The best Malibu years to buy are 2015 and 2022. Avoid the 2013 and the 2018: the 2013 has stalling and electrical faults, and the 2018 drew about 1.7 times the model's average complaints for reduced engine power and a 'shift to park' message.
Best years: 20152022 Years to avoid: 20132018
Every Malibu year compared
Owner complaints per 100,000 cars sold. Lower is better. The newest years have had less time to collect complaints, so they are marked too new to judge.
Known Malibu problems
Year by year
| Year | Complaints | Per 100k sold | Recalls | Top issue | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 45 | - | 2 | Electrical | Too new to judge |
| 2023 | 73 | - | 2 | Backup camera | Too new to judge |
| 2022 | 99 | 86 | 1 | Electrical | Good year |
| 2021 | 90 | 229 | 2 | Other | Average |
| 2020 | 202 | 197 | 1 | Transmission and drivetrain | Good year |
| 2019 | 195 | 162 | 1 | Transmission and drivetrain | Good year |
| 2018 | 711 | 492 | 6 | Engine | Skip this year |
| 2017 | 727 | 391 | 4 | Engine | Average |
| 2016 | 865 | 380 | 9 | Engine | Average |
| 2015 | 270 | 139 | 3 | Engine | Good buy |
| 2014 | 363 | 193 | 6 | Engine | Good year |
| 2013 | 924 | 461 | 10 | Electrical | Skip this year |
| 2012 | 907 | 430 | 3 | Electrical | Average |
About the Malibu
The Malibu is roomy and comfortable but uneven. Electrical faults on 2013 cars, and on 2016-2018 cars the 1.5L turbo's reduced power warnings and a shifter switch that will not register Park, are the patterns to know. The final years before production ended are the most reliable.
- 2013-2015: Eighth generation. 2013 has stalling and power steering complaints; 2015 is much better.
- 2016-2024: Ninth generation with the 1.5L turbo. 2016-2018 have the most complaints; 2022 on is low.
Malibu warranty extensions and special coverage
Carmakers sometimes extend the warranty on a part that fails too often, or pay for a fix outside a recall. These notices come from the dealer bulletins Chevrolet files with NHTSA. 3,729 Malibu bulletins are on file in total.
Customer Satisfaction Program.
Special Coverage.
Customer Satisfaction Program - certain vehicles may have a condition in which the transmission oil cooler lines were not properly secured.
N192266090 03 - Customer Satisfaction Program.
N192259800 - Customer Satisfaction Program - Certain vehicles may have a condition in which the drive motor power inverter module is susceptible to a thermal over-stress failure.
Customer Satisfaction Program - The owner's manual for certain 2019 and 2020 model year Cadillac XT4 vehicles includes incorrect instructions for towing the vehicle behind another vehicle with two wheels on the ground and two w...
18277 - Customer Satisfaction Program - Certain vehicles equipped with RPO MNH (6 Speed Automatic Transmission) may have been built without a transmission case assembly cup plug.
18308 - Customer Satisfaction Program - Certain vehicles, may have a condition in which the right-hand knuckle wheel speed sensor (WSS) hole is machined approximately 1.6mm off location.
N182199610 - Customer Satisfaction Program.
N192218430 - Customer Satisfaction Program.
Ask a dealer to check a specific car by VIN. Extensions usually have a time or mileage limit.
Government investigations into the Malibu
NHTSA opens an investigation when complaints point to a possible safety defect. Some end in a recall and some close without one.
Engineering analysis EA25005 · 2020 · opened Oct 2025
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) has become aware of eight vehicle crashes in which a rupture of a Jilin Province Detiannuo Automobile Safety System Co., Ltd.
Defect petition DP22005 · 2016–2019 · opened Jan 2023, closed Aug 2023 · led to recall 22V063000
NHTSA received a petition on or about July 18, 2022, requesting that Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 141 be applied to all electric and hybrid vehicles operating in the United States.
Audit query AQ14001 · 2013 · opened May 2014, closed May 2016
NHTSA opened AQ14-001 to determine whether Sands Chevrolet of Surprise, Arizona complied with the requirements of the National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act, 49 U.S.C.
Recall query RQ13003 · 2013 · opened Jul 2013, closed Jul 2014
On July 5, 2013 the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened Recall Query RQ13-003 to investigate whether the service procedures utilized in recall bulletins 13136 and 13142 for safety recall 13V-173 were sufficient to identify the safety defect in the subject vehicles.These safety recalls were issue on May 3, 2...
Malibu vs rivals
Questions
What is the best year for the Chevrolet Malibu?
2015 and 2022. The best Malibu years to buy are 2015 and 2022. Avoid the 2013 and the 2018: the 2013 has stalling and electrical faults, and the 2018 drew about 1.7 times the model's average complaints for reduced engine power and a 'shift to park' message.
Which Chevrolet Malibu years should I avoid?
2013, 2018. These drew far more owner complaints per car sold than the Chevrolet Malibu average.
Based on 5,471 complaints filed by owners with U.S. safety regulators for model years 2012 to 2024, and U.S. sales by calendar year. How we score.