2015 Chevrolet Malibu problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Air Bags (37) · Engine (32) · Vehicle Speed Control (28)
🧭 Reliability snapshot
Compared against other Chevrolet Malibu model years — complaint volume vs the model's median year, recalls and severity. How we score →
🛣️ Complaints by mileage
160 NHTSA complaints that reported an odometer reading.
Safety recalls (3)
Electrical System:ignition 2016-07-05 · campaign 16V502000 · 8,367 vehicles
Defect: General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2016-2017 Buick Verano and 2016 Chevrolet Malibu as the electronic park lock lever may allow the ignition key to be removed without the transmission being in PARK. Also, certain 2013 Buick Encore, 2011 Buick Regal, 2013-2014 Buick Verano, 2011-2016 Chevrolet Cruze, 2010-2013 Chevrolet Equinox 2013-2015 Chevrolet Malibu, and 2011-2013 GMC Terrain vehicles may have been serviced with similar defective replacement electronic park lock lever
Risk: If the key is removed without the transmission in PARK, the vehicle may rollaway as occupants are exiting, increasing the risk of injury.
Fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and if necessary replace the key cylinder lock housing, free of charge. The recall began on October 14, 2016. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, Buick 1-800-521-7300, and GMC 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is 50490 and 50491.
Air Bags:side/Window 2015-10-16 · campaign 15V666000 · 395 vehicles
Defect: General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2015 Buick LaCrosse, Cadillac XTS, Chevrolet Camaro, Equinox, Malibu, and GMC Terrain vehicles. The affected vehicles have front seat-mounted side impact air bags whose inflator may rupture upon its deployment.
Risk: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of one or both of the side impact air bags, the air bag's inflator may rupture and the air bag may not properly inflate. The rupture could cause metal fragments to strike the vehicle occupants, potentially resulting in serious injury or death. Additionally, if the air bag does not properly inflate, the driver or passenger is at an increased risk of
Fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the side impact air bag modules, free of charge. The recall began on October 19, 2015. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006, or GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is 01320.
Visibility:sun/Moon Roof Assembly 2015-03-23 · campaign 15V164000 · 87,063 vehicles
Defect: General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2013-2015 Chevrolet Malibu vehicles October 24, 2011, to March 5, 2015. In the affected vehicles, the Slide or Tilt switch for the roof panel may not be adequately recessed to prevent the switch from inadvertently being pressed. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 118, "Power-Operated Window, Partition, and Roof Panel Systems."
Risk: The Slide or Tilt roof panel switch may inadvertently be pressed and the roof panel may auto-close unexpectedly, increasing the risk of a pinch injury.
Fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will update the Body Control Module (BCM) software to remove auto-close feature for certain switch positions, free of charge. The recall began April 21, 2015. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is 15176.
Service bulletins (1,481)
Technical service bulletins are repair instructions manufacturers send dealers for known issues. Unlike recalls, the fix is not automatically free — but naming the bulletin at the service desk can save diagnosis time and support goodwill repairs.
Unknown Or Other 2026-09-26 · PIT5698F · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this pi provides diagnostics tips on how the lin bus works and how to diagnosis it.
Unknown Or Other 2026-09-04 · PIP4902W · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this preliminary information advises a dealer on how to email gds2 session logs into technical assistance.
Unknown Or Other 2026-07-21 · PIT5099J · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
pi to help diagnose a/c concern
Unknown Or Other 2026-05-19 · PIP6113 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this document provides the technician with a diagnostic tip if the vehicle stalls and set diagnostic trouble code p0191 and may also set p0172. the diagnostic tip has the technician inspect the high pressure fuel pump body markings to confirm it is an original manufacture part. if it is not an origi
Unknown Or Other 2026-04-01 · PIT3271Q · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this preliminary information communicates information about how to determine if a wheel and tires size change is available.
Unknown Or Other 2026-03-09 · PIP6104 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this preliminary information communicates the steps on how to save a gds2 session log and upload to a technical assistance case in cx connect.
Showing the 6 most recent of 1,481 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
2026-08-24 · Unknown Or Other“fuel sensors failing, codes obd are not fixing issue, auto stop, shuts radio off when brake is applied, resets all electric components in car. every time braking at a stop or signal. …”
2026-08-16 · Service Brakes“ while driving my 2015 chevrolet malibu on a four-lane highway with a posted speed limit of 70 mph, the vehicle displayed an “engine power is reduced” message and limited the vehicle to less than approximately 25 mph. this created a serious safety concern because the vehicle could no longer maintain highway traffic speed, resulting in a signifi…”
2026-07-22 · Air Bags · 💥 crash“i was t-boned on the front side panel near the door at a high rate of speed. i would estimate well above the posted limit of 35 mph and my front and side airbags failed to deploy. i have video from the intersection and dash cam demonstrating the impact. my head hit off the steering wheel causing a concussion, neck and spine dislocations, bruising, …”
2026-06-15 · Steering“the contact owns a 2015 chevrolet malibu. the contact stated that while driving on several occasions at various speeds, the vehicle inadvertently shifted between park(p), drive(d), and neutral(n), and the selected gear was not visible or illuminated on the instrument cluster or the gear shifter panel. the doors locked and unlocked, and the engine s…”
2026-05-04 · Wheels“qdeana auto sales in winchester ky took out my fog lights , 6by 9 speakers and replaced my wheels and tires with 3 18 inch tires that were all different brands and heights and widths and added my 4th tire that was completely a different sized. a size 17. gave me a key fob that was broken and only that one. made me have to buy a new one, also stole …”
2026-04-18 · Wheels“purchased this car straight out for 4000 from deans car lot in winchester ky over a week ago. they didn't tell me i had missing fog lights. keyfob to far was so beat up and bent i could barely get in my car or lock my car not to mention they sent me home in that car with all 4 different brand tires and 4 different sizes. a couple tires are even plu…”
2026-03-19 · Power Train · 179,000 mi“the contact owns a 2015 chevrolet malibu. the contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the contact attempted to stop to make a turn, and there was a popping sound coming from the vehicle before the vehicle lost motive power and stalled. the vehicle was restarted, but failed to move or respond as needed. the vehicle was towed to a …”
2026-01-21 · Engine“the car continues to die when i come to a stop. the error code for the engine light is p305f. i have changed both batteries along with several different sensors and spent thousands of dollars in repairs at a couple different shops and still can’t find the problem with this error code. i have fixed everything that this error code points to. the car …”
2025-11-13 · Power Train“the transmission and engine fails repeatedly. the vehicle repeatedly stalls while accelerating at all speeds, simultaneously, the gear shift lights,dash lights, radio, etc restarts. issue also happens when shifting gears. issue happens at every stop light and stop sign, when the vehicle is engaged in ‘auto stop’. the vehicle has been in and out o…”
2025-10-06 · Power Train · 151,884 mi“the contact owns a 2015 chevrolet malibu. the contact stated that while driving at 40 mph, the vehicle came to a complete stop independently. the contact stated that while attempting to reverse, the vehicle failed to respond. an independent mechanic was contacted. the vehicle was taken to the independent mechanic, and was diagnosed with transmissio…”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.