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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

What owners actually said

270 reports
Mileage unknown · Mar 28, 2020
Engine

RECEIVED A NOTIFICATION ON THE DASH, ENGINE LIGHT. TOOK IT TO GET CHECKED & IT'S THE ROCKER ARM CONTROL VALVE. I'VE BEEN WAITING ON THIS PART SINCE LAST YEAR. I'M NOT ABLE TO USE MY REMOTE STARTER AS A RESULT, & I'M NOT ABLE TO GET A PLATE STICKER BCZ THE CAR WON'T PASS EMISSIONS. I FEEL THIS WILL START TO MESS UP THE ENGINE, & …

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RECEIVED A NOTIFICATION ON THE DASH, ENGINE LIGHT. TOOK IT TO GET CHECKED & IT'S THE ROCKER ARM CONTROL VALVE. I'VE BEEN WAITING ON THIS PART SINCE LAST YEAR. I'M NOT ABLE TO USE MY REMOTE STARTER AS A RESULT, & I'M NOT ABLE TO GET A PLATE STICKER BCZ THE CAR WON'T PASS EMISSIONS. I FEEL THIS WILL START TO MESS UP THE ENGINE, & GM IS SAYING THEY DON'T KNOW WHEN THE PART WILL BE AVAILABLE. I'M READING A LOT OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS SAME ISSUE, & FEEL THERE NEEDS TO BE A RECALL!

NHTSA ODI #11319575

106,000 miles · Mar 24, 2020
Air Bags

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO LIBERTYVILLE CHEVROLET SERVICE LOCATED AT (1001 S MILWAUKEE AVE, LIBERTYVILLE, IL 60048), TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE AIR BAG MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NO…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THE AIR BAG WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO LIBERTYVILLE CHEVROLET SERVICE LOCATED AT (1001 S MILWAUKEE AVE, LIBERTYVILLE, IL 60048), TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE AIR BAG MODULE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT REFERENCED THE FAILURE TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 15V666000 (AIR BAGS). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 106,000.

NHTSA ODI #11319116

50,000 miles · Mar 10, 2020
Engine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNDISCLOSED SPEED, SEVERAL UNKNOWN WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE STARTED TO VIBRATE ABNORMALLY. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WAS CONTACTED AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE ENGINE VARIABLE TIMING CONTROL VALVE NEEDED TO BE REPLA…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNDISCLOSED SPEED, SEVERAL UNKNOWN WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE STARTED TO VIBRATE ABNORMALLY. AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WAS CONTACTED AND THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE ENGINE VARIABLE TIMING CONTROL VALVE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED THAT THE VEHICLE SHOULD NOT BE DRIVEN UNTIL REPAIRED. THE PART WAS ORDERED BUT WAS STILL ON BACK ORDER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER OFFERED $2,500 TOWARDS THE PURCHASE OF A NEW VEHICLE. THE CONTACT DECLINED THE OFFER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,000.

NHTSA ODI #11317198

27,789 miles · Feb 29, 2020
Electrical SystemEngineUnknown Or Other

MY AUTO STOP CAME ON WHILE AT A STOP SIGN AND WHEN I RELEASED THE BRAKE MY CAR SHUT OFF AND WON'T START I TRIED JUMPING CAR IT STILL WON'T WORK. THE TOW COMPANY THAT TOWED MY CAR HAS TOLD ME ABOUT A RECALL ON AUTO STOP

NHTSA ODI #11312286

90,000 miles · Feb 28, 2020
Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)

THIS HAS OCCURRED ON MORE THAN ONE OCCASION BUT MOST RECENTLY IT SCARED ME MOST BECAUSE I WAS IN THE MIDDLE OF A BUSY HIGHWAY ! AS THE CAR CAME TO A STOP IT WHEN INTO POWER SAVE MODE (AUTOMATIC SHUTOFF) HOWEVER ONCE TOOK MY FOOT OFF THE BRAKES IT DIDN'T NOT START THE CAR WENT COMPLETELY DEAD AT THE MIDDLE OFF A BUSY HIGHWAY . I …

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THIS HAS OCCURRED ON MORE THAN ONE OCCASION BUT MOST RECENTLY IT SCARED ME MOST BECAUSE I WAS IN THE MIDDLE OF A BUSY HIGHWAY ! AS THE CAR CAME TO A STOP IT WHEN INTO POWER SAVE MODE (AUTOMATIC SHUTOFF) HOWEVER ONCE TOOK MY FOOT OFF THE BRAKES IT DIDN'T NOT START THE CAR WENT COMPLETELY DEAD AT THE MIDDLE OFF A BUSY HIGHWAY . I TRIED REPEATEDLY TO CRANK BUT IT WOULD NOT START AFTER 3-5 MINS IT'S FINALLY CRANKED UP . NOW I'VE NOTICED THAT IF IN COMING TO A STOP I HAVE TO KEEP THE CAR FROM GOING INTO AUTO SHUTOFF MODE BY LETTING OFF THE BRAKE A LITTLE BEFORE IT ACTUALLY COMES TO A COMPLETE STOP .ALSO I WAS AT THE DRIVE THRU WINDOW OF A RESTAURANT WHEN IT SHUT OFF ON ME THE LAST TIME IT FINALLY GAVE A "SERVICE STABILIZER" MESSAGE LUCKILY I HAD A PORTABLE BOOSTER IN THE TRUNK AND JUST CONNECTED IT TO THE BATTERY AND THE CAR CRANKED RIGHT UP . SO FOR MY SAFETY AND MY CHILDREN'S SAFETY I KEEP THE PORTABLE BOOSTER IN THE TRUNK BECAUSE IDK WHEN IT'LL JUST CUT OFF . ALSO I HAVE USE MY WARRANTY TO HAVE THE CAR SERVICED HOWEVER AFTER GETTING BEATEN OUT OF SO MUCH MONEY FOR DIAGNOSTICS AND BEING TOLD THEY CAN'T FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH THE VEHICLE IDK WHAT ELSE TO DO .IT DOES NOT HAPPEN EVERYDAY BUT IT'S BEGINNING TO HAPPEN MORE FREQUENTLY NOW. ALSO WHEN I PUT THE CAR IN REVERSE IT TAKES A FEW SECONDS FOR THE BACKUP CAMERA TO COME ON .I NOTICED BEFORE I HAD THE MAJOR PROBLEM WITH IT SHUTTING DOWN COMPLETELY A COUPLES TIMES WHEN I WOULD PUT THE CAR IN REVERSE THE RADIO /SCREEN WOULD GO COMPLETELY BLACK AND ONCE I PUT IT BACK INTO DIVE THEN IT WOULD COME BACK ON

