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ProblemsByVin File / 2019-CHEVROLET-MALIBU NHTSA data synced 1 day ago
Chevrolet

2019 Chevrolet Malibu problems

The 2019 Chevrolet Malibu has 188 NHTSA owner complaints and 1 active recall campaign on file. Here's the breakdown — what's serious, what's noise, and what a working mechanic would actually do about it.

The 2019 Chevrolet Malibu has 188 NHTSA owner complaints and 1 recall on file (U.S. federal records, as of August 2026). The most-reported system is powertrain at 63 complaints, typically surfacing around 51,020 miles (~$2,500 to repair). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.

Chevrolet Malibu owner complaints by model year
Model yearOwner complaintsRecalls
2016 Malibu 859 9
2017 Malibu 720 4
2018 Malibu 692 6
2019 Malibu (this page) 188 1
2020 Malibu 192 1
2021 Malibu 81 2
2022 Malibu 90 1
2019 Chevrolet Malibu
Photo: Alexander-93 / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0 · representative photo of the Chevrolet Malibu
0 5 10
Reliability score
7.2 / 10

Solid reliability overall. Common issues are concentrated in a few systems.

0
Critical
1
Severe
0
Moderate
Should you avoid this 2019 Malibu?
Acceptable — with caveats

Worth owning if you verify the specific issues below before you buy.

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.

NHTSA crash-test safety ratings 4 / 5 overall

Overall ★★★★★ 4/5
Frontal crash ★★★★★ 5/5
Side crash ★★★★★ 4/5
Rollover ★★★★★ 4/5

Driver-assist features on the tested model: Electronic stability control: Standard · Forward collision warning: Optional · Lane departure warning: Optional

Source: NHTSA New Car Assessment Program — tested configuration: 2019 Chevrolet Malibu 4 DR FWD. Stars rate crash protection in NHTSA's tests, not overall reliability — see the owner-complaint data below for what actually goes wrong.

Buying a used 2019 Chevrolet Malibu? Check these first

Here's what this model is known to do — so you can inspect for it, price it in, or make the seller fix it before you sign.

What to inspect on this specific car

⚠ The one to take seriously: electrical is flagged severe on this model , showing up around 29,090 mi. Inspect it closely on a test drive.

Recalls to confirm are done

Run the VIN from the listing — 1 active recall on this model. Recall repairs are always free.

Verdict for buyers: 7.2/10 model. The priciest documented failure is engine (~$3,100) — get the seller's service records for it or inspect closely. Otherwise an average-risk used buy at a fair price.

We tell you what this model is known for and what to inspect — a vehicle-history report tells you what this exact car has been through. Smart buyers get both.

See the full pre-purchase inspection checklist →
✦ Ask the data · AI

Ask anything about your 2019 Chevrolet Malibu

A noise, a warning light, a repair quote, "should I buy this?" — get an answer grounded in this vehicle's actual NHTSA record, not generic advice.

Dash light, leak, worn part — snap it and we'll read it against this car's record.

Answers use this vehicle's NHTSA complaint & recall record — owner-reported and unverified, not a diagnosis. Verify anything safety-critical with a mechanic.

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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.

#YearMakeModelElectrical ComplaintsTotal ComplaintsSlug
12013FordEdge8322,419MyFord Touch infotainment, body control electrical
22005JeepGrand Cherokee8202,051TIPM (Totally Integrated Power Module) failures
32012JeepGrand Cherokee7741,632TIPM, ignition switch, fuel pump relay
42009DodgeJourney7431,594TIPM, instrument cluster
52011JeepGrand Cherokee7051,637TIPM continuation, electrical gremlins
62006JeepGrand Cherokee6641,297Early TIPM, harness wear
72011FordEdge6571,797MyFord Touch launch, body control
82010DodgeJourney6031,082TIPM-related, instrument cluster
92005ChevroletTrailblazer5901,733Hatch wiring, BCM, blower resistor
102006JeepCommander5821,782TIPM, ignition
112010DodgeGrand Caravan5771,038TIPM, sliding door modules
122007JeepGrand Cherokee5771,108TIPM, harness wear
132015Chrysler2005311,9799-speed transmission and electrical
142016HondaPilot5271,626Infotainment, dash electrical
152011ChryslerTown and Country507773TIPM, 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.

