2021 Chevrolet Malibu: What to check before buying

Most of these reports describe a false "Shift to Park" warning. The shifter sits in Park, but the dash says it does not, and the car may not shut off, lock, or power down. Drivers wiggle the shifter or restart the car several times to clear the message. Reported mileages range from about 15,000 to 98,600. Dealers have traced the fault to a failed shift lever, and owners past warranty pay for the repair. A smaller group reports jerking, failure to accelerate, harsh downshifts that slam into gear, grinding, and stalling in traffic.

The false "Shift to Park" message leads this category too. Power stays on after shutdown, which drains the battery and has left drivers stranded. One report describes the car trying to roll while the warning was showing. Dealers replace the shifter assembly, and one out-of-warranty repair cost $500.15. A harness replacement on another car held for only about a week. Several owners say the related recall covers only certain VINs. More serious reports describe stalling while driving, a sudden shift to neutral, a "Service ESC" warning with reduced engine power, and steering lockup. Dealers often cannot reproduce the stalls or find codes.

Two unrelated problems show up here. A windshield cracked nearly a foot, starting from a small chip, while the car was driven through a sandstorm at 5,360 miles. Separately, the upper center brake light leaked, and moisture and mildew built up inside. With only 2 complaints and no shared cause, this category shows no pattern.

Power steering can cut out when the car stalls. One report at 68,000 miles describes the car losing motive power while moving, with grinding, warning lights, and no power steering. A mechanic could not find the cause, and the failure kept happening. The other complaint is the familiar "Shift to Park" alert that makes the car hard to shut off. Both problems match the stalling and shifter faults reported in other categories.