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
270 reports, newest first.
Seat belts, Feb 23, 2016
THE DIVERS SEAT BELT ADJUSTER RATTLES WHILE DRIVING. ONE HAS BEEN REPLACED AND THE PLASTIC PORTION OF THE ADJUSTER SHOWED SIGNIFICANT WEAR. I AM CONCERNED THAT THIS PART COULD FAIL IN A COLLISION.
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.
Electronic stability control (ESC), Jan 19, 2016
BOUGHT 2013 MALIBU MARCH 2013 NEVER HAD ANY PROBLEMS WITH IT UNTIL AT ABOUT 34,000 MILES. ON MY WAY TO WORK STABILITY CONTROL SYSTEM LIGHT AND (ABS) BREAK LIGHT CAME ON. AFTER MY SHIFT AT WORK, I STARTED THE LIGHT WAS NOT ON. I THOUGHT JUST AN ERROR, MAY HAVE RESET IT'S SELF. AT ABOUT 46,000 MILES STABILITY CONTROL SYSTEM, (ABS) BREAK LIGHTS ARE BACK ON AND WILL NOT GO OFF. I AM CURRENTLY MAKING AN APPOINTMENT WITH DEALER TO HAVE IT CHECKED OUT.
Tires, Jan 8, 2016
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 CHEVROLET MALIBU EQUIPPED WITH GOODYEAR TIRES ASSURANCE TIRES, SIZE: P225/55R17. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THERE WAS A LOUD BANG SOUND COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. THE DRIVER OBSERVED THAT THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE TIRE BLEW OUT WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE TIRE WAS REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE VEHICLE AND TIRE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 6,000.
Suspension, Dec 10, 2015
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE FROM A STOP SIGN, THE VEHICLE SHOOK VIOLENTLY WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE OR DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100.
Visibility, Nov 12, 2015
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, A LOUD ABNORMAL SOUND WAS HEARD. THE CONTACT NOTICED A HOLE THE SIZE OF A FOOTBALL IN THE SUN ROOF AREA AND THE GLASS WAS SHATTERED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE GLASS BUCKLED UP AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 6,800.
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.
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.
Structure, Jul 15, 2015
AFTER WASHING CAR IN A DRIVE THROUGH CAR WASH WITH THE CAR ON A TRACK, THE PASSENGER SIDE FLOORBOARD IN FRONT AND BACK ARE WET UNDERNEATH THE FLOOR MATS. THIS HAS OCCURRED MULTIPLE TIMES.
Electrical system, Jul 13, 2015
WATER ENTERED THE CAR FROM BEHIND THE DASHBOARD AND FLOODED THE CARPET AND ALL THAT IS UNDER IT. I PERSONALLY SUCKED GALLONS AND GALLONS OF WATER OUT OF IT FOR 4 DAYS BEFORE I GAVE UP AND TOOK IT IN. THE SERVICE DEPT PULLED THE PROBLEM UP ON THE COMPUTER IMMEDIATELY. THAT TELLS ME THAT SOMEONE AT GM KNEW ABOUT IT AND THIS WASN'T THE FIRST TIME. B/C IT CAME IN BEHIND THE DASH, THE ELECTRONICS AND ELECTRICAL WILL BE AFFECTED B/C ALL THAT MOISTURE WILL NEVER GET OUT. RUSTING HAS ALREADY STARTED. THE CAR HAS BEEN AT THE DEALER FOR A WEEK. I AM GOING TO DEMAND A REPLACEMENT VEHICLE BECAUSE MOLD/MILDEW WILL BE GROWING, AND MOISTURE WILL AFFECT THE SAFETY OF THE CAR. I WILL NEVER GET A GOOD PRICE ON A TRADE-IN B/C OF THE WATER. THE CAR IS RUINED.
Electrical system, May 30, 2015
DRIVING A LONG THAN STEERING GOES OUT WHEEL WILL NOT TURN DEALER SAID NEE NEW ELECTRIC MOTOR UNDER DASH 1.000 TO FIX
Electrical system, Mar 25, 2015
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE AT A COMPLETE STOP, ALL OF THE ELECTRICAL LIGHTS, INCLUDING THE HEADLIGHTS, POWERED OFF WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT POWERED THE VEHICLE OFF AND BACK ON SEVERAL TIMES AND ALL OF THE LIGHTS RE-ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THERE WAS A STRONG SMELL OF FUEL IN THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, BUT THE FAILURE WAS UNABLE TO BE DETERMINED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 81.
