2020 Chevrolet MALIBU problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
196 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
66,500 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2020 model year. Data snapshot: . 44 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Engine is the most frequently named component, appearing in 59 of 196 complaints (30.1%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 53 | 27.0% |
| Transmission and shifting | 38 | 19.4% |
| Engine operation | 25 | 12.8% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 25 | 12.8% |
| Steering behavior | 22 | 11.2% |
| Fuel system concerns | 2 | 1.0% |
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 | 59 |
| Electrical System | 57 |
| Power Train | 55 |
| Unknown Or Other | 44 |
| Service Brakes | 42 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 17 |
| Steering | 15 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 14 |
Engine: 59; Electrical System: 57; Power Train: 55; Unknown Or Other: 44; Service Brakes: 42; Vehicle Speed Control: 17; Steering: 15; Fuel/Propulsion System: 14
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 8 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 3 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 15 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 10 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 7 |
| 150,000 and above | 1 |
Under 25,000: 8; 25,000 to 49,999: 3; 50,000 to 74,999: 15; 75,000 to 99,999: 10; 100,000 to 149,999: 7; 150,000 and above: 1
50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (15). 152 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 |
|---|---|
| 2020 | 5 |
| 2021 | 17 |
| 2022 | 23 |
| 2023 | 36 |
| 2024 | 40 |
| 2025 | 46 |
| 2026 | 29 |
2020: 5; 2021: 17; 2022: 23; 2023: 36; 2024: 40; 2025: 46; 2026: 29
Pattern summary
Engine leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 53 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 38 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 25 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 11430611 · 2021-08-26 (August 26, 2021)
The brake pedal is hard. The car does not want to stop. The brake booster is not working. The car only has 40,000 miles
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11430611 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11431145 · 2021-08-31 (August 31, 2021)
P0556 code and brakes are hard to stop. 40,016 miles on the car
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11431145 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11469643 · 2022-06-16 (June 16, 2022)
The contact owns a 2020 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle would intermittently hesitate and stall with the traction control and check engine warning lights illuminated. Once the vehicle stalled, the contact had to wait a few minutes before successfully restarting the vehicle. The vehicle had been taken to the dealer on multiple occasions however, the mechanic was unable to duplicate or determine the cause of the failure. The contact had the pistons, battery terminal, transmission, and wiring …
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11469643 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11483410 · 2022-09-07 (September 7, 2022)
Sometimes when I drive my car it loses power especially when I’m turning into on coming traffic it will lose speed and I’ve almost been hit on numerous occasions. I’ve taking the car to Chevy dealership 4 times already the last time they discovered transmission issues they repaired it. They tell me they don’t see anything else wrong. I have read reviews from other owners and they are experiencing the same exact problem
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11483410 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11413318 · 2021-04-22 (April 22, 2021)
VEHICLE SEEMS TO WANT TO STALL OUT FROM TIME TO TIME WHEN PRESSING THE GAS
Owner-reported narrative. 25,379 miles reported. Look up ODI 11413318 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11418240 · 2021-05-23 (May 23, 2021)
Unknown. Started vehicle and warmed it up for one minute. After that the vehicle shook and vibrated then completely stalled. It Is available for inspection. Safety wasn't the greatest cause I thought the vehicle completely died and would not be able to be driven. Problem has not been reproduced or confirmed by dealership. The vehicle has not been inspected by the dealership. There were not any warning lamps or symptoms. This is the first time the car died.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11418240 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11316269 · 2020-03-05 (March 5, 2020)
MY CAR HAD ONLY 600 MILES AND IS BRAND NEW. AFTER SITTING ON THE DRIVE OVERNIGHT THE CAR WOULDN'T START. THERE WAS A LOT OF CLICKING NOISES, BUT THE ENGINE WOULDN'T TURN. THAT WAS THREE WEEKS AGO. I BROUGHT IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID THAT THERE WERE ERROR CODES ON THE BATTERY, AND THAT THEY RECHARGED IT. TODAY, THE CAR CLICKS AND WON'T TURN OVER AGAIN. THE CAR NOW HAS 1000 MILES. THE DEALERSHIP TOLD ME THAT CARS DRIVING BY THEIR LOT AT NIGHT WILL CAUSE RANDOM PARKED NEW VEHICLES WITH NO KEY IN IT TO FLASH LIGHTS, AND USE OTHER ELECTRICA…
Owner-reported narrative. 640 miles reported. Look up ODI 11316269 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11461518 · 2022-04-20 (April 20, 2022)
I was at a stop light ready to take off while driving for lyft with a passenger in back and the car just quit running as i took off when light turned green no warning whatsoever no dash lights no brakes no steering i had to wait til car stopped rolling so i put car in park then i couldnt put in neutral to push car out of traffic lane. so while i was trying to call a friend for help about 5 minutes passed and i tried the ignition i had a reading on dash that said batterry saver on so i waited and tried again after 5 minutes and car started with …
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11461518 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11421177 · 2021-06-16 (June 16, 2021)
The vehicle will randomly shut off while driving. All warning lights light up on the dash and notification of "reduced steering" pops up. Taken to the dealership and has been there for 19 business days. They will fix a component, I have picked it up twice and it has shut off before I could even get home forcing me to tow it back. This last time they were bringing the car around and it shut off in their own parking lot before they could even give me the keys. Every time they run diagnostics it's a new code. Vehicle is unsafe to drive due to shut…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11421177 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11436835 · 2021-10-14 (October 14, 2021)
This is an intermittent issue and hard to reproduce on demand. I have evidence in the form of multiple videos that may be provided anytime. Videos can be found here: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/zubc5ilgahayvxa/AABf3M1mLBikxQswv17Yn-YQa?dl=0 In the middle of driving on freeways, highways, or regular roads, the car will quickly slow down to a very low speed, around 5 mph causing other drivers to have to quickly swerve out of the way before wrecking into me. The power steering will also intermittently fail, as it becomes difficult to turn the whee…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11436835 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11461527 · 2022-04-20 (April 20, 2022)
while driving down a mountain in monterey tenessee from visiting a friend the car started blowing white smoke and all dash lights flickered before car shut off no brakes or steering while coasting down mountain almost got rear ended by pickup this was around 9pm it was dark i coasted into a gas station after a few attempts to start car . i called roadside assistance that night and got towed to dave kirk chevy dealer next town over after having issues with car i encountered issues with manager of dealer ship and roadside assistance neither coul…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11461527 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11548459 · 2023-10-05 (October 5, 2023)
This issue started at approximately 19,500 miles. While accelerating to enter a highway or to pass a vehicle going less than 55mph on a two-lane, Service ESC light appeared on dash. Loss or power was also immediate and if I tried to accelerate to maintain speed, engine was very rough in responding with no acceleration. Engine continued to run. Within 30 seconds or so, acceleration is restored, and check-engine light was flashing. Check-engine light stopped flashing after a minute or so. Initially, this only occurred occasionally during fast acc…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11548459 at NHTSA ↗