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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.

About this comparison →

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
54,000 miles · Feb 2, 2018
Electrical System

MY VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY. I WENT TO DEFROST MY WINDSHIELD AND THE ELECTRICAL SWITCH TO TURN ON THE HEAT WOULD NOT TURN ON. THIS HAS ALSO OCCURRED WHEN IT IS REALLY HOT OUTSIDE AND THE A/C WILL NOT TURN ON. I HAVE HAD THESE ISSUES OCCUR MULTIPLE OF TIMES IN HOT AND NOW COLD WEATHER.

NHTSA ODI #11066616

Mileage unknown · Jan 6, 2018
Air Bags

WHILE DRIVING MY CAR ON CITY STREET MY AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON AND A TOOL PART WAS ON DISPLAY

NHTSA ODI #11060862

170,000 miles · Dec 27, 2017
Unknown Or Other

I WAS DRIVING ON MY WAS TO SAN JOSE ON ISABEL AVE ON HIGHWAY 84 AND MY CAR JUST SHOUT DOWN WIITHOUT ANY WARNING SIGN IT WAS THE SCARIEST TIME GOOD THING I DIDNT HAVE MY KIDS WITH ME. I WAS NOT ABLE TO TURN ON MY CAR AGAIN AND THE OFFICER HAD TO PUSH ME TO A CLOSE BY SHOULDER BECUASE WHERE THE CAR STOP THERE WAS NO SHOULDER AND …

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I WAS DRIVING ON MY WAS TO SAN JOSE ON ISABEL AVE ON HIGHWAY 84 AND MY CAR JUST SHOUT DOWN WIITHOUT ANY WARNING SIGN IT WAS THE SCARIEST TIME GOOD THING I DIDNT HAVE MY KIDS WITH ME. I WAS NOT ABLE TO TURN ON MY CAR AGAIN AND THE OFFICER HAD TO PUSH ME TO A CLOSE BY SHOULDER BECUASE WHERE THE CAR STOP THERE WAS NO SHOULDER AND IT WAS A ONE WAY TRAFFIC SO I WAS BLOCKING TRAFFIC AND IT WAS IN A CURVE SO I COULD OF GET HIT ON THE BACK I HAD TO CALL AAA TO HELP ME TOW MY CAR NOW I CANT EVEN TURN IT ON

NHTSA ODI #11056783

18,000 miles · Nov 3, 2017
Electrical SystemUnknown Or OtherFire

VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH ON A CITY STREET WHEN SMOKE STARTED AND FIRE BROKE OUT BURNING VEHICLE TO GROUND.

NHTSA ODI #11042956

300 miles · Oct 24, 2017
SeatsUnknown Or Other

TAKATA RECALL PASSENGER SEAT WILL NOT GO FORWARD OR BACKWARD AND WHEN I GOT THE CAR I WAS SMELLING CO2 CARBON DIOXIDE WITH THE CAR MOVING.

NHTSA ODI #11036076

44,000 miles · Oct 13, 2017
Air Bags

SERVICE AIR BAG AND LIGHT CAME ON TOOK IT TO A GM DEALER THEY TOLD ME THAT WITH THE MILES IT HAD 44,000 IT WAS NOT COVERED UNDER WARANITY AND I WOULD HAVE TO PAY TO HAVE IT CHECKED AND REPAIRED AND I TOLD THEM THIS IS NOT RITE AND I SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PAY FOR SOMETHING LIKE THIS I DID FIND OUT THAT THEY HAVE BEEN A LOT OF THE SE…

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SERVICE AIR BAG AND LIGHT CAME ON TOOK IT TO A GM DEALER THEY TOLD ME THAT WITH THE MILES IT HAD 44,000 IT WAS NOT COVERED UNDER WARANITY AND I WOULD HAVE TO PAY TO HAVE IT CHECKED AND REPAIRED AND I TOLD THEM THIS IS NOT RITE AND I SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PAY FOR SOMETHING LIKE THIS I DID FIND OUT THAT THEY HAVE BEEN A LOT OF THE SENSORS UNDER THE HOOD BEING REPLACED BECAUSE WATER WAS GETTING IN THEM IF SO I BELIVE THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL FROM GM AND IT SHOULD BE TAKEING CARE OF THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND SHOULD BE LOOKED INTO THEY WANT TO CHARGE FOR SOMETHING THEY KNOW THAT IS DEFECTIVE IS SO WRONG

NHTSA ODI #11033182

58,000 miles · Oct 9, 2017
Service Brakes

STABILIZER TRACKING AND ABS LIGHT JUST CAME ON MY CAR YESTERDAY FOR NO REASON, I DON'T SENT ANY DIFFERENT IN HOW ITS BREAKING. I HAVE ABOUT 58000 MILES ON IT, THIS ALL SHOW UP COMING HOME AFTER DRIVING 20 MILES.

