Chevrolet

Malibu

Midsize Cars · model years 1997 to 2025

Includes Malibu and Malibu Hybrid as listed by the EPA.

See all 72 Malibu trims All Chevrolet cars

The verdict

Best year: 2025. complaints: 11, below this model's typical 287; recalls: 1, below this model's typical 3.

Worst year: 2001. complaints: 721, about 2.5x this model's typical 287; recalls: 2, below this model's typical 3.

Year by year

Year by year summary for the Chevrolet Malibu
Year	Trims	MPG	HP	Fuel cost	Recalls	Complaints	Investigations	TSBs	Top complaints
1997	1Gas	21	no data	$2,950	4	443	0	no data	SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC 16%, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 14%, STEERING 13%
complaints: 443, about 1.5x this model's typical 287 recalls: 4, above this model's typical 3 deaths reported in NHTSA complaints: 2 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 14 Score: 7 of 100, where higher is better.
1998	2Gas	22.5	no data	$2,775	3	976	0	no data	SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC 26%, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING 11%, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 10%
complaints: 976, about 1.7x this model's typical 574 recalls: 3, in line with this model's typical 3 deaths reported in NHTSA complaints: 3 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 24 complaints reporting a fire: 5 Score: 4 of 100, where higher is better.
1999	2Gas	22	no data	$2,825	1	789	0	no data	SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC 27%, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 13%, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING 13%
complaints: 789, above this model's typical 574 recalls: 1, below this model's typical 3 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 40 complaints reporting a fire: 2 Score: 51 of 100, where higher is better.
2000	2Gas	22	no data	$2,825	3	922	0	no data	EXTERIOR LIGHTING 19%, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC 18%, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 16%
complaints: 922, about 1.6x this model's typical 574 recalls: 3, in line with this model's typical 3 deaths reported in NHTSA complaints: 3 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 36 complaints reporting a fire: 6 Score: 7 of 100, where higher is better.
2001	1Gas	21	no data	$2,950	2	721	0	no data	ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 31%, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING 16%, EXTERIOR LIGHTING 12%
complaints: 721, about 2.5x this model's typical 287 recalls: 2, below this model's typical 3 deaths reported in NHTSA complaints: 2 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 29 complaints reporting a fire: 1 Score: 0 of 100, where higher is better.
2002	1Gas	21	no data	$2,950	2	567	0	no data	ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 37%, EXTERIOR LIGHTING 20%, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING 9%
complaints: 567, about 2x this model's typical 287 recalls: 2, below this model's typical 3 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 19 complaints reporting a fire: 1 Score: 29 of 100, where higher is better.
2003	1Gas	21	no data	$2,950	2	569	0	no data	ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 39%, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 12%, ENGINE 6%
complaints: 569, about 2x this model's typical 287 recalls: 2, below this model's typical 3 deaths reported in NHTSA complaints: 1 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 23 complaints reporting a fire: 4 Score: 14 of 100, where higher is better.
2004	2Gas	24	no data	$2,600	6	1,147	0	no data	STEERING 54%, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 10%, EXTERIOR LIGHTING 6%
complaints: 1147, about 2x this model's typical 574 recalls: 6, about 2x this model's typical 3 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 22 complaints reporting a fire: 7 Score: 5 of 100, where higher is better.
2005	2Gas	24	no data	$2,600	3	975	0	no data	STEERING 37%, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 13%, EXTERIOR LIGHTING 11%
complaints: 975, about 1.7x this model's typical 574 recalls: 3, in line with this model's typical 3 deaths reported in NHTSA complaints: 3 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 55 complaints reporting a fire: 34 Score: 1 of 100, where higher is better.
2006	3Gas	23	no data	$2,700	6	1,116	0	no data	STEERING 55%, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 10%, EXTERIOR LIGHTING 4%
