Engine And Engine Cooling Problems of Chevrolet Malibu - part 1

The vehicle experiences sudden transmission slipping, severe shuddering, and an unexpected loss of forward drive power while in motion. Specifically, while attempting to accelerate from a complete stop / merge onto the highway, the engine revs but the vehicle fails to accelerate properly or suddenly loses acceleration entirely. This creates a severe and immediate safety hazard as it leaves the vehicle moving incredibly slowly or stranded in active traffic, creating an imminent risk of a rear-end collision. The dealership has been unable to provide a permanent remedy.

See all problems of the 2019 Chevrolet Malibu 🔎.

I am reporting a potential safety concern involving the brake vacuum pump in Chevrolet Malibu vehicles. I have seen multiple reports from owners describing vacuum pump failures, brakes becoming difficult to press, and brakes reportedly stopping working. Some owners have reported having to replace their vacuum pumps multiple times, while others have described serious safety incidents involving brake problems. I am concerned that these reports may indicate a recurring safety defect that could put drivers, passengers, and other road users at risk. A vacuum pump failure that affects brake assist could make it difficult to stop a vehicle safely and potentially cause a serious crash. I became aware of these reported safety concerns on October 13, 2026, after seeing multiple Chevrolet Malibu owners discuss these problems. This specific vacuum pump failure has not happened to my vehicle personally. I am submitting this report to bring these concerns to NHTSA’s attention and request an investigation into whether the affected Chevrolet Malibu model years have a safety defect that warrants a recall to prevent further crashes, injuries, or deaths.

See all problems of the 2023 Chevrolet Malibu 🔎.

The wiring harness in the 2008 chevy Malibu hybrid has a open ground somewhere in the wiring harness it is draining the 12 volt battery and affecting the starter and the alternator generator in the hybrid it will not let the starter engage all fuses appear to be good after checking all of them majority of the solenoids fuses relays and sensors have been replaced diagnostics test show that the wiring harness has an open ground throughout the car please call us about the open recalls that are on this car it appears to be five of them my number is [xxx] it is very important it just gets through to somebody and you give me confirmation back information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

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My vacuum pump has failed. Causing extremely dangerous driving conditions and potentially damaging my engine.

See all problems of the 2016 Chevrolet Malibu 🔎.

The contact owns a 2016 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that while driving at 61 mph, the vehicle unexpectedly began idling roughly. The contact stated that a loud noise was heard coming from the vehicle, and the cooling fan cycled on and off. The vehicle was taken to a service center, where it was found overheating. The cause of the failure could not be determined initially; however, the mechanic stated the failure was a known issue requiring a special diagnostic tool. Diagnosis revealed three piston rings leaking at 5 percent and the fourth piston ring leaking at 95 percent. The contact was informed that the piston rings could potentially be repaired if the necessary remedy parts were available for the model year. The failure mileage was approximately 66,000.

On 10/8/26 my vehicle failed in the middle of traffic as I was driving the car forcefully slowed down. When I proceeded to press the gas the car began driving in reverse putting me in immediate danger causing 2 different car to almost hit me from behind. I put the car in park , turned on my hazard lights and got out of the vehicle . I called my husband immediately luckily I was not far from home, and had him push my car out of the street . It’s currently still there.

See all problems of the 2018 Chevrolet Malibu 🔎.

The contact owns a 2019 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that after purchasing the vehicle, the following morning while waiting at the school drop-off line with her foot on the brake pedal, there was an abnormal boom, and several warning lights illuminated and flashed on the instrument panel. The occupants inside the vehicle assumed that the vehicle was struck from behind. The vehicle attempted to surge and revved and started to choke and shut off. The vehicle was shifted into park and the ignition key turned to the off position. The vehicle was restarted but failed to move. The engine, traction control, and the radio were blinking. The vehicle was shifted to first gear but was moving slowly. The vehicle stalled and was restarted, but the failure recurred. The engine light remained illuminated, but the screen was dimmed. The vehicle was turned off. The contact associated the failure with TSB: 21-na-045. The dealer was called and a voicemail was left. The vehicle was driven to the service center and the contact waited for 20 minutes to allow the vehicle to cool down and then restarted the vehicle. The gear shift indicator was not lit. The contact was able to drive to the residence. The radio started to work later. There was an abnormal hot odor. The contact was concerned about a fire. The local dealer responded and advised the contact not to drive the vehicle. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer, who was unable to determine the cause of the failure after the vehicle was test driven. The dealer confirmed there were no previous crash with the vehicle. There was one fault code displayed. The dealer stated that there might have been a backfire from the engine. The approximate failure mileage was 105,100.

