2015 Chevrolet Malibu
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Engine is the leading concern among 270 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 19th highest complaint count among 26 Malibu model years with reports.
Of the 2015 reports, 18 involved a crash and 9 involved a fire. 13 people were injured and 1 person died.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
Electrical system, ignitionJul 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."
If the key is removed without the transmission in PARK, the vehicle may rollaway as occupants are exiting, increasing the risk of injury.
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.
Campaign 16V502000 on NHTSA.gov
Air bags, side/windowOct 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.
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.
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.
Campaign 15V666000 on NHTSA.gov
Visibility, sun/moon roof assemblyMar 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."
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.
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.
Campaign 15V164000 on NHTSA.gov
Representative owner complaints: power train
31 reports, newest first. Show all
Power train, Electrical system, Jul 25, 2018
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND TURNED OFF WITH THE KEY STILL IN THE IGNITION, THE ENGINE INADVERTENTLY STARTED. ALL THE WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED AND THE RADIO ACTIVATED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED SEVERAL TIMES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT IT MIGHT HAVE BEEN A POWER TRAIN FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED TO CALL THE DEALER. THE CONTACT CALLED HERRIN-GEAR CHEVROLET (1685 HIGH ST, JACKSON, MS 39202, 601-376-9944) AND WAS INFORMED TO BRING THE VEHICLE IN FOR A CHECK UP. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 61,000.
Power train, May 17, 2018
STARTED CAR AND REDUCED POWER ENGINE WARNING CAME ON FOR THE SECOND TIME. I HAD IT FIXED ONCE ALREADY AND IT JUST CAME ON. I AM VERY DISAPPOINTED WITH CHEVY. I WAS DRIVING IT THE FIRST TIME MY LIGHT CAME ON. THE SECOND TIME I JUST STARTED MY CAR. I WAS ON A CITY STREET FIRST TIME AND CITY STREET SECOND TIME. BOTH TIMES MY CAR WOULDN'T ACCELERATE PASSED 12 MILES PER HOUR SO I WAS A ROLL HAZARD.
Power train, Jun 2, 2016, crash
THE VEHICLE ROLLED BACKWARDS INJURING OPERATOR AFTER IT WAS PLACED IN PARK. OPERATOR MOVED THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION LEVER FROM DRIVE INTO PARK. THE DOORS UNLOCKED AUTOMATICALLY. KEYS WERE IN THE IGNITION. VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF. OPERATOR EXITED THE VEHICLE. VEHICLE ROLLED BACKWARDS DOWN THE SLIGHT >3% DRIVEWAY. GMC HAS INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND DONE A DOWNLOAD OF THE ECM. THIS VEHICLE IS DANGEROUS BECAUSE IT EITHER DOES NOT FULLY ENGAGE IN PARK BUT RELEASES THE DOOR LOCKS OR IT SPONTANEOUSLY COMES OUT OF PARK OR SOME OTHER FAILURE MECHANISM.
Power train, Jul 22, 2015
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING ON AN INCLINE AT APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH, THE BRAKES WERE DEPRESSED AND THE AUTO STOP ENGAGED. WHEN THE BRAKE WAS DISENGAGED, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO RESTART IN A TIMELY MANNER AND THE VEHICLE ROLLED IN REVERSE DOWN A HILL WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO AVOID A CRASH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER, WHERE THE TECHNICIAN INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OPERATING AS DESIGNED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1,500.
Power train, Feb 11, 2015
2015 CHEVROLET MALIBU. CONSUMER REQUESTS REIMBURSEMENT FOR ENTIRE AMOUNT OF CAR. *TA THE CONSUMER STATED AS SHE DROVE AWAY FROM THE DEALER, THE VEHICLE EXHIBITED SOME SLIGHT HESITATION, AND WHEN STOPPED AT THE VERY FIRST STOP LIGHT, THE IDLING OF THE VEHICLE WAS COMPLETELY SILENT, AS IF THE ENGINE WAS OFF. SIX DAYS LATER WHILE BACKING INTO THE DRIVEWAY, THE INTERIOR DASHBOARD LIGHTING FEATURES FOR THE PICTURED REAR VISION AND OTHER LIGHTING IN THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF; AND THE BACK-UP CAMERA NEVER CAME ON. SHE SHIFTED THE GEAR INTO THE DRIVE POSITION, BUT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT MOVE FORWARD, BUT ONLY MOVED BACKWARDS. WHEN THE CONSUMER SHIFTED TO VARIOUS GEARS, THE SYSTEM WOULD ONLY HESITATE AS IF ATTEMPTING TO MOVE. *JB
Power train, Nov 18, 2014
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE THE GEAR SHIFTER WAS IN THE DRIVE POSITION, THE VEHICLE MOVED IN REVERSE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 12. UPDATED 12/30/14*CN UPDATED 9/6/2017*CN