Chevrolet Malibu - Problems, Statistics, and Analysis

Chevrolet Malibu owners have reported a total of 28,063 problems for their cars built in the 29 model years listed in the chart below. The chart shows the number of problems reported across all service years for each given model year of the Chevrolet Malibu. The 2009 Chevrolet Malibu cars have the most problems reported (2,294 problems).

Table 1. Total number of problems by model year for Chevrolet Malibu

Model Year Number of Problems
  2025 Malibu
7
  2024 Malibu
16
  2023 Malibu
55
  2022 Malibu
118
  2021 Malibu
112
  2020 Malibu
314
  2019 Malibu
301
  2018 Malibu
1,195
  2017 Malibu
1,176
  2016 Malibu
1,442
  2015 Malibu
390
  2014 Malibu
563
  2013 Malibu
1,362
  2012 Malibu
1,450
  2011 Malibu
1,497
  2010 Malibu
2,133
  2009 Malibu
2,294
  2008 Malibu
1,435
  2007 Malibu
1,297
  2006 Malibu
1,734
  2005 Malibu
1,759
  2004 Malibu
1,973
  2003 Malibu
701
  2002 Malibu
652
  2001 Malibu
810
  2000 Malibu
1,003
  1999 Malibu
810
  1998 Malibu
1,003
  1997 Malibu
461

🔍 Common problems of Chevrolet Malibu

The following chart shows the 35 most common problems for Chevrolet Malibu cars. The number one most common problem is related to the vehicle's steering (5,999 problems). The second most common problem is related to the vehicle's electrical system (4,825 problems).

Table 2. Common problems of Chevrolet Malibu

📉 Compare Reliability Across Model Years Using PPMY Index

It would not be fair to compare the Chevrolet Malibu of an older model year to newer model years since older vehicles have been in service longer and thus are expected to have more problems. In order to compare the reliability across Malibu model years, we use the PPMY index which is defined as the problems reported per thousand vehicles per Year. A smaller PPMY index indicates greater reliability of the given model year cars.

    PPMY = P / S / Y * 1000,

where P = total problems reported during the life of a Chevrolet Malibu model year; S = total units sold of the model year; Y = years since the debut of the model year (the age of the vehicle).

The results are shown in Table 3.

Table 3. Use PPMY Index to Compare Reliability Across Malibu Model Years

Malibu
Model Year
Problems Sales [1] Vehicle
Age
PPMY Index
  2022 11895,7504    
0.31
  2021 11266,8675    
0.33
  2020 314128,0436    
0.41
  2019 30184,1217    
0.51
  2018 1,195185,1788    
0.81
  2017 1,176182,7369    
0.72
  2016 1,442237,42610    
0.61
  2015 390209,91811    
0.17
  2014 563156,08612    
0.30
  2013 1,362211,35713    
0.50
  2012 1,450225,80114    
0.46
  2011 1,497211,05515    
0.47
  2010 2,133183,78416    
0.73
  2009 2,294176,81617    
0.76
  2008 1,435155,43318    
0.51
  2007 1,297129,23419    
0.53
  2006 1,734177,26220    
0.49
  2005 1,759212,40021    
0.39
  2004 1,973132,40322    
0.68
  2003 701177,26023    
0.17
  2002 652144,94724    
0.19
  2001 810186,78425    
0.17
  2000 1,003215,59426    
0.18

📊 Number of Problems Reported During the First Year

Another way to measure the reliability across the model years of the Chevrolet Malibu is to use the total number of problems reported during the vehicle's first year in service, as shown in the Table 4.

Table 4. Number of problems in vehicle's; first service year

Model YearProblems Reported
  2025 Malibu
5
  2024 Malibu
9
  2023 Malibu
21
  2022 Malibu
9
  2021 Malibu
12
  2020 Malibu
4
  2019 Malibu
12
  2018 Malibu
35
  2017 Malibu
40
  2016 Malibu
44
  2015 Malibu
27
  2014 Malibu
57
  2013 Malibu
70
  2012 Malibu
50
  2011 Malibu
38
  2010 Malibu
83
  2009 Malibu
40
  2008 Malibu
38
  2007 Malibu
30
  2006 Malibu
36
  2005 Malibu
44
  2004 Malibu
198
  2003 Malibu
26
  2002 Malibu
18
  2001 Malibu
37
  2000 Malibu
104
  1999 Malibu
69
  1998 Malibu
119
  1997 Malibu
45


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