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2015 Chevrolet Malibu

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Similar to other model years

Owner complaints for the 2015 Chevrolet Malibu do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 310.5.

About this comparison →

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

160 reports with mileage · 110 unknown

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Engine. Review the 70 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 68 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Air Bags. Review the 49 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

18 crash reports9 fire reports10 injury reports

What owners actually said

270 reports
Mileage unknown · May 14, 2020
Air Bags

MAIN CONTROL MODULE FOR ENTIRE AIRBAG SYSTEM IS FAULTY AND BEING REPLACED. VEHICLE ONLY HAS A LITTLE OVER 38,000 MILES ON IT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #11324498

88,000 miles · May 10, 2020
Electrical System

I WENT THRU A DRIVE THRU CARWASH , NOW MY BACK UP CAMERA ONLY SHOWS GUIDELINES , NO IMAGE , THE BACK UP CAMERA IS NOT WORKIMG PROPERLY. *TR

NHTSA ODI #11324012

Mileage unknown · May 7, 2020
Electronic Stability Control (esc)Unknown Or Other

MY ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON ABOUT TWO WEEKS AGO. I TOOK IT TODAY MAY 7, 2020 TO THE PINE BELT CHEVROLET IN LAKEWOOD, NJ. I EXPLAIN TO THEM THAT MY CAR WOULD SHAKE AND STALL WHILE DRIVING. I EXPLAIN TO THEM THAT I DID NOT FEEL SAFE DRIVING ESPECIALLY WITH MY FOUR-YEAR-OLD SON IN THE BACKSEAT. I WANTED TO GET IT CHECKED OUT AND THAT W…

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MY ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON ABOUT TWO WEEKS AGO. I TOOK IT TODAY MAY 7, 2020 TO THE PINE BELT CHEVROLET IN LAKEWOOD, NJ. I EXPLAIN TO THEM THAT MY CAR WOULD SHAKE AND STALL WHILE DRIVING. I EXPLAIN TO THEM THAT I DID NOT FEEL SAFE DRIVING ESPECIALLY WITH MY FOUR-YEAR-OLD SON IN THE BACKSEAT. I WANTED TO GET IT CHECKED OUT AND THAT WAS THE REASON WHY I BROUGHT IT THERE. THEY INFORMED ME THAT THIS WAS CAUSED DUE TO A ROCKER CONTROL ARM VALVE.THEY INFORMED ME THAT THEY WOULD HAVE TO ORDER THE PART, WHICH THEY DID, BUT THAT IT WOULD TAKE A VERY LONG TIME TO GET IT IN. THEY DID NOT OFFER ME A LOANER CAR AS THEY DID NOT KEEP MY CAR TO WORK ON. THEY SENT ME BACK ON THE ROAD WITH A SHAKING CAR THAT STALLS WHILE DRIVING. I DID MY RESEARCH AND HAVE SEEN THAT THERE WAS A PETITION OF OVER 1500 SIGNATURES WITH OWNERS OF 2014 CHEVY IMPALA'S AND 2015 CHEVY MALIBU'S WHO ALL COMPLAINS OF THE SAME THING AND INCLUDED THAT THEY HAVE BEEN WAITING 4 OR MORE MONTHS FOR THIS PART. I AM COMPLAINING FOR THE FACT THAT THIS IS UNSAFE, THERE HAS BEEN NO RECALL FOR THIS THOUGH THERE HAVE BEEN NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS AND WE ARE ALL PAYING FOR VEHICLES THAT ARE NOT SAFE TO DRIVE. I HAVE ATTACHED THE LINK TO THE PETITION THAT SHOWS THAT NUMEROUS PEOPLE HAVE BEEN COMPLAINING ABOUT THIS FAULTY PART. ALSO, I AM ATTACHING MY INVOICE. THIS NEEDS TO BE RECALLED. *TR

NHTSA ODI #11323688

Mileage unknown · May 1, 2020
Engine

MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON TOWARDS THE BEGINNING OF DEC 2019. I TOOK IT TO A CHEVY DEALERSHIP WHO STATED IT WAS DUE TO THE ROCKER ARM OIL CONTROL VALVE AND THAT THEY NEEDED TO ORDER THE PART. I WAITED UNTIL FEB 2020 WITH NO UPDATE ON WHEN THE PART WOULD ARRIVE SO I TOOK MY MALIBU TO ANOTHER DEALERSHIP WHO STATED IT NEED THE S…

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MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON TOWARDS THE BEGINNING OF DEC 2019. I TOOK IT TO A CHEVY DEALERSHIP WHO STATED IT WAS DUE TO THE ROCKER ARM OIL CONTROL VALVE AND THAT THEY NEEDED TO ORDER THE PART. I WAITED UNTIL FEB 2020 WITH NO UPDATE ON WHEN THE PART WOULD ARRIVE SO I TOOK MY MALIBU TO ANOTHER DEALERSHIP WHO STATED IT NEED THE SAME PART AND THAT IT SHOULD BE THERE WITHIN A WEEK. AS OF MAY 2020 MY CAR IS STILL AT THAT DEALERSHIP WITHOUT AN ESTIMATED DATE IN WHEN THE PART WILL BE AVAILABLE. I CALLED GM AND THE ONLY THING THEY CAN DO IS OFFER $2500 TOWARDS A NEW CAR.

