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2015 Chevrolet Malibu

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2015 Chevrolet Malibu do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 310.5.

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

160 reports with mileage · 110 unknown

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Engine. Review the 70 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 68 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Air Bags. Review the 49 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

18 crash reports9 fire reports10 injury reports

Engine complaints

70 reports
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62,000 miles · Jun 21, 2018
Electrical SystemEngineUnknown Or Other

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE I STOPPED AT A STOP LIGHT AND THE CAR TURNED OFF DUE TO THE AUTO START/STOP WHEN IDLING. WHEN I LET OFF THE BRAKE, THE CAR DID NOT TURN BACK ON. AFTER ATTEMPTING TO START THE CAR AGAIN NUMEROUS TIMES IT WOULD NOT. ALL ELECTRICAL STAYED ON AT THIS POINT. CAR WAS TOWED TO A CHEVY DEALER IN FENTON, MI AND …

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WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE I STOPPED AT A STOP LIGHT AND THE CAR TURNED OFF DUE TO THE AUTO START/STOP WHEN IDLING. WHEN I LET OFF THE BRAKE, THE CAR DID NOT TURN BACK ON. AFTER ATTEMPTING TO START THE CAR AGAIN NUMEROUS TIMES IT WOULD NOT. ALL ELECTRICAL STAYED ON AT THIS POINT. CAR WAS TOWED TO A CHEVY DEALER IN FENTON, MI AND THEY REPLACED BATTERY AND BATTERY CURRENT SENSOR. LATER I TURNED THE CAR OFF AND THE RADIO AND SCREEN STAYED ON EVEN AFTER CLOSING AND OPENING THE DOOR. THEN MY CAR WAS IDLING AT A STOP LIGHT TODAY AND IT AUTO TURNED OFF AS WHEN I LET OFF BRAKE IT DID NOT TURN BACK ON. ALL ELECTRICAL STAYED ON. THIS TIME I WAS ABLE TO START THE CAR BACK UP BUT THERE'S NO TELLING WHEN THIS WILL HAPPEN AGAIN. VERY DISSATISFIED WITH THIS VEHICLE.

NHTSA ODI #11102947

59,000 miles · Jun 14, 2018
Electrical SystemEngineUnknown Or Other

MY CAR HAS BEGUN DYING IN MOTION ON CITY STREETS FOR NO PARTICULAR REASON ON TOP OF THE FUEL ECONOMY NOT WORKING CORRECTLY AND CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO RUN OUT OF GAS WITHIN A FEW DAYS OF FILLING IT UP. IT WILL SAY 195 MILES THEN JUMP TO 207 ON THE FUEL RANGE.

NHTSA ODI #11101919

44,000 miles · Jun 6, 2018
Engine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS IN ECO-BOOST MODE, THE AUTO STOP FUNCTION FAILED. ALSO, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO CLASSIC CHEVY SUGAR LAND (13115 SOUTHWEST FWY, SUGAR LAND, TX 77478, (281) 969-4132) AND WAS I…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS IN ECO-BOOST MODE, THE AUTO STOP FUNCTION FAILED. ALSO, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO CLASSIC CHEVY SUGAR LAND (13115 SOUTHWEST FWY, SUGAR LAND, TX 77478, (281) 969-4132) AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE COULD NOT BE REPAIRED BECAUSE THE MANUFACTURER WAS UNSURE OF THE ORIGIN OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 44,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI #11100208

38,700 miles · Mar 17, 2018
Electrical SystemEngine

THIS WAS 3RD TIME I TOOK THE CAR INTO THE DEALER BECAUSE THE SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT APPEARS RANDOMLY AND THE IGNITION FAILS TO TURN ON. I HAVE TO TURN THE KEY A FEW TIMES TO GET IT STARTED. MY CAR WAS SEEN THURS, WAS TOLD NO ISSUE WAS FOUND AND MANAGER WOULD DRIVE CAR HOME IN EVENING TO TEST. CALLED TODAY, FRIDAY IN AFTER…

