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Chevrolet · NHTSA safety record

2023 Chevrolet Malibu

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

Owners have filed 70 safety complaints about the 2023 Chevrolet Malibu with the US government. Of those, 4 describe a crash, 1 mentions a fire, 4 people were injured and no death is recorded. 2 recall campaigns are open against it, covering back-over prevention and the body structure.

The most complained-about system is back-over prevention, named in 16 complaints, 23% of the total. The typical failure was reported at 66,000 miles, the median across the 21 complaints that gave an odometer reading.

Compiled from NHTSA's complaint, recall and investigation files · Covers May 2023 to September 2026 · How this is counted

What is on file

70 complaints on file

70

Complaints

4

Describe a crash

1

Mention fire

4

People injured

0

Deaths

A complaint is an unverified account by the person who filed it, not a finding of fault. One complaint is one ODI number, which is how NHTSA counts them.

A recall is the manufacturer conceding a defect, and the repair is free. Whether one covers your particular car is a question only its VIN can answer, because a campaign covers a production range rather than a model year.

Which system owners named

Complaints naming each system
BACK OVER PREVENTION 16 · 23%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER 14 · 20%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 12 · 17%
ENGINE 12 · 17%
POWER TRAIN 8 · 11%
AIR BAGS 7 · 10%
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM 6 · 9%
STEERING 5 · 7%
VISIBILITY/WIPER 5 · 7%
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING 4 · 6%
LANE DEPARTURE 4 · 6%
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE 3 · 4%
0 8 15

Red marks a system with a recall campaign against it. One complaint can name several systems, so these add up to more than 70.

When the complaints arrived

By the year NHTSA received them

By the year NHTSA received them, which is not the year the failures happened. They peaked in 2026 at 49.

52 39 26 13
23 24 25 26

This is the year the complaint was filed, not the year the failure happened. The range runs from 2023 to 2026, the last of them a part year, which is why its column is drawn faint.

Crash test ratings

NHTSA New Car Assessment Program

NHTSA crashes a car into a barrier and a pole and measures what happens to the dummies inside. This is what it awarded the 2023 Chevrolet MALIBU, and it is a separate question from what owners report going wrong later.

Test 4 DR FWD
Overall
Frontal crash
Frontal, driver
Frontal, passenger
Side crash
Side barrier
Side pole
Rollover
Chance of rollover 10.3%
Stability control standard Forward collision warning standard Lane departure warning standard

A dash means NHTSA did not rate that test for this vehicle.

Recall campaigns

2 on file

BACK OVER PREVENTION: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERA

26V212000 · April 2, 2026

The defect
General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2023-2025 Chevrolet Malibu vehicles. The rearview camera screen may display a distorted or blank image.
The risk
A rearview image that does not display correctly reduces the driver's view behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
The remedy
Dealers will inspect, and if necessary, replace the rearview camera, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 20, 2026. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is N262551720. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on April 2, 2026.

General Motors, LLC · up to 276,879 vehicles across all model years covered

STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS

22V923000 · December 14, 2022

The defect
General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2022-2023 Chevrolet Malibu vehicles. The front impact bar, a structural portion of the vehicle frame, may not be properly welded to the front frame rail.
The risk
An improperly welded front impact bar may result in the front crash sensors not performing correctly, increasing the risk of injury in a crash.
The remedy
Dealers will inspect the right-hand and left-hand side of the vehicle's motor rail for an incomplete weld. If the condition is found, the vehicle will be repurchased by GM. Owner notification letters were mailed January 20, 2023. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020.

General Motors, LLC · up to 2,108 vehicles across all model years covered

In owners’ own words

Quoted from the complaint file

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

AIR BAGS

1 injured · crash · towed

On December 24, 2025, the contact's 2023 Chevrolet Malibu was involved in a severe side-impact collision. The vehicle was struck on the rear passenger side by a full-size pickup truck traveling at high speed (est. 60 mph) that failed to stop at a red light. The impact caused the contact's vehicle to spin approximately 180 degrees and strike a concrete median sideways, generating high lateral G-forces. FAILURE 1: AIRBAG NON-DEPLOYMENT. Despite the severity of the impact and the violent spin into a curb (rollover trip point), the side curtain airbags and front seat-mounted side impact airbags failed to deploy. The failure of the restraint system caused the driver to be thrown against the