NHTSA ODI #11322922

108,000 miles · Apr 30, 2020
Seat Belts

I WENT TO LEAVE MY OFFICE YESTERDAY AFTERNOON 4/29/10 AND MY SEAT BELT WOULDN'T RELEASE. I TRIED SEVERAL DIFFERENT THINGS TO GET IT TO RELEASE, NO LUCK. I HAVE HAD NO PREVIOUS ISSUE WITH THE DRIVERS SIDE SEAT BELT, NOR HAS MY CAR EVER BEEN INVOLVED IN ANY TYPE OF ACCIDENT. MY MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO GET THE SEAT BELT TO UNLOCK.…

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I WENT TO LEAVE MY OFFICE YESTERDAY AFTERNOON 4/29/10 AND MY SEAT BELT WOULDN'T RELEASE. I TRIED SEVERAL DIFFERENT THINGS TO GET IT TO RELEASE, NO LUCK. I HAVE HAD NO PREVIOUS ISSUE WITH THE DRIVERS SIDE SEAT BELT, NOR HAS MY CAR EVER BEEN INVOLVED IN ANY TYPE OF ACCIDENT. MY MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO GET THE SEAT BELT TO UNLOCK. A NEW SEAT BELT WAS REQUIRED. THE PART CAN ONLY BE BOUGHT AT A DEALERSHIP. I CALLED 4 DEALERSHIPS, NONE HAD IT IN STOCK. I COULD ORDER AND THEY WOULD HAVE IT IN 1-2 DAYS. I FINALLY FOUND A DEALERSHIP THAT HAD THE PART, IT WAS 40 MILES AWAY. THE PART COST OVER 200.00 DOLLARS, SOME QUOTED ALMOST 300.00 AND THAT'S JUST FOR THE PART, NO LABOR. THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY CONCERN THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED.

NHTSA ODI #11322911

122,000 miles · Apr 27, 2020
EngineUnknown Or Other

I OWN A 2015 MALIBU LT 2.5L, I HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO PASS THE STATE REQUIRED INSPECTION DUE TO A FAULTY OIL CONTROL SOLENOID. (GM PART #12633613 OR GM PART # 19419980) I HAVE INCURRED OVER $1000 IN DIAGNOSTIC FEES AND TAKEN THE CAR TO THREE (3) DIFFERENT INDEPENDENT MECHANICS AND TWO (2) GM CERTIFIED PARTS DEALERS TRYING TO GET …

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I OWN A 2015 MALIBU LT 2.5L, I HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO PASS THE STATE REQUIRED INSPECTION DUE TO A FAULTY OIL CONTROL SOLENOID. (GM PART #12633613 OR GM PART # 19419980) I HAVE INCURRED OVER $1000 IN DIAGNOSTIC FEES AND TAKEN THE CAR TO THREE (3) DIFFERENT INDEPENDENT MECHANICS AND TWO (2) GM CERTIFIED PARTS DEALERS TRYING TO GET THIS PART REPLACED. GM IS NO LONGER MANUFACTURING AND REFERRING CUSTOMERS TO AFTERMARKET PARTS.(AFTERMARKET PART RECOMMENDED IS THE DORMAN 916-806) IN DOING RESEARCH TRYING TO FIND THIS PART IT SEEMS THIS SAME PART HAS MALFUNCTIONED ON EVERY 2014-2015 YEAR MODEL MALIBU AND IMPALA AND GM IS STILL NOT ISSUING A RECALL. I HAVE FILED CUSTOMER SERVICE INQUIRIES/COMPLAINTS WITH MULTIPLE DEALERSHIPS AND GM DIRECTLY. THIS IS AN EGREGIOUS EXAMPLE OF A MANUFACTURING DEFECT AND THEY ARE OFFERING NO ALTERNATIVE OTHER THAN BUYING A NEW CAR. THE CAR IS SHOWING A CODE ERROR P2646 (ROCKER ARM MALFUNCTION IN BANK 1 STUCK IN OFF POSITION). I HAVE BEEN ATTEMPTING TO RECTIFY THIS PROBLEM SINCE OCTOBER 2019, AND FILED THE OFFICIAL COMPLAINT WITH GM APRIL,2020. CASE # WITH GM 9-592-2813084

