2020 Chevrolet Malibu: problems, recalls and reliability
1 recall and 198 owner complaints on record; the weakest area is power train (25% of complaints); the 2021 model year looks more trouble-free.
Data updated weekly · 4 new complaints in the last 90 days · latest recall Aug 2021
All counts are reports filed with NHTSA in the United States - US market only, not worldwide totals.
Common problems
Computed from 198 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for this exact model year.
“The contact owns a 2020 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that while attempting to depress the brake pedal, the brakes failed to respond and seized, causing the contact to engage the parking brake. The contact was able to pull over while awaiting tow truck assistance. The vehicle was towed to a dealer to be diagnosed. The contact stated that a Lexus engineer retrieved the EDR; however, there was no failure found with the braking system. The failure mileage was 120,000.”Owner report · Service Brakes, Hydraulic · Sep 2026
“I have a failed vacuum pump which caused my braking ability to be 100% reliant on my own strength to be able to "safely" stop the car. This is an ongoing and common problem with GM yet they have not recalled or given any solution. This is unsafe and should be illegal. I have now an underwater car loan and still a non-drivable car because not only do i have to repair the vacuum pump but also the camshaft exhaust as well as timing chain. All of these repairs are things GM willingly hides from customers if they already knew this was an issue.”Owner report · Service Brakes · Aug 2026
“The contact owns a 2020 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that the message "Steering Assist Reduced - Drive with Care" was intermittently displayed on the instrument panel while driving. The contact stated that excessive force was needed to turn the steering wheel. In addition, the message "Service ESC" was displayed, and the steering failure became more frequent. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where the contact was provided with an estimate for a diagnostic test. The contact declined the diagnostic test.”Owner report · Steering · Aug 2026
Show 7 more owner reports
“Shift to park displaying when car is in park so it won't turn off and stalling out randomly with no warning or anything and being hesitant to go”Owner report · Power Train · May 2026
“The contact owns a 2020 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that while driving approximately 60 MPH on the freeway and depressing the brake pedal to slow down, the brake pedal was difficult to depress, and the vehicle failed to immediately stop. During the failure, the check engine and traction control warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was slowly driven to the residence and parked. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The local dealer was notified of the failure. The manufacturer was not yet contacted. The failure mileage was 85,547.”Owner report · Service Brakes, Hydraulic · Mar 2026
“The contact owns a 2020 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle hesitated and failed to properly accelerate while depressing the accelerator pedal. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a local independent mechanic, who associated the failure with TSB: N222372590. An appointment was scheduled with the dealer to inspect the vehicle. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 114,000.”Owner report · Engine · Feb 2026
“While driving the brake pedal became hard to push out of no where. Once the car got to the shop it stopped cranking. The shop is stating that the brake vacuum pump is the cause of the brake pedal messing up, and that it also caused other engine damages estimating $3000.00”Owner report · Service Brakes · Feb 2026
“The contact owns a 2020 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that while attempting to shift the vehicle into park, the transmission failed to shift into park after several attempts. The contact referenced TSB: 19-NA-206; as a possible cause for the failure; however, the VIN was not included in the TSB. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed with gear shifter failure. The gear shifter was replaced, and the vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 50,198.”Owner report · Power Train · Feb 2026
“Throwing code p1101 for the mass air flow sensor. This is a listed recall amongst other Malibu's but does not include my vin number. Check engine is on.”Owner report · Engine · Dec 2025
“December 12, 2025 I had to drive 20-30 miles an hour the car would not break I had to use parking break. When I would try to Stop it would continue to roll. The pedal was Hard! This is very dangerous and other cars have crashed There are also class action lawsuits regarding just this! Vehicle vacuum pump The Bill was $5200 I am asking for reimbursement! Vehicle vacuum pump engine light on tire sensor light on Saw there have been more cases”Owner report · Fuel/Propulsion System · Dec 2025
When filing, owners marked a crash in 10 of these complaints and injuries in 7 - self-reported to NHTSA, not verified accident statistics.
Recalls - 1 campaign
General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2016-2021 Chevrolet Malibu and 2019-2021 Cadillac XT4 vehicles. The rear seat belt retractors may be improperly secured with loose or missing fasteners.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and tighten the rear seat belt retractors, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on September 17, 2021. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020 and Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006. GM's number for this recall is N212333380.
Trouble codes owners mention
OBD-II codes that appear in NHTSA complaints about this car.
How other years compare
Counts are not adjusted for time on the road here - see all Malibu years ranked fairly for the age-adjusted comparison.
Check your exact Malibu by VIN
Recalls and equipment differ between individual vehicles. Decode your VIN to see what applies to yours.
Open VIN decoderFrequently asked questions
Is the 2020 Chevrolet Malibu reliable?
NHTSA has 198 owner complaints and 1 recall campaign on record for the 2020 Chevrolet Malibu. The most complained-about area is power train (25% of complaints).
At what mileage do 2020 Chevrolet Malibu problems usually appear?
Half of the complaints that mention mileage were filed at 70,000 miles or less.
Does the 2020 Chevrolet Malibu have open recalls?
1 recall campaign has been issued, the latest concerning seat belts. Check your specific vehicle by VIN - recall repairs are free at franchised dealers.
Source: NHTSA recall campaigns and owner complaints (public domain). Counts reflect reports on file and are not a defect rate.