Visibility, Feb 13, 2015
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE FRONT WINDSHIELD HEATER WAS ACTIVATED AND THE ENTIRE WINDSHIELD BECAME FOGGY. THE FAILURE OCCURRED DURING EXTREMELY FRIGID WEATHER CONDITIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1,000. UPDATED 3/31/15*CN
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
Electrical system, Fuel/propulsion system, Jan 4, 2015
WHILE DRIVING THRU HOUSTON, TEXAS ON INTERSTATE 10 WITH HEAVY TRAFFIC THE ENGINE SHUT OFF, THE ANALOG INSTRUMENTS SHUT OFF, THE CENTER MY LINK SCREEN SHUT OFF AND THE DIGITAL READOUT ALTERNATED BETWEEN MPH AND MILES TRAVELED READOUT. MY WIFE WAS DRIVING AND ATTEMPTED TO RESTART THE ENGINE, NO RESULT. SHE SHIFTED TO NEUTRAL AND IT WOULD NOT RESTART. WE WERE ABLE TO COAST THRU SEVERAL LANES OF TRAFFIC AND SAFELY STOP ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE CAR WAS SHIFTED TO PARK AND STARTED. WE TRAVELED APPROXIMATELY 200 MILES TO OUR DESTINATION AND TWO DAYS LATER EXCHANGED THE CAR FOR ANOTHER RENTAL. *TR
Engine, Nov 25, 2014
DRIVING DOWN I-65 SOUTH IN NASHVILLE TN MIDDLE LANE WITH NO COMPROMISING ROAD CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, I GOT A WARNING ABOUT THE STABILITRAC SYSTEM AND THEN WITHIN 25-30 SECONDS THE ENGINE SHUT DOWN COMPLETELY. I WAS NEARLY REARENDED BY NUMEROUS VEHICLES AS THIS IS A VERY BUSY INTERSTATE. I WAS FINALLY ABLE TO RESTART THE CAR -IT WOULD NOT GO OVER 25 MPH AND GET TO THE SHOULDER. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT REMAINED ILLUMINATED. *TR
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
Electronic stability control (ESC), Engine, Nov 13, 2014
I HAVE BEEN HAVING NUMEROUS PROBLEMS WITH A PAUSE IN THE ENGINE WHEN I'M SPEEDING UP ONTO A HIGHWAY OR TO PASS ON THE HIGHWAY . IT'S MOST DANGEROUS WHEN I ENTER THE HIGHWAY. THE CAR INSTEAD OF JUST SPEEDING UP HAS BEEN KNOWN TO PAUSE.. AND THEN SPEED UP. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS BECAUSE IT'S HARD TO DETERMINE WHEN THE CAR IS GOING TO "PAUSE" . I WAS ALMOST IN AN ACCIDENT BECAUSE I HAD ENOUGH TIME TO ENTER THE HIGHWAY AND THE CAR DECIDED TO "PAUSE " AND THEN GO BUT THAT SLIGHT PAUSE EFFECTS THE TIMING OF ENTERING TRAFFIC . ALSO, I AM NEAR A HIGHWAY WITH A LOT OF CONSTRUCTION. THE ROADS BECOME UNEVEN IN PARTS WITHOUT WARNING. I HAVE TO KEEP BOTH MY HANDS TIGHTLY SECURED TO THE WHEEL OR THE CAR TRIES PULLING YOU. FOR INSTANCE : I WAS DRIVING STRAIGHT AND THERE WAS A SLIGHT CHANGE IN UNEVEN PAVEMENT AND MY CAR SEEMED LIKE IT WAS TRYING TO EVEN OUT THE WEIGHT OF THE CAR AND IT TRIED PULLING ME LEFT AND WHEN I WENT TO STRAIGHTEN OUT MY CAR BECOME UNCONTROLLABLE AND THANK GOD THERE WASN'T SOMEBODY IN THE RIGHT LANE BECAUSE IT PULLED ME ALL OVER THE HIGHWAY AND I COULDN'T CONTROL IT . TO BE HONEST I HAVE HAD ABOUT 6 CARS AND NEVER HAVE I FELT SO UNSAFE. ALSO MY CAR IS AN ECO CAR- IT TURNS OFF AT LIGHTS.. SOMETIMES IT SHAKES WHEN IT TURNS BCK ON AND ALSO IT LAGS TO MOVE ONCE IT DOES COME BACK ON. MY DEALERSHIP SAID THEY FOUND A DEFECT IN IT AND GM WILL "FIND A SOLUTION IN 45 DAYS" .. I HAVEN'T SEEN ANY OTHER REVIEWS ABOUT THIS? *TR