Due to the vacuum pump failing during driving, metal shards broke inside of the car and went into the engine destroying it completely. Now I need a whole new engine.

The vehicle is experiencing an apparent fuel-system malfunction. The vehicle has a very strong raw gasoline odor, significant difficulty starting, and appears to be consuming fuel at an abnormally high rate. After filling the fuel tank completely, I drove approximately 20 miles at most and the fuel gauge decreased by approximately one-quarter of a tank. The engine oil also has a strong gasoline odor, indicating that fuel may be entering the engine oil. The exact failed component has not yet been diagnosed. The vehicle is available for inspection upon request. The strong raw gasoline odor and apparent rapid loss of fuel create a concern for a fuel leak and potential fire hazard. The vehicle also has difficulty starting and shuts the engine off when the automatic stop/start system activates while stopped at a traffic light. This creates a safety concern because the vehicle may not restart normally when traffic begins moving. I am concerned that the vehicle may have a fuel-system defect similar to the high-pressure fuel pump/fuel-line issue previously recalled on certain 2016-2018 Chevrolet Malibus. No. The problem has not yet been diagnosed or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center. The symptoms have been personally observed while operating the vehicle. This was my first step as this happened at 10:30pm. No. The vehicle has not yet been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives, or another official representative. I am reporting the problem because of the severity of the symptoms and the potential safety risk. There were no warning lamps or messages that I noticed before the problem occurred. The first symptoms were a very strong gasoline odor, unusually rapid fuel loss, and significant difficulty starting the vehicle. The vehicle also shuts off completely when the automatic stop/start system activates while stopped at a traffic light. These symptoms began recently.

See all problems of the 2017 Chevrolet Malibu 🔎.

The contact owns a 2022 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that while attempting to start the vehicle, the check engine warning light illuminated. An independent mechanic was contacted. No warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed and determined that the turbocharger needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact associated the failure with special coverage program: n252508360 (turbocharger replacement for up to 15 years or 150,000 miles); however, the VIN was not under recall. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that the VIN was included in the program. The approximate failure mileage was 82,949.

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See attached document for complaint.

See all problems of the 2012 Chevrolet Malibu 🔎.

The contact owns a 2018 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, the message "shift to park" was displayed on the instrument panel. The gear shifter was shifted back into drive and then back into park to turn off the vehicle. The contact also stated that while driving approximately 65 mph, the vehicle shuddered, started to lose automotive power, and then continued driving; however, the vehicle operated at reduced power and failed to exceed 30 mph. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was restarted; however, the failure persisted. The contact stated that there was an unknown liquid dripping underneath the vehicle. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 180,000.

2016 Chevrolet Malibu hybrid lt 1. 8l - current mileage 147,059 miles the factory exhaust heat exchanger failed internally, leaking engine coolant into the exhaust system. This caused check engine codes p0401 / p26be, loss of cabin heat, coolant loss, and exhaust fumes entering cabin. Gm has released 4 revisions of this part and all fail the same way, indicating known defective design. The part is currently on indefinite national backorder with no eta from gm (order #343585 from gmpartsnow on 08/22/2025 held without ship date). Dealers quote $1,587 and cannot obtain part either. This is a safety and emissions defect: coolant loss risks engine overheating, exhaust leak risks carbon monoxide in cabin, and coolant contaminates catalytic converter. Gm discontinued Malibu hybrid in 2019 without proper fix. This should be recalled. They produced a car, we bought it and now they don’t have the overpriced parts in stock to fix my car and when the parts is backordered, I keep driving it because I can’t work without my car which I very much need, the hybrid battery gets overheated, then they sell battery too and other damages too which will cost thousands to fix. This is a scam!.

The contact owns a 2018 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that there was an abnormally strong gasoline odor coming from the vehicle. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds on several occasions, the accelerator pedal was depressed, but the vehicle failed to respond, requiring the driver to pull over to the side of the road. The message "engine power reduced" was displayed. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed and determined that the fuel injectors had failed and needed to be replaced. The mechanic retained the vehicle and informed the contact that it was unsafe to drive due to a potential fire risk. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer was contacted and confirmed that the VIN was not under recall. The dealer advised the contact to bring the vehicle in for service. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and confirmed that the VIN was not under recall. The failure mileage was approximately 169,000.