NHTSA ODI #11322424

125,000 miles · Apr 22, 2020
EngineVehicle Speed Control

THE CAR REDUCED SPEED WHILE MY WIFE AND GRANDS WHERE IN TRAFFIC ALMOST CAUSING AN ACCIDENT REDUCED TO 25 MPH ON HIGHWAY

NHTSA ODI #11321965

143,528 miles · Apr 18, 2020
Air Bags

SERVICE AIR BAG INDICATOR LIGHT APPEARED ON INSTRUMENT PANEL WHILE DRIVING. *TR

NHTSA ODI #11321501

80,000 miles · Apr 13, 2020
Fuel/propulsion SystemPower Train

IN AUGUST 2019, MY 2015 CHEVY MALIBU STARTED HAVING WITH THE VARIABLE VALVE TIMING (VVT) SOLENOID -PART # 12633613 (ABT. 80K MILES). WHEN ACCELERATING INTO PASSING GEAR, THE ENGINE WOULD STEP OUT OF GEAR AND THE RPM'S WOULD REV VERY HIGH WHILE THE CAR SLOWED. I WOULD HAVE TO LET OFF PEDAL UNTIL RPM'S LOWERED, THEN ACCELERATE S…

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IN AUGUST 2019, MY 2015 CHEVY MALIBU STARTED HAVING WITH THE VARIABLE VALVE TIMING (VVT) SOLENOID -PART # 12633613 (ABT. 80K MILES). WHEN ACCELERATING INTO PASSING GEAR, THE ENGINE WOULD STEP OUT OF GEAR AND THE RPM'S WOULD REV VERY HIGH WHILE THE CAR SLOWED. I WOULD HAVE TO LET OFF PEDAL UNTIL RPM'S LOWERED, THEN ACCELERATE SLOWLY. MY LOCAL GARAGE DIAGNOSED THE BAD PART AND BEGAN SEARCHING FOR A REPLACEMENT. THEY DISCOVERED THAT (1)-GM IS THE ONLY COMPANY THAT MAKES THE PART, (2)-THAT GM DOESN'T HAVE ANY MORE REPLACEMENT PARTS AND (3)-GM IS NOT GOING TO MAKE ANY MORE. THEY DISCOVERED THAT MANY GM DEALERSHIPS HAVE HUNDREDS ON BACK ORDER ALSO. IN DECEMBER I FILED A COMPLAINT WITH CHEVY CUSTOMER SERVICE; CASE # 9-5698216592 AND CONVERSED WITH VAHMARTA PH.#(866)-790-5600 AND FIELD REP; LOGAN EXT:5916533. THEIR FINAL ANSWER: (1) GM IS THE ONLY COMPANY THAT MAKES THE PART, (2) GM DOESN'T HAVE ANY MORE PARTS AND (3) GM ISN'T GOING TO MAKE ANY MORE PARTS. THEIR FINAL SOLUTIN: THEY OFFERED ME A $2,500 VOUCHER TOWARDS A NEW VEHICLE. GM IS QUITE AWARE THAT THIS IS A PROBLEM BUT IS NOT OFFERING A PART TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM. I AM CONCERNED ABOUT MY SAFETY AND THOSE AROUND ME ON THE ROAD. THE CAR DOESN'T ACCELERATE OR DECELERATE PROPERLY. WHAT IS A PROPER SOLUTION? THANK YOU FOR YOUR HELP.

NHTSA ODI #11320935

120,000 miles · Mar 30, 2020
Fuel/propulsion System

THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME AND WE TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP, WHERE PURCHASED NEW, AND THEY RAN A DIAGNOSTIC TEST ON IT. THE TEST SHOWED THAT THE ROCKER ARM OIL CONTROL VALVE SOLENOID WAS BAD, AND GM DOES NOT MAKE A REPLACEMENT NOR IS A REPLACEMENT AVAILABLE. WE HAVE BEEN IN CONTACT WITH GM CONCERNING THIS, BUT WAS REFERRED…

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THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME AND WE TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP, WHERE PURCHASED NEW, AND THEY RAN A DIAGNOSTIC TEST ON IT. THE TEST SHOWED THAT THE ROCKER ARM OIL CONTROL VALVE SOLENOID WAS BAD, AND GM DOES NOT MAKE A REPLACEMENT NOR IS A REPLACEMENT AVAILABLE. WE HAVE BEEN IN CONTACT WITH GM CONCERNING THIS, BUT WAS REFERRED BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP, WHO HAS TOLD US THEIR IS NO REPLACEMENT PART BEING MADE, AND HAVE LEFT US WITH NO OPTIONS, AS THE CAR CANNOT BE USED AS A TRADE IN, DUE TO THIS ISSUE. I'VE BEEN ON THE MALIBU FORUM AND THERE ARE NUMEROUS PEOPLE IN THE SAME SITUATION, AND GM IS GIVEN US ALL THE BACK OF THEIR HAND, WITH NO ANSWERS. WE NOW HAVE A 5 YEAR OLD CAR THAT WE ARE PAYING ON, BUT CANNOT TRADE IN OR SELL UNTIL GM AND THEIR DEALERSHIPS ACT.

