Chevrolet

Malibu (9th)

2013-2016 · Midsize Sedan · 5 engines
Best Engine ⚠️ Caution (2.8)
5,256 NHTSA Complaints
23 Recalls
53 Fire Reports
190 Crash Reports
Includes data from: MALIBUMALIBU ECOMALIBU ECO EASSISTMALIBU LIMITED
View all 5 generations of the Chevrolet Malibu → 📋 Inspection checklist

Engine Reliability Ratings

LKN - SIDI, VVT, HYBRID, FAM 1, GEN 4, GME

1.8L 4-cyl
⚠️ Caution (2.8)
71 complaints 68.0 per year Gasoline
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Complaint Breakdown

electrical
31
engine
24
transmission
21
brakes
13
other
12

Known Issues

Electrical System Issues (31 complaints)
Engine Issues (24 complaints)
Transmission Issues (21 complaints)

Same engine used in

LTG - SIDI, ALUM DOHC, VVT, DCVCP TURBO, E0-E100, ALUM

2.0L 4-cyl Turbo
⚠️ Caution (2.0)
381 complaints 294.0 per year Gasoline
View details

Complaint Breakdown

transmission
90
other
86
electrical
71
engine
51
brakes
42

Known Issues

Transmission Issues (90 complaints)
Typical onset: 40,000–93,863 mi
Electrical System Issues (71 complaints)
Typical onset: 20,000–96,932 mi Est. repair: $250–$928 (11 reports)
Engine Issues (51 complaints)

LFV - DI: Direct Injection, VVT, GEN1 GMNA

1.5L 4-cyl Turbo
Avoid (1.1)
1,845 complaints 1845.0 per year Gasoline
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Complaint Breakdown

engine
773
electrical
632
transmission
386
other
242
brakes
212

Known Issues

Engine Issues (773 complaints)
Typical onset: 36,000–107,000 mi Est. repair: $270–$2,500 (48 reports)
Electrical System Issues (632 complaints)
Typical onset: 35,000–80,438 mi Est. repair: $350–$1,600 (39 reports)
Transmission Issues (386 complaints)
Typical onset: 19,966–50,750 mi Est. repair: $445–$700 (27 reports)

LKW

2.5L 4-cyl
Avoid (1.0)
2,214 complaints 437.0 per year Gasoline
39 fire reports 4 fatalities
View details

Complaint Breakdown

electrical
926
engine
614
steering
308
other
230
transmission
196

Known Issues

Electrical System Issues (926 complaints)
Typical onset: 49,968–97,000 mi Est. repair: $316–$750 (30 reports)
Engine Issues (614 complaints)
Typical onset: 35,800–100,532 mi Est. repair: $136–$2,050 (24 reports)
Steering Issues (308 complaints)
Typical onset: 37,568–78,747 mi Est. repair: $338–$562 (8 reports)

LUK - BAS, Ecotec.

2.4L 4-cyl
Avoid (1.0)
443 complaints 434.0 per year Gasoline
8 fire reports
View details

Complaint Breakdown

electrical
262
engine
145
steering
86
transmission
43
safety systems
34

Known Issues

Electrical System Issues (262 complaints)
Typical onset: 67,500–126,000 mi Est. repair: $438–$6,900 (14 reports)
Engine Issues (145 complaints)
Typical onset: 66,750–119,750 mi Est. repair: $5,125–$8,275 (8 reports)
Steering Issues (86 complaints)
Typical onset: 16,000–80,000 mi Est. repair: $860–$3,250 (8 reports)

Same engine used in

8 additional engine variants with fewer than 10 complaints not shown.

Vehicle-Level Issues

These issues affect the Chevrolet Malibu regardless of engine variant.

Electrical System Issues (1,926 complaints)
electrical critical
Engine Issues (1,613 complaints)
engine critical
Transmission Issues (741 complaints)
transmission critical
Steering Issues (394 complaints)
steering critical
Brakes Issues (269 complaints)
brakes critical

Recalls (23)

21V00F000Dec 21, 2021serious
Suspension

General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2010-2013 Buick Lacrosse, 2012-2013 Buick Regal, and 2013 Chevrolet Malibu vehicles sold or ever registered in Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, or Wisconsin. These vehicles may have rear toe links that received an improper amount of electrocoating (e-coat) corrosion protection, which could cause the e-coat to become brittle and break away when contacted by road debris. Over time, the e-coat may chip away, exposing the metal toe link and making it more susceptible to corrosion. Corrosion may eventually cause the toe link to thin and ultimately fracture.

21V649000Aug 19, 2021serious
Seat Belts

General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2016-2021 Chevrolet Malibu and 2019-2021 Cadillac XT4 vehicles. The rear seat belt retractors may be improperly secured with loose or missing fasteners.

21V633000Dec 7, 2021serious
Suspension

General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2013 Buick Regal, Chevrolet Malibu, and Buick Lacrosse vehicles sold or ever registered in Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, or Wisconsin. These vehicles may have rear toe links that received excessive electrocoating (e-coat) corrosion protection, which could cause the e-coat to become brittle and break away when contacted by road debris. Over time, the e-coat may chip away, exposing the metal toe link and making it more susceptible to corrosion. Corrosion may eventually cause the toe link to thin and ultimately fracture.

