MODELYEARINDEX

Which Chevrolet Malibu years to avoid

Across 12 scored model years, the 2016, 2018 and 2017 model years carry the highest severity-weighted complaint rates.

Ownership label · Chevrolet Malibu Full report
D
Grade 2010–2021
2016 vs model median 1.7×
Model median3× median
Engine 151
Electrical 114
Speed Control 87
Avoid

2016 · 2018

Best

2019 · 2021

Year by year

Severity-weighted complaints filed in each model year’s first 60 months on the road, so every year is measured over an identical window.

Year Complaint volume vs median Reports Grade
2010
1.09× 529 C
2011
0.99× 470 C
2012
1.01× 408 C
2013
1.27× 532 D
2014
0.40× 181 B
2015
0.43× 174 B
2016
1.70× 805 D
2017
1.53× 711 D
2018
1.54× 713 D
2019
0.42× 178 A
2020
0.41× 181 B
2021
0.16× 81 A
2022 P
0.30× 149 A
2023 P
0.20× 95 A
2024 P
0.11× 55 A
2025 P
0.03× 15 A

P — provisional. These years have not completed 60 months on the road, so their totals are incomplete and they are excluded from the verdict.

What owners report

The component groups most often named, with one representative report. These are unverified — allegations, not findings.

2016 D 805 reports · median 45,000 mi

  1. Engine 151

    Takata recall- experience issues with car after two weeks of owning.car began rattle when parked, slow to accelerate "dragged". owner complaint filed with NHTSA

  2. Electrical 114

    Almost impossible to remove fuses in dash. Even with pullers need to remove fuse f-10 and f-41 in order to flat tow vehicle behind motorhome. owner complaint filed with NHTSA

  3. Speed Control 87

    While merging onto a highway, the vehicle lost engine power and the "check engine" light came on. The information panel then displayed two warnings, including "engine power is reduced" and would not let the vehicle… owner complaint filed with NHTSA

21 crash · 3 fire · 11 injuries

2018 D 713 reports · median 41,600 mi

  1. Engine 191

    I was driving my 2018 chevy malibu ls that I haven't owned for more then 30 days and my check engine light came on in the driveway when I started it up to let it warm since it was winter so I took it to christenson… owner complaint filed with NHTSA

  2. Electrical 101

    My right blinker and brake light keep shorting out. It will be fine for a few days and then stop working. Also, the interior carpet is too short and keep coming out of the trim in the front area s of the vehicle. owner complaint filed with NHTSA

  3. Drivetrain 87

    I bought this car brand new 9/28/2018 with 2 miles on it. Every once in a while the car will stick at 3400 rpm's, making almost no power, while trying to accelerate. owner complaint filed with NHTSA

26 crash · 6 fire · 15 injuries

The best year for the Malibu

Ranked by overall score among years with a full 60 months on the road.

2021 is the best-scoring Malibu model year with a full 60 months on the road, at 91.1 out of 100 — a score that combines complaint rate, recall campaigns and open investigations.

Yearvs medianReportsGrade
2021 0.16× 81 A
2019 0.42× 178 A
2020 0.41× 181 B

Recalls

36 campaigns on record.

Campaign Component Model years Units affected
14V252000 ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING 2010–2012 2,440,524
15V269000 SEAT BELTS 2011, 2012 437,045
12V460000 POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:GEAR POSITION INDICATION (PRNDL) 2010 426,240
26V212000 BACK OVER PREVENTION: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERA 2023–2025 276,879
20V764000 SUSPENSION:REAR 2013 220,006
18V576000 SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:CALIPER 2018 210,628
20V668000 POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION 2018 194,105
19V642000 ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:SOFTWARE 2018 177,282
14V247000 SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:POWER ASSIST:VACUUM 2014 140,067
12V484000 EXTERIOR LIGHTING:TURN SIGNAL 2013 120,426
15V164000 VISIBILITY:SUN/MOON ROOF ASSEMBLY 2013–2015 87,063
13V567000 VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM 2014 42,696

+ 24 further campaigns

How long do they last?

Complaint records show when problems get reported, not how long a car survives. Where owners gave an odometer reading, faults on the 2016 were reported at a median of 45,000 miles. Treat that as the point problems start being noticed, not a lifespan.

Common questions

Answered directly from this model’s record.

Which Chevrolet Malibu years should you avoid?
2016, 2018, 2017 carry the highest severity-weighted complaint rates of any Chevrolet Malibu model year measured over an identical 60-month window.
What is the best year for the Chevrolet Malibu?
2021 is the best-scoring Chevrolet Malibu model year with a full 60 months on the road, at 91.1 out of 100. The score combines complaint rate, recall campaigns and open investigations.
How many recalls does the Chevrolet Malibu have?
36 distinct recall campaigns are on record across all scored Chevrolet Malibu model years. A recall is a matter of record: the manufacturer filed a defect report with NHTSA.

How this was calculated

Every model year is scored over an identical window: complaints filed with NHTSA during the first 60 months after that model year went on sale. Without this, older cars look worse purely because they have had longer to accumulate reports.

Limitations. Complaints are unverified reports submitted voluntarily by owners; they are allegations, not findings, and reporting rates vary between models. Model years with fewer than 60 months on the road are marked provisional and excluded from verdicts. Cross-model comparison is withheld pending production-volume data.

Full methodology · Sources · Data vintage August 9, 2026

Working 2016 Malibu
Complaints in window
805
Severity-weighted
1,164
Model median (weighted)
685
vs model median
1.70×
Recall campaigns (weighted)
9
Open investigations
0
Score 42.5 D