Examatory mark appears on the dashboard say that engine speed as reduced.

Just bought the car and the car is receiving error: "shift to park". This appear to be a know issue for 2018 chevy Malibu hybrid. Car cut off in middle of traffic.

Was stopped at a red light. When the traffic light turned green, I pressed the accelerator to proceed through the intersection, but my vehicle did not respond or accelerate immediately. After several seconds, the vehicle finally began to move. This unexpected delay created a safety concern because I was unable to accelerate when traffic began moving. Which caused built up traffic and an almost wreck behind me.

See all problems of the 2024 Chevrolet Malibu 🔎.

My 2022 Chevrolet Malibu lt repeatedly and unpredictably enters a "reduced engine power" state, causing sudden, dangerous drops in speed while driving in traffic. This intermittent loss of power happens constantly on and off, creating an ongoing and severe safety hazard. A diagnostic scan reveals codes p0299 (turbocharger underboost), p1101, and p2227. General motors has an active special coverage program (n252508360) covering this exact turbocharger failure for 2022 Malibus with the 1. 5l engine. However, gm and the local dealership refuse to cover the repair, claiming my specific VIN is excluded from their automated list. I have already replaced the maf and map sensors to eliminate electrical faults, had all hoses examined for leaks, and I've replaced the air filter under the hood and in the cabin twice, proving this is a chronic mechanical failure of the turbocharger system. Gm is using arbitrary VIN boundaries to avoid repairing a known, widespread manufacturing defect that continually compromises vehicle safety.

A screen popped up saying “reduced engine power” I was already omw to the shop to get one thing fixed. When they tried to pull my car in they say they he car wouldn’t drive and it was hard to accelerate and they had to put it in neutral to get it in the shop. They said they fixed the problem but when I left to go into the main road, my car wouldn’t accelerate to the speed I needed and cars were coming. They were beeping and thank god they were able to slow down because they’ve would’ve hit me. The car does not accelerate and the manias can’t figure out why. Upon doing my research there are 100’s of folks saying the same thing. Right now I am out of a car, I literally just moved on 6/30 and not only do I work doordash, I have a day job and an overnight job. My car is how I make my money and this issue is putting a lot of stress and frustration on me because I need to get to and from work to pay bills. I am waiting to hear back from another mechanic which is even more stressful. Waiting, trying to figure out who can fix this issue and what the issue is.

See all problems of the 2021 Chevrolet Malibu 🔎.

Component: air conditioning – a/c hose assembly / refrigerant discharge line the air conditioning refrigerant discharge line (a/c hose assembly) appears to have been improperly designed and/or installed during manufacturing. The rubber a/c hose was routed in a manner that caused it to rest against or press against the side of the engine. Over time, the engine heat and constant contact burned a hole through the hose, causing a rapid loss of refrigerant (freon). As a result of the refrigerant leak, the air conditioning system stopped blowing cold air, and the hvac system no longer functioned properly. This failure was not caused by normal wear and tear, but by the improper routing and placement of the a/c hose against the engine. The issue was confirmed by meineke service center through a diagnostic inspection and uv dye leak test, which identified the damaged refrigerant discharge line as the source of the leak. A significant safety concern is that simply replacing the hose does not permanently correct the problem if the replacement hose is routed in the same location. Without a manufacturer-provided redesign or long-term repair solution that prevents the hose from contacting the engine, the replacement part is at risk of failing in the same manner. There were no warning lights, dashboard messages, or other indications before the failure occurred. The air conditioning stopped blowing cold air after the refrigerant escaped through the damaged hose. I believe this is a manufacturing and/or design defect that could affect other vehicles with the same hose routing configuration. I am requesting that NHTSA investigate this issue and determine whether a safety recall or manufacturer corrective action is warranted.

While coming down mcclure pass in colorado my brakes failed. The the car went to engine power reduced mode. After getting the car to an independent mechanic I was told that the vacuum pump failed and exploded the parts into the camshaft. After 2 days of repairs I was finally able to get my car back to working order. This could have been a fatal car accident coming down a mountain pass. I was able to get stopped safely because I know the road. I had just driven 700 miles over eisenhower pass, vail pass, glenwood canyon, and then the final pass being mcclure pass where it failed. I bought this car brand new and I probably won't buy another chevy after this. This was a terrifying experience that I will have lasting trauma from.

Transmission misfiring.