20V764000Dec 20, 2020serious
Suspension

General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2012-2013 Buick Regal, 2013 Chevrolet Malibu, and 2010-2013 Buick Lacrosse vehicles sold or ever registered in Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, or Wisconsin. These vehicles may have rear toe links that received excessive electrocoating (e-coat) corrosion protection, which could cause the e-coat to become brittle and break away when contacted by road debris. Over time, the e-coat may chip away, exposing the metal toe link and making it more susceptible to corrosion. Corrosion may eventually cause the toe link to thin and ultimately to fracture.

18V358000May 30, 2018serious
Fuel System

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2015-2018 GMC Canyon, 2016-2017 Buick Envision, 2016-2018 Chevrolet Colorado and Malibu, 2017-2018 GMC Acadia, 2018 Buick LaCrosse, Cadillac ATS, Chevrolet Equinox, and GMC Terrain vehicles. The high pressure fuel pump may detach from its mounting flange, possibly resulting in the pump damaging the high pressure fuel line.

18V400000Jun 13, 2018serious
Air Bags

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2016-2018 Chevrolet Malibu vehicles. During servicing, a Passenger Presence System (PPS) may have been installed that was not correctly calibrated to the vehicle's seat type. As a result, the PPS may not properly identify an adult passenger from a child passenger in the front passenger seat, potentially causing the air bag to not deploy when it should, or causing the air bag to deploy when it shouldn't.

16V781000Oct 25, 2016serious
Air Bags

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2016 Chevrolet Malibu vehicles manufactured November 18, 2015, to June 7, 2016. The fabric of the side-impact air bag cushion may tear during deployment.

16V151000Nov 2, 2016serious
Air Bags

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2016 Malibu vehicles manufactured February 16, 2016, to March 5, 2016. The two weld studs that mount the front and rear side impact air bags may fracture and separate from the air bag during deployment. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 214, "Side Impact Protection."

16V084000Nov 1, 2016serious
Electrical System

Genera Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2016 Chevrolet Camaro, Malibu, Silverado and GMC Sierra vehicles. The radio may intermittently fail to provide an audio warning when the key has been left in the ignition and the door is opened or when the driver does not fasten their seat belt. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS) number 114, "Theft Protection", and/or 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."

16V502000May 6, 2016serious
Electrical System

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2016-2017 Buick Verano and 2016 Chevrolet Malibu as the electronic park lock lever may allow the ignition key to be removed without the transmission being in PARK. Also, certain 2013 Buick Encore, 2011 Buick Regal, 2013-2014 Buick Verano, 2011-2016 Chevrolet Cruze, 2010-2013 Chevrolet Equinox 2013-2015 Chevrolet Malibu, and 2011-2013 GMC Terrain vehicles may have been serviced with similar defective replacement electronic park lock levers. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 114, "Theft Protection and Rollaway Prevention."

16V272000May 4, 2016serious
Electronic Stability Control (Esc)

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2016 Chevrolet Malibu vehicles manufactured March 7, 2016, through March 12, 2016. The memory chip in the electronic brake control module (EBCM) may fail and cause the loss of electronically controlled brake systems including anti-lock brakes (ABS) and electronic stability control (ESC). As such, these vehicles fail to conform to Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 126, "Electronic Stability Control Systems."

16V125000Feb 2, 2016serious
Air Bags

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2016 Chevrolet Colorado vehicles manufactured January 19, 2016, to February 2, 2016, Chevrolet Malibu vehicles manufactured January 9, 2016, to January 26, 2016, and 2016 GMC Canyon vehicles manufactured January 21, 2016, to February 4, 2016. The driver frontal air bag may improperly inflate during second-stage deployment in the event of a high speed crash.

15V245000Apr 23, 2015serious
Powertrain

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2013 Chevrolet Malibu vehicles manufactured April 10, 2012, to August 2, 2012. In the affected vehicles, the console transmission gear selection indicator may not illuminate the shift position selected. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 102, "Transmission Shift Position Sequence, Starter Interlock, and Transmission Braking Effect."

15V164000Mar 22, 2015serious
Visibility

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2013-2015 Chevrolet Malibu vehicles October 24, 2011, to March 5, 2015. In the affected vehicles, the Slide or Tilt switch for the roof panel may not be adequately recessed to prevent the switch from inadvertently being pressed. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 118, "Power-Operated Window, Partition, and Roof Panel Systems."

15V666000Oct 15, 2015critical
Air Bags

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2015 Buick LaCrosse, Cadillac XTS, Chevrolet Camaro, Equinox, Malibu, and GMC Terrain vehicles. The affected vehicles have front seat-mounted side impact air bags whose inflator may rupture upon its deployment.

