Carlexica

2022 Chevrolet Malibu: problems, recalls and reliability

1 recall and 98 owner complaints on record; the weakest area is electrical system (30% of complaints).

Data updated weekly · 9 new complaints in the last 90 days · latest recall Dec 2022

1
recalls
98
owner complaints
0
fire reports
66,253
typical failure mileage, mi

All counts are reports filed with NHTSA in the United States - US market only, not worldwide totals.

NHTSA crash testOverall ★★★★★Front ★★★★★Side ★★★★★Rollover ★★★★★
Among the quietest Malibu years (#25 of 27 by complaints, age-adjusted)4-star NHTSA overall safety ratingNo fire reportsWeak spot: electrical system (30%)

Common problems

Computed from 98 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for this exact model year.

Electrical System (battery, wiring, electronics)30% · 22 complaints
Engine (engine mechanics)21% · 15 complaints
Power Train (transmission, axles, driveline)14% · 10 complaints
Engine And Engine Cooling (engine, radiator, overheating)8% · 6 complaints
Fuel/Propulsion System (fuel pump, tank, lines)5% · 4 complaints
Vehicle Speed Control (unintended acceleration, cruise control)4% · 3 complaints
“The contact owns a 2022 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, while adjusting the front driver's seat, the seat adjuster failed to operate as intended. The front driver's seat failed to move backwards. The contact stated that it was a known failure with the vehicle. The manufacturer was contacted by phone and made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 104,000.”Owner report · Seats · Sep 2026
“Driving along the highway the CEL light came on followed by reduced engine power warning. Vehicle abruptly slowed down to 35mph (limp mode). Were there to be another vehicle behind me, they would have to do emergency braking. My vehicle would not start after pulling over to the shoulder. A tow truck was dispatched, and after diagnosis from the service center; The fuel pump module was found to be defective.”Owner report · Fuel/Propulsion System · Sep 2026
“The car started giving warnings on the dash "SHIFT TO PARK" even though the shifter is in park. When it happens you can not shut the car off fully causing the battery to drain, you also can not lock the vehicle. The car only has 19K miles on it and GM refuses to fix because the car is out of the standard warranty period by six months.”Owner report · Unknown Or Other · Aug 2026
Show 7 more owner reports
“My Malibu has numerous electrical problems. Often involving the start stop feature. The door locks have locked and unlocked themselves The engine and battery warning light will come on but we don't know why. A metal piece of the front frame broke off and went through the condenser. I had to have the car towed causing more damage to the hood. I cannot drive it. The check battery light is also on. At times the button to power on car will not work. Then it will a few min later. .yes, car is available for inspection. It is unsafe to drive and has too many problems for a newer cat”Owner report · Structure · Aug 2026
“I was told the bcm on my vehicle is bad. It cause my car to go all out of wack. Multiple warning lights come on (ESC, ABS, power steering, check engine), the gauge controls flutter, my gear shift clicks on and off, the car has even shut down on me in the middle of traffic, wouldn't start, wouldn't shift, basically wouldn't move at all even when it did start. How would a bcm shut down my whole vehicle?”Owner report · Electrical System · Jul 2026
“The contact owns a 2022 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the message "Engine Power Reduced" was displayed. The failure was a persistent failure. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed with turbocharger failure. The contact was informed that the turbocharger needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact referenced an unknown recall; however, the VIN was not associated with a recall related to the failure. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure, and a case was filed. The failure mileage was approximately 82,950.”Owner report · Engine And Engine Cooling · Jun 2026
“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.”Owner report · Engine And Engine Cooling · May 2026
“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.”Owner report · Engine · May 2026
“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.”Owner report · Vehicle Speed Control · May 2026
“Turned ignition off car computer read car not in park. All lights were on yellow ignition light on and door chime kept ringing. Started car moved car forward then backed up. Shut car off car still not working properly in park same problem. Moved shifter to park and bumped it a few times. Message went off. Tires make a grinder noise.”Owner report · Wheels · May 2026

When filing, owners marked a crash in 4 of these complaints and injuries in 1 - self-reported to NHTSA, not verified accident statistics.

Recalls - 1 campaign

Frame and members (structure)22V923000 · Dec 2022

General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2022-2023 Chevrolet Malibu vehicles. The front impact bar, a structural portion of the vehicle frame, may not be properly welded to the front frame rail.

Remedy: Dealers will inspect the right-hand and left-hand side of the vehicle's motor rail for an incomplete weld. If the condition is found, the vehicle will be repurchased by GM. Owner notification letters were mailed January 20, 2023. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020.

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 decoder

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2022 Chevrolet Malibu reliable?

NHTSA has 98 owner complaints and 1 recall campaign on record for the 2022 Chevrolet Malibu. The most complained-about area is electrical system (30% of complaints).

At what mileage do 2022 Chevrolet Malibu problems usually appear?

Half of the complaints that mention mileage were filed at 66,253 miles or less.

Does the 2022 Chevrolet Malibu have open recalls?

1 recall campaign has been issued, the latest concerning structure. 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.