BestCarRank
Chevrolet

2024 Chevrolet MALIBU

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Excellent Reliability

Quick Summary

The 2024 Chevrolet MALIBU has 37 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 0.1x the segment average of 561. The most common issue is electrical problems (27% of all complaints), specifically: vehicle will shut off and say shift neutral to start again. There are 2 recalls issued for this model year.

4 crash reports 2 injuries

37

Total Complaints

2

Recalls Issued

5/5

Safety Stars

0.1x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems(top 5 of 8)

ELECTRICAL

10 complaints
27%
  • Vehicle will shut off and say shift neutral to start again
  • My vehicle sometimes will not start when I press the Start Button and press the brakes at the same time. The dashboard will light up with a message that says “Service ESC” followed by “Engine Power is Reduced”. When it does start, I can drive the vehicle for a moment before it does the Engine Power
  • The camera intermittently stops working, which makes backing up dangerous—especially since I’m [XXX] [XXX] . I haven’t taken it to the dealer yet because the issue happens unpredictably, and every time I consider going in for repairs, the camera starts working again. I need a reliable solution to f
Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

Vehicle will shut off and say shift neutral to start again

— NHTSA complaint filing

Recalls (2)

EQUIPMENT:OTHER:OWNERS/SERVICE/OTHER MANUAL01/08/2024

General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2024 Cadillac XT4 and Chevrolet Malibu vehicles. The vehicles may have the wrong owner's manual in the glove box. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 225, "Child Restraint Anchorage Systems."

Risk: The wrong owner's manual may contain inaccurate information about vehicle functions and other safety relevant information, which could lead to improper operation of the vehicle and increase the risk of a crash or injury.

Fix: Dealers will provide owners with the correct manual, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 26, 2024. Owners may contact Cadillac's customer service at 1-800-458-8006 and Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is N242454040.

Above-average theft risk

#19 most stolen in 2025

The Chevrolet MALIBU was the #19 most-stolen vehicle in the United States in 2025, with approximately 5,300 thefts reported to law enforcement.

Notes: Popular midsize sedan

Source: NICB Hot Wheels 2025 report + HLDI theft loss studies. Model-year ranking; not all years of this model have identical risk.

Fuel Cost Calculator for 2024 Chevrolet MALIBU

Live EIA prices
Per year
$1,549
Per month
$129
Per mile
12.9¢
MPG
31
City driving (worst-case MPG)
$1,715/yr
Highway driving (best-case MPG)
$1,334/yr

Based on EPA fuel-economy ratings and EIA weekly retail prices (2026-07-20). Real-world cost varies with driving style, trim/engine, terrain, and traffic.

5-Year Gas Price History

EIA weekly retail data · 2021 → today
Current
$4.00
5-year low
$2.78
5-year high
$5.01
Since 2021
+27%

Source: US Energy Information Administration weekly retail gasoline prices.

Estimated Insurance Cost for 2024 Chevrolet MALIBU

Estimate only, not a quote. Modeled from NAIC + HLDI averages for a hypothetical 35-year-old driver with clean record + full coverage. Your actual quote depends heavily on your age, driving history, credit, ZIP code, and insurer.
Full coverage / year
$1,841
Full coverage / month
$153
Liability only / year
$574
vs US avg
+10%
How this estimate is calculated
US base full-coverage premium$1674
× state (US)1.00x
× vehicle class (sedan-midsize)0.96x
× theft risk1.06x
× safety rating0.94x
× vehicle age1.15x
= Full coverage estimate$1841

Coverage assumed: 100/300/100 liability + comprehensive/collision, $500 deductibles. Data sources: NAIC 2024 + HLDI loss studies.

Maintenance & Warranty

Recommended Chevrolet MALIBU Service Intervals

Oil change
8K mi / 12 mo
Tire rotation
8K mi
Brake fluid
36 months
Transmission fluid
45K mi
Engine coolant
150K mi
Spark plugs
100K mi
Cabin air filter
23K mi
Engine air filter
45K mi
Differential (AWD/4WD)
45K mi

GM Oil Life System dynamically calculates oil change interval. DEXOS-approved oil required.

"Severe service" conditions (heavy towing, extreme temps, city stop-and-go) typically halve these intervals. Always consult your vehicle's owner's manual for the authoritative schedule.

Chevrolet New-Vehicle Warranty Coverage

Bumper-to-bumper (basic)
3 yr / 36K mi
Powertrain
5 yr / 60K mi
Hybrid/EV battery
8 yr / 100K mi
Corrosion (rust perforation)
6 yr / 100K mi
Roadside assistance
5 yr / 60K mi

Estimated Repair Costs

ELECTRICAL(~50K mi)
$500
DRIVER ASSIST/CAMERAS(~50K mi)
$500
OTHER(~50K mi)
$500
TRANSMISSION(~50K mi)
$500
BRAKES(~50K mi)
$500

Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 37 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

  • ELECTRICAL: Vehicle will shut off and say shift neutral to start again

    Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500

  • DRIVER ASSIST/CAMERAS: I rented this 2024 Chevrolet Malibu from Enterprise Rent A Car in Union City, GA. While driving the vehicle on the highway early on [XXX] a vehicle came to a complete stop and in front of the vehicle directly in front of me. This action almost caused a multi-car pile-up. I immediately engaged the

    Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500

  • OTHER: Car reading codes- Po56z-00 C0609-08 U0151-00 No A/C Front bumper clips do not stay tight Car reading low voltage Less than 14,000 miles with all these issues already, what a nightmare.

    Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500

  • TRANSMISSION: My vehicle sometimes will not start when I press the Start Button and press the brakes at the same time. The dashboard will light up with a message that says “Service ESC” followed by “Engine Power is Reduced”. When it does start, I can drive the vehicle for a moment before it does the Engine Power

    Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500

  • RECALLS: Verify all 2 recalls have been completed — free at any Chevrolet dealer
  • General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)

NHTSA Safety Rating

Overall
Frontal
Side
Rollover

At a Glance

Complaints
37
Recalls
2
Fire reports
0
Crash reports
4
Injury reports
2
Segment avg
561

Check a Specific VIN

See recalls for YOUR 2024 Chevrolet MALIBU