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THIS WAS 3RD TIME I TOOK THE CAR INTO THE DEALER BECAUSE THE SERVICE ENGINE SOON LIGHT APPEARS RANDOMLY AND THE IGNITION FAILS TO TURN ON. I HAVE TO TURN THE KEY A FEW TIMES TO GET IT STARTED. MY CAR WAS SEEN THURS, WAS TOLD NO ISSUE WAS FOUND AND MANAGER WOULD DRIVE CAR HOME IN EVENING TO TEST. CALLED TODAY, FRIDAY IN AFTERNOON SINCE I DIDNT GET A CALL, WAS TOLD IT WAS THE BATTERY. HAD TO PAY $260 FOR BATTERY. THE PAST TWO OTHER VISITS, I WAS TOLD BATTERY WAS GOOD AND NOW ITS BAD...WAS JUST LEAVING THE DEALER, I STOPPED AT FIRST LIGHT AND NOTICE THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS ON! RETURNED BACK TO DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT IT WAS SOMETHING ELSE. NOTHING TO DO WITH BATTERY YET ACCORDING TO THEM, THEY SAID IT WAS BECAUSE OF THE BATTERY. MY CAR WAS LEFT FOR THE 4TH TIME IN DEALERSHIP SO THEY CAN LOOK AT IT. A CODE APPEARED AND TECH TOLD ME IT HAD TO DO WITH THE AUTO STOP! THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON SINCE END OF JAN!! PLEASE INVESTIGATE. I HAVE SEEN A LOT OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS ISSUE.. I AM THE ORIGINAL OWNER. I BOUGHT CAR OCT 2015. I DONT UNDERSTAND HOW THE BATTERY HAD BAD CELLS ALL OF A SUDDEN.

NHTSA ODI #11079889

Mileage unknown · Apr 8, 2017
Electrical SystemEngineFuel/propulsion System

A CAR CAN NOT HAVE TWO BATTERIES CONNECTED TO THE ENGINE AT THE SAME TIME AND BE STREET LEGAL. THAIS CAR HAS THAT AND THEY ARE MISMATCHED BATTERIES AS WELL. MY CAR WAS STOLEN BY TOM LEHOUSKY. HE SOLD IT AT TROPICAL CHEVROLET FOR $15,000 AND KEPT THE MONEY.

NHTSA ODI #10971432

20,534 miles · Jan 12, 2017
EngineVehicle Speed Control

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED WITHOUT WARNING. ALSO, THE RPMS INCREASED WHETHER THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED OR IN DRIVE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 20,534.

NHTSA ODI #10944578

4,104 miles · Mar 30, 2016
Engine

AFTER FOUR MONTHS OF OWNERSHIP MY ENGINE STARTED KNOCKING. I TOOK IT IN, THEY SAID IT WAS A BALANCER SHAFT ASSEMBLY WITH TIMING CHAIN AND SPROCKET. THE SOUND IS STILL THERE BUT THE DEALERSHIP STARTED THE WORK IS DONE AND REFUSES TO TOUCH IT. THE NOISE IS EXTREMELY ANNOYING BUT DOES NOT AFFECT RUNNING. I AM OF COURSE WORRIED THE…

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AFTER FOUR MONTHS OF OWNERSHIP MY ENGINE STARTED KNOCKING. I TOOK IT IN, THEY SAID IT WAS A BALANCER SHAFT ASSEMBLY WITH TIMING CHAIN AND SPROCKET. THE SOUND IS STILL THERE BUT THE DEALERSHIP STARTED THE WORK IS DONE AND REFUSES TO TOUCH IT. THE NOISE IS EXTREMELY ANNOYING BUT DOES NOT AFFECT RUNNING. I AM OF COURSE WORRIED THE ENGINE MAY DIE, BUT WITH THE REFUSAL TO DO ANYTHING I DON'T WANT TO VOID THE REST OF THE WARRANTY.

