Chevrolet Malibu Problems by Model Year
NHTSA recorded 19,366 consumer complaints across the 30 model years of the Chevrolet Malibu (1980–2025) that have at least 5 complaints. 2009 has the most, with 1,509. Across all years, the part named most often is steering (5,557 mentions). Pick a model year below to see its parts, mileage, recalls and service bulletins.
All Malibu model years
Years with fewer than 5 complaints are not listed. The score compares years of the same model, allowing for the era and for how long each year has collected complaints: 50 is a typical year, lower means fewer complaints. It is not adjusted for sales volume.
| Year | Complaints | Median mi | Recalls | TSBs | Score (50 = typical) | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 12 | 21,000 | 1 | 150 | — | Too new |
| 2024 | 44 | 45,000 | 2 | 324 | Too new to compare | Too new |
| 2023 | 72 | 66,000 | 2 | 433 | 0 · Fewer | Too new |
| 2022 | 99 | 66,253 | 1 | 631 | 0 · Fewer | Rising |
| 2021 | 90 | 54,000 | 2 | 696 | 0 · Fewer | Rising |
| 2020 | 199 | 68,000 | 1 | 771 | 8 · Fewer | Rising |
| 2019 | 193 | 41,875 | 1 | 884 | 0 · Fewer | Rising |
| 2018 | 700 | 45,390 | 6 | 1,066 | 85 · More | Falling |
| 2017 | 704 | 48,000 | 4 | 1,332 | 71 · More | Falling |
| 2016 | 841 | 50,000 | 9 | 1,549 | 82 · More | Falling |
| 2015 | 270 | 50,000 | 3 | 1,483 | 20 · Fewer | Falling |
| 2014 | 351 | 60,000 | 6 | 1,727 | 47 · Typical | Falling |
| 2013 | 837 | 69,000 | 10 | 1,930 | 76 · More | Falling |
| 2012 | 907 | 86,000 | 2 | 1,339 | 50 · Typical | Falling |
| 2011 | 978 | 80,000 | 3 | 1,305 | 50 · Typical | Falling |
| 2010 | 1,363 | 82,000 | 3 | 1,254 | 66 · More | Falling |
| 2009 | 1,509 | 100,000 | 5 | 1,098 | 78 · More | Falling |
| 2008 | 989 | 80,000 | 4 | 1,074 | 62 · Typical | Falling |
| 2007 | 977 | 100,000 | 3 | 877 | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
| 2006 | 1,117 | 85,000 | 6 | 757 | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
| 2005 | 975 | 88,000 | 3 | 612 | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
| 2004 | 1,147 | 78,500 | 6 | 493 | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
| 2003 | 569 | 70,084 | 2 | 352 | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
| 2002 | 567 | 70,000 | 2 | 304 | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
| 2001 | 721 | 73,000 | 2 | 278 | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
| 2000 | 922 | 69,000 | 3 | 243 | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
| 1999 | 789 | 66,249 | 1 | 36 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1998 | 976 | 80,461 | 3 | 29 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1997 | 443 | 85,000 | 4 | 28 | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
| 1980 | 5 | — | 5 | 0 | — | Not enough data |
Parts named most often, all years
Counts add up complaint mentions across the listed years. A complaint can name several parts.
- Steering5,557 26%
- Electrical system4,723 22%
- Brakes2,512 12%
- Engine2,170 10%
- Exterior lighting1,924 9.1%
- Transmission and drivetrain1,668 7.9%
- Other or unknown1,407 6.6%
- Electronic stability control1,238 5.8%
Example complaints
One per model year, chosen for length and detail. Personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
2016: “While riding on the highway at 70mph I experienced a total loss of power. The car warned me and the engine light came on. I could not accelerate beyond 30 MPH. When I had it checked with a code sensor it told me there was an issue with the throttle position sensor. The code was p2138. This created a very dangerous situation on a quick moving highway.”
NHTSA complaint #11402725, filed 2021-03, 42,000 miles2010: “When driving the car at 40 MPH all power steering would be lost, resulting in the service ESC light to come on the dashboard. The only way to regain power steering would be to shut the car off completely and then turn it back on. I recently had the vehicle serviced and the problem was found to be the steering torque sensor. The fix cost me $500.”
NHTSA complaint #11395211, filed 2021-02, 74,000 miles2006: “On three separate occasions, since purchasing less than 2 years ago, my power steering has stopped working. If I turn the car off, get out, and get back in to restart, then it has corrected itself. It has always happened in a stationary setting thus far, but after reading about the 2014 recall for 04-06, I'm nervous that I may be having the same issue.”
NHTSA complaint #11415406, filed 2021-05, 138,000 milesOther Chevrolet models
18,111 complaintsChevrolet Impala
10,408 complaintsChevrolet Tahoe
10,060 complaintsChevrolet Equinox
9,208 complaintsChevrolet Silverado
8,790 complaintsChevrolet Blazer
8,199 complaintsChevrolet Suburban
8,170 complaintsChevrolet Cobalt
7,672 complaints
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate. Methodology