complaints: 1116, above this model's typical 861 recalls: 6, about 2x this model's typical 3 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 26 complaints reporting a fire: 6 Score: 26 of 100, where higher is better.
2007	3Gas	23	no data	$2,700	3	977	0	no data	STEERING 54%, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 9%, AIR BAGS 6%
complaints: 977, above this model's typical 861 recalls: 3, in line with this model's typical 3 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 34 complaints reporting a fire: 2 Score: 51 of 100, where higher is better.
2008	5Gas, Hybrid	25	no data	$2,500	4	995	0	no data	STEERING 31%, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 16%, EXTERIOR LIGHTING 7%
complaints: 995, below this model's typical 1435 recalls: 4, above this model's typical 3 deaths reported in NHTSA complaints: 2 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 19 complaints reporting a fire: 5 Score: 23 of 100, where higher is better.
2009	6Gas, Hybrid	24	no data	$2,600	5	1,534	0	no data	STEERING 33%, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 16%, ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC) 11%
complaints: 1534, below this model's typical 1722 recalls: 5, about 1.7x this model's typical 3 deaths reported in NHTSA complaints: 3 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 45 complaints reporting a fire: 9 Score: 14 of 100, where higher is better.
2010	8Gas, Hybrid	25	170	$2,500	3	1,364	0	1,076	STEERING 21%, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 13%, ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC) 10%
complaints: 1364, below this model's typical 2296 recalls: 3, in line with this model's typical 3 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 47 complaints reporting a fire: 14 Score: 60 of 100, where higher is better. Theft rate: 2.1 per 1,000 produced (federal data, last published for 2014).
2011	3Gas	26	210	$2,400	3	978	0	1,099	ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 15%, STEERING 14%, ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC) 11%
complaints: 978, above this model's typical 861 recalls: 3, in line with this model's typical 3 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 41 complaints reporting a fire: 17 Score: 50 of 100, where higher is better. Theft rate: 1.9 per 1,000 produced (federal data, last published for 2014).
2012	3Gas	26	210	$2,400	2	907	0	1,114	ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 20%, EXTERIOR LIGHTING 14%, STEERING 13%
complaints: 907, above this model's typical 861 recalls: 2, below this model's typical 3 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 35 complaints reporting a fire: 13 Score: 55 of 100, where higher is better. Theft rate: 2.3 per 1,000 produced (federal data, last published for 2014).
2013	2Gas	25	224	$2,500	10	836	0	1,547	ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 27%, ENGINE 15%, STEERING 13%
complaints: 836, above this model's typical 574 recalls: 10, about 3.3x this model's typical 3 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 32 complaints reporting a fire: 10 Score: 10 of 100, where higher is better. Theft rate: 1.8 per 1,000 produced (federal data, last published for 2014).
2014	2Gas	26.5	223	$2,375	6	351	0	1,411	ENGINE 22%, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 15%, UNKNOWN OR OTHER 10%
complaints: 351, below this model's typical 574 recalls: 6, about 2x this model's typical 3 deaths reported in NHTSA complaints: 1 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 17 complaints reporting a fire: 8 Score: 26 of 100, where higher is better. Theft rate: 2.0 per 1,000 produced (federal data, last published for 2014).
2015	2Gas	26.5	223	$2,375	3	270	0	1,214	ENGINE 17%, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 17%, AIR BAGS 12%
complaints: 270, below this model's typical 574 recalls: 3, in line with this model's typical 3 deaths reported in NHTSA complaints: 1 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 13 complaints reporting a fire: 9 Score: 48 of 100, where higher is better.
2016	3Gas, Hybrid	30	210	$2,100	10	861	1	1,288	ENGINE 21%, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 16%, UNKNOWN OR OTHER 12%
complaints: 861, in line with this model's typical 861 recalls: 10, about 3.3x this model's typical 3 deaths reported in NHTSA complaints: 1 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 17 complaints reporting a fire: 2 Score: 10 of 100, where higher is better.
