Chevrolet Malibu problems

1 safety recall. 5 owner complaints. We mapped every trouble spot before you sign the papers.

Reliability score

9.0 / 10

Above-average reliability for the segment. Few systemic issues on file.

Critical

Severe

Moderate

What owners are saying recent NHTSA-filed complaints · verbatim

2025 Malibu · powertrain

Vehicle was parked, all windows and doors closed. Key remained out of the vehicle. Car parked for several hours without being touched, when suddenly it began to roll forward on its own. The car continued forward and quickly went down a short hill into a rocky area of a field…

10/18/2025 · NHTSA ODI #11694295.0

2025 Malibu · other

Backup camera has blurred vision when in R, the view on the dashboard is extremely blurry and seems to be condensed/ wet. Please check and advise.

08/15/2025 · NHTSA ODI #11680998.0

2025 Malibu · electrical

Chevy sold me a vehicle knowing that the radio was faulty and known to glitching out. I took it to the dealer and they replicated the problem. GM has known about the issue since 9/2024 when the issued the bulletin about the problem. They sold me the vehicle knowing that the…

04/29/2025 · NHTSA ODI #11657591.0

2025 Malibu · other

The contact owns a 2025 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 26V212000 (Back Over Prevention); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The vehicle was taken to the dealer but was not diagnosed or repaired. The…

04/09/2026 · NHTSA ODI #11730175.0

Active recalls showing 1 of 1

severe NHTSA 26V212000 02/04/2026

General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2023-2025 Chevrolet Malibu vehicles

A rearview image that does not display correctly reduces the driver's view behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.

Fix: Dealers will inspect, and if necessary, replace the rearview camera, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed May 18, 2026. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is N262551720. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on April 2, 2026.

Common questions

Is the 2025 Chevrolet Malibu reliable?

Mostly yes. With a reliability score of 9.0 out of 10 based on 5 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2025 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.

What's the most common problem on the 2025 Chevrolet Malibu?

No problem area has crossed our reporting threshold yet, which is a good sign for this vehicle.

What's the most expensive thing that goes wrong?

Major repair items haven't been flagged often enough on this vehicle to single one out.

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 2025 Chevrolet Malibu?

Math is straightforward: a quality service contract runs $1,800–3,500 over 3 years. With 5 complaints on file, 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 aren't always better value.

Related vehicles

Recall and complaint data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) public records database, last synced 2 days ago. 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.