FaultScore

Chevrolet Malibu equipment problems

223 of the 29,413 complaints filed about the Chevrolet Malibu are about the equipment — 1% of everything owners reported. The worst model year for it is 1998.

223

Complaints

1%

Share of all complaints

2

Crashes

2

Fires

Equipment & Accessories complaints by model year

1997 Malibu 11 4.9%

Median failure at 122,500 miles

1998 Malibu 44 19.7%

Median failure at 65,000 miles

1999 Malibu 32 14.3%

Median failure at 48,750 miles

2000 Malibu 36 16.1%

Median failure at 56,500 miles

2001 Malibu 22 9.9%

Median failure at 59,148 miles

2002 Malibu 13 5.8%

Median failure at 50,000 miles

2003 Malibu 7 3.1%

Median failure at 46,172 miles

2004 Malibu 13 5.8%

Median failure at 20,172 miles

2005 Malibu 9 4.0%

Median failure at 59,000 miles

2006 Malibu 7 3.1%

Median failure at 42,574 miles

2007 Malibu 1 0.4%

Median failure at 105,000 miles

2008 Malibu 10 4.5%

Median failure at 38,000 miles

2009 Malibu 6 2.7%

Median failure at 48,011 miles

2010 Malibu 3 1.3%

Median failure at 2,000 miles

2011 Malibu 1 0.4%
2012 Malibu 1 0.4%

Median failure at 47,607 miles

2013 Malibu 2 0.9%

Median failure at 62,050 miles

2015 Malibu 2 0.9%

Median failure at 17,000 miles

2017 Malibu 1 0.4%
2019 Malibu 1 0.4%

Median failure at 1,374 miles

2024 Malibu 1 0.4%

What owners said

2024 Chevrolet Malibu Atlanta, GA

EQUIPMENT

The contact rented a 2024 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact was an Uber driver. The contact stated that the VIN was previously included in NHTSA Campaign Numbers: 26V212000 (Back Over Prevention) and 24V575000 (Equipment). The contact believed that the vehicle should not have been rented with the open recalls. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact had not experienced a failure. The manufacturer was not notified of the issue. The VIN was not available.

NHTSA complaint #11744486 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2017 Chevrolet Malibu Beavercreek, OH

EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:INFOTAINMENT

The infotainment system is completely out: I have no navigation, no radio, no clock, no way to adjust anything in the vehicle, no cruise control, left rear turn signal is malfunctioning, left rear brake light is out, left front running light is out, it takes 3-8x to press the ignition button to start the vehicle, I cannot open my trunk, the emissions light keeps going on and off and the check engine light keeps going on and off.

NHTSA complaint #11477067 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2008 Chevrolet Malibu at 38,643 miles Stafford, VA

EQUIPMENT

2013- APRIL, RUBBING NOISE COMING FROM STEERING COLUMN FOR A FEW MONTHS THEN STEERING BECAME TOO HARD, BARELY MADE TO DEALERSHIP. STEERING GEAR ASSEMBLY REPLACED ALONG WITH INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT PART NO. 25979679 AT 38,643 MILES. 2019-DECEMBER RUBBING NOISE AGAIN AND SLIGHT SHIFTING OF CAR TO LEFT PULLING INTO PARKING SPOT, LOWER U JOINT ON INTERMEDIATE STEERING SHAFT WITH TOO MUCH PLAY LEADS TO STEERING SHAFT BEING INSTALLED PART NO. 25979679 INSTALLED AT 72,712 MILES. 2020-FEBRUARY RUBBING NOISE STARTING AGAIN CAR WILL BE CHECKED OUT ON APRIL 18TH. THIS CAR HAS HAD NO HARD USE SUCH AS COMMUTING OR MULTIPLE LONG DISTANCE DRIVING.

NHTSA complaint #11321202 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2019 Chevrolet Malibu at 1,374 miles Albuquerque, NM

EQUIPMENT:MECHANICAL:ACCESSORY SCISSOR/SCREW/BOTTLE JACK/LIFT

I COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED OR MAIMED BY A DEFECTIVE TIRE JACK THAT WAS INCLUDED IN THE TIRE CHANGING EQUIPMENT THAT CAME WITH A NEW IMPALA I RENTED FROM ENTERPRISE CAR RENTAL. THE JACK BENT IN TWO WHEN I TRIED TO CRANK THE JACK HIGH ENOUGH TO CHANGE A FLAT TIRE. I HAVE A PHOTO OF THE CHINESE-MADE PART #13592351/2017. I HAVE NOTIFIED BOTH ENTERPRISE AND GENERAL MOTORS. IN DISCUSSING THE ISSUE, IT SEEMS THAT NEITHER COMPANY INCLUDES A SAFETY CHECK OF THE TIRE JACK. MY CONCERN IS THAT 40-50 THOUSAND IMPALAS WERE SOLD IN 2018. CAR RENTAL COMPANIES PURCHASED THEM AS DID DEALERSHIPS. THOUSANDS OF UNUSED, I.E. NEW TIRE JACKS MAY BE SITTING IN THE TRUNKS OF IMPALAS THROUGHOUT THE US, CANADA, ETC. AND SOME COULD BE DEFECTIVE. THE GM EXECUTIVE OFFICE REP SAID THEY WERE GOING TO CONTACT ENTERPRISE REGARDING THE SAFETY ISSUE. TO ME THIS IS SHORT SIGHTED ON GM'S PART. THEY DON'T SEEM TO BE INTERESTED IN FINDING THE ROOT CAUSE OF THE DEFECTIVE JACK. ARE THEY MORE LIKELY TO CHANGE THEIR TUNE, IF CONSUMERS DIE AS A RESULT OF USING THE GENERAL MOTORS PROVIDED DEFECTIVE JACKS? STAY TUNED.

