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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

Power Train complaints

31 reports
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100,000 miles · Feb 3, 2020
Power Train

IN SEPT OF 2019, MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON FOR MY 2015 CHEVY MALIBU. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND IT RAN THE CODE P2646, AND THE THEY TOLD ME THAT I NEEDED THE GM PART 12633613. THEY ATTEMPTED TO ORDER IT, BUT SAID IT WAS ON BACKORDER AND HAD BEEN FOR A WHILE AND THEY WOULD LOOK INTO IT FOR ME. HERE IT IS, FEB OF 2020 AND…

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IN SEPT OF 2019, MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON FOR MY 2015 CHEVY MALIBU. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND IT RAN THE CODE P2646, AND THE THEY TOLD ME THAT I NEEDED THE GM PART 12633613. THEY ATTEMPTED TO ORDER IT, BUT SAID IT WAS ON BACKORDER AND HAD BEEN FOR A WHILE AND THEY WOULD LOOK INTO IT FOR ME. HERE IT IS, FEB OF 2020 AND STILL NO PART. GM THAT THE PART HAS BEEN DISCONTINUED AND THERE IS NO ETA FOR A NEW PART. THEY TOLD ME IT WAS OKAY TO DRIVE, BUT IT HAS A ROUGH IDLE, POWER SURGES, IT CAN BARELY ACCELERATE AND IT HAS STALLED ON ME SEVERAL TIMES. THEY KEEP TELLING ME OH IT'S A "PART DELAY". NO, IT'S NOT ! YOU DON'T MAKE THE PART ANYMORE. THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE THE 2014-2015 MALIBU'S & IMPALA'S WITH THE SAME ISSUE. THEY NEED TO ISSUE A RECALL AND FIX THESE CARS. MY CAR IS LESS THAN 5 YEARS OLD & THERE IS NO REASON THAT THEY SHOULDN'T HAVE A VERY SIMPLE, $60 PART FOR IT.

NHTSA ODI #11306732

135,047 miles · Jul 16, 2019
EnginePower TrainVehicle Speed Control

MY 2015 CHEVY MALIBU LTZ ECO, JUST SUDDENLY LOSS POWER WHILE AT A STOP LIGHT. THE AUTO STOP HAD ENGAGED ONCE I CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP. UPON GIVING THE CAR GAS TO TAKE OFF, THE AUTO STOP HAD BEEN DISENGAGE. FOOT ON THE GAS TO GO AND THE VEHICLE JUST SAT THERE FOR A FEW SECONDS THEN IT JUST CAME ALIVE AND TOOK OFF. AT FIRST I WAS…

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MY 2015 CHEVY MALIBU LTZ ECO, JUST SUDDENLY LOSS POWER WHILE AT A STOP LIGHT. THE AUTO STOP HAD ENGAGED ONCE I CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP. UPON GIVING THE CAR GAS TO TAKE OFF, THE AUTO STOP HAD BEEN DISENGAGE. FOOT ON THE GAS TO GO AND THE VEHICLE JUST SAT THERE FOR A FEW SECONDS THEN IT JUST CAME ALIVE AND TOOK OFF. AT FIRST I WAS THINKING IT WAS THE TRANSMISSION ACTING UP. THEN THE COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER HAPPENED.

NHTSA ODI #11232604

15 miles · Jun 28, 2019
Electronic Stability Control (esc)Power TrainService Brakes

TAKATA RECALL THE TRANSMISSION IN THE 2015 CHEVY MALIBU JERKS AT LOW SPEEDS AND AT HIGH SPEEDS IT HOLDS THE GEAR WHEN SLOWING DOWN

NHTSA ODI #11223127

Mileage unknown · Aug 28, 2018
Electrical SystemEnginePower Train

TAKATA RECALL- WHEN I FIRST PURCHASED THE CAR I NOTIED THE VEHICLE WAS HAVING ALOT OF TROUBLE GETTING SPEED, AND IT WAS TAKE A LOT OF TIME TO SHIFT. I IMMEDIETLY RETURNED TO THE DEALERSHIP WITH THE INFORMATION, THE DEALERSHIP CHECK THE PROBLEMS AND SAID NOTHING WAS WRONG WILL THROUGH THE YEARS I HAVE GONE BACK TO THEM MILLIONS …

