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Chevrolet · NHTSA safety record

2015 Chevrolet Malibu

Every safety complaint, recall and defect investigation the US government holds on this vehicle.

269

Complaints

18

Crashes

9

Fires

13

Injuries

1

Deaths

Owners of the 2015 Chevrolet Malibu have filed 269 safety complaints with NHTSA between November 2014 and August 2026. The most complained-about system is the engine, named in 70 of them (26%). The typical failure was reported at 50,000 miles, the median across the 160 complaints that gave an odometer reading.

Complaints more than doubled year on year: 14 in the twelve months to 2026-Q1, against 6 in the twelve before.

NHTSA has issued 3 recalls covering this vehicle.

Recalls (3)

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION

16V502000 · July 5, 2016

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

General Motors LLC · up to 8,367 vehicles across all model years covered

AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW

15V666000 · October 16, 2015

The defect
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.
The risk
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.
The 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.

General Motors LLC · up to 395 vehicles across all model years covered

VISIBILITY:SUN/MOON ROOF ASSEMBLY

15V164000 · March 23, 2015

The defect
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."
The risk
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.
The 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.

General Motors LLC · up to 87,063 vehicles across all model years covered

What owners report

Complaints naming each system. One complaint can name several, so these add up to more than 269.

ENGINE 70 26%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 67 25%
AIR BAGS 49 18%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER 34 13%
POWER TRAIN 31 12%
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 28 10%
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM 18 7%
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC) 16 6%
SERVICE BRAKES 16 6%
STRUCTURE 13 5%
SEATS 10 4%
STEERING 9 3%

When the complaints arrived

By the year NHTSA received them, which is not the year the failures happened. They peaked in 2020 at 52.

2014 2020 2026
2014 to 2026, the last of them a part year

In owners' own words

Quoted from NHTSA's complaint file. These are unverified accounts by the people who filed them, not findings of fault.

AIR BAGS

1 death · crash · 10,100 miles

AIRBAG LIGHT IS KEEP COMING ON. I HAVE POWER SEATS AND PAYED TO GET THE PANEL FIXED AND THE PANEL IS HANGING AGAIN.

NHTSA complaint 11203659. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

AIR BAGS

2 injured · crash · towed · 21,737 miles

"TAKATA RECALL" DURING A SIDE IMPACT COLLISON AT 45MPH , THE SIDE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY (NO AIR BAGS DEPLOYED) AND THE STABILITRAK WAS DISABLED . AN ERROR MESSAGE OF SERVICE STABILITRAK APPEARED DURING THE ACCIDENT

NHTSA complaint 10908609. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

AIR BAGS

2 injured · crash · towed · 4,000 miles

ON SEPTEMBER 21, 2015 I WAS DRIVING WAS DRIVING NORTH (23 MPH) AND WAS T-BONED BY ANOTHER VEHICLE WHO TOOK A 2 WAY STOP SIGN. I DID NOT HAVE A STOP SIGN. I WAS PUSHED ACROSS TWO LANES AND INTO A GRASSY FIELD. I WAS SLAMMED INTO IN BETWEEN THE PASSENGER DRIVERS SEAT AND THE BACK PASSENGER SEAT. I WAS WEARING MY SEAT BELT AS WAS MY DAUGHTER WHOM WAS SITTING MY AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THE CAR THAT THAT HIT ME ALL THEIR AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. I WAS THE DRIVER AND MY DAUGHTER WAS A PASSENGER IN THE BACK . I BROKE MY NECK AND HAD DISPLACED FLUID IN MY KNEE. SHE HAD MINOR BRUISING IN HER CAR SEAT. I TRIED FILING AGAINST GM AND NOTHING WAS DONE. THEY CAME BACK CLAIMING THAT THE SYSTEM HAD NOT FAILED. I

NHTSA complaint 11096504, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

2 injured · crash · towed · 103,000 miles

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2015 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 40 MPH IN THE RAIN, THE CONTACT REAR-ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE THAT HAD MADE AN UNEXPECTED STOP. THE VEHICLE'S AIR BAGS DEPLOYED UPON IMPACT; AFTER THE IMPACT, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO USE THE BRAKE PEDAL DUE TO THE VEHICLE'S AIR BAGS DEPLOYING. THE CONTACT THEN FORCED THE VEHICLE INTO PARK AND APPLIED THE EMERGENCY BRAKE, BUT TO NO AVAIL. THE VEHICLE EVENTUALLY COASTED TO A STOP AFTER THE CONTACT DROVE THE VEHICLE INTO A GRASS FILLED AREA. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED A BRAIN BLEED AS A RESULT OF THE COLLISION. THE OTHER DRIVER SUSTAINED BACK INJURIES; HOWEVER, NO MEDICAL

