Used Chevrolet Malibu: Inspection checklist

Pick the model year you are going to see. Each sheet lists the checks for the problems owners reported on that year, in the order you would do them at the car. Owners filed 1,193 complaints across these 8 years; the 2018 drew the most.

Choose a model year

Problems that follow the Malibu from year to year

Each of these is a top-three complaint area in at least two model years. Darker cells mean more complaints that year. Whatever year you are looking at, give these extra time.

Area	2018	2019	2020	2021	2022	2023	Total
Transmission	157	59	47	22	20	3	308
Electrical	120	50	36	15	14	7	242
Engine	87	21	15		6		129

Malibu generations and updates

First years of a new generation and mid-cycle updates are marked. Each year links to its checklist.

Ninth generation
2016–now
- 2018
- 2019
- 2020
- 2021
- 2022
- 2023
- 2024update
- 2025
2024 update: Final year of production in the US.; End of sales in the US.; No immediate successor announced.

Mileages where Malibu problems start

From owner reports for each model year, lowest mileage first. Compare these with the odometer of the car you are seeing.

Typical mileage	Problem	Year
3,000–23,000 miles	Hesitation pulling from stop	2018
12,600–50,000 miles	False Shift to Park message	2018
13,500–55,000 miles	False Shift to Park message	2019
15,000–98,600 miles	False Shift to Park warning	2021
18,000–19,500 miles	Sudden loss of engine power	2020
20,000–31,803 miles	False Shift to Park warning	2020
28,000–90,000 miles	Reduced engine power warnings	2018
28,619–44,000 miles	Shift to Park fault	2022
40,000–75,000 miles	Brake vacuum pump failure	2020
40,000–53,713 miles	Sudden loss of engine power	2019
62,000–110,022 miles	Turbo failure, limp mode	2022
109,330–114,000 miles	Transmission failure	2019