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: other or unspecified
35 reports, newest first. Show all
Other or unspecified, May 12, 2018
FIRST COMPLAINT WOULD BE THE BUTTON ON THE FACE OF THE RADIO SCREEN IS MELTING AND WHEN TRYING TO OPEN THE BLACK COLOR COMES OF INTO YOUR HAND. SECOND COMPLAINT IS THE SIDE OF THE DRIVERS SIDE WHOLE SEAT SWITCH COMPARTMENT CAME OFF OF THE SEAT HINGES.
Other or unspecified, Mar 13, 2018
WHILE DRIVING, THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT TURNS ON RANDOMLY. WHEN STOPPING, THE CAR TURNS OFF. I TRY TO RESTART IT AND THE IGNITION FAILS. I NEED TURN THE KEY A FEW TIMES UNTIL THE CAR CAN FINALLY START. DEALERSHIP HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM.
Other or unspecified, Dec 27, 2017
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
Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Nov 3, 2017, fire
VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH ON A CITY STREET WHEN SMOKE STARTED AND FIRE BROKE OUT BURNING VEHICLE TO GROUND.
Seats, Other or unspecified, Oct 24, 2017
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.
Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Visibility/wiper, Aug 17, 2016, fire
I PURCHASED MY VEHICLE ON MARCH 2015 OFF THE SHOWROOM FLOOR OF A CHEVROLET DEALERSHIP. ON JUNE 18, 2016 MY CAR CAUGHT A FIRE WHILE IT WAS PARKED AND I WAS NOT IN THE VEHICLE. I HAD BEEN SITTING IN THE CAR WITH THE AIR BLOWING FROM THE DEFROSTER FOR ABOUT 30 MINUTES. I DROVE TO THE STORE AND CAME BACK HOME. I GOT OUT OF THE CAR AND STOOD ON THE PORCH TALKING TO MY FAMILY. WITHIN IN 10 MINUTES OF ME EXITING MY CAR, IT WAS ON FIRE. I RAN TO THE CAR AND COULD SEE THAT THE FIRE WAS COMING FROM RIGHT ABOUT WHERE THE WINDSHIELD ENDS AND WHERE THE HOOD OF THE CAR BEGINS, RIGHT WHERE THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS ARE. I CALLED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WHO PUT THE FIRE OUT. THEY USED THE JAWS OF LIFE TO PLY THE HOOD OPEN AND CUT THE MAIN WIRE TO THE CAR. I THEN CONTACTED THE GM MANUFACTURING COMPANY CHEVROLET AND STARTED A CLAIM WITH THEM TO DO AN INVESTIGATION ON MY VEHICLE AS TO WHAT HAPPENED AND WHY TO THIS BRAND NEW CAR. ESPECIALLY CONSIDERING THE FACT THEIR WAS NO ONE IN THE CAR AT THE TIME IT CAUGHT FIRE, THANK GOD AND AS TO NO ONE COULD OF STARTED THE FIRE BECAUSE I WAS STANDING OUTSIDE THE ENTIRE TIME. THE ALLEGED INVESTIGATION TOOK ABOUT A MONTH AND A HALF TO COMPLETE. I RECEIVED A CALL A WEEK PRIOR TO GM CHEVROLET MANUFACTURING MAKING A DECISION FROM ONE OF THEIR REPRESENTATIVES ASKING ME HAVE I EVER GOTTEN THE WINDSHIELD WIPER MOTOR REPLACED BEFORE. I STATED TO HER NO I HAVEN'T AND REMINDED HER THAT THE CAR WAS PURCHASED NEW OFF THEIR SHOWROOM FLOOR AND THAT I HADN'T HAD ANYTHING REPLACED OR ALTERED ON THAT CAR. ON JULY 29TH I WAS CALLED BY A GM CHEVROLET REPRESENTATIVE AGAIN TELLING ME MY CLAIM WAS BEING DENIED BECAUSE OF A WINDSHIELD WIPER ISSUE. I STATED TO HER THAT I WOULDN'T HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH THAT. SHE THEN CHANGES THE REASON AND STATES THAT GM CHEVROLET REALLY CANT DETERMINE WHAT HAPPENED AND THEY WERE DENYING MY CLAIM. THEIR HAD BEEN SEVERAL RECALLS ON GM CARS
Other or unspecified, Feb 10, 2016
I PURCHASED THIS CAR ON 02/09/16, 1 1/2 HOURS AFTER DRIVING IT OFF THE LOT, I WAS DRIVING DOWN A MAIN ROAD AT APPROPRIATELY 57 MPH AND MY MOON ROOF GLASS EXPLODED. THERE WERE NO CARS CLOSE TO THE FRONT OF ME. THE GLASS APPEARS TO BE BOWING OUT OF THE VEHICLE, NOT INTO THE VEHICLE, AS YOU WOULD EXPECT IF A ROCK HAD HIT IT. SEE THE ATTACHED PICTURE. THERE WAS NO SOUND OF ANYTHING HITTING THE ROOF, IT SIMPLY SOUNDED LIKE A BOMB EXPLODING IN MY VEHICLE AND GLASS WENT EVERYWHERE. MY DAUGHTER WAS IN THE FRONT SEAT AND THE GLASS HIT HER FACE. I CALLED THE LOCAL CHEVY DEALER AND THEY SAID THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO THAT IT WAS LIKELY A ROCK. NOW I HAVE TO FILE A CLAIM WITH MY INSURANCE TO FIX THE GLASS, MY ROOF TOP AND TRUNK LID AS THE GLASS SCRATCHED AND ETCHED THE PAINT. SOUNDS LIKE THIS HAS HAPPENED TO QUITE A FEW PEOPLE AFTER SEARCHING SIMILAR INSTANCES WITH THIS VEHICLE. MIGHT BE SOMETHING CHEVY SHOULD LOOK INTO. THANKFULLY MY DAUGHTER AND MYSELF SUSTAINED NO INJURIES, ESPECIALLY WITH THE GLASS HITTING HER FACE. IT LEFT A SMALL RED MARK BUT DID NOT CUT HER.