NHTSA complaint #11142975 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2015 Chevrolet Malibu at 20,000 miles Waynesburg, PA

EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER

AT 8:00 P.M. I STARTED MY CAR TO WARM UP. IT WAS 27 DEGREES OUT AND WHEN I TURNED MY HEAT ON, NO AIR WOULD BLOW OUT. THE CAR WAS IN PARK. AFTER I LET IT WARM UP FOR ABOUT 15 MINUTES, I NOTICED THE AIR WOULD STILL NOT BLOW OUT. I SHUT MY CAR OFF AND TURNED IT BACK ON AND THE AIR STILL WOULD NOT BLOW OUT. THE LIGHT ON THE KNOB INDICATING IT WAS ON, WAS NOT LIT UP. ALL OTHER ELECTRICAL FUNCTIONS WERE WORKING FINE IN MY VEHICLE. ONCE I STARTED DRIVING FOR ABOUT 10 MINUTES, ALL OF A SUDDEN THE AIR KICKED ON AND STARTED BLOWING OUT. AND FUNCTIONED FINE FOR THE REST OF THE DRIVE. MY CAR HAS 20K MILES ON IT AND WAS PURCHASED ABOUT 6 MONTHS AGO.

NHTSA complaint #10934007 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2012 Chevrolet Malibu at 47,607 miles Eastham, MA

EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:RADIO/TAPE DECK/CD ETC.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE STEERING WHEEL ABRUPTLY LOCKED WHILE ATTEMPTING TO TURN AT A LOW SPEED. THE FAILURE WAS EXPERIENCED SEVERAL TIMES. WHILE THE BLUETOOTH WAS IN USE, THE RADIO AND STEERING WHEEL SIMULTANEOUSLY FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE BATTERY CABLE WAS DEFECTIVE AND CAUSED THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM TO LOSE CHARGE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE BATTERY CABLES WERE REPLACED AND ROUTED CORRECTLY. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE CABLE FAILURE WAS DUE TO WEAR AND TEAR. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 47,607. UPDATED 09/20/16*LJ

NHTSA complaint #10881993 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2015 Chevrolet Malibu at 14,000 miles Pensacola, FL

EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:RADIO/TAPE DECK/CD ETC.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH AND MAKING A STOP, THE RADIO SHUT OFF COMPLETELY. THE FAILURE RECURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED, BUT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT FOUND. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 14,000.

NHTSA complaint #10846048 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2013 Chevrolet Malibu at 62,050 miles LAS Vegas, NV

EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE JERKED AND THE TEMPERATURE GAUGE INDICATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OVERHEATING. THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE AIR CONDITIONER WAS OFF, BUT A MESSAGE IN THE INSTRUMENT PANEL INDICATED THAT THE AIR CONDITIONER WAS ON AND SHOULD BE TURNED OFF. THE FAILURE RECURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 62,050.

NHTSA complaint #10821135 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2003 Chevrolet Malibu at 33,345 miles Cantonment, FL

EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2003 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START AND THE KEY WOULD NOT EJECT FROM THE IGNITION. THE DEALER REPAIRED THE VEHICLE ACCORDING TO A RECALL FOR THE IGNITION SWITCH, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE BRAKE LIGHTS FAILED TO ILLUMINATE AND THE AIR CONDITIONER DID NOT FUNCTION. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURES. THE NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 33,345.

NHTSA complaint #10733789 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2008 Chevrolet Malibu at 35,000 miles EL Paso, TX

EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY

REAR DOOR LOCKS FAIL TO FUNCTION.

