2019 Chevrolet MALIBU
Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report
Quick Summary
The 2019 Chevrolet MALIBU has 306 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 3.8x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is transmission problems (22% of all complaints), specifically: the engine "auto stop" feature can have enough of a delay to allow the accelerator to be pressed as the engine starts causing it to lurch forward rather than accelerate smoothly. it also can cause a delay when pulling out into heavy traffic. there is currently no way to temporarily or permanently de. ⚠️ 1 fire report filed.
306
Total Complaints
0
Recalls Issued
—/5
Safety Stars
3.8x
vs Segment Avg
Known Problems
TRANSMISSION
66 complaints- • THE ENGINE "AUTO STOP" FEATURE CAN HAVE ENOUGH OF A DELAY TO ALLOW THE ACCELERATOR TO BE PRESSED AS THE ENGINE STARTS CAUSING IT TO LURCH FORWARD RATHER THAN ACCELERATE SMOOTHLY. IT ALSO CAN CAUSE A DELAY WHEN PULLING OUT INTO HEAVY TRAFFIC. THERE IS CURRENTLY NO WAY TO TEMPORARILY OR PERMANENTLY DE
- • THE SPRING STEEL C-CLIP HOLDING THE CVT FLUID COOLING LINE IN PLACE AT THE RADIATOR FELL OFF WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION ON INTERSTATE 5. THE TRANSMISSION FLUID DRAINED OUT ONTO THE ROADWAY RESULTING IN COMPLETE LOSS OF POWER TO THE WHEELS. THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON BUT THE ENGINE RAN FINE.
- • WHEN I STOP AT A STOP SIGN OR RED LIGHT, IT SEEMS LIKE MY CAR CUTS OFF AND THEN BACK ON WHEN I HIT THE GAS. I CAN HEAR IT. THERE IS ALSO A SOUND IN MY BRAKES WHEN THIS HAPPENS, THAT SOUNDS AIR. *TR
“THE ENGINE "AUTO STOP" FEATURE CAN HAVE ENOUGH OF A DELAY TO ALLOW THE ACCELERATOR TO BE PRESSED AS THE ENGINE STARTS CAUSING IT TO LURCH FORWARD RATHER THAN ACCELERATE SMOOTHLY. IT ALSO CAN CAUSE A DELAY WHEN PULLING OUT INTO HEAVY TRAFFIC. THERE IS CURRENTLY NO WAY TO TEMPORARILY OR PERMANENTLY DE”
— NHTSA complaint filing
ENGINE
62 complaints- • START/STOP ON POWERTRAIN / MOTOR CONTROL. MOTOR STOPS ON BRAKE PEDAL PRESSURE AND STARTS UPON ? ? DECREASE IN PEDAL PRSSURE ? MOTOR STARTED AND RPM ACCELERATED BU ITSELF WHILE BRAKE PEDAL APPLIED, VEHICLE "SURGED" AND HIT POST. MOTOR ACCELERATES RPM / WORKS BY ITSELF. PROBLEM IS INTERMITTENT.
- • NEW CAR. 500 MILES ON MOTOR. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. P2097. NOTICED DECREASED ENGINE POWER WHEN PRESSING GAS PEDDLE. CAR STALLED ON START. FELT SLIGHT SHIMMY FROM MOTOR WHILE SITTING IDLE.
- • WITH UNDER 10K MILES ON THIS CAR, WE DROVE AN HOUR TO A BASEBALL GAME, THEN FOUND WHEN WE STARTED IT BACK UP, IT WAS ON REDUCED POWER. TURNED OUT TO BE THE THROTTLE BODY THAT HAD TO BE REPLACED. TODAY, WITH UNDER 17K MILES, MY WIFE WAS PICKING THE CHILDREN UP FROM SCHOOL, AND IT LOST POWER AND SAI
“START/STOP ON POWERTRAIN / MOTOR CONTROL. MOTOR STOPS ON BRAKE PEDAL PRESSURE AND STARTS UPON ? ? DECREASE IN PEDAL PRSSURE ? MOTOR STARTED AND RPM ACCELERATED BU ITSELF WHILE BRAKE PEDAL APPLIED, VEHICLE "SURGED" AND HIT POST. MOTOR ACCELERATES RPM / WORKS BY ITSELF. PROBLEM IS INTERMITTENT. ”
— NHTSA complaint filing
ELECTRICAL
61 complaints- • FAULTY FUEL PUMP COMMUNICATION SYSTEM AND KEY KOB READER
- • TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2019 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED WITH THE IGNITION IN THE OFF POSITION, THE INTERIOR LIGHTS REMAINED ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT ALSO MENTIONED THAT WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS IN PARK AND THE IGNITION WAS TURNED TO THE OFF POSITION, THE RADIO
- • THE 2019 MALIBU OWN WHICH IS AN LT WITH A SUNROOF AND HEATED FRONT SEATS, HAS HAD AN ISSUE WITH THE BATTERY CONNECTION WHERE AS THE CAR WAS BRAND NEW OUT FROM THE SHOP. AND THEN A WEEK OR TWO LATER I GOT INTO MY CAR TO LOOK FOR MY HEADPHONES, THEN I JUST WANTED TO SIT INSIDE MY BRAND NEW CAR FOR A M
“FAULTY FUEL PUMP COMMUNICATION SYSTEM AND KEY KOB READER”
— NHTSA complaint filing
OTHER
38 complaints- • I COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED OR MAIMED BY A DEFECTIVE TIRE JACK THAT WAS INCLUDED IN THE TIRE CHANGING EQUIPMENT THAT CAME WITH A NEW IMPALA I RENTED FROM ENTERPRISE CAR RENTAL. THE JACK BENT IN TWO WHEN I TRIED TO CRANK THE JACK HIGH ENOUGH TO CHANGE A FLAT TIRE. I HAVE A PHOTO OF THE CHINESE-MADE PA
- • WHILE STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT THE AUTO START WILL ENGAGE. WHEN THE LIGHT TURNS GREEN AND YOU RELEASE THE BREAK THE CAR WON'T MOVE. THE CAR NEEDS TO BE PLACED IN PARK TURNED COMPLETELY OFF IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC. NO WARNING LIGHTS ARE ON, DEARLER SHIP CANT FIND WHATS WRONG.
