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.
Electrical system, Sep 10, 2019
INITIALLY, CIRCA TWO YEARS AGO, HAD AN ELECTRICAL FAILURE ON HARD BRAKING - THE RADIO DISPLAY SCREEN AND OTHER ELECTRICAL SHUT DOWN, CAR STALLED. AFTER RESTART, CAR WOULD ONLY MOVE FORWARD SLOWLY. EVENTUALLY THIS CLEARED. THE CAR HAS HAD A TOTAL OF ~5 INCIDENTS OF COMPLETE BATTERY DRAIN AND CONSEQUENT FAILURE TO START AFTER SITTING, EVEN THOUGH THE ALTERNATOR PREVIOUSLY WAS SPINNING, AND "BATTERY VOLTAGE" REPORTS AS SOMEWHERE IN THE 13-14 V RANGE. ON THREE SEPARATE REPAIRS, DEALER HAS REPLACED THE AFT BATTERY, THEN THE FORWARD BATTERY, THEN UPDATED FLASH MEMORY (OF BATTERY CONTROL? ANTILOCK BRAKE CONTROL, NOT SURE), PER A RECALL NOTICE AFFECTING OTHER NEARBY MODEL YEARS. AFTER THIS, THE CAR WENT SEVERAL MONTHS WITHOUT INCIDENT, BUT DRAINED BATTERY AND FAILED TO START AGAIN THIS WEEK. IT APPEARS THAT THE COMPLEX AUTO STOP/START ELECTRICAL SYSTEM IS FLAWED IN SUCH A WAY THAT THE LOCAL DEALER CANNOT DIAGNOSE WHY THE BATTERY KEEPS DRAINING. BECAUSE THE FORWARD BATTERY CAPACITY IS VERY LARGE, AND USAGE OF THE CAR IS LOW, IT TAKES SEVERAL MONTHS TO DRAIN THE BATTERY. WHEN THE BATTERY IS DRAINED, THE CAR NO LONGER FUNCTIONS - POWER STEERING, ELECTRONICS, ETC, HENCE IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE IF IT HAPPENS WHILE DRIVING.
Electrical system, Aug 20, 2019
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT ARRIVED HOME AND TURNED OFF THE VEHICLE. WHEN HE ATTEMPTED TO RESTART IT, THE ANTI-THEFT CONTROL SYSTEM WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS ONLY WHEN THE VEHICLE IS IN PARK. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,000.
Electrical system, Engine, Aug 8, 2019
AUTO STOP WHICH COMES STANDARD IN 2015 MALIBU'S WITH 2.5L ENGINES WILL NOT ENGAGE. IT USED TO WORK FLAWLESSLY, BUT IT WILL NOT ENGAGE. MULTIPLE FORMS THAT I HAVE READ HAVE PEOPLE STATING THEY HAVE THE SAME ISSUE.
Electrical system, Air bags, Aug 5, 2019
THE SENSOR LIGHT FOR MY AIRBAGS STAYS ON. THE CAR HAS LESS THAN 50,000 MILES ON IT, AND THE SENSOR DOES NOT WORK.
Vehicle speed control, Aug 5, 2019, crash
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2015 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 40 MPH IN THE RAIN, THE CONTACT REAR-ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE THAT HAD MADE AN UNEXPECTED STOP. THE VEHICLE'S AIR BAGS DEPLOYED UPON IMPACT; AFTER THE IMPACT, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO USE THE BRAKE PEDAL DUE TO THE VEHICLE'S AIR BAGS DEPLOYING. THE CONTACT THEN FORCED THE VEHICLE INTO PARK AND APPLIED THE EMERGENCY BRAKE, BUT TO NO AVAIL. THE VEHICLE EVENTUALLY COASTED TO A STOP AFTER THE CONTACT DROVE THE VEHICLE INTO A GRASS FILLED AREA. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED A BRAIN BLEED AS A RESULT OF THE COLLISION. THE OTHER DRIVER SUSTAINED BACK INJURIES; HOWEVER, NO MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS GIVEN TO EITHER PARTIES INVOLVED IN THE COLLISION. AFTER THE COLLISION, THE CONTACT WENT TO THE EMERGENCY ROOM WHERE THEY DISCOVERED SHE HAD BLEEDING ON HER BRAIN AND WAS TREATED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AT THE SCENE. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP (POP'S CHEVROLET BUICK600 US-23, PRESTONSBURG, KY 41653(606) 263-1507). THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 103,000.
