Recall Register

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Chevrolet Malibu

Model years 1964–2025 · 66 recall campaigns · 14,112 complaints · 26 investigations · filed by GENERAL MOTORS CORP.

The Chevrolet Malibu appears on NHTSA's register for model years 1964 to 2025: 66 recall campaigns (124 model-year entries) and 14,112 consumer complaints.

The component named most often in complaints is steering (217.3 per 1,000 component mentions), followed by electrical system (157.9).

The 2004 model year has the most complaints (1,097). Recall campaigns peaked in 2014 with 7; complaints were received in the largest number in 2014 (2,011). Within Chevrolet, this line ranks 1 of 177 by total complaints.

Complaints are consumer reports and have not been verified by NHTSA.

Model years

Model yearRecallsComplaintsvs line averageUnits in campaigns
1964 Chevrolet Malibu NHTSA record010%—
1973 Chevrolet Malibu NHTSA record100%3,094
1974 Chevrolet Malibu NHTSA record010%—
1975 Chevrolet Malibu NHTSA record021%—
1977 Chevrolet Malibu NHTSA record100%265,068
1978 Chevrolet Malibu721%12,963,280
1979 Chevrolet Malibu541%10,799,001
1980 Chevrolet Malibu551%10,817,618
1981 Chevrolet Malibu231%5,840,268
1982 Chevrolet Malibu221%98,794
1983 Chevrolet Malibu210%23,775
1986 Chevrolet Malibu NHTSA record010%—
1989 Chevrolet Malibu NHTSA record031%—
1997 Chevrolet Malibu4436130%6,773,527
1998 Chevrolet Malibu3974290%6,757,428
1999 Chevrolet Malibu1786234%5,877,718
2000 Chevrolet Malibu3914272%6,591,676
2001 Chevrolet Malibu2714213%6,548,458
2002 Chevrolet Malibu2561167%5,887,886
2003 Chevrolet Malibu2549163%5,970,581
2004 Chevrolet Malibu61,097326%5,146,442
2005 Chevrolet Malibu3895266%4,944,814
2006 Chevrolet Malibu6979291%5,017,592
2007 Chevrolet Malibu3871259%3,641,270
2008 Chevrolet Malibu4832248%5,371,054
2009 Chevrolet Malibu51,085323%4,516,747
2010 Chevrolet Malibu31,048312%2,867,909
2011 Chevrolet Malibu3697207%2,878,714
2012 Chevrolet Malibu2589175%2,877,569
2013 Chevrolet Malibu9448133%500,178
2014 Chevrolet Malibu614242%286,756
2015 Chevrolet Malibu310331%95,825
2016 Chevrolet Malibu922768%14,669
2017 Chevrolet Malibu411334%1,476
2018 Chevrolet Malibu6247%583,378
2019 Chevrolet Malibu NHTSA record131%402
2020 Chevrolet Malibu NHTSA record100%402
2021 Chevrolet Malibu200%623
2022 Chevrolet Malibu NHTSA record100%2,108
2023 Chevrolet Malibu200%278,987
2024 Chevrolet Malibu200%276,901
2025 Chevrolet Malibu NHTSA record100%276,879

"vs line average" is the model year's complaints as a share of the line's average per model year (100% = average). A campaign covering several model years counts once per year. Model years with one campaign and fewer than 25 complaints are listed but have no page of their own; the NHTSA link opens the agency's record.

Components most reported

Per 1,000 component mentions across all Chevrolet Malibu complaints (20,844 mentions).

Campaigns by year reported

90
94
98
02
06
10
14
18
22
26
Distinct NHTSA campaigns naming the Chevrolet Malibu, by the year the Part 573 report was received.

Complaints by year received

95
99
03
07
11
15
19
23
Complaints about any Chevrolet Malibu model year, by year received.

Other Chevrolet model lines

All 177 Chevrolet model lines

Questions and answers

Which Chevrolet Malibu model years have the most recalls?

2013 (9), 2016 (9), 1978 (7). Across model years 1964–2025 there are 66 distinct campaigns.

Which Chevrolet Malibu model year has the most complaints?

2004, with 1,097 of the line's 14,112 complaints. Newer model years have had less time to accumulate reports.

What do owners of the Chevrolet Malibu complain about?

steering (217.3 per 1,000 mentions), electrical system (157.9 per 1,000 mentions), exterior lighting (80 per 1,000 mentions). Complaints are consumer reports and have not been verified by NHTSA.

Where does this data come from?

NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation recall and complaint flat files, public domain, dated 24 Sep 2026 and 15 May 2019.

Provenance

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation recall, complaint and investigation flat files, public domain, dated 24 Sep 2026 and 15 May 2019. Model names are as NHTSA records them; variants such as "Accord" and "Accord Hybrid" are separate lines. See the methodology.