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TAKATA RECALL- WHEN I FIRST PURCHASED THE CAR I NOTIED THE VEHICLE WAS HAVING ALOT OF TROUBLE GETTING SPEED, AND IT WAS TAKE A LOT OF TIME TO SHIFT. I IMMEDIETLY RETURNED TO THE DEALERSHIP WITH THE INFORMATION, THE DEALERSHIP CHECK THE PROBLEMS AND SAID NOTHING WAS WRONG WILL THROUGH THE YEARS I HAVE GONE BACK TO THEM MILLIONS OF TIMES WITH THE SAME PROBLEM AND NOT ONCE HAS IT BEEN PROPERLY ADDRESSED, THE PREVIOUS SERVICE ADVISOR I WENT TO FOR THE DEALERSHIP STATED I NEEDED A NEW TRANSMISSON/ENGINE BECAUSE THE ONE THE CAR HAS NOW WAS NOT GOOD. THE DEALERSHIP CONTINUTED TO HOLD OFF ON PUTTING A NEW ONE IN UNTIL MY WARRANTY WENT OUT BUT THE CAR HAS NOT BEEN FIXED. THE CAR CURRENTLY GOES UP TO 7-8 RMP AND STAYS THERE FOR A GOOD 3 MINS BEFORE SHIFTING AND AT TIMES DOES NOT WHAT TO ACCELERATE WHICH HAS PUT ME IN SOME DANGEROUS SITUATIONS.

NHTSA ODI #11122885

36,000 miles · Aug 2, 2018
Electrical SystemPower TrainCrashInjury

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 CHEVROLET MALIBU. AFTER ATTEMPTING TO EXIT THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT REMOVED THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION. HOWEVER, THE ENGINE REMAINED ON AND THE VEHICLE ROLLED BACKWARDS AND CRASHED INTO A UTILITY POLE. DURING THE INCIDENT, THE CONTACT WAS DRAGGED BY THE VEHICLE AND SUSTAINED FACIAL INJURIES ALONG WITH …

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 CHEVROLET MALIBU. AFTER ATTEMPTING TO EXIT THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT REMOVED THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION. HOWEVER, THE ENGINE REMAINED ON AND THE VEHICLE ROLLED BACKWARDS AND CRASHED INTO A UTILITY POLE. DURING THE INCIDENT, THE CONTACT WAS DRAGGED BY THE VEHICLE AND SUSTAINED FACIAL INJURIES ALONG WITH ABRASIONS TO THE LEFT ARM. MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS RECEIVED. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE VEHICLE LATER EXPERIENCED DIFFICULTY ACCELERATING AND WOULD NOT IMMEDIATELY RESPOND. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE LOCAL DEALER (BILL ESTES CHEVROLET, 4105 W. 96TH ST., INDIANAPOLIS, IN) AND REPAIRED, BUT THE DIAGNOSIS WAS UNKNOWN. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 36,000.

NHTSA ODI #11115386

61,000 miles · Jul 25, 2018
Electrical SystemPower Train

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND TURNED OFF WITH THE KEY STILL IN THE IGNITION, THE ENGINE INADVERTENTLY STARTED. ALL THE WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED AND THE RADIO ACTIVATED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED SEVERAL TIMES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT IT MIGH…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND TURNED OFF WITH THE KEY STILL IN THE IGNITION, THE ENGINE INADVERTENTLY STARTED. ALL THE WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED AND THE RADIO ACTIVATED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED SEVERAL TIMES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT IT MIGHT HAVE BEEN A POWER TRAIN FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED TO CALL THE DEALER. THE CONTACT CALLED HERRIN-GEAR CHEVROLET (1685 HIGH ST, JACKSON, MS 39202, 601-376-9944) AND WAS INFORMED TO BRING THE VEHICLE IN FOR A CHECK UP. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 61,000.

NHTSA ODI #11113564

30,000 miles · May 17, 2018
Power Train

STARTED CAR AND REDUCED POWER ENGINE WARNING CAME ON FOR THE SECOND TIME. I HAD IT FIXED ONCE ALREADY AND IT JUST CAME ON. I AM VERY DISAPPOINTED WITH CHEVY. I WAS DRIVING IT THE FIRST TIME MY LIGHT CAME ON. THE SECOND TIME I JUST STARTED MY CAR. I WAS ON A CITY STREET FIRST TIME AND CITY STREET SECOND TIME. BOTH TIMES MY CAR WO…

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STARTED CAR AND REDUCED POWER ENGINE WARNING CAME ON FOR THE SECOND TIME. I HAD IT FIXED ONCE ALREADY AND IT JUST CAME ON. I AM VERY DISAPPOINTED WITH CHEVY. I WAS DRIVING IT THE FIRST TIME MY LIGHT CAME ON. THE SECOND TIME I JUST STARTED MY CAR. I WAS ON A CITY STREET FIRST TIME AND CITY STREET SECOND TIME. BOTH TIMES MY CAR WOULDN'T ACCELERATE PASSED 12 MILES PER HOUR SO I WAS A ROLL HAZARD.

