Ford Escape vs Chevrolet Malibu
Both cars' complete complaint records, side by side.
Read the totals carefully. NHTSA publishes no sales figures, so the car that sold more collects more complaints regardless of quality. The rows worth weighing are the proportions — the share of complaints that involved harm, and which part dominates.
| Measure | Ford Escape | Chevrolet Malibu |
|---|---|---|
| Complaints on file | 36,256 | 29,413 |
| Model years covered | 2000–2026 | 1964–2025 |
| Worst model year | 2013 | 2010 |
| Best model year | 2025 | 2022 |
| Crashes reported | 1,132 | 1,224 |
| Fires reported | 754 | 234 |
| Injuries reported | 752 | 743 |
| Deaths reported | 25 | 38 |
| Most complained-about part | Engine & Cooling | Steering |
| Share of complaints involving harm | 7.3% | 7.6% |
Ford Escape by year
What breaks
Engine & Cooling
9,458
26.1%
Transmission & Drivetrain
4,667
12.9%
Steering
3,952
10.9%
Fuel & Propulsion
2,562
7.1%
Electrical System
2,524
7.0%
Body & Structure
2,318
6.4%
Acceleration & Cruise Control
2,307
6.4%
Other & Unspecified
2,079
5.7%
Chevrolet Malibu by year
What breaks
Steering
5,713
19.4%
Electrical System
4,816
16.4%
Engine & Cooling
3,161
10.7%
Brakes
2,824
9.6%
Lights
2,060
7.0%
Transmission & Drivetrain
1,682
5.7%
Stability & Traction Control
1,330
4.5%
Other & Unspecified
1,290
4.4%