2019 Chevrolet Malibu
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Power train is the leading concern among 191 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 21st highest complaint count among 26 Malibu model years with reports.
Of the 2019 reports, 8 involved a crash and 1 involved a fire. 7 people were injured.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
Seat belts, critical fastenersAug 20, 2021
General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2016-2021 Chevrolet Malibu and 2019-2021 Cadillac XT4 vehicles. The rear seat belt retractors may be improperly secured with loose or missing fasteners.
An improperly secured seat belt retractor may not function properly in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
Dealers will inspect and tighten the rear seat belt retractors, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on September 17, 2021. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020 and Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006. GM's number for this recall is N212333380.
Campaign 21V649000 on NHTSA.gov
Representative owner complaints
191 reports, newest first.
Power train, Jun 5, 2020
WHEN I STOP AT A STOP SIGN OR RED LIGHT, IT SEEMS LIKE MY CAR CUTS OFF AND THEN BACK ON WHEN I HIT THE GAS. I CAN HEAR IT. THERE IS ALSO A SOUND IN MY BRAKES WHEN THIS HAPPENS, THAT SOUNDS AIR. *TR
Vehicle speed control, Jun 4, 2020
SOME DAYS WHEN I AM DRIVING MY CAR IT SEEMS AS IF I'M PUSHING MY FOOT DOWN ALL THE WAY ONTO THE PEDAL AND THAT'S NOT NORMAL IT DID IT TODAY 6/4/2020I JUST GOT THAT CAR OCTOBER 2019, IT DID IT 3 TIMES SO FAR LIKE I WAS AT A STOP LIGHT AND IT SEEM AS IF THE CAR TOOK A VERY LONG TIME FOR ME TOO PUSH DOWN ON THE PEDAL, AND ALSO WHILE TURNING A CORNER IT TOOK A WHILE FOR THE ACCELERATION TOO CATCH UP AND AS I DID SOME REACH SEARCH SOME LOWER YEAR CARS LIKE MINE HAS RECALLS FOR FUEL INJECTORS RELATING TOO ENGINE STALLING OR PEDAL SENSORS. *TR
Service brakes, Engine, Jun 2, 2020
I WAS STATIONARY AT A RED LIGHT ON HIGHWAY 49 WITH MY FOOT ON THE BREAKS, AND WHEN THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN I LET MY FOOT UP OFF THE BREAKS AND THE CAR JUST SHUT OFF. I TRIED TO TURN THE CAR BACK ON, BUT STILL NOTHING. I WAITED A FEW SECONDS AND THE CAR STARTED BACK UP, SO I PUT IT IN DRIVE AND STARTED DRIVING, BUT WHEN I TRIED TO SLOW DOWN THE BREAKS WERE VERY TIGHT. FOR AN HOUR AND A HALF, I SAT THERE AND TRIED TO FIGURE OUT WHAT WAS WRONG WITH THE CAR. I FOUND NOTHING, SO I GOT BACK INTO THE CAR AND CRANKED IT AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. I GOT THE CAR TO STAR CHEVROLET AND THEY DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM AS THE BRAKE VACUUM PUMP. *TR
Steering, Wheels, Service brakes, May 13, 2020
WHEN DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY THE WHEELS FEEL LIKE THERE ARE PUSHING ONE WAY. WHEN SLOWING DOWN THE STEERING WHEEL SHAKES. PRESSING THE ON BRAKES THE STEERING WHEEL ALSO SHAKES. COUPLE DAYS AGO WE HAD TO TIGHTEN THE LUG NUTS ON THE CAR FRONT TIRES. ITS WAS GOOD A COUPLE DAYS AND NOW AGAIN DOING THE SAME THING.. *TR
Engine, Apr 30, 2020
BOUGHT "CERTIFIED" WITH WARRANTY FROM DEALER, HAS 13,000 MILES ON IT. SECOND TIME WE EVER DROVE (3 BLOCKS FROM HOUSE) ENGINE DIED WHILE TURNING INTO PARKING LOT AT WORK. TOOK TO EAGLESON'S DEALERSHIP THEY PUT ON DIAGNOSTIC, CHIEF MECHANIC TOLD US "I DON'T KNOW WHAT THE PROBLEM COULD BE" BACKED IT OUT AND SENT US ON OUR WAY.