NHTSA ODI #11096492

13,000 miles · Jun 2, 2016
Power TrainCrashInjury

THE VEHICLE ROLLED BACKWARDS INJURING OPERATOR AFTER IT WAS PLACED IN PARK. OPERATOR MOVED THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION LEVER FROM DRIVE INTO PARK. THE DOORS UNLOCKED AUTOMATICALLY. KEYS WERE IN THE IGNITION. VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF. OPERATOR EXITED THE VEHICLE. VEHICLE ROLLED BACKWARDS DOWN THE SLIGHT >3% DRIVEWAY. GMC HAS IN…

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THE VEHICLE ROLLED BACKWARDS INJURING OPERATOR AFTER IT WAS PLACED IN PARK. OPERATOR MOVED THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION LEVER FROM DRIVE INTO PARK. THE DOORS UNLOCKED AUTOMATICALLY. KEYS WERE IN THE IGNITION. VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF. OPERATOR EXITED THE VEHICLE. VEHICLE ROLLED BACKWARDS DOWN THE SLIGHT >3% DRIVEWAY. GMC HAS INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND DONE A DOWNLOAD OF THE ECM. THIS VEHICLE IS DANGEROUS BECAUSE IT EITHER DOES NOT FULLY ENGAGE IN PARK BUT RELEASES THE DOOR LOCKS OR IT SPONTANEOUSLY COMES OUT OF PARK OR SOME OTHER FAILURE MECHANISM.

NHTSA ODI #10872164

1,500 miles · Jul 22, 2015
Power Train

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING ON AN INCLINE AT APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH, THE BRAKES WERE DEPRESSED AND THE AUTO STOP ENGAGED. WHEN THE BRAKE WAS DISENGAGED, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO RESTART IN A TIMELY MANNER AND THE VEHICLE ROLLED IN REVERSE DOWN A HILL WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO AVOID A CRAS…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING ON AN INCLINE AT APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH, THE BRAKES WERE DEPRESSED AND THE AUTO STOP ENGAGED. WHEN THE BRAKE WAS DISENGAGED, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO RESTART IN A TIMELY MANNER AND THE VEHICLE ROLLED IN REVERSE DOWN A HILL WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO AVOID A CRASH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER, WHERE THE TECHNICIAN INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OPERATING AS DESIGNED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1,500.

NHTSA ODI #10735786

Mileage unknown · Feb 11, 2015
Power Train

2015 CHEVROLET MALIBU. CONSUMER REQUESTS REIMBURSEMENT FOR ENTIRE AMOUNT OF CAR. *TA THE CONSUMER STATED AS SHE DROVE AWAY FROM THE DEALER, THE VEHICLE EXHIBITED SOME SLIGHT HESITATION, AND WHEN STOPPED AT THE VERY FIRST STOP LIGHT, THE IDLING OF THE VEHICLE WAS COMPLETELY SILENT, AS IF THE ENGINE WAS OFF. SIX DAYS LATER WHILE …

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2015 CHEVROLET MALIBU. CONSUMER REQUESTS REIMBURSEMENT FOR ENTIRE AMOUNT OF CAR. *TA THE CONSUMER STATED AS SHE DROVE AWAY FROM THE DEALER, THE VEHICLE EXHIBITED SOME SLIGHT HESITATION, AND WHEN STOPPED AT THE VERY FIRST STOP LIGHT, THE IDLING OF THE VEHICLE WAS COMPLETELY SILENT, AS IF THE ENGINE WAS OFF. SIX DAYS LATER WHILE BACKING INTO THE DRIVEWAY, THE INTERIOR DASHBOARD LIGHTING FEATURES FOR THE PICTURED REAR VISION AND OTHER LIGHTING IN THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF; AND THE BACK-UP CAMERA NEVER CAME ON. SHE SHIFTED THE GEAR INTO THE DRIVE POSITION, BUT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT MOVE FORWARD, BUT ONLY MOVED BACKWARDS. WHEN THE CONSUMER SHIFTED TO VARIOUS GEARS, THE SYSTEM WOULD ONLY HESITATE AS IF ATTEMPTING TO MOVE. *JB

NHTSA ODI #10663903

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.