2022 Chevrolet Malibu Problems
Compared with other Chevrolet Malibu years
Fewer complaints than typical for this model
0/100 0.2× a typical year · 50 = typical
- Complaint rate is 0.2× that of a typical Chevrolet Malibu year, weighted for crashes, fires, injuries, recalls and mileage, and allowing for the era and for how long each year has had to collect complaints.
- 29 of its 99 complaints were filed by the end of 2024.
- Most reported problem: "Shift to Park" message when already in park (39 complaints, median 38,000 mi).
- 1 recall campaign on record. A VIN search at nhtsa.gov/recalls shows open recalls for a specific vehicle.
Based only on NHTSA complaints, recalls and investigations. Not adjusted for how many vehicles were sold, and not a reliability rating. How this is calculated
- Complaints
- 99filed with NHTSA
- Median mileage
- 66,253miles, 24 complaints with mileage
- Recalls
- 1campaigns on record
- Trend
- RisingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% higher than in the 3 years before.
- NHTSA crash rating
- 4 / 5stars overall
- EPA fuel economy
- 32 mpgcombined, 1.5L 4-cyl FWD · 29 city / 36 hwy
Sources: NHTSA records for the 2022 Chevrolet Malibu (complaints, recalls, investigations), NHTSA crash tests, EPA fuel economy. Report an error
What owners report
Owners of the 2022 Chevrolet Malibu most often report problems with the 1.5L turbocharged engine losing power and lighting the check engine light, along with a "Shift to Park" message that appears when the car is already in park. Electrical gremlins (warning lights, gauge flutter, radio and telematics faults) and transmission concerns are also common. Many of the engine complaints involve a turbocharger diagnosis, and several owners say they were told their VIN was not covered by a GM special coverage program.
- Engine
Turbocharger failure and reduced engine power
- 29 complaints (29%)
- median 73,000 mi at 4.4 yrs old (14 state mileage)
- filed 2025–2026
Owners describe the check engine light coming on with a "Reduced Engine Power" or "Engine Power Reduced" message, sluggish acceleration, and sudden loss of speed while driving. Diagnostic scans often retrieve P0299 (turbo underboost), and dealers or independent shops tell them the turbocharger has failed and needs replacement. Several owners mention a GM special coverage program for turbocharger replacement and say they were told their VIN did not qualify. Reported from roughly 30,000 miles up past 100,000 miles, often during acceleration or highway driving.
What to check: Ask whether the turbocharger has been replaced and whether any GM special coverage program applies to the VIN. A scan for P0299 and a test drive that includes highway merging can reveal a weak turbo.
2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records
“My cars check engine light keeps coming on and the first time it came on with an engine under boost failure and I took it to a 3rd party shop to get fixed and they had to replace the turbo charger. I paid $2500.00 for that. 2 weeks later the same light came on and they had to replace it again. Well now the light came on again after a month for the same thing and I am taking it back into the shop again. That will be 3 times.”
NHTSA complaint #11737070, filed 2026-05“Purchased the car February 14 2025 with 102,664 miles on it. About 2 weeks ago I was merging on a highway and it went into limp mode and I almost get rear-ended. It felt like it lost all power. The check engine light came on and I drove it to Auto Zone to have it scanned and code P0299 was the code, turbo underboost. I then went to O'Reilly's for a second opinion and their scanner also said turbo underboost. I have replaced all sensors that interact with the turbo thinking maybe it was a sensor but negative. Turbo failure”
NHTSA complaint #11706422, filed 2025-12 - Electrical system
"Shift to Park" message when already in park
- 39 complaints (39%)
- median 38,000 mi at 3.0 yrs old (4 state mileage, few)
- filed 2023–2026
Owners report that after shifting into park, the vehicle displays "Shift to Park" and will not fully shut off, forcing them to cycle the shifter back and forth several times. Some say the dealer replaced an internal switch or the gear shifter, while others were told the repair was not covered under warranty. Complaints describe concern about being unable to turn the car off or leave it securely parked. Appears from a few thousand miles up to around 50,000 miles, and often becomes more frequent over time.