Air bags, Jul 30, 2019
AIR BAG LIGHT KEPT COMING ON.
Power train, Vehicle speed control, Engine, Jul 16, 2019
MY 2015 CHEVY MALIBU LTZ ECO, JUST SUDDENLY LOSS POWER WHILE AT A STOP LIGHT. THE AUTO STOP HAD ENGAGED ONCE I CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP. UPON GIVING THE CAR GAS TO TAKE OFF, THE AUTO STOP HAD BEEN DISENGAGE. FOOT ON THE GAS TO GO AND THE VEHICLE JUST SAT THERE FOR A FEW SECONDS THEN IT JUST CAME ALIVE AND TOOK OFF. AT FIRST I WAS THINKING IT WAS THE TRANSMISSION ACTING UP. THEN THE COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER HAPPENED.
Seat belts, Jul 11, 2019
REAR SEAT BELTS WILL NOT RETRACT. FRONT DRIVER SEATBELT ON OCCASION WILL NO BUCKLE
Air bags, Jul 7, 2019
LIGHT WARNING COMES ON STATING SAFETY AIRBAGS DEFECTED. WE NEED THIS FIXED UNDER RECALL AND HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR ABOUT 3 MONTHS.
Power train, Electronic stability control (ESC), Service brakes, Jun 28, 2019
TAKATA RECALL THE TRANSMISSION IN THE 2015 CHEVY MALIBU JERKS AT LOW SPEEDS AND AT HIGH SPEEDS IT HOLDS THE GEAR WHEN SLOWING DOWN
Air bags, Jun 27, 2019
MY CAR WAS TAKEN IN LIKE 3 YEARS AGO FOR AIRBAG RECAL AND IT AS FIX BUT ALL OF A SUDDEN THE AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON
Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Engine, Jun 27, 2019, fire
CAR WAS PARKED IN A PARKING LOT FOR OVER AN HOUR WHEN AN ELECTRICAL FIRE STARTED BY THE BATTERY AND FUSE PANEL. THERE HAVE BEEN NO MODIFICATIONS MADE TO THE CAR AT ALL. STANDARD MAINTENANCE ONLY HAS BEEN DONE INCLUDING NEW TIRES ABOUT A YEAR AGO. THERE IS NO REASON A PARKED COOL CAR SHOULD CATCH ON FIRE. THERE WERE NO OIL LEAKS AT ALL ON THE CAR.
Steering, Electrical system, Seat belts, Jun 13, 2019
CHECK ENGINE LIGHT RANDOMLY COMES ON AND OFF. UNABLE TO GET A DIAGNOSTIC CHECK THOROUGHLY BECAUSE THE ENGINE LIGHT DOESN'T STAY ON. WAS AT AN AUTO ZONE ONE DAY WHEN IT CAME ON AGAIN AND WAS GIVEN TWO OF THE SAME CODES STATING THERE MAY BE AN O2 SENSOR ISSUE. A COUPLE WEEKS LATER WHILE DRIVING I GET A MESSAGE ON THE CAR STATING 'SERVICE POWER STEERING' THEN IT GOES OFF AGAIN. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WENT OFF. RIGHT DRIVER BACK SEAT BELT DOESN'T CLICK IN ALL THE WAY BUT SOMETIMES IT DOES.
Other or unspecified, Jun 12, 2019
TAMARA RECALL THE TRUNK RELEASE STOP WORKING AND WAS BLOWING FUSES.
Air bags, Jun 11, 2019
APRIL 1ST 2019 THE SERVICE AIRBAG LIGHT STARTED COMING ON ON MY DASHBOARD I WENT INTO A AUTOMOTIVE REPAIR PLACE AND THEY TOLD ME THAT THE AIR MODULE TO THE AIRBAG NEEDED TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE IT WAS DEFECTED.