NHTSA ODI #11311988

90,345 miles · Feb 24, 2020
Air Bags

AIR BAG LIGHT COME ON MOVING OR SITTING AND SAYS SERVICE AIRBAG.THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG SAYS OFF EVEN WHEN SOMEONE IS SITTING IN IT

NHTSA ODI #11311206

151,000 miles · Feb 23, 2020
Engine

MY CAR WAS DRIVING PERFECTLY FINE. IT HAD JUST PASSED THE ADMISSIONS TEST, AND EVERYTHING WAS FINE. I STARTED DRIVING MY CAR IN THE CITY LIMITS, AND WHILE AT A STOP LIGHT I SMELLED SMOKE. I THOUGHT IT WAS THE CAR BEHIND ME. AS I PULLED INTO A PARKING LOT I REALIZED THAT IT WAS MY CAR THAT WAS SMOKING. UPON LIFTING MY HOOD I …

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MY CAR WAS DRIVING PERFECTLY FINE. IT HAD JUST PASSED THE ADMISSIONS TEST, AND EVERYTHING WAS FINE. I STARTED DRIVING MY CAR IN THE CITY LIMITS, AND WHILE AT A STOP LIGHT I SMELLED SMOKE. I THOUGHT IT WAS THE CAR BEHIND ME. AS I PULLED INTO A PARKING LOT I REALIZED THAT IT WAS MY CAR THAT WAS SMOKING. UPON LIFTING MY HOOD I SEEN OIL EVERYWHERE AND MY ENGINE WAS SMOKING. AN ALERT CAME ACROSS MY SCREEN URGING ME TO DECREASE SPEED AND ADD OIL. AFTER INVESTIGATING IT WAS TOLD TO ME THAT IT IS MY ENGINE VARIABLE TIMING OIL CONTROL VALVE, AND GM IS CURRENTLY NOT MAKING ANYMORE AND THIS PART IS SOLD OUT EVERYWHERE. I NEED THIS PART IN ORDER FOR MY CAR TO RUN!!!!!

NHTSA ODI #11310913

77,000 miles · Feb 22, 2020
Electronic Stability Control (esc)Engine

MY CAR WAS DRIVING FINE THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THE SERVICE STABILI TRACK LIGHT FLASHED ON MY SCREEN AND MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT STARTED FLASHING BUT WENT OFF AFTER ABOUT 1 MINUTE . THE NEXT DAY WHILE ACCELERATING THE CAR STUTTERED AND FELT ALMOST LIKE I WAS DRIVING DOWN A ROAD WITH LITTLE RIVETS . ITS STOPPED AND AGAIN ALL THE LIGHT…

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MY CAR WAS DRIVING FINE THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THE SERVICE STABILI TRACK LIGHT FLASHED ON MY SCREEN AND MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT STARTED FLASHING BUT WENT OFF AFTER ABOUT 1 MINUTE . THE NEXT DAY WHILE ACCELERATING THE CAR STUTTERED AND FELT ALMOST LIKE I WAS DRIVING DOWN A ROAD WITH LITTLE RIVETS . ITS STOPPED AND AGAIN ALL THE LIGHTS DISSAPEARED. THIS MORNING AS SOON AS I STARTED MY CAR THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS ON AND EVERY TIME I ACCELERATE IT STUTTERS AND FEELS AS IF I'M DRIVING DOWN A RIVETED ROAD .

NHTSA ODI #11310683

49,000 miles · Feb 21, 2020
Engine

MY VARIABLE VALVE TIMING SOLENOID WENT OUT ON MY CAR. THE PART NUMBER IS 12633613. IT HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP FOR 10 DAYS AND CHEVY HAS FAILED TO EVEN GIVE THE SHOP AN ETA ON THIS PART. NOT ONE CHEVY DEALER IN THE COUNTRY HAS THE PART. ABSOLUTELY HORRIBLE BUSINESS PRACTICE.

NHTSA ODI #11310558

Mileage unknown · Feb 20, 2020
Unknown Or Other

CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS ON. THE PART I NEED FOR MY CAR NO LONGER AVAILABLE 'OIL CONTROL VALVE' SO THEREFORE I CAN'T EVEN GET A STICKER FOR MY TAG. MY CAR KEEP FAILING EMISSION DUE TO THIS AND THIS IS RIDICULOUS I HAVE TO STILL PAY A CAR NOTE FOR A CAR I CAN'T DRIVE.

NHTSA ODI #11310380

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.