IllustrationHeadlight lowbeams going bad every 4 or so months. Always divers side first. My electrical auto guy said he couldn't locate a problem with the bulb being burnt out.
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.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Malibu years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
410–25K
3825–50K
2450–75K
2575–100K
23100–150K
9150K+
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
Exterior Lighting complaints
4 reportsI HAVE TAKEN THE CAR TO NUMEROUS SHOPS TO GET THE MATTER FIXED BUT NO CODE SHOWS UP WHEN BEING TESTED FOR AND BLOWN FUSES. THE COMPLETE RIGHT TURN SING ALL AND HEAD LAMPS GOUTS OUT WHEN I USE IT TO TURN RIGHT. EVERYTHING GOES COMPLETELY BLACK AS I AM DRIVING THE CAR. REALLY AM AFRAID TO DRIVE CAR AT NIGHT. CAN YOU TELL ME WHAT C…
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I HAVE TAKEN THE CAR TO NUMEROUS SHOPS TO GET THE MATTER FIXED BUT NO CODE SHOWS UP WHEN BEING TESTED FOR AND BLOWN FUSES. THE COMPLETE RIGHT TURN SING ALL AND HEAD LAMPS GOUTS OUT WHEN I USE IT TO TURN RIGHT. EVERYTHING GOES COMPLETELY BLACK AS I AM DRIVING THE CAR. REALLY AM AFRAID TO DRIVE CAR AT NIGHT. CAN YOU TELL ME WHAT COULD BE WRONG?
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE PARKED AND EXITING THE VEHICLE WITH THE KEY DISENGAGED, THE INTERIOR LIGHTING AND RADIO REMAINED ON. ALSO, WHEN THE KEY WAS ENGAGED IN THE IGNITION, THE VEHICLE WOULD FAIL TO START. THE CONTACT WOULD SOMETIMES HAVE TO MAKE SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO START THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURES OC…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE PARKED AND EXITING THE VEHICLE WITH THE KEY DISENGAGED, THE INTERIOR LIGHTING AND RADIO REMAINED ON. ALSO, WHEN THE KEY WAS ENGAGED IN THE IGNITION, THE VEHICLE WOULD FAIL TO START. THE CONTACT WOULD SOMETIMES HAVE TO MAKE SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO START THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURES OCCURRED ON SEVERAL DIFFERENT OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER, BUT THE FAILURES COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 6,000. ..UPDATED 06/08/17 *BF
I HAVE FELT FROM THE BEGINNING THAT THIS CAR HAD POOR HEADLIGHTS. SINCE PURCHASING THIS CAR I HAVE AVOIDED DRIVING IT AT NIGHT BECAUSE THE HEADLIGHTS ARE NOT SUFFICIENT FOR ME TO DRIVE SAFELY AT NIGHT. I HAVE COMMENTED AS TO THIS CONDITION TO MY DEALER AND HAD THE HEADLIGHTS ADJUSTED AND THAT MAY HAVE IMPROVED THE SITUATION SOM…
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I HAVE FELT FROM THE BEGINNING THAT THIS CAR HAD POOR HEADLIGHTS. SINCE PURCHASING THIS CAR I HAVE AVOIDED DRIVING IT AT NIGHT BECAUSE THE HEADLIGHTS ARE NOT SUFFICIENT FOR ME TO DRIVE SAFELY AT NIGHT. I HAVE COMMENTED AS TO THIS CONDITION TO MY DEALER AND HAD THE HEADLIGHTS ADJUSTED AND THAT MAY HAVE IMPROVED THE SITUATION SOME. I HAVE A GMC PICKUP THAT I DRIVE AT NIGHT. IIHS HAS RATED THIS CARS LIGHTING AS POOR. IS THERE OR WILL THERE BE A RETROFIT TO MAKE THIS CAR SAFE??? I AM CONSIDERING TRADING FOR A DIFFERENT MODEL, THAT IS HOW SERIOUS THIS HEADLIGHT DEFICIENCY IS.
Official recalls
316V502000 · 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
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.