Chevrolet Malibu Reliability: Best and Worst Years

The Chevrolet Malibu is a midsize sedan that Chevrolet revived in 1997 and sold in the U.S. through the 2025 model year. During the years covered here it went through four generations, all front-wheel drive. It was offered with four-cylinder and V6 engines early on, later moving to turbocharged four-cylinders, and was also widely used in rental fleets. We put all 15 Chevrolet Malibu model years from 2010 to 2024 side by side, using the same rule for every year.

Why these years stand out

2010: most complaints. The 2010 Chevrolet Malibu scored 687 complaints per 100,000 sold, 2.1 times the model average. Of its 1,365 complaints, 259 involve the engine or transmission, and the parts named most often are steering (450), electrical system (288) and electronic stability control (esc) (227). NHTSA lists 3 recalls for this model year.

2015, 2022 and 2023: fewest complaints. The 2015 drew 270 complaints, or 139 per 100,000 sold; The 2022 drew 99 complaints, or 86 per 100,000 sold; The 2023 drew 72 complaints, or 55 per 100,000 sold. These years have been on the road at least three years, which gives owners time to report problems, so a low count means something.

What Chevrolet Malibu owners report most

Electrical complaints lead for the Chevrolet Malibu, at 28% of all complaints for 2010-2024. Engine and transmission reports together make up 39%. One complaint can name more than one system, so the bars can add up to more than the total.

When problems are reported: mileage

4,859 Chevrolet Malibu complaints list the odometer reading at the time of the problem. 34% were reported before 50,000 miles and 25% after 100,000. The reports are spread across the mileage range rather than bunched at one point.

Chevrolet Malibu compared with other midsize cars

In 7 of 15 model years the Chevrolet Malibu drew fewer complaints per 100,000 sold than the average midsize car we track for the same year. For 2024, the Chevrolet Malibu scored 38 against a class average of 56. The class average only uses models with clean, published sales figures.

Chevrolet Malibu generations

• 2005-2008
  Sixth generation

  2.2L four; 3.5L V6; 3.9L V6 (SS) · 4-speed automatic

  A Malibu Maxx hatchback was sold through 2007, and the sedan continued as the Malibu Classic for 2008.

• 2008-2012
  Seventh generation

  2.4L four; 3.6L V6; 2.4L mild hybrid (2008-2010) · 4-speed automatic (2008-2010); 6-speed automatic

  This redesign grew the car and added a belt-alternator mild hybrid version for the first few years.

• 2013-2016
  Eighth generation

  2.5L four; 2.0L turbo four; 2.4L eAssist mild hybrid (2013-2014) · 6-speed automatic

  The 2014 update added engine stop-start on the 2.5L, and the design continued as the fleet-oriented Malibu Limited for 2016.

• 2016-2024
  Ninth generation

  1.5L turbo four; 2.0L turbo four (2016-2022); 1.8L hybrid (2016-2019) · 6-speed automatic; 9-speed automatic (2.0L); CVT (1.5L from 2019)

  A 2019 refresh restyled the front end and replaced the 6-speed automatic on the 1.5L engine with a CVT.

Model year 2008 includes both the outgoing Malibu Classic and the redesigned seventh-generation Malibu. The ninth-generation Malibu Hybrid was offered from 2016 to 2019. The 2.0L turbo engine was dropped for 2023, leaving the 1.5L turbo as the only engine.

Chevrolet Malibu fuel economy

The 2025 Chevrolet Malibu is rated at 31 MPG combined by the EPA, depending on the setup. Every year and engine will be on its own MPG page.

Crash test stars

NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program gave the Chevrolet Malibu these overall ratings (out of 5) for the model years it tested: 2011: 4, 2012: 4, 2013: 5, 2014: 5, 2015: 5, 2016: 5, 2017: 5, 2018: 5, 2019: 4, 2020: 4, 2021: 4, 2022: 4, 2023: 5, 2024: 5. Ratings can differ between body styles and drive types of the same year.

Questions