NHTSA ODI #10852598

370 miles · Jul 28, 2015
EngineUnknown Or Other

ON MAY 28, MY HUSBAND AND I NOTICED THESE FUMES IN THE CAR, BUT WE DIDN'T KNOW WHERE THEY WERE COMING FROM. WHEN WE OPENED THE CAR TRUNK, WE FOUND THAT THE TIRE SEALANT IN THE COMPRESSOR KIT WAS LEAKING ON IT'S OWN. HE BROUGHT THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP'S AUTO SHOP AND THE COMPRESSOR KIT WAS REPLACED. ON JULY 19, THE CHECK ENGI…

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ON MAY 28, MY HUSBAND AND I NOTICED THESE FUMES IN THE CAR, BUT WE DIDN'T KNOW WHERE THEY WERE COMING FROM. WHEN WE OPENED THE CAR TRUNK, WE FOUND THAT THE TIRE SEALANT IN THE COMPRESSOR KIT WAS LEAKING ON IT'S OWN. HE BROUGHT THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP'S AUTO SHOP AND THE COMPRESSOR KIT WAS REPLACED. ON JULY 19, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. I BROUGHT THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP'S REPAIR SHOP, AGAIN. I WAS TOLD THAT THE COMPUTER MODULE THAT CONTROLS THE ENGINE WASN'T WORKING RIGHT AND IT HAD TO BE REPROGRAMMED BY UPDATING IT. THEY WERE VERY VAGUE IN EXPLAINING THE PROBLEM. MY HUSBAND CALLED THE REPAIR SHOP ON JULY 28 AND ASKED THEM TO EXPLAIN WHAT WAS WRONG WITH THE CAR. THEY STILL DIDN'T EXPLAIN THE PROBLEM VERY WELL AND THEY SAID THAT THEY ALREADY TOLD HIS WIFE. THE STATEMENT THAT THE THE REPAIR SHOP GAVE US SAYS "CUSTOMER STATES THAT CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS ON, VERIFIED CONCERN SCAN CODE P2096, AS PER TSB PI409 PERFORM ECM RE PROGRAM CLEAR CODES / RECHECKED SYSTEM ALL AT SPECS." THE MILEAGE AT THAT TIME WAS 2470.

NHTSA ODI #10744417

4,757 miles · Nov 25, 2014
Engine

DRIVING DOWN I-65 SOUTH IN NASHVILLE TN MIDDLE LANE WITH NO COMPROMISING ROAD CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, I GOT A WARNING ABOUT THE STABILITRAC SYSTEM AND THEN WITHIN 25-30 SECONDS THE ENGINE SHUT DOWN COMPLETELY. I WAS NEARLY REARENDED BY NUMEROUS VEHICLES AS THIS IS A VERY BUSY INTERSTATE. I WAS FINALLY ABLE TO RESTART THE CAR -I…

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DRIVING DOWN I-65 SOUTH IN NASHVILLE TN MIDDLE LANE WITH NO COMPROMISING ROAD CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, I GOT A WARNING ABOUT THE STABILITRAC SYSTEM AND THEN WITHIN 25-30 SECONDS THE ENGINE SHUT DOWN COMPLETELY. I WAS NEARLY REARENDED BY NUMEROUS VEHICLES AS THIS IS A VERY BUSY INTERSTATE. I WAS FINALLY ABLE TO RESTART THE CAR -IT WOULD NOT GO OVER 25 MPH AND GET TO THE SHOULDER. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10660997

4,000 miles · Nov 13, 2014
Electronic Stability Control (esc)Engine

I HAVE BEEN HAVING NUMEROUS PROBLEMS WITH A PAUSE IN THE ENGINE WHEN I'M SPEEDING UP ONTO A HIGHWAY OR TO PASS ON THE HIGHWAY . IT'S MOST DANGEROUS WHEN I ENTER THE HIGHWAY. THE CAR INSTEAD OF JUST SPEEDING UP HAS BEEN KNOWN TO PAUSE.. AND THEN SPEED UP. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS BECAUSE IT'S HARD TO DETERMINE WHEN THE CAR IS GO…

