Car Defect Radar
Built from NHTSA complaints and recalls collected for this model, generated September 22, 2026. Totals reflect what has been collected, not every complaint ever filed.

Recalls

0 total

Safety issues the manufacturer must repair for free. A recall means confirm the fix was done, not walk away.

No recalls on record for this model

No safety recalls were found in this dataset. It is still worth entering the exact VIN on NHTSA before purchase, since recalls can be added at any time.

Owner complaints by system

88 total

Unverified reports owners filed with NHTSA, grouped by the part of the car. Useful for spotting patterns. Open a group to read recent examples.

Engine & powertrain

Minor
71

Most reports here involve software faults.

software faults 32transmission slipping 17sudden stalling 13
A recent report: The problem with this model is the CVT Trasmission thats in the vehicle when put into drive mode it stalls to change gears and want change gears for about 5 min then it kicks in to go it does that…
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The problem with this model is the CVT Trasmission thats in the vehicle when put into drive mode it stalls to change gears and want change gears for about 5 min then it kicks in to go it does that very often i have took it to the dealership and spent tremendous mount of money the transmission are crapy and stalls the car when put into drive mode please help im not the only one experiencing this issue there is a Chevrolet malibu group chat on Facebook and other sites these transmission needs to be replaced by the dealership they sell these cars with this existing problems and jack the car prices up these is not right and upon taking it to them they act like they dont know the problem this is a big safety issues and can cause harmful to someone if on the interstate or traffic at a blind spot please investigate the work i got done problem still exists

Source: NHTSA complaint ODI #11761497 · view all complaints for this vehicle at nhtsa.gov

Electrical & infotainment

Minor
5

Most reports here involve sudden stalling.

sudden stalling 2software faults 2fluid leaks 1
A recent report: Failure - B000A-00 Body Control Module Error code - Shift Lever Position not plausible . Safety - This causes the car to upon attempting to turn off the car say "Shift into Park" on the dashboard and…
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Failure - B000A-00 Body Control Module Error code - Shift Lever Position not plausible . Safety - This causes the car to upon attempting to turn off the car say "Shift into Park" on the dashboard and the car refuses to turn fully off. This can cause the battery to drain excessively from repeated constant start/stop attempts and leaves the car in an impossible state. You cannot safely leave the car in this state but you have no choice until you get lucky enough to hope an attempt is recognized as parked and shut off normally. This could jeopardize safety in situations you need to turn your car off Official Bulletin Number: GM TSB 23-NA-119 There is no warning prior to failure, and no way to override it

Source: NHTSA complaint ODI #11757048 · view all complaints for this vehicle at nhtsa.gov

Brakes

Minor
1

Most reports here involve sudden stalling.

sudden stalling 1
A recent report: While driving when coming to a stop, my brakes became stiff causing me to almost hit the vehicle in front of me. Also, the car has been stopping while I am driving and on busy roads when I am at a…
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While driving when coming to a stop, my brakes became stiff causing me to almost hit the vehicle in front of me. Also, the car has been stopping while I am driving and on busy roads when I am at a stop light and press the accelerator to proceed, the vehicle just stop and cuts off completely leaving me stranded while trying to restart the vehicle. Also the vehicle has a long crank before it starts. I have been without my vehicle for a month now and it’s very inconvenient due to these issues. It has been to the dealership where they quoted me over 8,000 to fix the problem.

Source: NHTSA complaint ODI #11696003 · view all complaints for this vehicle at nhtsa.gov

Steering, suspension & tires

Minor
1

Most reports here involve other issues.

other issues 1
A recent report: The contact owns a 2021 Chevrolet Malibu equipped with Firestone FT140. The contact stated while driving during the rain while coming out of a complete stop the tires began to spin not gaining…
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The contact owns a 2021 Chevrolet Malibu equipped with Firestone FT140. The contact stated while driving during the rain while coming out of a complete stop the tires began to spin not gaining traction on the road. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 2,000.

Source: NHTSA complaint ODI #11437532 · view all complaints for this vehicle at nhtsa.gov

Airbags & seat belts

Minor
5

Most reports here involve other issues.

other issues 5
A recent report: This vin is most likely affected by the aftermarket DTN inflator wheel airbag. Please let the final owner know of this. This vehicle was sold to Rightway Automotive credit from Tallmadge Ohio on…
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This vin is most likely affected by the aftermarket DTN inflator wheel airbag. Please let the final owner know of this. This vehicle was sold to Rightway Automotive credit from Tallmadge Ohio on October 19, 2022 who then sold it to the current owner.

Source: NHTSA complaint ODI #11732348 · view all complaints for this vehicle at nhtsa.gov

Structure & body

Minor
2

Most reports here involve other issues.

other issues 2
A recent report: THIS WAS A RENTAL CAR, EQUIPPED WITH AN ELECTRONIC KEY FOB AND A STARTER/TURN ENGINE-OFF BUTTON ON THE DASHBOARD. THIS PARTICULAR VEHICLE COULD BE LOCKED REMOTELY FROM OUTSIDE THE VEHICLE, WHILE IT…
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THIS WAS A RENTAL CAR, EQUIPPED WITH AN ELECTRONIC KEY FOB AND A STARTER/TURN ENGINE-OFF BUTTON ON THE DASHBOARD. THIS PARTICULAR VEHICLE COULD BE LOCKED REMOTELY FROM OUTSIDE THE VEHICLE, WHILE IT CONTINUED TO RUN. ADDITIONALLY, IT APPERED THAT AN OCCUPANT OF THE LOCKED VEHICLE WHO DID NOT HAVE AN ELECTRONIC KEYFOB IN HIS POSSESSION COULD NOT OPEN THE DOORS FROM THE INSIDE. THUS, ADULTS OR CHILDREN COULD BE ASPHYXIATED UNDER CERTAIN NOT-TOO-HARD-TO-IMAGINE SITUATIONS.

Source: NHTSA complaint ODI #11414799 · view all complaints for this vehicle at nhtsa.gov

Other systems

Worth reading
3

Most reports here involve software faults. Of these, 1 mention an injury.

software faults 1fire 1
A recent report: Blower motor area caught fire while sitting in the driveway. Car door was opened about 20 minutes prior to my security camera catching smoke billowing from the vehicle

Source: NHTSA complaint ODI #11738610 · view all complaints for this vehicle at nhtsa.gov

Is 88 complaints a lot? They were filed between 2021 and 2026, roughly 16 a year, which is more than the typical model in this dataset. We do not have sales figures for this model, so treat this as a rough volume, not a rate per car on the road. Popular, high-volume models naturally collect more complaints over time.