NHTSA ODI #11032339

26,000 miles · Oct 5, 2017
Air Bags

EVERY TIME I TURN ON MY CAR, IT STATES SERVICE AIRBAG WITH AN EXCLAMATION POINT, CODES C0196, C0186, C0287, B101D, B0081

NHTSA ODI #11031889

30,000 miles · Sep 26, 2017
Structure

MY VECHICAL WAS IN MOTION DRIVING THRU AN ENTRANCE TO AN ARBY'S RESTAURANT . I HERD A LOUD NOISE N FELT LIKE MY VECHICAL WAS DRAGGING WITH A PULLING MOTION. WHEN I STEPPED OUT I WALKED AROUND TO THE FRONT N MY BUMPER WAS COMPLETELY PUSHED IN AND FOLDED INTO AN INWARDS POSITION. I PULLED WITH MY HAND FROM THE BOTTOM OF THE BUMPER…

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MY VECHICAL WAS IN MOTION DRIVING THRU AN ENTRANCE TO AN ARBY'S RESTAURANT . I HERD A LOUD NOISE N FELT LIKE MY VECHICAL WAS DRAGGING WITH A PULLING MOTION. WHEN I STEPPED OUT I WALKED AROUND TO THE FRONT N MY BUMPER WAS COMPLETELY PUSHED IN AND FOLDED INTO AN INWARDS POSITION. I PULLED WITH MY HAND FROM THE BOTTOM OF THE BUMPER AND PULLED IT OUT ALMOST IN ITS ORIGINAL POSITION BESIDES SOME OF THE PLASTIC PEICES N FASCIA BEING CRACKED. WELL UPON FURTHER LOOKING AT IT WHAT HAD HAPPENED WAS THE PLATE OR COVER AS U WILL THAT IS SUPPOSED TO PROTECT UNDERNEATH THE ENGINE AND RADIATOR PORTION OF THE VECHICAL CAME DETACTCHED FROM THE MOST INWARD POSITION OF THE VECHICAL( THE POINT CLOSEST TO THE CENTER OF THE CAR) HIT THE GROUND N FOLDED UNDER NEATH MY CAR SMASHING IN THE LOWER PART OF MY BUMPER. ONCE I LOOKED UNDER THEIR THIS PIECE IS ACTUALLY CONNECTED TO THE BUMPER IN ONE PIECE WHEN IT SHOULD BE DETACHED. THIS VECHICAL IS A VERY BAD DESIGN AND IS EXTREMELY LOW TO THE GROUND AND WHAT MAKES THIS BAD IS THIS PIECE IS CONNECTED DIRECTLY TO THE BUMPER WHICH WAS ALMOST COMPLETELY RIPPED OUT IN THE PROCESS. CURRENTLY I HAVE THIS END PIECE ZIPPED TIED TO MY FRAME AT THE POINT OF WHICH IT BECAME DETACHED. I APPROACHED THE DEALER ABOUT THIS ISSUE N THEY LAUGHED AT ME LIKE I DID THIS WHEN CLEARLY IT WAS FROM THE COVER OR PLATE THAT SITS BELOW THE ENGINE. THIS PART IS A 79 DOLLAR PART BUT THEY WANT ME TO REPLACE THE WHOLE FASCIA N BUMPER WHICH THEY QUOTED AT AROUND 1500 DOLLAR. NOW IF MY BOTTOM FRONT HITS ANY DRIVEWAY OR ENTRANCE WAY CAUSE OF THE TWO LOW OF A DESIGN THIS PART CAN COME DETACHED FROM THE FRAME AND RIP MY BUMPER RIGHT OFF CAUSING A MAJOR ACCIDENT OR SAFTEY SITUATION. TY! FOR LETTING ME VOICE MY CONCERN NOT SURE U CAN DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. BEING KNOWLEDGEABLE ABOUT CARS WHICH I'M GUESSING U R IT'S THE PIECE DIRECTLY UNDER MY ENGINE N I ATTACHED DIRECTLY TO THE BUMPER.

NHTSA ODI #11030022

48,922 miles · Aug 16, 2017
Wheels

I PURCHASED A CERTIFIED USED 2015 MALIBU LTZ FROM A CHEVROLET DEALER IN JANUARY 2017 WITH BRAND NEW GOODYEAR EAGLE RS-A TIRES INCLUDED. TODAY, AUG 16, 2017 (AND WITH JUST UNDER 10,000 DRIVEN ON THEM), I NOTICED A BULGE COMING FROM THE OUTER WALL ON ONE OF THEM. THE TIRE SPECS ARE: P235/50R18, 97W. THIS IS CONCERNING TO ME BECAU…

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I PURCHASED A CERTIFIED USED 2015 MALIBU LTZ FROM A CHEVROLET DEALER IN JANUARY 2017 WITH BRAND NEW GOODYEAR EAGLE RS-A TIRES INCLUDED. TODAY, AUG 16, 2017 (AND WITH JUST UNDER 10,000 DRIVEN ON THEM), I NOTICED A BULGE COMING FROM THE OUTER WALL ON ONE OF THEM. THE TIRE SPECS ARE: P235/50R18, 97W. THIS IS CONCERNING TO ME BECAUSE IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE. PICTURES ATTACHED.

NHTSA ODI #11015838

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.