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All cars · Chevrolet Malibu · Transmission

Chevrolet Malibu transmission problems by year.

Worst years for transmission complaints per car sold: 2018 (114 complaints), 2021 (26 complaints), 2009 (80 complaints). Fewest since 2010: 2024, 2023, 2015.

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

Transmission complaints owners filed with the U.S. government (NHTSA) for each model year, per 100,000 cars sold. A complaint counts when it's filed under the transmission, or under the power train and the owner describes the transmission (shifting, slipping, gears, CVT). It's an owner's report, not a confirmed defect, and older years have had longer to collect complaints.

20002210.6 per 100K sold2001137.4 per 100K sold200253 per 100K sold200375.7 per 100K sold20045530.6 per 100K sold20053818.7 per 100K sold20062615.9 per 100K sold20072418.7 per 100K sold20086838.1 per 100K sold20098049.5 per 100K sold20109748.8 per 100K sold20117536.6 per 100K sold20122612.3 per 100K sold20132110.5 per 100K sold20143518.6 per 100K sold20152010.3 per 100K sold201611148.7 per 100K sold20179048.4 per 100K sold201811478.9 per 100K sold20195138.7 per 100K sold20204947.7 per 100K sold20212666 per 100K sold20221513 per 100K sold202343.1 per 100K sold202432.6 per 100K sold

What owners describe

Lost power while driving12%
Hard or jerky shifting10%
Rolled away or park trouble8%
Delay or hesitation5%
Stuck in gear or limp mode5%
Transmission replaced5%

Share of this model's transmission complaints that mention each symptom. One complaint can mention several.

Transmission and power train recalls

  • 2018 2020

    The start/stop accumulator endcap may have missing bolts.

  • 2014 2014

    In the affected vehicles, the transmission shift cable adjuster may disengage from the transmission shift lever.

  • 2013 2015

    In the affected vehicles, the console transmission gear selection indicator may not illuminate the shift position selected.

  • 2010 2012

    On these vehicles, the tabs on the transmission shift cable end may fracture and separate.

  • 2009 2009

    GENERAL MOTORS IS RECALLING 276,729 MY 2009 BUICK ENCLAVE, CHEVROLET COBALT, HHR, MALIBU, TRAVERSE, GMC ACADIA, PONTIAC G5, G6 AND SATURN AURA AND OUTLOOK PASSENGER VEHICLES.

Recall repairs are free at any dealer. Check a specific car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

In owners' words

Auto stop just stoped working also when I put it on park it shows 'shift to park' but the vehicle is on park already.

2018 Chevrolet Malibu owner · NHTSA complaint

Shift to park message displays once car is placed in park. Car will not completely turn off once in park and ignition is shut off

2018 Chevrolet Malibu owner · NHTSA complaint

Quick answers

Which Chevrolet Malibu years have transmission problems?

By transmission complaints filed with NHTSA per car sold, the worst Chevrolet Malibu years are 2018, 2021, 2009.

What are common Chevrolet Malibu transmission problems?

Owners most often describe lost power while driving, hard or jerky shifting, rolled away or park trouble.

Which Chevrolet Malibu years have the fewest transmission complaints?

Since 2010, the Chevrolet Malibu years with the fewest transmission complaints per car sold are 2024, 2023, 2015.

See every problem, not just the transmission: Chevrolet Malibu reliability by year. How we count

Updated

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