Other or unspecified, Feb 6, 2016
2015 CHEVY MALIBU 1LT OPERATING VEHICLE AT NORMAL SPEED LIMIT IN CITY TRAFFIC AND USED INTERIOR HEAT FOR CLIMATE CONTROL MODES BUTTONS. A SUDDEN "CLICKING' SOUND CAME FROM FAN SPEED CONTROL WHEN SWITCHING TO THE CLIMATE CONTROL MODES. SOUNDED MOSTLY FROM THE DRIVER SIDE, AND LAST FOR 2 TO 3 SECONDS. NO WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON BUT MAY HAVE BEEN STUCK IN SOME RE-SET PROCESS. NOISE SEEMED TO BE FROM DEFROST AND HEAT CONTROL MODES. DEALER REPLACED INTERIOR FAN ACTUATOR AND SYSTEM NOW FUNCTIONS AS INTENDED. I ALSO DESCRIBED THIS TO THE DEALER AS SOUNDING LIKE A FLUTTERING SOUND FROM THE FAN SPEED CONTROL. DID NOT OCCUR ON THE PASSENGER SIDE, JUST DRIVER SIDE. HAS ONLY 2300 MILES THUS FAR.
Other or unspecified, Aug 3, 2015
WE WAS GETTING ON THE HWY. ON RAMP ENTERED HWY. HEARD A LOUD EXPLOSION AND THE SUNROOF HAS EXPLODED LEAVING A 4 INCH HOLE IN SUNROOF AND 12 INCHES WIDE THE GLASS HIT TRUNK AND SCRATCH ON TRUNK OF CAR. BRAND NEW CAR 1416 MILES ON IT. ALSO I WAS 200 MILES FROM HOME. WENT TO POPLAR BLUFF MO CHEVY DEALER AND THEY SAID ITS COMMON WITH THE CARS NOW THE BODY FLEX AND THE GLASS IS SO TIGHT THEY EXPLODE. I WAS ADVISED TO CALL MY DEALER SO I DID THEY SAID FIRST THING DO YOU HAVE FULL COVERAGE? I WAS MAD AS HELL. THIS IS THE GLASS OR DEFAULT IN CAR. I LOOKED ONLINE AND THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM...
Other or unspecified, Engine, Jul 28, 2015
ON MAY 28, MY HUSBAND AND I NOTICED THESE FUMES IN THE CAR, BUT WE DIDN'T KNOW WHERE THEY WERE COMING FROM. WHEN WE OPENED THE CAR TRUNK, WE FOUND THAT THE TIRE SEALANT IN THE COMPRESSOR KIT WAS LEAKING ON IT'S OWN. HE BROUGHT THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP'S AUTO SHOP AND THE COMPRESSOR KIT WAS REPLACED. ON JULY 19, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. I BROUGHT THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP'S REPAIR SHOP, AGAIN. I WAS TOLD THAT THE COMPUTER MODULE THAT CONTROLS THE ENGINE WASN'T WORKING RIGHT AND IT HAD TO BE REPROGRAMMED BY UPDATING IT. THEY WERE VERY VAGUE IN EXPLAINING THE PROBLEM. MY HUSBAND CALLED THE REPAIR SHOP ON JULY 28 AND ASKED THEM TO EXPLAIN WHAT WAS WRONG WITH THE CAR. THEY STILL DIDN'T EXPLAIN THE PROBLEM VERY WELL AND THEY SAID THAT THEY ALREADY TOLD HIS WIFE. THE STATEMENT THAT THE THE REPAIR SHOP GAVE US SAYS "CUSTOMER STATES THAT CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS ON, VERIFIED CONCERN SCAN CODE P2096, AS PER TSB PI409 PERFORM ECM RE PROGRAM CLEAR CODES / RECHECKED SYSTEM ALL AT SPECS." THE MILEAGE AT THAT TIME WAS 2470.