What to check: When test driving, shift into park and confirm the car powers off normally and the message clears. Ask whether the shifter or park switch has already been replaced.
2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records
“My car will not engage in park to turn off vehicle. When in park and try to turn car off it says place in park. Have to put car back in drive and slam it into park several times before I am able to turn car off. This is the second Chevy Malibu that I have owned that has done this my second one started after having it just a few days.”
NHTSA complaint #11645027, filed 2025-02“Shift to park message displays more and more frequently. Have to spend a couple minutes each time messing with the shifter to be able to turn my car off. Dealer says it is not covered under standard warranty, but I'm not paying out of pocket for a known GM issue. This should be moved up to a recall as it seems to happen more often than NOT and prevents the vehicle from powering off”
NHTSA complaint #11684793, filed 2025-09 - Electrical system
Electrical faults: warning lights, gauges and accessories
Mentioned in 8 of 60 sampled complaints
Complaints describe multiple warning lights (ESC, ABS, power steering, check engine) appearing at once, gauges flickering, and intermittent stalling or refusal to start. Some owners were told the body control module or telematics module was at fault, and others report the radio, hands-free calling, wireless projection or OnStar functions not working. Reported across a wide range, from very low mileage up past 75,000 miles.
What to check: Check that all warning lights go out after startup and that radio, hands-free calling and wireless projection work. Ask whether any control module has been replaced or reprogrammed.
2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records
“I was told the bcm on my vehicle is bad. It cause my car to go all out of wack. Multiple warning lights come on (ESC, ABS, power steering, check engine), the gauge controls flutter, my gear shift clicks on and off, the car has even shut down on me in the middle of traffic, wouldn’t start, wouldn’t shift, basically wouldn’t move at all even when it did start. How would a bcm shut down my whole vehicle?”
NHTSA complaint #11750482, filed 2026-07“The service ESC and service power steering light stays on, the MPH hands flicker back and forth, brakes are applied without me pressing the brakes, shift to park when the car is already in park. I have taken it to dealership for service and they say nothing is wrong with car when clearly something is. Clearly there's and electrical issue going on with this car. Had testing ran on car and it listed 2 pages of different codes that popped up and it shows engine failure”
NHTSA complaint #11665440, filed 2025-06 - Fuel system
Stalling and fuel system faults
Mentioned in 5 of 60 sampled complaints
Some owners report the vehicle stalling unexpectedly at low speeds with no warning light, or failing to accelerate while the engine runs rough. Mechanics have retrieved fuel pump circuit codes (P023F) and accelerator position sensor faults in some cases. A few complaints describe the engine revving or surging when the brake is applied. Reported between roughly 40,000 and 65,000 miles, sometimes at low speed in traffic.
What to check: Ask whether the fuel pump or accelerator pedal sensor has been replaced, and have a scan done for stored fuel and throttle codes before buying.
2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records
“So I found a recall on a twenty twenty two malibu l t one point five liter turbo, which is exactly what I have, and the recall describes my exact issue to the t. It spits out a code for a bad fuel pump. G d I fuel pump, and a couple other codes that are secondary like the camshaft sensor fuel bank 1, solenoids, which both I had replaced this week? …”
NHTSA complaint #11644016, filed 2025-02“The contact owns a 2022 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the accelerator pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended. In addition, the reduced power warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed with a failed accelerator position sensor. The contact was informed that the accelerator position sensor needed to be replaced. The vehicle was being repaired. …”
NHTSA complaint #11659062, filed 2025-05, 58,000 miles - Transmission and drivetrain
Transmission shudder, slipping and leaks
Mentioned in 4 of 60 sampled complaints
Owners describe jerking and slipping during acceleration and a hard jolt when lifting off the throttle, sometimes without any warning light. Some report a whining noise from the transmission and a full transmission replacement, with the replacement exhibiting similar behavior. Service bulletins describe diagnostic direction for transmission fluid leaks from the case half. Reported from low mileage up to around 38,000 miles, sometimes shortly after purchase.