I was driving back home and stopped at a red light. When the light turned green I started driving, but my car was jerking a little too much. I pulled over and turned my car off. When I cut my car back on my brake became very hard to the point I had to push down extra hard to stop my car. I started back driving home once I realized my car needs to be turned completely off and sit. While I'm driving I see a message on my dashboard saying "engine power reduced. " luckily I made it home safely with no wrecks, but when I had to brake my car was still moving jerking while in place. Also when I made it home and turned my car off I heard a fan like noise that eventually stopped.

The trottle body position sensor just started acting up. Took it to mechanic. They stated they can try to fix it but it may only work for a month then go back out. May end up paying over 6k and the car isn't worth it.

Vacuum pump failure causing hard brake pedal which made near to impossible to brake safely and properly that lead to timing chain issues.

The contact owns a 2023 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that the vehicle hesitated after starting the vehicle, and while accelerating on several occasions from a stoplight. The failure occasionally occurred while driving on the freeway, causing the vehicle to decelerate unexpectedly. The vehicle was taken to the local mechanic, who diagnosed the vehicle and determined that the turbocharger needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer and local dealer were notified of the failure, but no assistance was provided. The contact was informed that the vehicle did not qualify for an extended warranty coverage associated with the failure. The failure mileage was 128,000.

The brake vacuum pump broke, causing my brakes to go rock hard and pieces fell down into the camshaft, causing engine damage.

I went to put my car in park and it was saying "shift to park" on my dashboard even though I was already in park. I know that there was a lawsuit that was won for this very defect but my car is not recalled for this and I feel every Malibu should be especially if almost every Malibu is experiencing the same issue nationwide. It cannot be a coincidence. Also I have been having issues with a knocking noise on the back of the car when I am driving and I'm being told it's also another common issue with Malibu's known as the knuckles that need replaced which are not cheap. If these are common issues on every Malibu then every Malibu needs to be recalled for the issue to be fixed not just certain ones. My Malibu has not had one recall but has had the same issues that other Malibu's had with multiple recalls done.

The contact owns a 2018 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that while driving on the interstate and attempting to exit the ramp at 40-45 mph, the brakes failed. After restarting the vehicle, the check engine warning light illuminated. The contact related the failure to NHTSA campaign number: 18v576000 (service brakes, hydraulic). The vehicle was towed to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed that the vacuum pump had failed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted, confirmed there was no recall and referred the contact to the NHTSA hotline. The approximate failure mileage was 150,000.

The chevy Malibu is displaying a “shift to park” message even when the gear selector is physically in the park position. This indicates that the vehicle’s computer may not be recognizing that the vehicle has been placed in park, which is commonly associated with a faulty or failing internal park-position sensor/switch. The issue is affecting the vehicle’s ability to shut down properly. It is necessary to turn the vehicle off and back on multiple times before the system will recognize that the vehicle is in park and allow it to shut off completely. If the vehicle does not recognize the park position, it may remain partially powered on and potentially drain the battery.

The contact owns a 2022 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that while driving approximately 62 mph, the vehicle lost motive power with the message "reduced engine power" displayed, and the check engine warning light intermittently illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where a diagnostic scan retrieved dtc: p0299, indicating a failure with the turbo charger. The vehicle was then taken to the local dealer, who confirmed that the vehicle was not eligible for the gm special coverage: n252508360. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 82,010.

The contact owns a 2022 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle unexpectedly entered limp mode with the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed that the turbocharger had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer was contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The dealer referred the contact to the NHTSA hotline for further assistance. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 70,000.

While driving my 2013 Chevrolet Malibu (2. 5l), I experienced a sudden and severe failure of the braking system. [insert exactly what happened here—for example: 'the brake pedal suddenly went completely to the floor,' 'the brakes unexpectedly locked up,' 'the vehicle experienced a sudden loss of braking power,' or 'the brake warning lights illuminated right as the brakes failed']. This occurred while traveling at approximately 25 mph on a one-lane road. This total/partial loss of braking power created an immediate safety hazard and a high risk of a crash. The vehicle had to be shifted into manual, then safely coasted to a stop. No prior warning signs or brake issues occurred immediately leading up to this event.

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My cars check engine light keeps coming on and the first time it came on with an engine under boost failure and I took it to a 3rd party shop to get fixed and they had to replace the turbo charger. I paid $2500. 00 for that. 2 weeks later the same light came on and they had to replace it again. Well now the light came on again after a month for the same thing and I am taking it back into the shop again. That will be 3 times.

Unable to accelerate, dangerous when getting on highway or driving up hills.