MYRModel Year Report

Chevrolet Malibu — years to avoid

Data updated 2026-10-09 · Complaints are unverified owner reports filed with NHTSA.

1 model year to avoid, 8 to watch and 9 best bets. Tap a year to see its problem areas, recalls and buy-smart checklist.

Avoid1 year

Caution8 years

Best bets9 years

Complaint history

1980: 5 complaints, Not enough data 1980 1981: 3 complaints, Not enough data 1982: 2 complaints, Not enough data 1983: 1 complaint, Not enough data 1986: 1 complaint, Not enough data 1986 1989: 3 complaints, Not enough data 1992 1997: 443 complaints, Recommended 1998: 976 complaints, Caution 1998 1999: 789 complaints, Recommended 2000: 922 complaints, Recommended 2001: 721 complaints, Recommended 2002: 567 complaints, Recommended 2003: 569 complaints, Recommended 2004: 1,147 complaints, Caution 2005: 975 complaints, Caution 2006: 1,116 complaints, Caution 2007: 977 complaints, Caution 2008: 987 complaints, Caution 2009: 1,509 complaints, Avoid 2009 2010: 1,360 complaints, Caution 2011: 978 complaints, Caution 2012: 907 complaints, Recommended 2013: 836 complaints, Recommended 2014: 351 complaints, Recommended 2015: 270 complaints, Recommended 2016: 836 complaints, Recommended 2016 2017: 703 complaints, Recommended 2018: 697 complaints, Recommended 2019: 190 complaints, Recommended 2020: 196 complaints, Recommended 2021: 88 complaints, Recommended 2022: 97 complaints, Recommended 2022 2023: 66 complaints, Recommended 2024: 41 complaints, Recommended 2025: 10 complaints, Not enough data 2009 · 1,509
1980: 5 complaints, Not enough data 1980 1981: 3 complaints, Not enough data 1982: 2 complaints, Not enough data 1983: 1 complaint, Not enough data 1984 1986: 1 complaint, Not enough data 1988 1989: 3 complaints, Not enough data 1992 1996 1997: 443 complaints, Recommended 1998: 976 complaints, Caution 1999: 789 complaints, Recommended 2000: 922 complaints, Recommended 2000 2001: 721 complaints, Recommended 2002: 567 complaints, Recommended 2003: 569 complaints, Recommended 2004: 1,147 complaints, Caution 2004 2005: 975 complaints, Caution 2006: 1,116 complaints, Caution 2007: 977 complaints, Caution 2008: 987 complaints, Caution 2009: 1,509 complaints, Avoid 2009 2010: 1,360 complaints, Caution 2011: 978 complaints, Caution 2012: 907 complaints, Recommended 2013: 836 complaints, Recommended 2014: 351 complaints, Recommended 2015: 270 complaints, Recommended 2016: 836 complaints, Recommended 2016 2017: 703 complaints, Recommended 2018: 697 complaints, Recommended 2019: 190 complaints, Recommended 2020: 196 complaints, Recommended 2020 2021: 88 complaints, Recommended 2022: 97 complaints, Recommended 2023: 66 complaints, Recommended 2024: 41 complaints, Recommended 2024 2025: 10 complaints, Not enough data 2009 · 1,509
1980: 5 complaints, Not enough data 1980 1981: 3 complaints, Not enough data 1982: 2 complaints, Not enough data 1982 1983: 1 complaint, Not enough data 1984 1986: 1 complaint, Not enough data 1986 1988 1989: 3 complaints, Not enough data 1990 1992 1994 1996 1997: 443 complaints, Recommended 1998: 976 complaints, Caution 1998 1999: 789 complaints, Recommended 2000: 922 complaints, Recommended 2000 2001: 721 complaints, Recommended 2002: 567 complaints, Recommended 2002 2003: 569 complaints, Recommended 2004: 1,147 complaints, Caution 2004 2005: 975 complaints, Caution 2006: 1,116 complaints, Caution 2006 2007: 977 complaints, Caution 2008: 987 complaints, Caution 2009: 1,509 complaints, Avoid 2009 2010: 1,360 complaints, Caution 2011: 978 complaints, Caution 2012: 907 complaints, Recommended 2012 2013: 836 complaints, Recommended 2014: 351 complaints, Recommended 2014 2015: 270 complaints, Recommended 2016: 836 complaints, Recommended 2016 2017: 703 complaints, Recommended 2018: 697 complaints, Recommended 2018 2019: 190 complaints, Recommended 2020: 196 complaints, Recommended 2020 2021: 88 complaints, Recommended 2022: 97 complaints, Recommended 2022 2023: 66 complaints, Recommended 2024: 41 complaints, Recommended 2024 2025: 10 complaints, Not enough data 2009 · 1,509
  • Avoid
  • Caution
  • Recommended
  • Not enough data

Every year, ranked

Newest first. Find your year, then open it for the full report.

