IllustrationEVERY TIME IT RAINS OR I WASH THE CAR, WATER LEAKS INTO MY TRUNK. I'VE BEEN TOLD IT WAS DUE TO THE ANTENNA SEAL AND I HAVE HEARD THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THESE CARS, BUT I HAVENT SEEN ANYWHERE THAT THERE HAS BEEN A RECALL.
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
What owners actually said
270 reportsAIR BAG CAME ON ALL AT ONCE ABOUT A MOUNTH AGO I PUT IN SHOP TO FIX . SHOP SAID IT WAS FIX THEY REPROGRAMED THE AIR BAG THEY SAY. ONE WEEK LATER WAS BACK ON . TOOK BACK TO SHOP SHOP SAY NEED A NEW COMPUTER. WAS" 700.00 TO FIX IT.
I WAS AT A RED LIGHT ON A MAJOR HIGHWAY NO WARNING WHAT SO EVER. LIGHT TURNED GREEN TOOK FOOT OFF BRAKE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON THEN CAR COMPLETELY SHUT OFF. HAD POWER BUT I GUESS NOT ENOUGH TO TURN ON THE HAZARD LIGHTS. ALMOST GOT HIT IN THE REAR BECAUSE THEY THOUGHT I WAS GETTING READY TO MOVE BECAUSE THERE WHERE NO LIGHTS …
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I WAS AT A RED LIGHT ON A MAJOR HIGHWAY NO WARNING WHAT SO EVER. LIGHT TURNED GREEN TOOK FOOT OFF BRAKE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON THEN CAR COMPLETELY SHUT OFF. HAD POWER BUT I GUESS NOT ENOUGH TO TURN ON THE HAZARD LIGHTS. ALMOST GOT HIT IN THE REAR BECAUSE THEY THOUGHT I WAS GETTING READY TO MOVE BECAUSE THERE WHERE NO LIGHTS ON IN THE REAR. HAD TO PUSH IT OFF TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD THAT WAS HARD DUE TO THERE WAS NO POWER STEERING AT ALL. GOT MY SON TO COME GET ME BUT FIRST WE WANTED TO SEE IF THE CAR WOULD START WITH A JUMP START AND IT DID BUT CALLED FOR A TOW TRUCK BECAUSE I WAS SCARED IT WAS GOING TO SHUT OFF AGAIN. THERE WAS NO WARNING OR EVEN WARNING SIGNS PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT. BESIDE THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMING ON RIGHT BEFORE THE CAR SHUT OFF THAT WAS NOT A VERY GOOD WARNING. SO I BOUGHT A BATTERY FOR THE CAR AND EVERYTHING HAS BEEN FINE. I REALLY THINK THAT PUT ME IN A DANGEROUS SITUATION NOT BEING ABLE TO PUT MY HAZARD LIGHTS ON BEING ON A MAJOR HIGHWAY AND TRYING TO PUSH IT TO THE SIDE WITH NO POWER STEERING.
MY REAR DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR WOULD NOT STAY CLOSED AND OPENED WHILE DRIVING. I FINALLY GOT IT TO STAY SHUT BUT NOW IT WILL NOT OPEN. OUTSIDE HANDLE PULLS EASILY BUT THE INSIDE HANDLE DOES NOT
MODEL: 2015 CHEVY MALIBU/ 80000 MILES WHILE DRIVING THE CAR (IN HIGHWAY) IT STOPPED ALL OF A SUDDEN. IF I STOP AT A RED LIGHT THE ENGINE COMPLETELY SHUTS DOWN AND THEN I HAVE TO PUT IT ON PARKING/NEUTRAL AND RESTART THE CAR AGAIN. MY CONCERN IS IF IT SUDDENLY STOPS WHILE I AM DRIVING IT, I MAY GET HIT FROM BEHIND AND GET SERI…
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MODEL: 2015 CHEVY MALIBU/ 80000 MILES WHILE DRIVING THE CAR (IN HIGHWAY) IT STOPPED ALL OF A SUDDEN. IF I STOP AT A RED LIGHT THE ENGINE COMPLETELY SHUTS DOWN AND THEN I HAVE TO PUT IT ON PARKING/NEUTRAL AND RESTART THE CAR AGAIN. MY CONCERN IS IF IT SUDDENLY STOPS WHILE I AM DRIVING IT, I MAY GET HIT FROM BEHIND AND GET SERIOUSLY INJURED (ALMOST GOT HIT THE OTHER DAY). WHILE I WAS HAVING THE ISSUES, "SERVICE STABILITRAK" SIGN APPEARS ON THE DASH.