Engine, Fuel/propulsion system, Apr 17, 2020
AT 7473 MILES, REDUCED ENGINE POWER LIGHT CAME ON WHILE DRIVING THE CAR. DIAGNOSTIC CODE: P0013. CAR WAS TOWED 50 MILES TO A DEALER FOR REPAIR AND REPLACEMENT OF EXHAUST CAMSHAFT POSITION ACTUATOR. CAR WAS DRIVEN 4 TIMES BEFORE THE REDUCED ENGINE POWER LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN. MILEAGE UNDER 8000. DIAGNOSTIC CODE: P0013. IN BOTH CASES, THE CAR STILL RAN BUT IT MISSES AND CUTS OUT. *TR
Electrical system, Mar 20, 2020
THE 2019 MALIBU OWN WHICH IS AN LT WITH A SUNROOF AND HEATED FRONT SEATS, HAS HAD AN ISSUE WITH THE BATTERY CONNECTION WHERE AS THE CAR WAS BRAND NEW OUT FROM THE SHOP. AND THEN A WEEK OR TWO LATER I GOT INTO MY CAR TO LOOK FOR MY HEADPHONES, THEN I JUST WANTED TO SIT INSIDE MY BRAND NEW CAR FOR A MOMENT. AND THEN I TURNED THE RADIO ON TO LOOK AT THE TIME, AND THEN THE GAUGE CLUSTER CAME UP WITH A MESSAGE SAYING BATTERY VOLTAGE LOW. SO THEN LATER WE GOT AN EMAIL FROM CHEVY TALKING ABOUT THE ISSUE AND HOW CHEVY WOULD LIKE TO FIX IT FOR US. SO THEY FIXED IT. BUT I WOULD LIKE FOR OTHER PEOPLE TO KNOW ABOUT THIS. ALSO! I HAD A PROBLEM WITH MY SUNROOF WHICH ISN'T A SAFETY CONCERN BUT IT'S WORTH NOTING. SO AS WE GOT THE CAR. WE DIDN'T KNOW WHY THE SUNROOF WOULDN'T OPEN WHILE WE WERE DRIVING OR ANYTHING. AND SO WHEN WE GOT HOME WE TRIED FIGURING IT OUT AND AT THE TIME IT WOULD ONLY OPEN UP IF YOU HAVE YOUR FOOT ON THE BRAKE, IN DRIVE WITHOUT MOVING. GOT IT FIXED AFTER TRYING TO GET THEM TO FIX IT. AND THEN THEY MESSED UP THE HEADLINER IN THE CAR AND HAD TO GET THAT REPLACED AND THEN THEY WANT TO TRY AND CHARGE US FOR USING THEIR LOANER CARS WHEN THEY MESSED UP THE HEADLINER. LIKE WTF.
Engine, Feb 7, 2020
WITH UNDER 10K MILES ON THIS CAR, WE DROVE AN HOUR TO A BASEBALL GAME, THEN FOUND WHEN WE STARTED IT BACK UP, IT WAS ON REDUCED POWER. TURNED OUT TO BE THE THROTTLE BODY THAT HAD TO BE REPLACED. TODAY, WITH UNDER 17K MILES, MY WIFE WAS PICKING THE CHILDREN UP FROM SCHOOL, AND IT LOST POWER AND SAID "REDUCED ENGINE POWER" AGAIN. IF THIS WOULD HAVE HAPPENED ON THE HIGHWAY, IT COULD HAVE CAUSED AN ACCIDENT.
Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Feb 6, 2020
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2019 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED WITH THE IGNITION IN THE OFF POSITION, THE INTERIOR LIGHTS REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT ALSO MENTIONED THAT WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS IN PARK AND THE IGNITION WAS TURNED TO THE OFF POSITION, THE RADIO WAS STILL OPERATIONAL. THE PUSH TO START BUTTON WAS DEPRESSED AND THE RADIO TURNED OFF. THE CONTACT INFORMED AN UNNAMED DEALER OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 14,359.
Engine, Fuel/propulsion system, Sep 16, 2019
NEW CAR. 500 MILES ON MOTOR. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. P2097. NOTICED DECREASED ENGINE POWER WHEN PRESSING GAS PEDDLE. CAR STALLED ON START. FELT SLIGHT SHIMMY FROM MOTOR WHILE SITTING IDLE.
Electrical system, Fuel/propulsion system, Jul 8, 2019
FAULTY FUEL PUMP COMMUNICATION SYSTEM AND KEY KOB READER
Visibility/wiper, Jun 25, 2019
TAKATA RECALL. AFTER DRIVING MY MALIBU FOR MORE THAN A QUICK DRIVE AROUND THE BLOCK I NOTICED THAT MY LEFT EYE WAS GETTING BLURRY AND I SEEMED A LITTLE NAUSEOUS. THE SYMPTOMS STARTED EVERY TIME I DRIVE THE VEHICLE. I NOTICED A DISTORTION OF THE LEFT SIDE OF THE WINDSHIELD THAT IS CAUSING THE NAUSEA. WHEN LOOKING THROUGH THE WINDSHIELD AT ONCOMING TRAFFIC MY VIEW IS DISTORTED. THE SAME AS WHEN I LOOK THE VERY RIGHT OF THE WINDSHIELD. I TOOK THE CAR BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP AND DROVE ANOTHER BRAND NEW MALIBU FOR A DAY AND HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. AT THIS POINT EVERY TIME I DRIVE THE VEHICLE I GET NAUSEATED AND HAVE A SMALL HEADACHE. GM THEN DECIDED TO REPLACE MY WINDSHIELD. I RECEIVED A LONER EQUINOX TO DRIVE AND HAD NO ISSUES. I DROVE A SILVERADO FOR A FEW DAYS WITH NO PROBLEM. I TRADED IN MY OLD 2016 MALIBU THAT HAD NO ISSUES. I HAVE HAD COUNTLESS FRIENDS DRIVE MY NEW MALIBU AND THEY ALL SEE THE DISTORTION. I HAVE TRIED MOVING MY SEAT, CLEANING MY WINDSHIELD, PUTTING A TOWEL ON MY DASHBOARD TO REMOVE GLARE AND NOW ANOTHER BRAND NEW WINDSHIELD. I CAN'T DRIVE THIS CAR ANYMORE. I DRIVE TWENTY MINUTES TO WORK AND TAKES MY BRAIN ANOTHER FIVE MINUTES TO READJUST AFTER I GET OUT. I WANT MY OLD CAR BACK. THE DISTORTION IS A CONSTANT WHETHER DRIVING ON HIGHWAYS, AROUND THE BLOCK, SUNNY OR RAINY DAYS.
Power train, Jun 17, 2019
THE SPRING STEEL C-CLIP HOLDING THE CVT FLUID COOLING LINE IN PLACE AT THE RADIATOR FELL OFF WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION ON INTERSTATE 5. THE TRANSMISSION FLUID DRAINED OUT ONTO THE ROADWAY RESULTING IN COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER TO THE WHEELS. THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON BUT THE ENGINE RAN FINE.