- • WHEN VEHICLE IS STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT VEHICLE DISPLAYED MESSAGE 'STEERING ASSIST REDUCED DRIVE WITH CARE' THIS HAS DONE THIS MULTIPLE TIMES. VEHICLE IS A 2019 BROUGHT IT BRAND NEW THIS SHOULD NOT BE HAPPENING.
“I COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED OR MAIMED BY A DEFECTIVE TIRE JACK THAT WAS INCLUDED IN THE TIRE CHANGING EQUIPMENT THAT CAME WITH A NEW IMPALA I RENTED FROM ENTERPRISE CAR RENTAL. THE JACK BENT IN TWO WHEN I TRIED TO CRANK THE JACK HIGH ENOUGH TO CHANGE A FLAT TIRE. I HAVE A PHOTO OF THE CHINESE-MADE PA”
— NHTSA complaint filing
BRAKES
24 complaints- • WHEN DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY THE WHEELS FEEL LIKE THERE ARE PUSHING ONE WAY. WHEN SLOWING DOWN THE STEERING WHEEL SHAKES. PRESSING THE ON BRAKES THE STEERING WHEEL ALSO SHAKES. COUPLE DAYS AGO WE HAD TO TIGHTEN THE LUG NUTS ON THE CAR FRONT TIRES. ITS WAS GOOD A COUPLE DAYS AND NOW AGAIN DOING THE SA
- • I WAS STATIONARY AT A RED LIGHT ON HIGHWAY 49 WITH MY FOOT ON THE BREAKS, AND WHEN THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN I LET MY FOOT UP OFF THE BREAKS AND THE CAR JUST SHUT OFF. I TRIED TO TURN THE CAR BACK ON, BUT STILL NOTHING. I WAITED A FEW SECONDS AND THE CAR STARTED BACK UP, SO I PUT IT IN DRIVE AND STARTE
- • Driving along the interstate the car suddenly lost power. I was able to pull over and restart car and drive like nothing ever happened. Then once I parked the car at my destination the car would not start 10 minutes later leaving me stranded in an unfamiliar city. When trying to start the car it wou
“WHEN DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY THE WHEELS FEEL LIKE THERE ARE PUSHING ONE WAY. WHEN SLOWING DOWN THE STEERING WHEEL SHAKES. PRESSING THE ON BRAKES THE STEERING WHEEL ALSO SHAKES. COUPLE DAYS AGO WE HAD TO TIGHTEN THE LUG NUTS ON THE CAR FRONT TIRES. ITS WAS GOOD A COUPLE DAYS AND NOW AGAIN DOING THE SA”
— NHTSA complaint filing
Estimated Repair Costs
Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.
🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist
Based on 306 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:
- ☐TRANSMISSION: THE ENGINE "AUTO STOP" FEATURE CAN HAVE ENOUGH OF A DELAY TO ALLOW THE ACCELERATOR TO BE PRESSED AS THE ENGINE STARTS CAUSING IT TO LURCH FORWARD RATHER THAN ACCELERATE SMOOTHLY. IT ALSO CAN CAUSE A DELAY WHEN PULLING OUT INTO HEAVY TRAFFIC. THERE IS CURRENTLY NO WAY TO TEMPORARILY OR PERMANENTLY DE
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐ENGINE: START/STOP ON POWERTRAIN / MOTOR CONTROL. MOTOR STOPS ON BRAKE PEDAL PRESSURE AND STARTS UPON ? ? DECREASE IN PEDAL PRSSURE ? MOTOR STARTED AND RPM ACCELERATED BU ITSELF WHILE BRAKE PEDAL APPLIED, VEHICLE "SURGED" AND HIT POST. MOTOR ACCELERATES RPM / WORKS BY ITSELF. PROBLEM IS INTERMITTENT.
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐ELECTRICAL: FAULTY FUEL PUMP COMMUNICATION SYSTEM AND KEY KOB READER
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐OTHER: I COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED OR MAIMED BY A DEFECTIVE TIRE JACK THAT WAS INCLUDED IN THE TIRE CHANGING EQUIPMENT THAT CAME WITH A NEW IMPALA I RENTED FROM ENTERPRISE CAR RENTAL. THE JACK BENT IN TWO WHEN I TRIED TO CRANK THE JACK HIGH ENOUGH TO CHANGE A FLAT TIRE. I HAVE A PHOTO OF THE CHINESE-MADE PA
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)
Chevrolet MALIBU — Year Comparison
How does 2019 compare to other years? Fewer complaints = more reliable.
NHTSA Safety Rating
No NHTSA safety rating available
At a Glance
- Complaints
- 306
- Recalls
- 0
- Fire reports
- 1
- Crash reports
- 11
- Injury reports
- 9
- Segment avg
- 80
Check a Specific VIN
See recalls for YOUR 2019 Chevrolet MALIBU