Chevrolet Malibu problems
187 owner complaints with NHTSA, no active recalls. Here's where owners say it breaks.
Solid reliability overall. Common issues are concentrated in a few systems.
Worth owning if you verify the specific issues below before you buy.
- Electrical system: 51 complaints, classified severe
- Reliability score 7.4/10 — around the segment average
Our read of the federal NHTSA complaint and recall record for this exact year and model — not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection. How we score.
Stories from the shop
Vehicles in the family-sedan, minivan, and three-row SUV segments ranked by electrical-system owner complaint volume in our database. Electrical complaints cover wiring harness failures, body control module faults, instrument cluster and infotainment failures, and intermittent electrical gremlins that traditional shop tools struggle to diagnose.
| # | Year | Make | Model | Electrical Complaints | Total Complaints | Slug |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2013 | Ford | Edge | 832 | 2,419 | MyFord Touch infotainment, body control electrical |
| 2 | 2005 | Jeep | Grand Cherokee | 820 | 2,051 | TIPM (Totally Integrated Power Module) failures |
| 3 | 2012 | Jeep | Grand Cherokee | 774 | 1,632 | TIPM, ignition switch, fuel pump relay |
| 4 | 2009 | Dodge | Journey | 743 | 1,594 | TIPM, instrument cluster |
| 5 | 2011 | Jeep | Grand Cherokee | 705 | 1,637 | TIPM continuation, electrical gremlins |
| 6 | 2006 | Jeep | Grand Cherokee | 664 | 1,297 | Early TIPM, harness wear |
| 7 | 2011 | Ford | Edge | 657 | 1,797 | MyFord Touch launch, body control |
| 8 | 2010 | Dodge | Journey | 603 | 1,082 | TIPM-related, instrument cluster |
| 9 | 2005 | Chevrolet | Trailblazer | 590 | 1,733 | Hatch wiring, BCM, blower resistor |
| 10 | 2006 | Jeep | Commander | 582 | 1,782 | TIPM, ignition |
| 11 | 2010 | Dodge | Grand Caravan | 577 | 1,038 | TIPM, sliding door modules |
| 12 | 2007 | Jeep | Grand Cherokee | 577 | 1,108 | TIPM, harness wear |
| 13 | 2015 | Chrysler | 200 | 531 | 1,979 | 9-speed transmission and electrical |
| 14 | 2016 | Honda | Pilot | 527 | 1,626 | Infotainment, dash electrical |
| 15 | 2011 | Chrysler | Town and Country | 507 | 773 | TIPM, sliding door modules |
Why Stellantis dominates this list
Eight of the top fifteen entries are Chrysler, Dodge, or Jeep vehicles, and the common failure point on most of them is the TIPM. The Totally Integrated Power Module is the central electrical hub on 2005-2017 Stellantis vehicles. It controls fuel pump relay, ignition power, lighting, wiper circuits, and most cabin electrical loads. Internal solder joints fail under thermal cycling. The vehicle stalls without warning, fails to start, or operates accessories erratically.
A TIPM replacement runs $900 to $1,400 at an independent shop. Dealer pricing runs higher. Aftermarket fuel pump relay bypass kits cost about $50 and address the most common failure mode without replacing the entire module, but the bypass does not fix the other circuits.
The 2019 Chevrolet Malibu you are researching now does not appear in this top 15. The Malibu uses GM’s Body Control Module architecture, which has a different failure profile than the Stellantis TIPM. Documented Malibu electrical complaints concentrate around the start-stop battery, the AGM auxiliary battery, and the Continuously Variable Transmission’s electronic control. The 2019 Malibu has 27 NHTSA-filed electrical-system complaints in our database with an average failure mileage in the 60,000 to 90,000 range.
For any vehicle on this list, three diagnostic notes. First, electrical complaints often present as drivability issues. A no-start that turns out to be a fuel pump relay in a TIPM looks identical to a fuel pump failure until you pull the relay. Second, intermittent electrical faults need a scan tool capable of reading manufacturer-specific codes (a standard OBD-II reader will miss most BCM and TIPM faults). Third, “the connectors” is the answer to a meaningful percentage of older-vehicle electrical problems. Cleaning, dielectric grease, and reseating connectors solves what a parts-cannon repair cannot.
Methodology
Electrical complaint counts derived from problem clusters with component category matching “electrical” in our NHTSA-sourced database. Total complaint counts pulled from the NHTSA complaintsByVehicle API. Filter: vehicles with 10 or more NHTSA-filed complaints in the electrical category. Sort: electrical complaint count descending.
Run any specific VIN through the NHTSA recall lookup before purchase. TIPM-era Stellantis vehicles often have open recalls that current owners do not know about.
Top trouble spots 6 categories with 3+ complaints
What owners are saying recent NHTSA-filed complaints · verbatim
The contact owns a 2019 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that there was an unknown substance that leaked through the windshield and the trunk of the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to the dealer. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired and remained at the dealer. The…
I bought the car from Variety Auto in Abingdon VA, and then I had the accident on May 3rd 2022 I took it to the collision center and then after they repaired the body they noticed the airbag lights and the restraint system lights came on also, and when Ramey’s started doing the…
The component that failed is the internal microswitch/sensor within the gear shifter assembly. The specific part that requires replacement is often documented in General Motors Technical Service Bulletin (TSB) 19-NA-206 or 23-NA-119. The faulty component is available for…
The contact owns a 2019 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated while driving 65 MPH, the check engine warning light was illuminated, and the fuel gauge reflected EMPTY even though the tank was FULL. Additionally, the speed gauge was not operating correctly, and the temperature…
Estimate your repair exposure
Drag to your current mileage. Numbers are derived from this vehicle's complaint history.
Common questions
Is the 2019 Chevrolet Malibu reliable?
Mostly yes. With a reliability score of 7.4 out of 10 based on 187 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2019 Chevrolet Malibu is generally a sound vehicle. The areas to watch are listed in the top problem section above — most are budget items, not deal-breakers.
Should you avoid the 2019 Chevrolet Malibu?
The 2019 Chevrolet Malibu is acceptable, with specific caveats. Worth owning if you verify the specific issues below before you buy. The record behind that call: Electrical system: 51 complaints, classified severe; Reliability score 7.4/10 — around the segment average. This is our read of the federal complaint and recall data — not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection.
What's the most common problem on the 2019 Chevrolet Malibu?
Based on NHTSA records, the most-reported issue is powertrain, with 63 complaints filed. Typical failure occurs around 51,020 miles. Average repair cost runs about $2,500 at an independent shop.
What's the most expensive thing that goes wrong?
The powertrain is one of the costlier repair items. Average repair cost runs about $2,500 at an independent shop. Typical failure occurs around 51,020 miles. Catching early warning signs can sometimes extend life by 20–30,000 miles.
How do I check if my Chevrolet Malibu has open recalls?
Paste your VIN into the decoder at the top of this page. We pull live from NHTSA, so you'll see exactly which campaigns apply to your vehicle and whether the dealer has logged the fix. Recall repairs are always free regardless of mileage or warranty status.
Is an extended warranty worth it on a 2019 Chevrolet Malibu?
Math is straightforward: a quality service contract runs $1,800–3,500 over 3 years. With 187 complaints on file and the costliest repair averaging $2,500, one major failure more than pays for it. The catch is reading the contract — many providers exclude wear items and require pre-authorization, so cheaper plans are not always better value.