What to check: Test drive at low and highway speeds and listen for whine or feel for shuddering shifts. Check for transmission fluid leaks underneath and ask for service records.
2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records
“My transmission is jerking and slipping. When accelerating the car acts like it doesn’t want to go. When I take ,my foot off the gas pedal the transmission jerks hard. The car has had the original transmission replaced by Beaver Chevy and now the new transmission is having the same issue. The car never had any check engine lights or any lights come on.”
NHTSA complaint #11519329, filed 2023-04“I was driving and all of a sudden all the warning lights start going off on my vehicle’s dashboard and the car jerks back and forth while decelerating. This has happened twice on the highway putting me in danger of crashing or making cars around me crash. On a seperate occasion my brakes failed, causing the car to jerk abruptly in traffic, thankfully I was able to pull over. Some times the car will limit my speed to below 60mph for “safety” reasons. The same set of issues have happened to me at least six different times. …”
NHTSA complaint #11761214, filed 2026-09
Buying note. Have a pre-purchase scan done for turbocharger and fuel system codes and confirm whether any GM special coverage applies to the VIN. During the test drive, check that the car shifts and powers off cleanly in park and that no warning lights stay on.
Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.
NHTSA recorded 99 consumer complaints for the 2022 Chevrolet Malibu. 24 of the complaints include a mileage, and 33% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 66,253 miles. Of all complaints, 4 involved a crash, 1 an injury, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign and 630 technical service bulletins for this model year. Compared with the other 15 Chevrolet Malibu model years that have at least 25 complaints and are old enough to compare, this one scores 0 out of 100, where 50 is a typical year for the model (fewer complaints than typical for this model). The comparison allows for the era and for how long each year has had to collect complaints, but not for how many vehicles were sold.
Which parts are reported most
Complaints can name more than one part, so the counts add up to more than the total. Select a part to see its complaints, recalls and bulletins.
- Electrical system33 33%
- Engine29 29%
- Other or unknown29 29%
- Engine cooling10 10%
- Fuel system10 10%
- Brakes6 6.1%
- Air bags4 4.0%
- Vehicle speed control4 4.0%
- Exterior lighting2 2.0%
Also reported: Seat belts (2), Steering (2), Body and structure (2), Wheels (2), Back-over prevention (rear camera) (1), Seats (1), Tires (1).
Example complaints
Electrical system: “I have a problem with parking, the warning comes on,”Shift Into Park” knowing that I’m in park, so it’s not registering. Have to move the shifter a couple of times before it comes off. My check engine light stays on and then comes off a week or two later and then comes back on and no code comes up, so I’ll clear it or let it clear itself.”
NHTSA complaint #11746599, filed 2026-06Engine: “The contact owns a 2022 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that while driving at 45 MPH, the message “Engine Power Reduced” was displayed, and the vehicle decelerated unexpectedly. The driver pulled over and was informed to turn off the vehicle and restart the vehicle with the assistance of a Police Officer. The vehicle was restarted but failed to exceed 10 MPH while driving. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed with turbocharger failure. The vehicle was not repaired. …”
NHTSA complaint #11714125, filed 2026-01, 62,000 milesOther or unknown: “My shift to Park switch is malfunctioned. While in park, after I shut the engine, I am getting the shift To Park message on my dash with a beeping sound. It takes several tries of starting the car and putting the car back in drive, neutral or reverse and shifting back to park to to them message.”
NHTSA complaint #11668574, filed 2025-06Transmission and drivetrain: “When shifting into park, an error message shows as 'shift to park'. This isn't every time I shift into park, but when it does occur, I have to shift into reverse and then drive (possibly several times) before the transmission acknowledges the 'park' designation. I do not believe I can exit my vehicle safely as the transmission may allow the vehicle to disengage and move from the parking area causing damage to something or someone.”
NHTSA complaint #11563211, filed 2024-01Mileage when problems were reported
33% of the 24 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 38,000 and 82,010 miles.
Complaints by year filed
Trend: rising. Complaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% higher than in the 3 years before.