Fuel/propulsion system, Jun 7, 2019
CHECK ENGINE LIGHT, TURNED OUT IT WAS SOLENOID VENT VALVE, A $36 PART THAT COST ME A TOTAL OF $600 USD TO REPLACE AFTER DIAGNOSTIC FEES AND SHOP FEES. THEY HAD TO DROP THE GAS TANK TO ACCESS IT. THIS IS A PREMATURE FAILURE FOR A FOUR YEAR OLD VEHICLE WITH ONLY 48,000 KM. IF THIS IS A REGULAR MAINTENANCE ITEM THAT REQUIRES FREQUENT REPLACEMENT, GM SHOULD HAVE PUT IT IN A MORE ACCESSIBLE LOCATION SO IT DOESN'T COST $600 TO REPLACE A $36 PART!
Air bags, Jun 7, 2019
DROVE MY MALIBU TO SEE A SHOW AND PARKED IN THE GARAGE. AFTER THE SHOW, WHEN TURNED ON THE IGNITION HAD A SERVICE AIRBAG LIGHT. TOOK IT TO THE GM DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM AND SAID HAD TO REPLACE THE AIR BAG SDM ELECTRICAL MODULE WITH A TOTAL PRICE ESTIMATE OF ALMOST $1,000 CAD !!! I HAVE HAD THIS VEHICLE SINCE DECEMBER 2014 AND HAVE DRIVEN IT TO FLORIDA EVERY WINTER SINCE. IT ONLY HAS 82,500 KM ON IT. I BELIEVE THIS IS A PREMATURE FAILURE AND IS A SAFETY ISSUE. SHOULD BE THE SAME AS THE NEW CAR EMISSIONS WARRANTY WHERE EMISSION COMPONENTS ARE COVERED MUCH LONGER THAN NEW CAR WARRANTY.
Air bags, Seats, Apr 25, 2019, crash
AIRBAG LIGHT IS KEEP COMING ON. I HAVE POWER SEATS AND PAYED TO GET THE PANEL FIXED AND THE PANEL IS HANGING AGAIN.
Service brakes, Apr 22, 2019
THE ABS BRAKE LIGHT COMES ON SEVERAL TIMES. MUST TURN ENGINE OFF AND RESTART TO RESET. USUALLY THE ABS LIGHT COMES ON WHEN BACKING UP. SOME TIMES WHEN DRIVING.
Structure, Seats, Apr 9, 2019
THE PLASTIC TRIM ON DRIVERS SEAT WHICH HAS THE CONTROLS ON IT TO OPERATE AND HOLD THE SEAT UP ON THE SIDE CRACKED AND CONTROLS WERE NOT ACCESSIBLE AND PART WAS NO LONGER HOLDING UP THE SEAT. PURCHASED CAR MARCH 28,2015. ON OCTOBER 26,2017 I PAID FOR THE PART AND LABOR SINCE I WAS TOLD IT WAS NOT UNDER WARRANTY. IT'S NOW APRIL 9TH, 2019 AND THE PART IS PULLING AWAY FROM THE SEAT AGAIN. I WAS TOLD THE WARRANTY FOR THE LAST REPAIR EXPIRED ON OCTOBER 26, 2018. MY OPTION WAS TO PAY FOR THE PART AND REPAIR AGAIN. THE PLASTIC TRIM SHOULD BE CONSIDERED DEFECTIVE SINCE IT HOLDS THE SEAT UP AND THE BUTTONS THAT ACCESS THE SEAT CONTROLS ARE ON IT. THE PART AND LABOR CHARGES SHOULD BE COVERED BY THE MANUFACTURER FOR THIS DEFECTIVE PART.