YearRankingComplaintsCompared with a typical year
2025 ○ Not enough data 10 Only 10 complaints on file — too few for a fair verdict.
2024 ▲ Recommended 41 This year had at least 30% fewer complaints than this model's typical year.
2023 ▲ Recommended 66 This year had at least 30% fewer complaints than this model's typical year.
2022 ▲ Recommended 97 This year had at least 30% fewer complaints than this model's typical year.
2021 ▲ Recommended 88 This year had at least 30% fewer complaints than this model's typical year.
2020 ▲ Recommended 196 This year had at least 30% fewer complaints than this model's typical year.
2019 ▲ Recommended 190 This year had at least 30% fewer complaints than this model's typical year.
2018 ● Recommended 697 This year's complaint volume is within 30% of this model's typical year.
2017 ● Recommended 703 This year's complaint volume is within 30% of this model's typical year.
2016 ● Recommended 836 This year's complaint volume is within 30% of this model's typical year.
2015 ▲ Recommended 270 This year had at least 30% fewer complaints than this model's typical year.
2014 ▲ Recommended 351 This year had at least 30% fewer complaints than this model's typical year.
2013 ● Recommended 836 This year's complaint volume is within 30% of this model's typical year.
2012 ● Recommended 907 This year's complaint volume is within 30% of this model's typical year.
2011 ◆ Caution 978 This year had 30% to 100% more complaints than this model's typical year.
2010 ◆ Caution 1,360 This year had 30% to 100% more complaints than this model's typical year.
2009 ■ Avoid 1,509 This year had more than double the complaints of this model's typical year.
2008 ◆ Caution 987 This year had 30% to 100% more complaints than this model's typical year.
2007 ◆ Caution 977 This year had 30% to 100% more complaints than this model's typical year.
2006 ◆ Caution 1,116 This year had 30% to 100% more complaints than this model's typical year.
2005 ◆ Caution 975 This year had 30% to 100% more complaints than this model's typical year.
2004 ◆ Caution 1,147 This year had 30% to 100% more complaints than this model's typical year.
2003 ● Recommended 569 This year's complaint volume is within 30% of this model's typical year.
2002 ● Recommended 567 This year's complaint volume is within 30% of this model's typical year.
2001 ● Recommended 721 This year's complaint volume is within 30% of this model's typical year.
2000 ● Recommended 922 This year's complaint volume is within 30% of this model's typical year.
1999 ● Recommended 789 This year's complaint volume is within 30% of this model's typical year.
1998 ◆ Caution 976 This year had 30% to 100% more complaints than this model's typical year.
1997 ▲ Recommended 443 This year had at least 30% fewer complaints than this model's typical year.
1990–1996 No NHTSA records on file — this model year may not have been sold, or no complaints, recalls or investigations were ever filed against it.
1989 ○ Not enough data 3 Only 3 complaints on file — too few for a fair verdict.
1987–1988 No NHTSA records on file — this model year may not have been sold, or no complaints, recalls or investigations were ever filed against it.
1986 ○ Not enough data 1 Only 1 complaint on file — too few for a fair verdict.
1984–1985 No NHTSA records on file — this model year may not have been sold, or no complaints, recalls or investigations were ever filed against it.
1983 ○ Not enough data 1 Only 1 complaint on file — too few for a fair verdict.
1982 ○ Not enough data 2 Only 2 complaints on file — too few for a fair verdict.
1981 ○ Not enough data 3 Only 3 complaints on file — too few for a fair verdict.
1980 ○ Not enough data 5 Only 5 complaints on file — too few for a fair verdict.
How the rankings work

Each model year’s distinct NHTSA complaint count is compared with the median of the same model’s other eligible years.

  • ▲ Recommended

    At least 30% fewer complaints than the model’s typical year.

  • ● Recommended

    Within 30% of the model’s typical year.

  • ◆ Caution

    30% to 100% more complaints than the typical year.

  • ■ Avoid

    More than double the complaints of the typical year.

  • ○ Not enough data

    Fewer than 30 complaints on file, or too few other years to compare with — too few for a fair verdict.

Recalls

65

recalls on file across every Chevrolet Malibu model year.

Open a year above to see that year’s own recalls, investigations, and remedies.

Other Chevrolet models