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Chevrolet Malibu.

The best Chevrolet Malibu years are 2022, 2014, 2015. Years to avoid: 2004, 2018, 2017. Across 2010-2022, it has a Lemon Index of 99, where 100 is the average car and lower is better.

Reliability by year, 2000 to 2024.

99Lemon Index · 100 = average car

About average. Whole model, 2010-2022.

Best year 2022 · Worst year 2004

Chevrolet Malibu
Photo shows a 2017 Chevrolet Malibu. Kevauto, Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0 · background removed

Every year. Lower is better. Tap a year for its full report.

20001651.6× the complaints20011251.2× the complaints2002821.2× fewer complaints2003101about average20042212.2× the complaints20051511.5× the complaints20061351.4× the complaints2007811.2× fewer complaints2008105about average200992about average2010821.2× fewer complaints2011761.3× fewer complaints2012871.1× fewer complaints201393about average2014432.3× fewer complaints2015462.2× fewer complaints20161561.6× the complaints20171691.7× the complaints20182172.2× the complaints2019571.8× fewer complaints2020811.2× fewer complaints2021621.6× fewer complaints2022402.5× fewer complaints202346early read · 2.2× fewer complaints202441early read · 2.4× fewer complaints

Scores before 2010 are rough: fewer owners filed complaints back then.

Best years to buy

2022.

2022402.5× fewer complaints than average2014432.3× fewer complaints than average2015462.2× fewer complaints than average

Years to avoid

2004.

20042212.2× the average car's complaints20182172.2× the average car's complaints20171691.7× the average car's complaints

Compare the Chevrolet Malibu.

Chevrolet MalibuToyota Camryvs Toyota CamryChevrolet MalibuHonda Civicvs Honda CivicChevrolet MalibuToyota Corollavs Toyota CorollaChevrolet MalibuHonda Accordvs Honda Accord

vs Toyota Camry · vs Honda Civic · vs Toyota Corolla · vs Honda Accord · vs Nissan Altima · vs Ford Fusion · vs Hyundai Elantra · vs Hyundai Sonata

Quick answers.

Is the Chevrolet Malibu a good car?

It is about average, by owner complaints to the government per car sold (2010-2022: Lemon Index 99; 100 is average). Some years are much better than others: the best is 2022 and the worst is 2004.

What are the best Chevrolet Malibu years to buy?

By owner complaints per car sold: 2022, 2014, 2015.

What Chevrolet Malibu years should you stay away from?

The years with the most complaints per car sold: 2004, 2018, 2017.

How many recalls does the Chevrolet Malibu have?

115 safety recalls across the 25 model years we track. Most: 2013 (10), 2004 (9), 2006 (9). Each year's page lists them.

What are the most common Chevrolet Malibu problems?

Across every year, owners' complaints to the government name steering, electrical and engine most. Some years are much worse than others: see the chart above.

Every year in one table
YearIndexCompared with averageComplaintsTop complaintRecallsCrash testMPG
20001651.6× the average car's complaints377service brakes, hydraulic (62%)5—21–23
20011251.2× the average car's complaints249service brakes, hydraulic (31%)4—21
2002821.2× fewer complaints than average142lights (47%)4—21
2003101about average115service brakes, hydraulic (52%)3—21
20042212.2× the average car's complaints338steering (115%)9—22–25
20051511.5× the average car's complaints213steering (52%)6—23–25
20061351.4× the average car's complaints164steering (70%)9—19–24
2007811.2× fewer complaints than average99steering (64%)6—18–25
2008105about average186steering (59%)5—20–27
200992about average119transmission & drivetrain (20%)6—20–29
2010821.2× fewer complaints than average179airbags (25%)4—20–29
2011761.3× fewer complaints than average185electrical (25%)4★★★★☆20–26
2012871.1× fewer complaints than average203electrical (26%)3★★★★☆20–26
201393about average236electrical (36%)10★★★★★24–29
2014432.3× fewer complaints than average93brakes (23%)6★★★★★24–29
2015462.2× fewer complaints than average88electrical (27%)3★★★★★24–29
20161561.6× the average car's complaints354engine (32%)9★★★★★26–46
20171691.7× the average car's complaints354engine (32%)4★★★★★26–46
20182172.2× the average car's complaints347engine (46%)6★★★★★26–46
2019571.8× fewer complaints than average79electrical (35%)1★★★★☆26–46
2020811.2× fewer complaints than average81engine (49%)1★★★★☆26–32
2021621.6× fewer complaints than average37transmission & drivetrain (32%)2★★★★☆26–32
2022402.5× fewer complaints than average57electrical (40%)1★★★★☆26–32
2023462.2× fewer complaints than average71backup camera (23%)2★★★★★30
2024412.4× fewer complaints than average43electrical (42%)2★★★★★31

Lemon Index = safety complaints filed with the government within 3 years, per car sold, against the average car of the same model year. 100 is average, lower is better. How it works

Chevrolet Malibu transmission problems by year →

Updated

Free to use with credit: Source: The Lemon Index (lemonindex.com). Get the data