I HAVE TAKEN MY CAR TO 2 DIFFERENT MECHANIC SHOPS TO TRY AND FIND THE ISSUE THAT I AM HAVING WITH ACCELERATION. THE CAR IS NOT ACCELERATING AND NO ONE KNOWS WHAT THE PROBLEM IS. IT IS CURRENTLY WITH BECK CHEVY AND I AM NOW AT THE $700 MARK AND MY CAR HAS YET TO BE FIXED. WHEN DRIVING THE CAR WILL JUST STOP ACCELERATING AND I HAV…
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I HAVE TAKEN MY CAR TO 2 DIFFERENT MECHANIC SHOPS TO TRY AND FIND THE ISSUE THAT I AM HAVING WITH ACCELERATION. THE CAR IS NOT ACCELERATING AND NO ONE KNOWS WHAT THE PROBLEM IS. IT IS CURRENTLY WITH BECK CHEVY AND I AM NOW AT THE $700 MARK AND MY CAR HAS YET TO BE FIXED. WHEN DRIVING THE CAR WILL JUST STOP ACCELERATING AND I HAVE BEEN STUCK IN THE MIDDLE OF A BUSY HIGHWAY TWICE.
STEERING OPERATION AT LOW SPEEDS MAKES CLICKING NOISE, BOTH IN FORWARD AND REVERSE, SOUNDS LIKE IT IS COMING FROM UNDER THE DASH. STEERING STILL OPERATES NORMALLY.
THE CAR STALLS OUT WHILE IN TRAFFIC AND/OR IMMEDIATELY REDUCE SPEED FLASHING-ENGINE REDUCE CODE ON THE DASH, MINES IN PARTICULAR HAS FLASHED SERVICE TRACTION AND REDUCE ENGINE POWER ON THE DASH, DIAGNOSTIC TESTING IS NOT GIVING ANY CODES FOR A SPECIFIC REASON FOR THIS ISSUE, SEEM TO BE SOMETHING UP WITH THE SENSORS AND ELECTRICA…
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THE CAR STALLS OUT WHILE IN TRAFFIC AND/OR IMMEDIATELY REDUCE SPEED FLASHING-ENGINE REDUCE CODE ON THE DASH, MINES IN PARTICULAR HAS FLASHED SERVICE TRACTION AND REDUCE ENGINE POWER ON THE DASH, DIAGNOSTIC TESTING IS NOT GIVING ANY CODES FOR A SPECIFIC REASON FOR THIS ISSUE, SEEM TO BE SOMETHING UP WITH THE SENSORS AND ELECTRICAL SYSTEM ON THIS CAR- CAUSING MULTIPLE ISSUES TO HAPPEN ALL AT ONE TIME. CHEVY DEALER NOT VERY HELP- SUGGESTING TO FIX RANDOM PARTS AND THE ISSUE CONTINUES. DECIDED NOT TO DRIVE ON THE HIGHWAY, BUT DID DRIVE ON A BUSY STREET IN BALTIMORE COUNTY.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING WHILE AT A STOP LIGHT. THE CONTACT RAISED THE HOOD AND JIGGLED SOME UNKNOWN WIRES AND THE VEHICLE RESTARTED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURRED THE FIRST TIME, IT WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE AN …
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING WHILE AT A STOP LIGHT. THE CONTACT RAISED THE HOOD AND JIGGLED SOME UNKNOWN WIRES AND THE VEHICLE RESTARTED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURRED THE FIRST TIME, IT WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE AN UNKNOWN SENSOR, ALTERNATOR, THE BATTERY, AND THE BATTERY CABLES WERE REPLACED HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT YET TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 55,000.
CAR HAS 23,800 MILES ON IT AND THE SERVICE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT HAS COME UP ON THE DASHBOARD AND DOESN'T GO OFF. DIAGNOSTIC IS NOT PULLING ANY CODE. MONTHLY DIAGNOSTIC REPORT FROM GM SAYS THERE IS NO PROBLEM. HAVE SEEN OTHER COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS ISSUE.
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.