complaints · 4 recalls 1989Not rated–/1003 complaints · 0 recalls 1986Not rated–/1001 complaint · 0 recalls 1983Not rated–/1001 complaint · 2 recalls 1982Not rated–/1002 complaints · 2 recalls 1981Not rated–/1003 complaints · 2 recalls 1980Not rated–/1005 complaints · 5 recalls 1979Not rated–/1004 complaints · 5 recalls 1978Not rated–/1002 complaints · 7 recalls 1977Not rated–/1000 complaints · 1 recall 1975Not rated–/1002 complaints · 0 recalls 1974Not rated–/1001 complaint · 0 recalls 1973Not rated–/1000 complaints · 1 recall

Complaints by system

Most common Chevrolet Malibu problems

All model years combined: 19,400 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.

5,561Steering216 crash/fire/injury

4,727Electrical system183 crash/fire/injury

2,175Engine71 crash/fire/injury

1,924Exterior lighting67 crash/fire/injury

1,672Power train50 crash/fire/injury

1,323Service brakes, hydraulic

1,236Electronic stability control (ESC)

1,182Vehicle speed control

1,106Service brakes

6,44030 other systems665 crash/fire/injury

Box size = number of complaints naming that system. Darker = larger share. One complaint can name more than one system.

Complaints by system
System	Complaints	Crash, fire or injury
Steering	5561	216
Electrical system	4727	183
Engine	2175	71
Exterior lighting	1924	67
Power train	1672	50
Service brakes, hydraulic	1323	69
Electronic stability control (ESC)	1236	41
Vehicle speed control	1182	65
Service brakes	1106	98
30 other systems	6440	665

67 recalls

Chevrolet Malibu recalls

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

Sensing system: camera26V-212 · 2023–2025 · Apr 2, 2026 · 276,879 vehicles Other: owners/service/other manual24V-575 · 2024 · Aug 1, 2024 · 22 vehicles Structure: frame and members22V-923 · 2022–2023 · Dec 14, 2022 · 2,108 vehicles Seats22V-359 · 2021 · May 19, 2022 · 221 vehicles Suspension: rear21V00F000 · 2013 · Dec 22, 2021 · 4,271 vehicles Seat belts: critical fasteners21V-649 · 2016–2021 · Aug 20, 2021 · 402 vehicles Suspension: rear21V-633 · 2013 · Aug 12, 2021 · 32,894 vehicles Suspension: rear20V-764 · 2013 · Dec 21, 2020 · 220,006 vehicles Power train: automatic transmission20V-668 · 2018 · Oct 29, 2020 · 194,105 vehicles Electrical system: software19V-642 · 2018 · Sep 6, 2019 · 177,282 vehicles Driver side: inflator module19V-019 · 2010–2011 · Jan 16, 2019 · 1,145 vehicles Disc: caliper18V-576 · 2018 · Aug 30, 2018 · 210,628 vehicles

Showing the 12 newest of 67 recalls. Each model-year page lists all recalls for that year.

26 investigations

NHTSA investigations of the Malibu

Oct 21, 2025
DTN Air Bag Inflator RuptureEA25005 · 2020 · still open
Open
Nov 18, 2010
Fleet Vehicle Recall Completion AuditAQ10001 · 2009 · closed Dec 28, 2015
No recall
Mar 20, 2009
Turn Signal LampsEA09004 · 2004–2005 · closed Aug 12, 2010
No recall
Oct 21, 2008
TURN SIGNAL LAMPSPE08062 · 2004 · closed Mar 20, 2009
No recall
Sep 27, 2005
TURN SIGNAL FAILURESPE05055 · 2002 · closed Jan 13, 2006
No recall
Jul 7, 2004
WINDSHIELD WIPER FAILURERQ04006 · 1997–1998 · closed Jan 13, 2005
No recall
Jul 1, 2004
LOSS OF ELECTRIC POWER STEERINGEA04018 · 2004 · closed May 10, 2005
No recall
Jun 18, 2004
TURN SIGNAL FAILURESRQ04005 · 1999–2000 · closed Nov 30, 2004
No recall
Mar 30, 2004
LOSS OF ELECTRIC POWER STEERINGPE04031 · 2004 · closed Jul 1, 2004
No recall
Nov 4, 2003
FRONT SUSPENSION COIL SPRING FRACTUREEA03021 · 1999 · closed Oct 19, 2004
No recall