2019 Chevrolet Malibu problems and recalls

Owners filed 101 complaints on the 2019 Chevrolet Malibu in the last three full years, out of 189 on record. The most cited component is the Power Train.

189
Complaints
1
Recalls
8
Crash reports
1
Fire reports
7
Injuries
53.6
Severity index

Severity index 53.6 Medium. The index weights crashes, fires, injuries and fatalities per 100 complaints. How it is calculated.

Middle half of all tracked vehiclesThis vehicle: 53.6p25 46p75 80cleanestworst
Severity index against the quartile range for all tracked vehicles.

Ranked 63 of 123 by severity index among 2019 vehicles with at least 40 complaints, highest first. 49% of those vehicles scored lower. Full 2019 ranking.

Components cited in complaints

Power TrainPower Train: 66 complaints (34.9%)66 35%EngineEngine: 62 complaints (32.8%)62 33%Electrical SystemElectrical System: 61 complaints (32.3%)61 32%Unknown Or OtherUnknown Or Other: 36 complaints (19.0%)36 19%Service BrakesService Brakes: 24 complaints (12.7%)24 13%Fuel/Propulsion SystemFuel/Propulsion System: 17 complaints (9.0%)17 9%Vehicle Speed ControlVehicle Speed Control: 12 complaints (6.3%)12 6%Air BagsAir Bags: 6 complaints (3.2%)6 3%
A single complaint can cite more than one component, so shares total over 100%.
ComponentComplaintsShare of complaints citing it
POWER TRAIN6634.9%
ENGINE6232.8%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM6132.3%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER3619.0%
SERVICE BRAKES2412.7%
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM179.0%
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL126.3%
AIR BAGS63.2%

Complaints filed per year

021422018: 12019: 62020: 172021: 162022: 382023: 422024: 192025: 402026: 10 (partial year)18192021222342242526
Complaints by the calendar year they were filed. The hatched bar is the current year to date.
YearComplaints
20181
20196
202017
202116
202238
202342
202419
202540
2026 (year to date)10
Filings in 2023 to 2025 ran 1.4x those in 2020 to 2022 (101 against 71).

Recall campaigns

CampaignReportedComponentSummary
21V64900020/08/2021SEAT BELTS:CRITICAL FASTENERSGeneral 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.

Other Chevrolet Malibu model years

Severity index for every other model year on file. Compare all 13 years side by side.

Source. NHTSA public complaint and recall APIs (api.nhtsa.gov), retrieved 2026-09-06. Complaints are unverified consumer reports. Totals vary with units sold and years on the road. Not affiliated with NHTSA or any manufacturer.