2020 Chevrolet Malibu Problems

Below Average Complaints

Real NHTSA owner complaints for the 2020 Chevrolet Malibu.

20192021
Complaints
310
per 10K Sold
30.2
US Sales
102,652
Crashes
15
Fires
0
Injuries
9
Fatalities
1
Recalls
1

Worst 2020 Chevrolet Malibu Problems

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

#157 complaints

Engine Problems

Avg mileage:60,844 mi
#253 complaints

Electrical Faults

Avg mileage:31,881 mi
Crash-related:1
#350 complaints

Transmission / Drivetrain

Avg mileage:70,455 mi
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All Problems by Category

Every NHTSA complaint category for the 2020 Chevrolet Malibu.

Engine Problems
57
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
60,844
Electrical Faults
53
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
31,881
Transmission / Drivetrain
50
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
70,455
Brakes
36
complaints
Crashes
3
Fires
—
Avg Miles
67,545
Unintended Acceleration
16
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
80,000
Fuel System
14
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Steering Defects
13
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
61,000
Airbags
4
complaints
Crashes
4
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Hydraulic Brakes
4
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Gasoline Fuel System
3
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Electronic Stability Control
2
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Body Structure
2
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Suspension Failures
2
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Engine & Cooling
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Crank/Camshaft Position Sensor
1
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline:Turbo/Supercharger
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Headlight/Taillight Failures
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Forward-Collision Avoidance Issues
1
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Fuel System, Gasoline:Fuel Injection System:Throttlebody/Manifold
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
—
Power Train:Automatic Transmission:Lever And Linkage:Floor Shift
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Service Brakes, Air:Antilock:Abs Warning Light
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Power Assist:Vacuum:Hoses, Lines/Piping, And Fittings
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Traction Control System
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Vehicle Speed Control:Throttle
1
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—

Search Owner Complaints

Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 2020 Chevrolet Malibu. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.

Recalls for 2020 Chevrolet Malibu

1 NHTSA recall campaign affecting ~402 vehicles.

21V649000Seat Belts:rear/other:retractor · Seat Belts:critical Fasteners
~402 affected

General 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 Years

1981198219831986198919971998199920002001200220032004200520062007200820092010201120122013201420152016201720182019202020212022202320242025

2020 Chevrolet Malibu — FAQ

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

Is the 2020 Chevrolet Malibu reliable?
Verdict: Below Average Complaints. The 2020 Chevrolet Malibu has 310 NHTSA complaints, 15 crash-related, and 1 recall campaign. The most common issue is Engine Problems with 57 complaints. Source: NHTSA via VinItel.
What are common problems with the 2020 Chevrolet Malibu?
Top reported problems: Engine Problems (57 complaints, avg 60,844 mi); Electrical Faults (53 complaints, avg 31,881 mi); Transmission / Drivetrain (50 complaints, avg 70,455 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 2020 Chevrolet Malibu?
The weighted average mileage at time of complaint is about 58,601 miles. Some components fail earlier, some later — check the "All Problems by Category" table above for per-issue averages.
How safe is the 2020 Chevrolet Malibu?
NHTSA complaints for the 2020 Chevrolet Malibu include 15 crash-related reports, 0 fire reports, 9 injuries, and 1 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 2020 Chevrolet Malibu have any recalls?
Yes — 1 NHTSA recall campaign affecting an estimated 402 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 2020 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.

Check Your Specific 2020 Chevrolet Malibu

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