— Shop Foreman

Top trouble spots 6 categories with 3+ complaints

powertrain
63 reports · fails ~51,020 mi · avg $2,500
moderate
electrical
51 reports · fails ~29,090 mi · avg $850
severe
engine
20 reports · fails ~39,330 mi · avg $3,100
severe
brakes
15 reports · fails ~73,932 mi · avg $450
severe
cruise control
4 reports · fails ~39,914 mi · avg $600
moderate
airbags
3 reports · fails ~21,898 mi · avg $1,100
moderate
Buyer's checklist
Going to look at one? Use the pre-purchase inspection list.
Generated from this 2019 Malibu's actual NHTSA complaint history — every item points at a documented failure pattern on this exact vehicle, not generic walkaround filler.
See the checklist ->
Honest Calculator
Should you buy an extended warranty on this 2019 Malibu?
We pulled the math: risk-weighted exposure, typical contract cost, and our verdict on whether coverage pencils out for this specific vehicle.
See the calculator ->

What owners are saying recent NHTSA-filed complaints · verbatim

2019 Malibu · visibility
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…
12/27/2021 · at 21,000 mi · NHTSA ODI #11445065.0
2019 Malibu · electrical Crash
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…
12/12/2022 · NHTSA ODI #11496990.0 · see electrical pattern →
2019 Malibu · powertrain
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…
12/10/2025 · NHTSA ODI #11704338.0 · see powertrain pattern →
2019 Malibu · electrical
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…
12/08/2021 · at 45,000 mi · NHTSA ODI #11443033.0 · see electrical pattern →
View all 188 owner complaints →
Had a problem with your 2019 Chevrolet Malibu? File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free and official — owner filings are what build the federal safety record behind this page.

Estimate your repair exposure

Drag to your current mileage. Numbers are derived from this vehicle's complaint history.

0 mi 200k mi
At 80,000 miles
Likely repair cost in next 24 months
$0

Active recalls showing 1 of 1

severe NHTSA 21V649000 August 20, 2021

General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2016-2021 Chevrolet Malibu and 2019-2021 Cadillac XT4 vehicles

An improperly secured seat belt retractor may not function properly in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.

Fix: 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.

Common questions

Is the 2019 Chevrolet Malibu reliable?

Mostly yes. With a reliability score of 7.2 out of 10 based on 188 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 7.2/10 — around the segment average; 1 recall campaign on file. This is our read of the federal complaint and recall data — not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection.

What should I check before buying a used 2019 Chevrolet Malibu?

Inspect the powertrain first — it's the most-reported issue on this model, with 63 owner complaints filed. Typical failure occurs around 51,020 miles. Average repair cost runs about $2,500 at an independent shop. Also confirm any open recalls have been completed by running the VIN, and ask for service records covering the problem areas listed above.

Is the 2019 Chevrolet Malibu a good used car to buy?

It scores 7.2 out of 10 on our NHTSA-based read of 188 owner complaints. The main thing to watch is powertrain. Typical failure occurs around 51,020 miles. Priced fairly and clean on inspection, it's a reasonable used buy. Our data covers what this model is known for — pair it with a vehicle-history report on the VIN to see what that specific car has been through.

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 188 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.

Related

Other model years
2025 Malibu2024 Malibu2023 Malibu2022 Malibu2021 Malibu2020 Malibu All Malibu years →
Compare against
vs. 2019 honda Accord vs. 2019 toyota Camry vs. 2019 ford Fusion vs. 2019 nissan Altima
Problem categories across the fleet
powertrain across all vehicles electrical across all vehicles engine across all vehicles brakes across all vehicles cruise control across all vehicles airbags across all vehicles
Recall and complaint data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) public records database, last synced 1 day ago. Verify the raw federal record at nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2019/Chevrolet/Malibu. Editorial commentary written by ProblemsByVin contributors and reviewed by ASE-certified mechanics. We are not affiliated with Chevrolet. Some links on this page are affiliate links and we may earn a commission if you complete a quote or purchase.
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