2015 Chevrolet Malibu
The Verdict
Worst problem area
Engine
Engine leads by volume: 71 of 270 complaints (26%) mention it. Complaints mentioning Airbags & Restraints include more reported injuries (7) than those mentioning any other identified area.
Complaints filed fell from 363 in 2014 to 270 in 2015.
Data last changed . Sources: NHTSA complaints and recalls, EPA fuel economy data. Methodology
Cost, Fuel Economy & Complaint History
| Category | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | vs. 2015 Midsize Cars |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annual fuel cost ($) | 2,150–2,600 | 2,150–2,600 | 2,150–2,600 | 1,350–2,400 | 1,350–3,000 | |
| Combined MPG | 24–29 | 24–29 | 24–29 | 26–46 | 26–46 | |
| City / Highway MPG | 21–25 / 29–36 | 21–25 / 29–36 | 21–25 / 29–36 | 22–47 / 32–46 | 22–49 / 33–43 | |
| CO₂ tailpipe (g/mi) | 310–373 | 310–373 | 308–373 | 196–342 | 194–342 | |
| Complaints filed | 922 | 363 | 270 | 861 | 724 | |
| Recalls issued | 11 | 6 | 3 | 10 | 4 | |
| Crash-involved complaints | 38 | 19 | 18 | 24 | 17 | |
| Fire-involved complaints | 11 | 8 | 9 | 2 | 4 | |
| Injuries reported | 34 | 17 | 13 | 17 | 16 | |
| Deaths reported | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | |
| Configurations compared | 3 | 3 | 2 | 4 | 3 |
Not compared: this database has no vehicle sales or registration figures, so a raw count mostly reflects how many were sold, not how safe the vehicle is.
Common questions
How many recalls does the 2015 Chevrolet Malibu have?
3 NHTSA recall campaigns as of Sep 16, 2026. Check your VIN with NHTSA to see whether one applies to your car.
What is the most common complaint about the 2015 Chevrolet Malibu?
Engine: 71 of 270 NHTSA complaints (26%) mention it.
What gas mileage does the 2015 Chevrolet Malibu get?
EPA rates it 24–29 MPG combined across 2 configurations.
How much does it cost to fuel a 2015 Chevrolet Malibu?
EPA estimates $2,150–$2,600 a year in fuel costs, using EPA's assumptions.
Similar Vehicles
EPA-Rated Configurations (2)
| Configuration | Transmission | Cylinders | Displacement | Drivetrain | Fuel Type | Vehicle Class | City | Highway | Combined | Annual Fuel Cost | CO₂ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Configuration 1 | Automatic (S6) | 4 | 2.5L | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | Midsize Cars | 25 mpg (high) | 36 mpg (high) | 29 mpg (high) | $2,150 (low) | 308 g/mi (low) |
| Configuration 2 | Automatic (S6) | 4 | 2.0L | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | Midsize Cars | 21 mpg (low) | 29 mpg (low) | 24 mpg (low) | $2,600 (high) | 373 g/mi (high) |
Complaints by Category
| Category | Complaints | Crash-Involved | Fire-Involved | Injuries | Deaths |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 71 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| Transmission & Drivetrain | 31 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 0 |
| Fuel System | 19 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical | 68 | 2 | 7 | 2 | 0 |
| Brakes | 28 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| Steering | 9 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Suspension, Wheels & Tires | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Airbags & Restraints | 55 | 8 | 1 | 7 | 1 |
| Driver Assistance & Speed Control | 29 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| Body, Seats & Latches | 22 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Visibility & Lighting | 18 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Other | 37 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 0 |
A complaint that names more than one category is counted in each, so the rows can add up to more than the total number of complaints.
Recalls (3)
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:CONTROL MODULE (TCM/PCM/TECM); ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION · Campaign 16V502000 · Jul 5, 2016
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 levers. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 114, "Theft Protection and Rollaway Prevention."
Consequence: If the key is removed without the transmission in PARK, the vehicle may rollaway as occupants are exiting, increasing the risk of injury.
Remedy: 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 · Campaign 15V666000 · Oct 16, 2015
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.
Consequence: 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 injury.
Remedy: 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 · Campaign 15V164000 · Mar 23, 2015
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."
Consequence: 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.
Remedy: 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.