2017	3Gas, Hybrid	30	210	$2,100	4	725	1	1,084	ENGINE 21%, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 14%, UNKNOWN OR OTHER 12%
complaints: 725, below this model's typical 861 recalls: 4, above this model's typical 3 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 16 complaints reporting a fire: 4 Score: 50 of 100, where higher is better.
2018	3Gas, Hybrid	30	210	$2,100	6	711	1	847	ENGINE 23%, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 16%, POWER TRAIN 14%
complaints: 711, below this model's typical 861 recalls: 6, about 2x this model's typical 3 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 17 complaints reporting a fire: 4 Score: 38 of 100, where higher is better.
2019	3Gas, Hybrid	32	212	$1,950	1	194	1	668	POWER TRAIN 21%, ENGINE 21%, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 20%
complaints: 194, below this model's typical 861 recalls: 1, below this model's typical 3 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 7 complaints reporting a fire: 1 Score: 77 of 100, where higher is better.
2020	2Gas	29	212	$2,450	1	198	1 (1 open)	553	ENGINE 18%, POWER TRAIN 17%, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 17%
complaints: 198, below this model's typical 574 recalls: 1, below this model's typical 3 deaths reported in NHTSA complaints: 1 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 7 open NHTSA investigations: 1 Score: 57 of 100, where higher is better.
2021	2Gas	29	205	$2,175	2	89	0	490	UNKNOWN OR OTHER 23%, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 22%, POWER TRAIN 21%
complaints: 89, below this model's typical 574 recalls: 2, below this model's typical 3 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 1 complaints reporting a fire: 1 Score: 80 of 100, where higher is better.
2022	2Gas	29	205	$2,450	1	98	0	456	ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 21%, ENGINE 18%, UNKNOWN OR OTHER 18%
complaints: 98, below this model's typical 574 recalls: 1, below this model's typical 3 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 1 Score: 88 of 100, where higher is better.
2023	1Gas	30	163	$2,100	2	70	0	305	BACK OVER PREVENTION 14%, UNKNOWN OR OTHER 13%, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 11%
complaints: 70, below this model's typical 287 recalls: 2, below this model's typical 3 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 4 complaints reporting a fire: 1 Score: 75 of 100, where higher is better.
2024	1Gas	31	163	$2,000	2	42	0	249	ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 29%, BACK OVER PREVENTION 16%, UNKNOWN OR OTHER 14%
complaints: 42, below this model's typical 287 recalls: 2, below this model's typical 3 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 1 Score: 85 of 100, where higher is better.
2025	1Gas	31	163	$2,150	1	11	0	128	BACK OVER PREVENTION 31%, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 25%, UNKNOWN OR OTHER 25%
complaints: 11, below this model's typical 287 recalls: 1, below this model's typical 3 Score: 91 of 100, where higher is better.

How the numbers moved

Combined MPG, median1997: 21 to 2025: 31

Owner complaints1997: 443 to 2025: 11

How we score each year

We compare each year of the Chevrolet Malibu to the model's own typical numbers, not to other cars. A year reads solid when its recalls, owner complaints, and federal investigations sit at or below what is typical for this model, mixed when some of those numbers run above typical, and avoid when they run far above it. Deaths, reported fires, and an NHTSA advisory to park outside count against a year no matter what this model's baseline looks like.

A year is scored only when NHTSA has both complaint and recall counts for it. Complaint data often lags for the newest years, so a recent year can read not enough data even while its recall count already shows in the table. When the history is too thin, we say not enough data instead of guessing. Service bulletins are routine maintenance guidance from the manufacturer and do not lower a year's score.

Scores run 0 to 100, higher is better. Recall, complaint, and investigation figures come from NHTSA records. Fuel economy, fuel cost, and horsepower figures come from the EPA, shown as the median across the year's trims.

Information is gathered on a best-effort basis from public sources, may be incomplete or out of date, and is not purchasing or financial advice. Verify with the manufacturer or dealer before buying.