Short answer
Among Chevrolet Malibu model years through 2024, 2019, 2020 and 2022 have the fewest NHTSA recall campaigns on record (1) and 2013 has the most (11). Recall counts are not a reliability score; they show how often a safety defect had to be corrected.
Quick read
Chevrolet Malibu: Key Facts
- Model years with data
- 26 (2000–2025)
- Distinct recall campaigns
- 52
- Fewest recalls
- 2019, 2020 and 2022 (1)
- Most recalls
- 2013 (11)
- Most recalled system
- Electrical system (13)
- 5-star overall rating
- 2013, 2014, 2015 and 6 more years
Chevrolet Malibu Recalls and Ratings by Model Year
| Model year | Recall campaigns | Overall crash rating | Most recalled systems |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 Recent: still collecting recalls | 1 | 5 stars | Back over prevention |
| 2024 | 2 | 5 stars | Back over prevention, Equipment |
| 2023 | 2 | 5 stars | Back over prevention, Structure |
| 2022 | 1 | 4 stars | Structure |
| 2021 | 2 | 4 stars | Seat belts, Seats |
| 2020 | 1 | 4 stars | Seat belts |
| 2019 | 1 | 4 stars | Seat belts |
| 2018 | 6 | 5 stars | Air bags, Engine, Fuel system, gasoline |
| 2017 | 4 | 5 stars | Air bags, Fuel system, gasoline, Seat belts |
| 2016 | 10 | 5 stars | Air bags, Electrical system, Electronic stability control (esc) |
| 2015 | 3 | 5 stars | Air bags, Electrical system, Visibility |
| 2014 | 6 | 5 stars | Service brakes, hydraulic, Visibility, Electrical system |
| 2013 | 11 | 5 stars | Suspension, Electrical system, Exterior lighting |
| 2012 | 2 | 4 stars | Electronic stability control (esc), Seat belts |
| 2011 | 3 | 4 stars | Air bags, Electronic stability control (esc), Seat belts |
| 2010 | 3 | Not rated | Air bags, Electronic stability control (esc), Power train |
| 2009 | 5 | Not rated | Power train, Electronic stability control (esc), Steering |
| 2008 | 4 | Not rated | Power train, Electronic stability control (esc), Steering |
| 2007 | 3 | Not rated | Electronic stability control (esc), Power train, Steering |
| 2006 | 6 | Not rated | Steering, Air bags, Electronic stability control (esc) |
| 2005 | 4 | Not rated | Electrical system, Electronic stability control (esc), Power train |
| 2004 | 7 | Not rated | Electrical system, Electronic stability control (esc), Equipment |
| 2003 | 2 | Not rated | Electrical system, Vehicle speed control |
| 2002 | 2 | Not rated | Electrical system, Exterior lighting |
| 2001 | 2 | Not rated | Electrical system, Exterior lighting |
| 2000 | 3 | Not rated | Electrical system, Exterior lighting, Fuel system, gasoline |
No model years match your search.
The scale of the difference
Recall Campaigns by Model Year
Distinct NHTSA recall campaigns per model year. Years after 2024 are recent and still collecting recalls.
- 20251 recall
- 20242 recalls
- 20232 recalls
- 20221 recall
- 20212 recalls
- 20201 recall
- 20191 recall
- 20186 recalls
- 20174 recalls
- 201610 recalls
- 20153 recalls
- 20146 recalls
- 201311 recalls
- 20122 recalls
- 20113 recalls
- 20103 recalls
- 20095 recalls
- 20084 recalls
- 20073 recalls
- 20066 recalls
- 20054 recalls
- 20047 recalls
- 20032 recalls
- 20022 recalls
- 20012 recalls
- 20003 recalls
Chevrolet Malibu: Analysis
How to read recall counts
A recall campaign is a safety defect that the manufacturer or NHTSA required to be fixed. Counts depend on how long a model year has been on the road, so recent years look better than they will in time; this page therefore ranks only model years through 2024. A high count can also mean a manufacturer reacts quickly to small defects, so it says little about breakdowns or running costs.
What the recalls were about
Across all model years, the systems named most often in Chevrolet Malibu recalls are electrical system (13), power train (12), air bags (11), electronic stability control (esc) (10) and seat belts (9). The number in brackets counts model-year entries, so one campaign that covers several years is counted in each.
Crash-test ratings
NHTSA has an overall star rating for 15 of these 26 model years, and 2013, 2014, 2015 and 6 more years earned 5 stars. Ratings before 2011 come from an earlier version of the program and are not directly comparable with later years. A range such as 4–5 means versions of the same model year were rated differently.
FAQ: Chevrolet Malibu Best and Worst Years
What are the best years for the Chevrolet Malibu?
By NHTSA recall campaigns, 2019, 2020 and 2022 are the cleanest model years through 2024, with 1 each.
Which Chevrolet Malibu model years have the most recalls?
2013 has the most, with 11 recall campaigns each.
Does a recall mean the car is unreliable?
No. A recall is a safety correction filed with NHTSA, usually repaired free of charge. It does not measure breakdowns or running costs, so use these counts together with a vehicle history report and an inspection.
Sources & methodology
Recalls and crash ratings come from the NHTSA datasets and APIs, retrieved on 2026-10-03. A record counts for this model when its make matches and its model name starts with the same words as "Malibu", so variants such as body styles are included. Only model years from 2000 are used, and each recall campaign is counted once per model year. The data does not say whether an individual car was repaired, so check a specific car by VIN.
NHTSA, US Department of Transportation; this page is not endorsed by NHTSA. Maintained by Artsiom Dusau. Editorial policy