Crash test ratings
NHTSA's 5-Star Safety Ratings for the 2022 Chevrolet Malibu. Frontal results are shown driver / passenger; rollover shows the star rating and NHTSA's estimated risk of rolling over in a single-vehicle crash.
| Version | Overall | Frontal | Side | Side pole | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Malibu · sedan FWD | ★★★★☆ | 5 / 5 | 4 | 5 | 4 · 10.3% risk |
Driver aids listed by NHTSA for the 2022 model year: forward collision warning optional, lane departure warning optional, automatic emergency braking optional.
Neighbouring years: 2021: same overall rating; 2023: 5 stars overall. A redesign between years can change both the car and the test.
Source: NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (5-Star Safety Ratings), nhtsa.gov/ratings.
Fuel economy and running cost
EPA ratings for each 2022 Chevrolet Malibu version. Annual fuel cost is the EPA's estimate at its current fuel prices for 15,000 miles a year (55% city driving).
| Version | Engine | Transmission | City | Hwy | Comb. | Fuel / yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Malibu FWD | 1.5L 4-cyl | CVT | 29 | 36 | 32 | $2,100 |
| Malibu FWD | 2.0L 4-cyl | 9-speed automatic | 22 | 33 | 26 | $3,150 |
Source: U.S. EPA and Department of Energy, fueleconomy.gov. Ratings are for comparing vehicles; real-world mileage varies with driving and conditions.
Recalls and investigations
- 22V923000Dec 14, 2022Structure › Frame and membersCovers: Chevrolet Malibu 2022–2023
General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2022-2023 Chevrolet Malibu vehicles. The front impact bar, a structural portion of the vehicle frame, may not be properly welded to the front frame rail.
Recall details for the 2022 Chevrolet Malibu → · Check a VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls
Technical service bulletins
TSBs are manufacturer notes to dealers about known repair procedures. They are not recalls and do not by themselves mean a vehicle has a fault. 630 on record; the latest 10 are shown.
- 11038592Oct 16, 2026Other or unknown. PI created to guide technicians through radio restriction process
- 11037555Sep 26, 2026Other or unknown. This PI provides Diagnostics tips on how the LIN bus works and how to diagnosis it.
- 11037253Sep 4, 2026Other or unknown. This preliminary information advises a dealer on how to email GDS2 session logs into Technical Assistance.
- 11036392Aug 20, 2026Other or unknown. This Preliminary information communicates to dealer to perform a MEC reset for wireless projection issues
- 11035340Jul 21, 2026Other or unknown. PI to help diagnose A/C concern
- 11034769Jun 23, 2026Other or unknown. This Preliminary information communicates an issue with an OTA pending message still displayed after an OTA event and how to reset/clear the message.
- 11033719Jun 8, 2026Other or unknown. This Preliminary information communicates to technicians to remove the pulley assembly and inspect the drive chain and pulley surfaces.
- 11033725Jun 5, 2026Other or unknown. This PI addresses leaks from the case half and provides repair direction to dealer technicians
- 11033723Jun 3, 2026Other or unknown. PIP6032B provides diagnostic direction for dealers when encountering transmission leaks
- 11033150May 27, 2026Other or unknown. This preliminary information is to inform technicians and customers that the voice command will be inoperative when trying to open applications. Engineering is investigating and this PI will be…
Other model years of the Chevrolet Malibu
| Year | Complaints | Median mi | Recalls | Crash ★ | MPG | Score (50 = typical) | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 12 | 21,000 | 1 | 5 | 31 | — | Too new |
| 2024 | 44 | 45,000 | 2 | 5 | 31 | Too new to compare | Too new |
| 2023 | 72 | 66,000 | 2 | 5 | 30 | 0 · Fewer | Too new |
| 2022 | 99 | 66,253 | 1 | 4 | 32 | 0 · Fewer | Rising |
| 2021 | 90 | 54,000 | 2 | 4 | 32 | 0 · Fewer | Rising |
| 2020 | 199 | 68,000 | 1 | 4 | 32 | 8 · Fewer | Rising |
| 2019 | 193 | 41,875 | 1 | 4 | 32 | 0 · Fewer | Rising |
| 2018 | 700 | 45,390 | 6 | 5 | 30 | 85 · More | Falling |