Seats, Mar 25, 2019
THE DRIVERS SEAT MOVES UNEXPECTEDLY FRONT AND BACK WITHOUT MANUAL CONTACT THEREFOR THIS CAN CAUSE MYSELF AN ACCIDENT BY MOVING THE BACK SUPPORT TO THE FRONT AND BACK THIS HAPPENED WHEN THE CAR TURNED OFF AND WHILE DRIVING
Structure, Other or unspecified, Mar 23, 2019
CAR WAS PARKED IN A RESIDENTIAL PARKING LOT. A WATER LEAK BEGAN. WATER WAS ON THE FLOOR OF THE DRIVER'S SIDE AND ON THE FLOOR ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE BEHIND THE DRIVER. I TOOK THE CAR TO AN AUTO MECHANIC AND I WERE TOLD THE LEAK WAS CAUSED BY A MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT AND THE WATER HAD BEEN SLOWLY LEAKING INTO THE CAR SINCE I FIRST HAD IT. THE WATER LEAKS IN BEHIND THE DASHBOARD AND THEN ACCUMULATES BETWEEN THE BODY FRAME AND THE CARPETING. HE SAID THE DEFECT WAS A MISSING SEAL IN THE CAR BODY FRAME. I WAS TOLD THE DEFECT CAN'T BE REPAIRED BECAUSE THE FRAME IS WELDED TOGETHER AND THE AREA TO PUT THE SEAL IN IS IMPOSSIBLE TO ACCESS. HE PUT ANOTHER TOP COAT SEAM IN THE COWL AREA, BUT STATED DUE TO THE FAULTY BODY SEAM THEY CANNOT GUARANTEE PERMANENT WATER TIGHT REPAIR. THE CAR WAS DRIED OUT FOR A WEEK IN THE AUTO SHOP. THEN THE CAR WAS RETURNED AND THE NEXT MORNING THE FLOOR ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE HAD A WATER LEAK AGAIN. THE AUTO MECHANIC SAID THAT I SHOULD NOT KEEP THIS CAR.
Air bags, Mar 11, 2019
TAKATA RECALL A LIGHT CAME ON THAT READ 'HAVE YOUR AIRBAG CHECKED.' I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER, RUSSELL BARNETT, WINCHESTER,TN. THEY CAME OUT WITH A PRICE FOR REPLACEMENT OF $750.00. I ASKED IF THIS WAS COVERED BY CHEVROLET. THEY ANSWERED NO. I THEN REMINDED THEM THAT I OF $10HAVE EXTENDED WARRANTY. THEY THEN SAID LET ME CHECK IT OUT. IN A FEW MINUTES, THEY CAME BACK WITH A SECOND FIGURE OF $150.00 WHICH INCLUDED THE $50.00 DEDUCTIBLE. MY QUESTION IS DO I PAY?
Air bags, Feb 7, 2019
MY AIRBAG SERVICE LIGHT WAS ON- I HAD A DIAGNOSTIC RAN ON MY VEHICLE. I WAS TOLD BY THE GLENDORA CHEVROLET DEALERSHIP THAT MY VEHICLE WAS TOO DANGEROUS TO DRIVE AND I NEEDED TO HAVE MY AIRBAG REPLACED FOR $1,000. I HAVE NEVER BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT AND MY AIRBAGS HAVE NEVER BEEN DEPLOYED. THIS SEEMS LIKE AN ODD SERVICE NEEDED ON A NEWER VEHICLE. THIS SHOULD BE CATEGORIZED AS A SAFETY RECALL ISSUE VERSUS A MAINTENANCE NEEDED.
Visibility/wiper, Feb 5, 2019
MY DEFROSTER STOPPED WORKING ON MY 2015 CHEVROLET MALIBU MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO SEE OUT OF THE WINDSHIELD WHILE DRIVING, WHEN I TURN ON FRONT WINDOW DEFROST IT BLOWS OUT OF THE FRONT VENTS AND NO AIR COMES OUT OF MY DEFROST. IT'S A HEADACHE AND I FEEL A HAZARD TO TRY TO DRIVE WITHOUT THIS, I USUALLY HAVE TO ROLL DOWN MY SIDE WINDOWS TO GET ANYWHERE WITH VISIBILITY. IT DOESN'T MATTER IF I AM PARKED, DRIVING, ETC. IT JUST DOES NOT WORK AT ALL EVER AND IT'S SCARY TO DRIVE WITH THIS ISSUE. MY VEHICLE HAS 77,000 MILES ON IT SO I FEEL THIS PROBLEM SHOULD NOT BE OCCURING.