NHTSA ODI #11319759

Official recalls

3

16V502000 · Electrical System:ignition; Power Train:automatic Transmission:control Module (tcm/pcm/tecm)

Jul 5, 2016

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2016-2017 Buick Verano and 2016 Chevrolet Malibu as the electronic park lock lever may allow the ignition key to be removed without the transmission being in PARK. Also, certain 2013 Buick Encore, 2011 Buick Regal, 2013-2014 Buick Verano, 2011-2016 Chevrolet Cruze, 2010-2013 Chevrolet Equinox 2013-2015 Chevrolet Malibu, and 2011-2013 GMC Terrain vehicles may have been serviced with similar defective replacement electronic park lock levers. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 114, "Theft Protection and Rollaway Prevention."

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: If the key is removed without the transmission in PARK, the vehicle may rollaway as occupants are exiting, increasing the risk of injury.

Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and if necessary replace the key cylinder lock housing, free of charge. The recall began on October 14, 2016. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, Buick 1-800-521-7300, and GMC 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is 50490 and 50491.

Additional source detail variants (2)

Electrical System:ignition

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2016-2017 Buick Verano and 2016 Chevrolet Malibu as the electronic park lock lever may allow the ignition key to be removed without the transmission being in PARK. Also, certain 2013 Buick Encore, 2011 Buick Regal, 2013-2014 Buick Verano, 2011-2016 Chevrolet Cruze, 2010-2013 Chevrolet Equinox 2013-2015 Chevrolet Malibu, and 2011-2013 GMC Terrain vehicles may have been serviced with similar defective replacement electronic park lock levers. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 114, "Theft Protection and Rollaway Prevention."

Consequence: If the key is removed without the transmission in PARK, the vehicle may rollaway as occupants are exiting, increasing the risk of injury.

Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and if necessary replace the key cylinder lock housing, free of charge. The recall began on October 14, 2016. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, Buick 1-800-521-7300, and GMC 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is 50490 and 50491.

Power Train:automatic Transmission:control Module (tcm/pcm/tecm)

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2016-2017 Buick Verano and 2016 Chevrolet Malibu as the electronic park lock lever may allow the ignition key to be removed without the transmission being in PARK. Also, certain 2013 Buick Encore, 2011 Buick Regal, 2013-2014 Buick Verano, 2011-2016 Chevrolet Cruze, 2010-2013 Chevrolet Equinox 2013-2015 Chevrolet Malibu, and 2011-2013 GMC Terrain vehicles may have been serviced with similar defective replacement electronic park lock levers. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 114, "Theft Protection and Rollaway Prevention."

Consequence: If the key is removed without the transmission in PARK, the vehicle may rollaway as occupants are exiting, increasing the risk of injury.

Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and if necessary replace the key cylinder lock housing, free of charge. The recall began on October 14, 2016. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, Buick 1-800-521-7300, and GMC 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is 50490 and 50491.

15V666000 · Air Bags:side/window

Oct 16, 2015

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2015 Buick LaCrosse, Cadillac XTS, Chevrolet Camaro, Equinox, Malibu, and GMC Terrain vehicles. The affected vehicles have front seat-mounted side impact air bags whose inflator may rupture upon its deployment.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of one or both of the side impact air bags, the air bag's inflator may rupture and the air bag may not properly inflate. The rupture could cause metal fragments to strike the vehicle occupants, potentially resulting in serious injury or death. Additionally, if the air bag does not properly inflate, the driver or passenger is at an increased risk of injury.

Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the side impact air bag modules, free of charge. The recall began on October 19, 2015. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006, or GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is 01320.

15V164000 · Visibility:sun/moon Roof Assembly

Mar 23, 2015

General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2013-2015 Chevrolet Malibu vehicles October 24, 2011, to March 5, 2015. In the affected vehicles, the Slide or Tilt switch for the roof panel may not be adequately recessed to prevent the switch from inadvertently being pressed. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 118, "Power-Operated Window, Partition, and Roof Panel Systems."

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: The Slide or Tilt roof panel switch may inadvertently be pressed and the roof panel may auto-close unexpectedly, increasing the risk of a pinch injury.

Remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will update the Body Control Module (BCM) software to remove auto-close feature for certain switch positions, free of charge. The recall began April 21, 2015. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is 15176.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.