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I HAVE BEEN HAVING NUMEROUS PROBLEMS WITH A PAUSE IN THE ENGINE WHEN I'M SPEEDING UP ONTO A HIGHWAY OR TO PASS ON THE HIGHWAY . IT'S MOST DANGEROUS WHEN I ENTER THE HIGHWAY. THE CAR INSTEAD OF JUST SPEEDING UP HAS BEEN KNOWN TO PAUSE.. AND THEN SPEED UP. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS BECAUSE IT'S HARD TO DETERMINE WHEN THE CAR IS GOING TO "PAUSE" . I WAS ALMOST IN AN ACCIDENT BECAUSE I HAD ENOUGH TIME TO ENTER THE HIGHWAY AND THE CAR DECIDED TO "PAUSE " AND THEN GO BUT THAT SLIGHT PAUSE EFFECTS THE TIMING OF ENTERING TRAFFIC . ALSO, I AM NEAR A HIGHWAY WITH A LOT OF CONSTRUCTION. THE ROADS BECOME UNEVEN IN PARTS WITHOUT WARNING. I HAVE TO KEEP BOTH MY HANDS TIGHTLY SECURED TO THE WHEEL OR THE CAR TRIES PULLING YOU. FOR INSTANCE : I WAS DRIVING STRAIGHT AND THERE WAS A SLIGHT CHANGE IN UNEVEN PAVEMENT AND MY CAR SEEMED LIKE IT WAS TRYING TO EVEN OUT THE WEIGHT OF THE CAR AND IT TRIED PULLING ME LEFT AND WHEN I WENT TO STRAIGHTEN OUT MY CAR BECOME UNCONTROLLABLE AND THANK GOD THERE WASN'T SOMEBODY IN THE RIGHT LANE BECAUSE IT PULLED ME ALL OVER THE HIGHWAY AND I COULDN'T CONTROL IT . TO BE HONEST I HAVE HAD ABOUT 6 CARS AND NEVER HAVE I FELT SO UNSAFE. ALSO MY CAR IS AN ECO CAR- IT TURNS OFF AT LIGHTS.. SOMETIMES IT SHAKES WHEN IT TURNS BCK ON AND ALSO IT LAGS TO MOVE ONCE IT DOES COME BACK ON. MY DEALERSHIP SAID THEY FOUND A DEFECT IN IT AND GM WILL "FIND A SOLUTION IN 45 DAYS" .. I HAVEN'T SEEN ANY OTHER REVIEWS ABOUT THIS? *TR

NHTSA ODI #10654784

Official recalls

3

16V502000 · Electrical System:ignition; Power Train:automatic Transmission:control Module (tcm/pcm/tecm)

Jul 5, 2016

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."

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: If the key is removed without the transmission in PARK, the vehicle may rollaway as occupants are exiting, increasing the risk of injury.

Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and if necessary replace the key cylinder lock housing, free of charge. The recall began on October 14, 2016. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, Buick 1-800-521-7300, and GMC 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is 50490 and 50491.

Additional source detail variants (2)

Electrical System:ignition

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."

Consequence: If the key is removed without the transmission in PARK, the vehicle may rollaway as occupants are exiting, increasing the risk of injury.

Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and if necessary replace the key cylinder lock housing, free of charge. The recall began on October 14, 2016. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, Buick 1-800-521-7300, and GMC 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is 50490 and 50491.

Power Train:automatic Transmission:control Module (tcm/pcm/tecm)

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."

Consequence: If the key is removed without the transmission in PARK, the vehicle may rollaway as occupants are exiting, increasing the risk of injury.

Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and if necessary replace the key cylinder lock housing, free of charge. The recall began on October 14, 2016. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, Buick 1-800-521-7300, and GMC 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is 50490 and 50491.

15V666000 · Air Bags:side/window

Oct 16, 2015

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.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of one or both of the side impact air bags, the air bag's inflator may rupture and the air bag may not properly inflate. The rupture could cause metal fragments to strike the vehicle occupants, potentially resulting in serious injury or death. Additionally, if the air bag does not properly inflate, the driver or passenger is at an increased risk of injury.

Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the side impact air bag modules, free of charge. The recall began on October 19, 2015. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006, or GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is 01320.

15V164000 · Visibility:sun/moon Roof Assembly

Mar 23, 2015

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."

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: The Slide or Tilt roof panel switch may inadvertently be pressed and the roof panel may auto-close unexpectedly, increasing the risk of a pinch injury.

Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will update the Body Control Module (BCM) software to remove auto-close feature for certain switch positions, free of charge. The recall began April 21, 2015. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is 15176.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.