Chevrolet Malibu problems, recalls & best years
The deets on every Malibu from 1997 to 2025: 19,343 owner complaints and 100 recalls across 29 model years.
The model years with the most owner complaints are 2009 (1509), 2010 (1362), 2004 (1147). Best fuel economy: 32 mpg combined (2022).
Problem areas across all years
Year by year
| Year | Recalls | Complaints | Best mpg | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 | 4 | 443 | 21 | |
| 1998 | 3 | 976 | 24 | |
| 1999 | 1 | 789 | 23 | |
| 2000 | 3 | 922 | 23 | |
| 2001 | 2 | 721 | 21 | |
| 2002 | 2 | 567 | 21 | |
| 2003 | 2 | 569 | 21 | |
| 2004 | 6 | 1147 | 25 | |
| 2005 | 3 | 975 | 25 | |
| 2006 | 6 | 1116 | 24 | |
| 2007 | 3 | 977 | 25 | |
| 2008 | 4 | 988 | 25 | |
| 2009 | 5 | 1509 | 26 | |
| 2010 | 3 | 1362 | 26 | |
| 2011 | 3 | 978 | 26 | |
| 2012 | 2 | 907 | 26 | |
| 2013 | 10 | 836 | 26 | |
| 2014 | 6 | 351 | 29 | |
| 2015 | 3 | 270 | 29 | |
| 2016 | 9 | 837 | 30 | |
| 2017 | 4 | 703 | 30 | |
| 2018 | 6 | 700 | 30 | |
| 2019 | 1 | 192 | 32 | |
| 2020 | 1 | 198 | 32 | |
| 2021 | 2 | 89 | 32 | |
| 2022 | 1 | 98 | 32 | |
| 2023 | 2 | 70 | 30 | |
| 2024 | 2 | 42 | 31 | |
| 2025 | 1 | 11 | 31 |
Want the full repair deets? Get the factory manual.
Recall and complaint data tells you what goes wrong. A service manual tells you how to fix it: torque specs, wiring diagrams, fluid capacities and step-by-step procedures for the Chevrolet Malibu.
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FAQ
What is the worst year for the Chevrolet Malibu?
The model years with the most owner complaints are 2009 (1509), 2010 (1362), 2004 (1147).
How many recalls has the Chevrolet Malibu had?
Across 1997–2025, NHTSA lists 100 vehicle recall campaigns by model year (a campaign that covers several years counts once per year).