2015 Chevrolet Malibu Problems

Below Average Complaints

Real NHTSA owner complaints for the 2015 Chevrolet Malibu.

20142016
Complaints
389
per 10K Sold
20.0
US Sales
194,854
Crashes
30
Fires
17
Injuries
18
Fatalities
2
Recalls
3

Worst 2015 Chevrolet Malibu Problems

Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.

#169 complaints

Engine Problems

Avg mileage:67,606 mi
Fires:3
#264 complaints

Electrical Faults

Avg mileage:55,213 mi
Crash-related:2
Fires:7
#346 complaints

Airbags

Avg mileage:50,081 mi
Crash-related:7
Fires:1
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All Problems by Category

Every NHTSA complaint category for the 2015 Chevrolet Malibu.

Engine Problems
69
complaints
Crashes
Fires
3
Avg Miles
67,606
Electrical Faults
64
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
7
Avg Miles
55,213
Airbags
46
complaints
Crashes
7
Fires
1
Avg Miles
50,081
Transmission / Drivetrain
28
complaints
Crashes
3
Fires
1
Avg Miles
78,470
Unintended Acceleration
28
complaints
Crashes
4
Fires
Avg Miles
84,364
Fuel System
17
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
50,766
Electronic Stability Control
16
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
56,534
Brakes
15
complaints
Crashes
3
Fires
Avg Miles
42,952
Body Structure
12
complaints
Crashes
3
Fires
Avg Miles
49,795
Seat-Related Issues
10
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
33,233
Wipers & Visibility
9
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
1
Avg Miles
44,219
Seat Belt Issues
8
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
Avg Miles
61,521
Steering Defects
8
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
1
Avg Miles
74,418
Headlight/Taillight Failures
4
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Sunroof/Moonroof
3
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Suspension Failures
2
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Tire Defects
2
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Air Bags: Air Bag/Restraint Control Module
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Air Bags:Srs Malfunction Warning Lamp/Light
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Electrical System:Ignition:Anti-Theft:Control Module
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Electrical System:Ignition:Anti-Theft:Immobilizer/Proximity:Key/Sender
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System:Pump
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Equipment:Appliance:Air Conditioner
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Equipment:Electrical:Radio/Tape Deck/Cd Etc.
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Forward Collision Avoidance: Automatic Emergency Braking
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Automatic Transmission
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Power Train:Automatic Transmission:Control Module (Tcm/Pcm/Tecm)
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Structure:Body:Door
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles
Visibility:Defroster/Defogger/Hvac System
1
complaints
Crashes
Fires
Avg Miles

Search Owner Complaints

Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 2015 Chevrolet Malibu. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.

Recalls for 2015 Chevrolet Malibu

3 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting ~95,825 vehicles.

16V502000Electrical System:ignition · Power Train:automatic Transmission:control Module (tcm/pcm/tecm)
~8,367 affected

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2016-2017 Buick Verano and 2016 Chevrolet Malibu as the electronic park lock lever may allow the ignition key to be removed without the transmission being in PARK. Also, certain 2013 Buick Encore, 2011 Buick Regal, 2013-2014 Buick Verano, 2011-2016 Chevrolet Cruze, 2010-2013 Chevrolet Equinox 2013-2015 Chevrolet Malibu, and 2011-2013 GMC Terrain vehicles may have been serviced with similar defective replacement electronic park lock levers. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 114, "Theft Protection and Rollaway Prevention."

15V666000Air Bags:side/window
~395 affected

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2015 Buick LaCrosse, Cadillac XTS, Chevrolet Camaro, Equinox, Malibu, and GMC Terrain vehicles. The affected vehicles have front seat-mounted side impact air bags whose inflator may rupture upon its deployment.

15V164000Sunroof/Moonroof
~87,063 affected

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2013-2015 Chevrolet Malibu vehicles October 24, 2011, to March 5, 2015. In the affected vehicles, the Slide or Tilt switch for the roof panel may not be adequately recessed to prevent the switch from inadvertently being pressed. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 118, "Power-Operated Window, Partition, and Roof Panel Systems."

Other Chevrolet Malibu Years

2015 Chevrolet Malibu — FAQ

Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.

Is the 2015 Chevrolet Malibu reliable?
Verdict: Below Average Complaints. The 2015 Chevrolet Malibu has 389 NHTSA complaints, 30 crash-related, and 3 recall campaigns. The most common issue is Engine Problems with 69 complaints. Source: NHTSA via VinItel.
What are common problems with the 2015 Chevrolet Malibu?
Top reported problems: Engine Problems (69 complaints, avg 67,606 mi); Electrical Faults (64 complaints, avg 55,213 mi); Airbags (46 complaints, avg 50,081 mi). Every complaint is filed by an owner with NHTSA — this is raw reported data, not editorial opinion.
At what mileage do problems start on the 2015 Chevrolet Malibu?
The weighted average mileage at time of complaint is about 60,269 miles. Some components fail earlier, some later — check the "All Problems by Category" table above for per-issue averages.
How safe is the 2015 Chevrolet Malibu?
NHTSA complaints for the 2015 Chevrolet Malibu include 30 crash-related reports, 17 fire reports, 18 injuries, and 2 fatalities. These are owner-reported incidents, not official crash-test ratings — a complaint being filed doesn't confirm a defect, but clusters around specific components are worth investigating.
Does the 2015 Chevrolet Malibu have any recalls?
Yes — 3 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 95,825 vehicles. Recalls are free to fix at the dealer. Always verify by VIN whether the specific car you're looking at has had its recalls addressed.
Should I buy a 2015 Chevrolet Malibu?
Fewer complaints than typical for this model. That's a good sign, but every individual car is different — the VIN still tells you what happened to this specific one.

Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) complaint and recall databases, aggregated by VinItel.

Wider context: See the full Chevrolet Malibu reliability report with year-by-year comparison and generation analysis.

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