Chevrolet Malibu years to avoid
Across the 2015–2022 Chevrolet Malibu, the 2016 model year drew the most owner complaints to NHTSA: 861, about 4.3× the 198 median of the other seven model years with enough complaints to compare. The most-reported components that year were the engine and the electrical system. The 2021 drew the fewest, at 88. Separately, the 2016 carries the most recall campaigns, 9. Complaint volume and recall campaign counts also reflect how long a model year has been on the road and how many were sold, so they rank years within this model rather than measuring build quality.
The 2016 Malibu is the outlier of the 2015–2022 Chevrolet Malibu, with 861 complaints against the model's 234 median.
Every Malibu model year, ranked
Every Malibu model year NHTSA holds records for, most complaints first. Counts are NHTSA records as of 2026-09-15; recall campaigns and complaints are counted separately because a recall is the manufacturer acting and a complaint is an owner reporting. Years with enough on record have a page of their own.
| Model year | Owner complaints | vs the 234 median | Recalls | Most-reported component |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 Malibu | 861 | 3.7× | 9 | the engine |
| 2017 Malibu | 724 | 3.1× | 4 | the engine |
| 2018 Malibu | 706 | 3× | 6 | the engine |
| 2015 Malibu | 270 | 1.2× | 3 | the engine |
| 2020 Malibu | 198 | 0.8× | 1 | the engine |
| 2019 Malibu | 191 | 0.8× | 1 | the powertrain |
| 2022 Malibu | 96 | 0.4× | 1 | the electrical system |
| 2021 Malibu | 88 | 0.4× | 2 | the electrical system |
Buying a Chevrolet Malibu? Check its VIN.
Model-year complaint totals do not describe one car. Confirm its identity free, then decide whether to review its reported title, mileage and auction history before you buy.
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See what the paid report includes →How to read these numbers
- A higher count is not proof of a worse car. Complaint volume rises with sales volume and with years on the road.
- The comparison is between years of the Malibu only. It says nothing about how the Malibu compares with other models.
- NHTSA publishes owner reports without verifying them. A complaint is an allegation, not a defect finding.
- Recall campaigns cover production ranges. Only a VIN lookup shows whether one vehicle is included and whether the work was done.
Primary sources behind this page
Open the underlying public source and verify that its scope matches the question you are asking.
Chevrolet Malibu year-by-year questions
Which Chevrolet Malibu year should I avoid?
Across the 2015–2022 Chevrolet Malibu, the 2016 model year drew the most owner complaints to NHTSA: 861, about 4.3× the 198 median of the other seven model years with enough complaints to compare. The most-reported components that year were the engine and the electrical system. The 2021 drew the fewest, at 88. Separately, the 2016 carries the most recall campaigns, 9. Complaint volume and recall campaign counts also reflect how long a model year has been on the road and how many were sold, so they rank years within this model rather than measuring build quality.
Which Chevrolet Malibu year is the safest bet?
Of the 2015–2022 Chevrolet Malibu, the 2021 drew the fewest owner complaints to NHTSA — 88, against the model's 234 median. Newer years have had less time on the road, which lowers their count on its own, so treat this as a starting point and check the individual VIN.
Do complaint counts mean the Chevrolet Malibu is unreliable?
No. NHTSA complaints are unverified owner reports, and the count rises with how many vehicles were sold and how long they have been on the road. They are useful for comparing years of the same model — which is what this page does — not for ranking one model against another.
How do I check a specific Malibu?
Take the 17-character VIN from the windshield or driver-door label and run it through NHTSA's free recall lookup. That reports open campaigns for that exact vehicle, including whether the repair is still outstanding. A model-year page cannot tell you that.