2021 Chevrolet Malibu problems and recalls

Owners have filed 88 complaints on the 2021 Chevrolet Malibu, and NHTSA has issued 2 recalls. The most cited component is the Unknown Or Other (30 complaints).

88
Complaints
2
Recalls
0
Crash reports
1
Fire reports
1
Injuries
39.9
Severity index

Severity index 39.9 Low. The index weights crashes, fires, injuries and fatalities per 100 complaints. How it is calculated.

Middle half of all tracked vehiclesThis vehicle: 39.9p25 46p75 80cleanestworst
Severity index against the quartile range for all tracked vehicles.

Ranked 84 of 92 by severity index among 2021 vehicles with at least 40 complaints, highest first. 9% of those vehicles scored lower. Full 2021 ranking.

Components cited in complaints

Unknown Or OtherUnknown Or Other: 30 complaints (34.1%)30 34%Electrical SystemElectrical System: 29 complaints (33.0%)29 33%Power TrainPower Train: 28 complaints (31.8%)28 32%EngineEngine: 14 complaints (15.9%)14 16%Fuel/Propulsion SystemFuel/Propulsion System: 8 complaints (9.1%)8 9%Air BagsAir Bags: 6 complaints (6.8%)6 7%SuspensionSuspension: 3 complaints (3.4%)3 3%Back Over PreventionBack Over Prevention: 3 complaints (3.4%)3 3%
A single complaint can cite more than one component, so shares total over 100%.
ComponentComplaintsShare of complaints citing it
UNKNOWN OR OTHER3034.1%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM2933.0%
POWER TRAIN2831.8%
ENGINE1415.9%
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM89.1%
AIR BAGS66.8%
SUSPENSION33.4%
BACK OVER PREVENTION33.4%

Complaints filed per year

014282021: 42022: 12023: 82024: 242025: 232026: 28 (partial year)21222324252628
Complaints by the calendar year they were filed. The hatched bar is the current year to date.
YearComplaints
20214
20221
20238
202424
202523
2026 (year to date)28
Filings in 2023 to 2025 ran 11.0x those in 2021 to 2022 (55 against 5).

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.
22V35900019/05/2022SEATSGeneral Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2021 Chevrolet Malibu, 2022 Chevrolet Equinox, Blazer and Cadillac XT4 vehicles. The driver's seat cushion frame may have an improper weld in the power tilt-adjustment mechanism.

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.