14V092000Feb 20, 2014serious
Powertrain

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2014 Buick Regal, LaCrosse, Verano, and Enclave, and Chevrolet Impala, Malibu, Cruze, and Traverse, and GMC Acadia vehicles equipped with automatic transmissions. In the affected vehicles, the transmission shift cable adjuster may disengage from the transmission shift lever. As such, these vehicles do not conform to Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 102, "Transmission Shift Lever Sequence, Starter Interlock, and Transmission Braking Effect." They also fail to conform to FMVSS number 114, "Theft Protection and Rollaway Prevention."

14V247000May 13, 2014serious
Service Brakes

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2014 Chevrolet Malibu vehicles manufactured June 12, 2013, through May 2, 2014, and equipped with a 2.5L engine with the auto stop/start option. The affected vehicles may experience a complete loss of brake vacuum assist, disabling the hydraulic boost assist. As such, these vehicles do not comply with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 135, "Light Vehicle Brake Systems."

14V240000Aug 4, 2014serious
Service Brakes

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2014 Buick Lacrosse vehicles manufactured January 29, 2014, through March 31, 2014 and 2014 Chevrolet Malibu vehicles manufactured February 7, 2014, through March 31, 2014, and equipped with 17 inch front brake rotors. The affected vehicles may have had brake rotors intended for the rear of the car accidentally installed on the front. The rear rotors, while the same diameter, are thinner and may result in a front brake pad detaching from the caliper.

13V024000Jan 22, 2013serious
Suspension

General Motors is recalling certain model year 2013 Chevrolet Malibu vehicles, manufactured December 6, 2011, through January 15, 2013. One or more rear suspension bolts may not have been tightened to the specified torque. This may lead to sudden changes in vehicle handling.

13V566000Nov 12, 2013serious
Electrical System

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2013 Chevrolet Malibu vehicles manufactured October 25, 2011, through June 29, 2012 and equipped with the 8-way power adjustable front seat feature. The wiring harness for the power seat may contact the seat frame which may chafe the harness.

13V567000Nov 12, 2013serious
Visibility

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2014 Chevrolet Malibu vehicles manufactured June 12, 2013, through November 5, 2013. The heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) control in these vehicles may intermittently become inoperable when the vehicle is started, preventing the windshield defroster from working. Thus, these vehicles fail to conform to the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 103, "Windshield Defrosting and Defogging Systems."

12V224000May 17, 2012serious
Electrical System

GENERAL MOTORS (GM) IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2013 CHEVROLET MALIBU VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM OCTOBER 24, 2011, THROUGH MARCH 31, 2012. AFTER AN EVENT OF HARD BRAKING, THE SENSING AND DIAGNOSTIC MODULE (SDM) MAY RESET ITSELF.

12V484000Apr 9, 2012serious
Exterior Lighting

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2011-2013 Buick Regal and model year 2013 Chevrolet Malibu vehicles. These vehicles are equipped with two turn signal bulbs in each front turn signal. If one of the two front turn signal bulbs burn out in either front turn signal lamp, there is no indication to the driver. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."

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Frequently Asked Questions

What are the most common 2013-2016 Chevrolet Malibu problems?

The 2013-2016 Chevrolet Malibu has accumulated 5,256 NHTSA complaints. The most frequently reported problem areas are Electrical System, Engine, Transmission. As with any used vehicle, a pre-purchase inspection and vehicle history report are recommended.

Which Chevrolet Malibu engine is most reliable?

The 2013-2016 Chevrolet Malibu was offered with 13 engine options. Based on NHTSA complaint data, the 2.5L 4-cyl has the lowest complaint density and is considered the most reliable choice for buyers.

Is the 2013-2016 Chevrolet Malibu a good used car?

The 2013-2016 Chevrolet Malibu can be a solid used car purchase depending on trim, mileage, and maintenance history. With 5,256 total NHTSA complaints on record, prospective buyers should review the known problem areas and check for open recalls before buying.

How many NHTSA complaints does the 2013-2016 Chevrolet Malibu have?

The 2013-2016 Chevrolet Malibu has 5,256 complaints filed with NHTSA as of our latest data pull. Complaint counts reflect owner-reported issues and do not necessarily indicate defects or safety risks on their own.

What recalls affect the 2013-2016 Chevrolet Malibu?

There are 23 NHTSA recalls affecting some 2013-2016 Chevrolet Malibu vehicles. Recall status varies by VIN — check the NHTSA recall database at recalls.nhtsa.dot.gov with your specific VIN to confirm which campaigns apply.

What should I check before buying a used Chevrolet Malibu?

Before buying a used Chevrolet Malibu, verify all open recalls are completed via the NHTSA VIN lookup tool. Pay particular attention to Electrical System, Engine, Transmission, which are the most commonly reported problem areas. Request maintenance records, have an independent mechanic inspect the vehicle, and run a vehicle history report to check for prior accidents or title issues.

Does the Malibu have NHTSA crash test ratings?

NHTSA has not published crash test ratings for the 2013-2016 Chevrolet Malibu. Not all vehicles are tested each year. For the latest NHTSA safety information, visit nhtsa.gov/ratings.

Data from NHTSA federal complaints database. 5,256 complaints analyzed. Data confidence: high. Last updated: 2026-04-07.

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