NHTSA complaint 11707356, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

AIR BAGS

1 injured · crash

I own a 2023 Chevrolet Malibu with an open safety recall. General Motors/dealership has refused to repair the recall. The vehicle has also had multiple safety-related problems, including Service ESC warnings, jerking/poor acceleration, Service Safety Restraint System and airbag warnings, and a “Steering Assist is Reduced, Drive with Care” warning. On or about XXX, while driving, I experienced what felt like the brakes, wheel, and steering system locking up. I was unable to safely control the vehicle, resulting in a crash. During the incident, my head struck the steering wheel and I injured my hand, which has visible scars. No police were involved. I have a [XXX] daughter. She was NOT in the

NHTSA complaint 11767019, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

AIR BAGS

1 injured

While driving, the driver side tires (2) went flat and four (4) airbags deployed, this happened with no warning.

NHTSA complaint 11522313. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

1 injured

MY 2023 CHEVY MALIBU HAS A MISSING TURBOCHARGER SCREW THAT RANDOMLY CAME OFF FROM UNDER A METAL PLATE ON ITS OWN, GMC HAS A RECALL ON 2022 -2023 CHEY MALIBU WITH TURBO CHARGER ISSUES BUT THEY WONT COVER MINES BECAUSE IT DIDNT COME FROM A CERTIAN FACTORY ALTHOUGH THEY KNOW A HELL OF ALOT OF CHEVY MALIBU OWNERS HAVE TURBO CHARGER ISSUES AND THAT FACTORIES SHARE PARTS WITH OTHER FACTORIES THEY SAY THEY WONT DO A RECALL ON ALL THE MALIBUS UNLESS ALOT OF PEOPLE REPORT AND NHTSA MAKES GMC REALL ALL CHEVY MALIBUS TURBOCHARGER ( GM launched a special coverage program for 2022-2023 models with 1.5L engines due to turbocharger failures leading to "Reduced Engine Power". The program covers, or

NHTSA complaint 11717268, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

SUSPENSION
I was inquiring about the front suspension and frame work is there a recall. My car is unstable in the front like frame is unbalanced

NHTSA complaint 11764737. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

STEERING

58,000 miles

The contact owns a 2023 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, the contact noticed that the hard skin material on the steering wheel was crumbling. The contact stated that the right and left hands were severely peeled. The contact inspected the steering wheel and placed a white glove on each hand and rotated the steering wheel. The contact became aware of a black substance on both gloves. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. In addition, the contact stated that another vehicle that the contact had owned was parked in the same spot for fourteen years. The contact stated that the weather did not cause any issues with

NHTSA complaint 11760932, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER
My back up camera just showing blank screen. It's a recall on my model. I was backing up it went blank. Causing me to hit a pole. I took it to Jerry's Chevrolet they said can fix it but out of pocket and reimbursed later. I can't afford that. So, I can't even park between cars . This have become and inconvenience. Chevrolet knows the problem fails to do anything about it.

NHTSA complaint 11760696. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

BACK OVER PREVENTION: REARVIEW SYSTEM BRAKING
camera blurred when backing up been having a recall no remedy or paper sent out for it yet

NHTSA complaint 11759387. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

POWER TRAIN

towed · 3,000 miles

The contact owns a 2023 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, the vehicle failed to turn off. The “Shift to Park” message was displayed. Additionally, after the vehicle was parked and the engine was turned off, the vehicle independently started. Several unknown warning lights were illuminated. The dealer was made aware of the failure. The vehicle was towed to the dealer as per the manufacturer's request. However, the vehicle was not inspected. The vehicle was taken to Auto Zone, where the portable diagnostic tester was attached to the vehicle. The diagnostic machine retrieved DTC: U0073, P0700, P25A2, U0101,U0129,U0146, U18D5, U18D7, U2413, U0073-00,

NHTSA complaint 11758173, quoted in part. 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 11 1 —
2024 42 2 —
2022 98 1 —
2021 89 2 —
2020 198 1 1
2019 191 1 —
2018 698 6 —
2017 702 4 —
2016 837 9 1
2015 270 3 1
2014 351 6 1
2013 835 9 —
2012 907 2 —
2011 978 3 —
2010 1,361 3 —

Other 2023 Chevrolet models

Silverado 1500 384 Tahoe 222 Colorado 135 Suburban 125 Bolt EUV 119 Equinox 95 Traverse 89 Trailblazer 68

Complaints on file, same model year.

Every Chevrolet on this site — 304 vehicles.

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. How many repair attempts it takes, and how long you have to file, is set by the state you bought in and by nothing on this page.

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