NHTSA complaint 11241743, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

SERVICE BRAKES
While driving my 2015 Chevrolet Malibu on a four-lane highway with a posted speed limit of 70 mph, the vehicle displayed an “Engine Power Is Reduced” message and limited the vehicle to less than approximately 25 mph. This created a serious safety concern because the vehicle could no longer maintain highway traffic speed, resulting in a significant speed differential of nearly 45 mph below the posted limit and surrounding traffic flow, creating a high risk of being struck by other vehicles. The vehicle also experienced an alternator problem while being driven on the highway. It repeatedly acted like it was not getting enough power to maintain the speed of surrounding traffic, and we had to

NHTSA complaint 11757229, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

AIR BAGS

1 injured · crash · towed

I was t-boned on the front side panel near the door at a high rate of speed. I would estimate well above the posted limit of 35 mph and my front and side airbags failed to deploy. I have video from the intersection and dash cam demonstrating the impact. My head hit off the steering wheel causing a concussion, neck and spine dislocations, bruising, and cracked xiphoid, dislocation on the left side of my chest, and cut on my ear. I went to the hospital, have the police report, and the two videos are also available. My car was totaled and towed to the lot off of Lamb, north of Craig Road.

NHTSA complaint 11752215. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

POWER TRAIN
The contact owns a 2015 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that while driving on several occasions at various speeds, the vehicle inadvertently shifted between park(P), drive(D), and neutral(N), and the selected gear was not visible or illuminated on the instrument cluster or the gear shifter panel. The doors locked and unlocked, and the engine started shaking abnormally. The contact stated that the message "Service Power Steering - Drive with Care" was displayed during the failure. The vehicle was pulled over to the side of the road after each failure and the gear shifter was slowly shifted between gears until the desired gear was selected. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The

NHTSA complaint 11744242, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

WHEELS
Qdeana auto sales in Winchester ky took out my fog lights , 6by 9 speakers and replaced my wheels and tires with 3 18 inch tires that were all different brands and heights and widths and added my 4th tire that was completely a different sized. A size 17. Gave me a key fob that was broken and only that one. Made me have to buy a new one, also stole my 6 by 9s right out my car. Paid for a car straight out to them and they scammed me. They should be shut down ! And pay me my money !

NHTSA complaint 11735428. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

SUSPENSION
Purchased this car straight out for 4000 from deans car lot in Winchester ky over a week ago. They didn't tell me I had missing fog lights. Keyfob to far was so beat up and bent I could barely get in my car or lock my car not to mention they sent me home in that car with all 4 different brand tires and 4 different sizes. A couple tires are even plugged !! And no wouldn't help me fix any of them. They ignore me. Wasn't no crash. The car lot has been devious and I'm not happy bc that has to do with MY SAFETY. MY LIFE. MY VEHICLE. IM ROYALLY PISSED

NHTSA complaint 11732005. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

POWER TRAIN

towed · 179,000 miles

The contact owns a 2015 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the contact attempted to stop to make a turn, and there was a popping sound coming from the vehicle before the vehicle lost motive power and stalled. The vehicle was restarted, but failed to move or respond as needed. The vehicle was towed to a dealer to be diagnosed. The vehicle was diagnosed with transmission failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 179,000.

NHTSA complaint 11725686. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

Compare

Other years of the Chevrolet Malibu

Model year Complaints Recalls Deaths
2025 10 1
2024 35 2
2023 61 2
2022 91 1
2021 85 2
2020 194 1 1
2019 188 1
2018 694 6
2017 699 4
2016 835 9 1
2014 349 6 1
2013 835 9
2012 905 2
2011 976 3
2010 1,359 3

Other 2015 Chevrolet models

Every Chevrolet on this site — 298 vehicles, 747 recall campaigns and 5 open investigation s.

If this is your car and a dealer keeps failing to fix it, your state's lemon law may require the manufacturer to replace it or buy it back. What each state asks for , read from the statutes.

Where these numbers come from

A complaint is one owner's account and has not been verified by NHTSA or by us. A vehicle with more complaints is not necessarily worse: models that sold in larger numbers collect more of them. How this is counted.

Compiled and maintained by
Independent developer and analyst