2019 Chevrolet MALIBU problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
189 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
40,744 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2019 model year. Data snapshot: . 56 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Engine is the most frequently named component, appearing in 62 of 189 complaints (32.8%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission and shifting | 37 | 19.6% |
| Braking behavior | 36 | 19.0% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 31 | 16.4% |
| Engine operation | 23 | 12.2% |
| Steering behavior | 10 | 5.3% |
| Fuel system concerns | 2 | 1.1% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Engine | 62 |
| Power Train | 62 |
| Electrical System | 61 |
| Unknown Or Other | 36 |
| Service Brakes | 20 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 17 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 12 |
| Air Bags | 6 |
Engine: 62; Power Train: 62; Electrical System: 61; Unknown Or Other: 36; Service Brakes: 20; Fuel/Propulsion System: 17; Vehicle Speed Control: 12; Air Bags: 6
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 19 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 14 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 13 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 6 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 3 |
| 150,000 and above | 1 |
Under 25,000: 19; 25,000 to 49,999: 14; 50,000 to 74,999: 13; 75,000 to 99,999: 6; 100,000 to 149,999: 3; 150,000 and above: 1
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (19). 133 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2018 | 1 |
| 2019 | 6 |
| 2020 | 17 |
| 2021 | 16 |
| 2022 | 38 |
| 2023 | 42 |
| 2024 | 19 |
| 2025 | 40 |
| 2026 | 10 |
2018: 1; 2019: 6; 2020: 17; 2021: 16; 2022: 38; 2023: 42; 2024: 19; 2025: 40; 2026: 10
Pattern summary
Engine leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 37 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 36 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 31 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 11220720 · 2019-06-17 (June 17, 2019)
THE SPRING STEEL C-CLIP HOLDING THE CVT FLUID COOLING LINE IN PLACE AT THE RADIATOR FELL OFF WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION ON INTERSTATE 5. THE TRANSMISSION FLUID DRAINED OUT ONTO THE ROADWAY RESULTING IN COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER TO THE WHEELS. THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON BUT THE ENGINE RAN FINE.
Owner-reported narrative. 3,201 miles reported. Look up ODI 11220720 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11348958 · 2020-08-13 (August 13, 2020)
AT 10,000 MILES MY 2019 CHEVROLET MALIBU STARTED TO SPUTTER AND LOSE POWER. TAKING OFF AT A GREEN LIGHT, DRIVING ON HIGHWAYS, TURNING AT INTERSECTIONS, OR TURNING AGAINST TRAFFIC HAS ALL BECOME DANGEROUS BECAUSE THE CAR WILL NOT GATHER ENOUGH POWER TO GO, LEAVING MY CAR STUCK ON ROADS AND IN THE MIDDLE OF INTERSECTIONS. WE WERE PLACED IN A RENTAL 2019 CHEVROLET MALIBU WITH 11,000 MILES THAT ALSO HAD POWER PROBLEMS AND LEFT US STUCK IN A RUNNING CAR BEING APPROACHED BY ONCOMING TRAFFIC.. THE DEALERSHIP DIAGNOSTIC CAME UP AS TRANSMISSION FAILURE,…
Owner-reported narrative. 10,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11348958 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11196208 · 2019-04-15 (April 15, 2019)
START/STOP ON POWERTRAIN / MOTOR CONTROL. MOTOR STOPS ON BRAKE PEDAL PRESSURE AND STARTS UPON ? ? DECREASE IN PEDAL PRSSURE ? MOTOR STARTED AND RPM ACCELERATED BU ITSELF WHILE BRAKE PEDAL APPLIED, VEHICLE "SURGED" AND HIT POST. MOTOR ACCELERATES RPM / WORKS BY ITSELF. PROBLEM IS INTERMITTENT. DELAY IN "START / STOP" CAUSING SURGE. SOFTWARE PROGRAMMING PROBLEM ?
Owner-reported narrative. 2,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 11196208 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11318844 · 2020-03-20 (March 20, 2020)
THE 2019 MALIBU OWN WHICH IS AN LT WITH A SUNROOF AND HEATED FRONT SEATS, HAS HAD AN ISSUE WITH THE BATTERY CONNECTION WHERE AS THE CAR WAS BRAND NEW OUT FROM THE SHOP. AND THEN A WEEK OR TWO LATER I GOT INTO MY CAR TO LOOK FOR MY HEADPHONES, THEN I JUST WANTED TO SIT INSIDE MY BRAND NEW CAR FOR A MOMENT. AND THEN I TURNED THE RADIO ON TO LOOK AT THE TIME, AND THEN THE GAUGE CLUSTER CAME UP WITH A MESSAGE SAYING BATTERY VOLTAGE LOW. SO THEN LATER WE GOT AN EMAIL FROM CHEVY TALKING ABOUT THE ISSUE AND HOW CHEVY WOULD LIKE TO FIX IT FOR US. SO TH…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11318844 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11361293 · 2020-09-26 (September 26, 2020)
AFTER CAR IS TURNED OFF AND IN PARK, THE DASH LIGHT STATES TO "PUT IN PARK" EVEN THOUGH THE CAR IS IN PARK, THE LIGHT WON'T GO AWAY UNTIL THE SHIFTER IS WIGGLED BACK AND FORTH, AND SIDEWAYS WAY TOO MANY TIMES, I AM AFRAID THE BATTERY WILL RUN DOWN IF LEFT LIKE THAT, WITH THE LIGHT STILL BEING ON.
Owner-reported narrative. 42,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11361293 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11255637 · 2019-09-16 (September 16, 2019)
NEW CAR. 500 MILES ON MOTOR. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. P2097. NOTICED DECREASED ENGINE POWER WHEN PRESSING GAS PEDDLE. CAR STALLED ON START. FELT SLIGHT SHIMMY FROM MOTOR WHILE SITTING IDLE.
Owner-reported narrative. 493 miles reported. Look up ODI 11255637 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11324457 · 2020-05-13 (May 13, 2020)
WHEN DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY THE WHEELS FEEL LIKE THERE ARE PUSHING ONE WAY. WHEN SLOWING DOWN THE STEERING WHEEL SHAKES. PRESSING THE ON BRAKES THE STEERING WHEEL ALSO SHAKES. COUPLE DAYS AGO WE HAD TO TIGHTEN THE LUG NUTS ON THE CAR FRONT TIRES. ITS WAS GOOD A COUPLE DAYS AND NOW AGAIN DOING THE SAME THING.. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 25,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11324457 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11360042 · 2020-09-20 (September 20, 2020)
WHEN VEHICLE IS STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT VEHICLE DISPLAYED MESSAGE 'STEERING ASSIST REDUCED DRIVE WITH CARE' THIS HAS DONE THIS MULTIPLE TIMES. VEHICLE IS A 2019 BROUGHT IT BRAND NEW THIS SHOULD NOT BE HAPPENING.
Owner-reported narrative. 36,800 miles reported. Look up ODI 11360042 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11230268 · 2019-07-08 (July 8, 2019)
FAULTY FUEL PUMP COMMUNICATION SYSTEM AND KEY KOB READER
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11230268 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11517343 · 2023-04-16 (April 16, 2023)
Check engine light lit up on the dashboard. Did not go away, took car to dealership next day. Turns out that the fuel pump system (P & A Fuel Pump & Sending System) was faulty and also needed an ECM update to the programming system. The fuel pump breaking down confuses me because the car will only be 4 yrs old at the end of May, with only a little bit over 31,000 miles on it. This system should not have needed replacing this soon in the cars usage.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11517343 at NHTSA ↗