| 2017 | 705 | 48,000 | 4 | 5 | 30 | 71 · More | Falling |
| 2016 | 841 | 50,000 | 9 | 5 | 27 | 82 · More | Falling |
| 2015 | 270 | 50,000 | 3 | 5 | 29 | 20 · Fewer | Falling |
| 2014 | 351 | 60,000 | 6 | 5 | 29 | 47 · Typical | Falling |
| 2013 | 837 | 69,000 | 10 | 5 | 26 | 76 · More | Falling |
| 2012 | 907 | 86,000 | 2 | 4 | 26 | 50 · Typical | Falling |
| 2011 | 978 | 80,000 | 3 | 4 | 26 | 50 · Typical | Falling |
| 2010 | 1,363 | 82,000 | 3 | — | 25 | 66 · More | Falling |
| 2009 | 1,510 | 100,000 | 5 | — | 23 | 78 · More | Falling |
| 2008 | 989 | 80,000 | 4 | — | 25 | 62 · Typical | Falling |
| 2007 | 977 | 100,000 | 3 | — | 23 | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
| 2006 | 1,118 | 85,000 | 6 | — | 23 | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
| 2005 | 975 | 88,000 | 3 | — | 25 | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
| 2004 | 1,147 | 78,500 | 6 | — | 25 | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
| 2003 | 569 | 70,084 | 2 | — | 21 | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
| 2002 | 567 | 70,000 | 2 | — | 21 | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
| 2001 | 721 | 73,000 | 2 | — | 21 | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
| 2000 | 922 | 69,000 | 3 | — | 23 | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
| 1999 | 789 | 66,249 | 1 | — | 23 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1998 | 976 | 80,461 | 3 | — | 24 | Not compared (before 2008) | Stable |
| 1997 | 443 | 85,000 | 4 | — | 21 | Not compared (before 2008) | Falling |
| 1980 | 5 | — | 5 | — | — | — | Not enough data |
All Chevrolet Malibu model years · Best and worst years by complaints
Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 2022 Chevrolet Malibu?
Owners of the 2022 Chevrolet Malibu most often report problems with the 1.5L turbocharged engine losing power and lighting the check engine light, along with a "Shift to Park" message that appears when the car is already in park. The issues reported most often: Turbocharger failure and reduced engine power; "Shift to Park" message when already in park; Electrical faults: warning lights, gauges and accessories.
How many NHTSA complaints does the 2022 Chevrolet Malibu have?
NHTSA recorded 99 consumer complaints for the 2022 Chevrolet Malibu as of Oct 29, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
What part of the 2022 Chevrolet Malibu is reported most often?
Electrical system is named most often, in 33 complaints (33% of the total), followed by engine with 29.
Has the 2022 Chevrolet Malibu been recalled?
NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for this model year. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
How did the 2022 Chevrolet Malibu do in NHTSA crash tests?
NHTSA's 5-Star Safety Ratings give the 2022 Chevrolet Malibu 4 out of 5 stars overall. Ratings from different model years are only comparable when the vehicle was not redesigned in between.
What gas mileage does the 2022 Chevrolet Malibu get?
The EPA rates the 2022 Chevrolet Malibu (Malibu, 1.5L 4-cyl) at 32 mpg combined, 29 city and 36 highway, with an estimated annual fuel cost of $2,100 at 15,000 miles a year. Other engine and drive versions are rated differently.
At what mileage are problems with the 2022 Chevrolet Malibu reported?
Among the 24 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 66,253 miles and the middle half falls between 38,000 and 82,010 miles; 33% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 29, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate. Crash ratings are from NHTSA’s New Car Assessment Program. Fuel economy is from the EPA and DOE (fueleconomy.gov).
Complaint counts come from NHTSA’s public complaint database; we count each complaint once. The source records for this vehicle are on nhtsa.gov. Scores and trends are our own summaries of that data, described in the methodology. This page is not legal, safety or repair advice: for a specific vehicle, check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and ask a qualified mechanic. See an error? Tell us.