Chevrolet / Malibu / 2021

2021 Chevrolet Malibu problems

Owners have filed 130 complaints about the 2021 Chevrolet Malibu with NHTSA. Electrical system accounts for 21.5% of them — narrowly the most common, ahead of power train at 20.8%. A further 22.3% were filed without a specific system named.

Complaints130

Crashes0

Fires1

Injuries1

Deaths0

What owners report breaking

Unknown or other 22.3% · 29

Electrical system 21.5% · 28

Power train 20.8% · 27

Engine 10.0% · 13

Fuel/propulsion system 6.2% · 8

Air bags 4.6% · 6

Suspension 2.3% · 3

Back over prevention 2.3% · 3

Severity

Of those complaints, 1 describe a fire and 1 report an injury.

Reading the numbers

Across the 27 model years of the Chevrolet Malibu in this data, 2021 draws comparatively few complaints; 2009 is the outlier year.

Filings are rising — 112 in the last three years against 18 in the three before. For a vehicle this age that usually points to a wear-related failure owners are hitting now.

The median odometer reading at the time of complaint was 34,200 miles.

In owners' own words

I was driving my car my electrical system is throwing all kinds of code.my sftey restrain is coming on to check my seat belt .the car goes blank .it stop in the middle of the road.this car has a lot of issues.can some one help me with this I work at the cardiologist office . Electrical system

Shifter error - screen reads shift to park once car is turned off already the car takes time to turn off even when its off. In an emergency you can't get out of your car to lock it no no the check engin light is on but it reads for a filter Electrical system

After shifting into park and turning vehicle off -warning beep "place vehicle into park" comes on. It takes several "jerks" of gear shift to turn off. I'm scared its not in park and may roll. Electrical system

Verbatim from NHTSA filings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Safety recalls

Checking NHTSA for open recalls…

Other Chevrolet Malibu years

2017 1,174 complaints · 21.5% engine 2018 1,215 complaints · 22.9% engine 2019 307 complaints · 21.5% power train 2020 331 complaints · 17.8% engine 2022 149 complaints · 20.8% electrical system 2023 100 complaints · 14.0% back over prevention

Compare all 27 model years →