The Lemon IndexAll cars · Chevrolet Malibu · 2020
2020 Chevrolet Malibu. Advanced data.
The raw numbers: engines, recall campaign numbers, failure mileage and manufacturer communications.
Engines and drivetrains 2
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | City / hwy / combined | Fuel | Fuel cost/yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.5L 4-cyl turbo | Auto (variable gear ratios) | FWD | 29 / 36 / 32 | Regular | $1,950 |
| 2.0L 4-cyl turbo | Auto 9-spd | FWD | 22 / 32 / 26 | Premium | $3,000 |
EPA test versions for this model year. Fuel cost is the EPA's current estimate, not the price in that year.
Failure mileage by system
Half of owners who gave a mileage reported the problem between 41,000 and 89,200 miles. Median 68,000, from 45 complaints with a mileage.
| System | Median | Middle half | Complaints |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 65,000 | 23,500–85,000 | 13 |
| Transmission & drivetrain | 72,500 | 52,200–86,300 | 16 |
| Electrical | 22,300 | 15,200–58,000 | 6 |
| Brakes | 95,800 | 74,800–118,500 | 6 |
Mileage owners typed into their NHTSA complaint, all complaints for this model year. People report some problems late, so read it as a range.
Complaints by system
| System | Share of complaints |
|---|---|
| Engine | 49% |
| Electrical | 28% |
| Transmission & drivetrain | 19% |
| Brakes | 19% |
| Speed control | 14% |
One complaint can name more than one system, so shares can add to more than 100%.
Severity, all complaints
| Total | Crashes | Fires | Injuries | Deaths | Tows |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 198 | 10 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 19 |
As reported by owners to NHTSA. Not verified.
Recall campaigns 1
21V649000 Aug 2021 Seat Belts / Critical Fasteners
Defect. 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.
Risk. An improperly secured seat belt retractor may not function properly in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
Remedy. Dealers will inspect and tighten the rear seat belt retractors, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on September 17, 2021. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020 and Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006. GM's number for this recall is N212333380.
NHTSA investigations
| Status | Subject | Opened | Closed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Open | Dtn air bag inflator rupture | 2025 | – |
Manufacturer communications 772
Chevy filed 772 service communications for this car with NHTSA.
- This informational bulletin provides information on Internal Engine Noise or Damage After Oil…
- This engineering information (EI) is requesting to gather information from the field on a…
Crash ratings by version
| Version | Overall | Front | Side | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chevrolet Malibu 4 DR FWD | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★☆ |
Safety equipment
| Electronic stability | Forward collision warning | Lane departure warning |
|---|---|---|
| Standard | Optional | Optional |
YouTube repair topics
100 videos about the 2016–2024 Chevy Malibu, 15.1M views.
| Topic | Videos | Views |
|---|---|---|
| Infotainment, battery & electrical | 7 | 1.3M |
| Transmission & shifter | 3 | 726K |
| Intake, EGR & engine sensors | 5 | 686K |
| Gauges, lights & wiring | 5 | 584K |
| Heat, A/C & blend door | 2 | 240K |
| No-start: theft light, key & ignition | 3 | 212K |
| Brakes & ABS | 2 | 141K |
| Cooling system | 1 | 84K |
Nearby model years
Sources: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer communications; EPA fuel economy data; YouTube video titles. Complaints are owner reports, not proof of a defect.
Updated
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