NHTSA complaint #10676183 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2001 Chevrolet Malibu at 59,148 miles Sterling Heights, MI

EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BLOWER FOR THE AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONED AND THE POWER WINDOWS FAILED TO GO BACK UP AFTER BEING ROLLED DOWN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 59,148. UPDATED 11/20/14*LJ

NHTSA complaint #10641970 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

1998 Chevrolet Malibu Greenville, PA

EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER

1998 CHEVROLET MALIBU. CONSUMER WRITES TO EXPRESS DISCONTENT WITH LOCAL DEALERSHIP. *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED THE BRAKE WAS SPONGY, THE ABS LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE AC WORKED ERRATICALLY, DEPENDING ON THE BLOWER SPEED AND WOULD SOMETIMES QUIT BLOWING COLD AIR AND WOULD START TO BLOW WARM AIR. THE CONSUMER STATED THE BRAKE FLUID WAS VERY LOW. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO FIND ANY BRAKE FLUID LEAKS. HOWEVER, TWO MONTHS LATER WHILE DRIVING, THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR, BECAUSE THE FLUID HAD LEAKED OUT AGAIN. THE BRAKE LINES WERE REPLACED. IN ADDITION, TO THE BRAKE LINE ISSUE, THE SWAY BAR WAS BROKEN, A FUEL LINE WAS LEAKING AND THE LEFT REAR STRUT HAD FAILED.

NHTSA complaint #10639977 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2000 Chevrolet Malibu at 60,000 miles Arlington, TX

EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENGINE STALLED INTERMITTENTLY. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON TWELVE OCCASIONS. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000. UPDATED 01/28/15*LJ AIR CONDITIONER AND HEATER WOULDNOT COME ON. UPDATED 08/28/2017

NHTSA complaint #10638390 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2001 Chevrolet Malibu at 43,000 miles Burt, MI Crash 1 injured 1 killed

EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY

CAR WAS FORCED OFF ROAD THEN ROLLED OVER INTO ON COMING TRAFFIC.

NHTSA complaint #10633566 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2009 Chevrolet Malibu at 61,000 miles Cape Charles, VA

EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY

BOTH REAR DOOR LOCKS STOPPED WORKING. SHOULD BE A RECALL, KNOW OTHERS HAD THE SAME PROBLEM.

NHTSA complaint #10630317 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2000 Chevrolet Malibu at 112,000 miles Mcdonough, GA

EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:ANTI-THEFT DEVICES

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ANTI-THEFT SENSOR WAS ILLUMINATING INTERMITTENTLY. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT WAS NOT ABLE TO GET THE KEY TO TURN FROM AN OFF POSITION TO AN ON POSITION. ON SOME OCCASIONS, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 12V224000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 112,000.

NHTSA complaint #10620734 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2004 Chevrolet Malibu at 23,000 miles Stantonsburg, NC

EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:ANTI-THEFT DEVICES

THEFT SYSTEM KEPT CAR FROM CRANKING.

NHTSA complaint #10609023 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2003 Chevrolet Malibu at 59,000 miles Detroit, MI

EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:ANTI-THEFT DEVICES

I HAVE HAD SEVERAL ISSUES WITH MY CAR OVER THE YEARS. THE FIRST WAS WHEN THE FUEL PUMP FAILED AND MY CAR STALLED IN TRAFFIC IN 2006 AND REPAIR WAS $600. THE INTAKE MANIFOLD GASKETS FAILED ABOUT 10 MONTHS LATER THAT WAS REPAIRED AT THE DEALER FOR $1200. I HAVE REPLACED THE ENGINE TWICE ($600 EACH TIME) BECAUSE OF THE HEAD GASKETS AND TOO MUCH OIL INSIDE THE ENGINE. NOW I HAVE A STRONG ODOR OF GASOLINE INSIDE MY CAR WHEN I START IT UP THAT LASTS FOR ABOUT 15-20 MINUTES EACH DAY. I'VE REPLACED THE IGNITION SWITCH TWICE NOW AND THE GEAR SHIFT DOES NOT LOCK PROPERLY. NOW ANTI THEFT SECURITY LIGHT COMES ON OFTEN AND I HAVE TO WAIT APPROXIMATELY 11 MINUTES TO RESET IT BEFORE I CAN LEAVE MY LOCATION. THE HOOD LATCH RECENTLY BROKE AND NOW THE WIRE MUST BE REPLACED FROM THE INSIDE TO THE EXTERIOR OF THE CAR.

NHTSA complaint #10598136 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2005 Chevrolet Malibu at 59,000 miles Albuquerque, NM

EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:ANTI-THEFT DEVICES

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2005 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED WHEN ATTEMPTING TO PARK, THE ENGINE STALLED AS THE ANTI-THEFT WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHERE THE PASS LOCK SENSOR AND THE IGNITION SWITCH WERE REPLACED. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN ANY RECALLS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE PROBLEM. THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 59,000.

NHTSA complaint #10594325 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2009 Chevrolet Malibu at 999,999 miles None Given, MI

EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY

CONSTANT HARASSMENT BY FRIENDS (LAW ENFORCEMENT) OF[XXX] - DURING AN AFTER FEDERAL CORRUPTION TRIALS. HARASSMENT INCLUDES BUT NOT LIMITED TO: WHILE DRIVING, CONSTANTLY FOLLOWED AND THREATENED BY DEARBORN, DETROIT, FARMINGTON HILLS, NOVI AND SOUTHFIELD POLICE. HARASSMENT BY SECRET SERVICE AND CHANNEL 7 NEWS PERSONNEL. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

NHTSA complaint #10577721 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other Chevrolet Malibu problems