Engine, Apr 15, 2019, crash
START/STOP ON POWERTRAIN / MOTOR CONTROL. MOTOR STOPS ON BRAKE PEDAL PRESSURE AND STARTS UPON ? ? DECREASE IN PEDAL PRSSURE ? MOTOR STARTED AND RPM ACCELERATED BU ITSELF WHILE BRAKE PEDAL APPLIED, VEHICLE "SURGED" AND HIT POST. MOTOR ACCELERATES RPM / WORKS BY ITSELF. PROBLEM IS INTERMITTENT. DELAY IN "START / STOP" CAUSING SURGE. SOFTWARE PROGRAMMING PROBLEM ?
Power train, Feb 20, 2019
THE ENGINE "AUTO STOP" FEATURE CAN HAVE ENOUGH OF A DELAY TO ALLOW THE ACCELERATOR TO BE PRESSED AS THE ENGINE STARTS CAUSING IT TO LURCH FORWARD RATHER THAN ACCELERATE SMOOTHLY. IT ALSO CAN CAUSE A DELAY WHEN PULLING OUT INTO HEAVY TRAFFIC. THERE IS CURRENTLY NO WAY TO TEMPORARILY OR PERMANENTLY DEFEAT THE SYSTEM ON THIS GM MODEL ACCORDING TO GM SERVICE DEPARTMENT. THOUGH I AM SURE IT IS OPERATING AS DESIGNED FOR CERTAIN OWNER DRIVING STYLES AND TRAFFIC CONDITIONS THIS CAN BE A SERIOUS HAZARD. CAR MAKERS SHOULD BE REQUIRED TO EITHER DISABLE THE FEATURE PERMANENTLY BY OWNER REQUEST OR HAVE A METHOD FOR THE OWNER TO BYPASS THE SYSTEM. WITH LESS THAN 250 MILES I HAVE EXPERIENCED 2 INCIDENTS OF ALMOST HITTING THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME FROM A STOP AND 1 OF ALMOST BEING HIT PULLING INTO HEAVY TRAFFIC FROM A STOP. I SEE MANY OTHER SIMILAR COMPLAINTS AND HOPE THIS CAN BE ADDRESSED BEFORE SOMEONE IS HURT OR WORSE DUE TO IT.
Equipment, Oct 26, 2018
I COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED OR MAIMED BY A DEFECTIVE TIRE JACK THAT WAS INCLUDED IN THE TIRE CHANGING EQUIPMENT THAT CAME WITH A NEW IMPALA I RENTED FROM ENTERPRISE CAR RENTAL. THE JACK BENT IN TWO WHEN I TRIED TO CRANK THE JACK HIGH ENOUGH TO CHANGE A FLAT TIRE. I HAVE A PHOTO OF THE CHINESE-MADE PART #13592351/2017. I HAVE NOTIFIED BOTH ENTERPRISE AND GENERAL MOTORS. IN DISCUSSING THE ISSUE, IT SEEMS THAT NEITHER COMPANY INCLUDES A SAFETY CHECK OF THE TIRE JACK. MY CONCERN IS THAT 40-50 THOUSAND IMPALAS WERE SOLD IN 2018. CAR RENTAL COMPANIES PURCHASED THEM AS DID DEALERSHIPS. THOUSANDS OF UNUSED, I.E. NEW TIRE JACKS MAY BE SITTING IN THE TRUNKS OF IMPALAS THROUGHOUT THE US, CANADA, ETC. AND SOME COULD BE DEFECTIVE. THE GM EXECUTIVE OFFICE REP SAID THEY WERE GOING TO CONTACT ENTERPRISE REGARDING THE SAFETY ISSUE. TO ME THIS IS SHORT SIGHTED ON GM'S PART. THEY DON'T SEEM TO BE INTERESTED IN FINDING THE ROOT CAUSE OF THE DEFECTIVE JACK. ARE THEY MORE LIKELY TO CHANGE THEIR TUNE, IF CONSUMERS DIE AS A RESULT OF USING THE GENERAL MOTORS PROVIDED DEFECTIVE JACKS? STAY TUNED.