Chevrolet Malibu: Owner Complaints and Recalls by Model Year
This is the Chevrolet Malibu complaint and recall record by model year (1997–2025). 19,180 owner reports are on file across 29 years. 2009 has the highest count (1,527) — often because that year has had longer to collect reports, not because this page ranked it. Open a year to see what owners named, the recall list, and the filings themselves.
Chevrolet Malibu filings that NHTSA splits across body-style names are combined here. Related weight classes stay separate.
Across these years, owners named Steering more often than any other part of the truck. Unclassified leftovers from NHTSA are not a diagnosis.
In plain English
Across 29 years of the Chevrolet Malibu, owners named Steering more often than any other system. That is a pattern in the file, not a diagnosis of the vehicle in the driveway.
2009 has the most reports (1,527). Older years collect more filings just by being around longer. Open the year you are actually buying — not the peak year unless that is the one in the listing.
Each row is a model year. The system column is what owners named most that year. Click the year for the inspect list, the recall campaigns, and the owner text.
NHTSA Consumer Complaints · Oct 14, 2026 NHTSA Safety Recalls · Oct 15, 2026
Owner reports by model year
| Model year | Owner complaints | Recall campaigns | System named most often | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 Chevrolet Malibu | 423 | 6 | Brakes (SERVICE BRAKES) · 82 (19.4%) | not reported |
| 1998 Chevrolet Malibu | 931 | 5 | Brakes (SERVICE BRAKES) · 296 (31.8%) | not reported |
| 1999 Chevrolet Malibu | 732 | 3 | Brakes (SERVICE BRAKES) · 226 (30.9%) | not reported |
| 2000 Chevrolet Malibu | 888 | 5 | Lights (EXTERIOR LIGHTING) · 203 (22.9%) | not reported |
| 2001 Chevrolet Malibu | 701 | 4 | Electrical (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) · 235 (33.5%) | not reported |
| 2002 Chevrolet Malibu | 556 | 4 | Electrical (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) · 211 (38.0%) | not reported |
| 2003 Chevrolet Malibu | 563 | 3 | Electrical (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) · 231 (41.0%) | not reported |
| 2004 Chevrolet Malibu | 1,137 | 9 | Steering (STEERING) · 701 (61.7%) | not reported |
| 2005 Chevrolet Malibu | 970 | 6 | Steering (STEERING) · 443 (45.7%) | not reported |
| 2006 Chevrolet Malibu | 1,110 | 9 | Steering (STEERING) · 723 (65.1%) | not reported |
| 2007 Chevrolet Malibu | 975 | 6 | Steering (STEERING) · 620 (63.6%) | not reported |
| 2008 Chevrolet Malibu | 988 | 5 | Steering (STEERING) · 403 (40.8%) | not reported |
| 2009 Chevrolet Malibu | 1,527 | 6 | Steering (STEERING) · 671 (43.9%) | not reported |
| 2010 Chevrolet Malibu | 1,359 | 4 | Steering (STEERING) · 415 (30.5%) | not reported |
| 2011 Chevrolet Malibu | 976 | 4 | Steering (STEERING) · 186 (19.1%) | not reported |
| 2012 Chevrolet Malibu | 905 | 3 | Lights (EXTERIOR LIGHTING) · 188 (20.8%) | not reported |
| 2013 Chevrolet Malibu | 833 | 10 | Electrical (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) · 148 (17.8%) | not reported |
| 2014 Chevrolet Malibu | 349 | 6 | Engine (ENGINE) · 82 (23.5%) | not reported |
| 2015 Chevrolet Malibu | 268 | 3 | Airbags (AIR BAGS) · 39 (14.6%) | not reported |
| 2016 Chevrolet Malibu | 859 | 10 | Engine (ENGINE) · 138 (16.1%) | not reported |
| 2017 Chevrolet Malibu | 723 | 4 | Engine (ENGINE) · 114 (15.8%) | not reported |
| 2018 Chevrolet Malibu | 710 | 6 | Engine (ENGINE) · 128 (18.0%) | not reported |
| 2019 Chevrolet Malibu | 194 | 1 | Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN) · 54 (27.8%) | not reported |
| 2020 Chevrolet Malibu | 198 | 1 | Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN) · 45 (22.7%) | not reported |
| 2021 Chevrolet Malibu | 87 | 2 | Transmission / driveline (POWER TRAIN) · 18 (20.7%) | not reported |
| 2022 Chevrolet Malibu | 98 | 1 | Engine (ENGINE) · 20 (20.4%) | not reported |
| 2023 Chevrolet Malibu | 69 | 2 | Rear camera / backup safety (BACK OVER PREVENTION) · 15 (21.7%) | not reported |
| 2024 Chevrolet Malibu | 40 | 2 | Rear camera / backup safety (BACK OVER PREVENTION) · 8 (20.0%) | not reported |
| 2025 Chevrolet Malibu | 11 | 1 | Rear camera / backup safety (BACK OVER PREVENTION) · 5 (45.5%) | not reported |
Frequently asked questions
Which Chevrolet Malibu year has the most NHTSA complaints?
2009 has the highest owner-report count in this snapshot (1,527). That is not a recommendation to avoid the year.
What do Chevrolet Malibu owners complain about most?
Across published years, owners named Steering more often than any other system. Open the year you are buying for the mix, the recall list and the inspect steps.
How should I use this Chevrolet Malibu page before I buy?
Open the model year in the listing — not the peak year unless that is the one you are shopping. Check the VIN at nhtsa.gov, inspect the system owners named most, then read a few owner filings.
Do these counts mean the Chevrolet Malibu is unreliable?
No. Counts are self-selected and not normalised for sales volume. YearTell does not publish reliability scores.
Are Chevrolet Malibu body styles merged?
Where NHTSA splits the same consumer vehicle across cab or body-style names, YearTell combines those filings. Distinct weight classes stay separate.