Research · Midsize Cars

2000 Chevrolet MalibuRecalls, problems, MPG & safety

NHTSA lists 5 safety recalls and 944 owner complaints for the 2000 Chevrolet Malibu. Most complaints involve exterior lighting (242) and service brakes, hydraulic (224). The EPA rates it 21–23 mpg combined.

Combined MPG
21–23mpg
EPA · 2 versions
NHTSA overall
—
Not rated by NCAP
Safety recalls
5campaigns
Latest Jul 2014
Owner complaints
944
Top: exterior lighting
Fuel cost / yr
$2,800est.
EPA estimate, best version
01 —Recalls

Safety recalls

5 NHTSA campaigns · applies to some vehicles, check your VIN

Electrical system: ignition

Free remedy

This defect can affect the safe operation of the airbag system. Until this recall is performed, customers should remove all items from their key rings, leaving only the ignition key. The key fob (if applicable), should also be removed from the key ring. General Motors LLC (GM) notified the agency on July 3, 2014, that they are recalling 5,877,718 model year 2000-2005 Chevrolet Impala and Monte Carlo, 1997-2003 Chevrolet Malibu, 2004-2005 Malibu Classic, 1999-2004 Oldsmobile Alero, 1998-2002 Oldsmobile Intrigue, 1999-2005 Pontiac Grand Am and 2004-2008 Pontiac Grand Prix vehicles. In these models, the weight on the key ring and/or road conditions or some other jarring event may cause the ignition switch to move out of the run position, turning off the engine.

Electrical systemReported Jul 3, 2014NHTSA 14V400000

Exterior lighting

Free remedy

SABERSPORT IS RECALLING 16,270 COMBINATION CORNER AND BUMPER LAMP ASSEMBLIES OF VARIOUS PART NUMBERS SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." THESE LAMPS DO NOT CONTAIN THE REQUIRED AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS.

Exterior lightingReported Apr 7, 2009NHTSA 09E012000

Fuel system

Free remedy

CERTAIN DELPHI FUEL PRESSURE REGULATORS, P/NOS. FP10020-11B1, FP10026-11B1, AND FP10027-11B1, SOLD AFTER JANUARY 9, 2007, AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES LISTED ABOVE. THE UNIVERSAL PRESSURE REGULATORS (UPR) WERE PRODUCED WITHOUT AN O'RING AND RETAINER.

Fuel system, otherReported Mar 12, 2007NHTSA 07E021000
Data from NHTSA Recalls API · synced Oct 27, 2026 · All recall detailsNHTSA vehicle page
02 —Complaints

Owner complaints by component

944 complaints filed with NHTSA · Nov 1999 – Dec 2020
  1. Exterior lighting242
  2. Service brakes, hydraulic224
  3. Electrical system209
  4. Engine and engine cooling174
  5. Fuel system, gasoline56
  6. Steering44
  7. Equipment43
  8. Tires33
  9. Air bags32

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.

By model year

Complaints for each Malibu model year we’ve synced.

View as table
Model yearNHTSA complaints
1997452
1998999
1999800
2000944
2001739
2002596
2003611
20041,698
20051,393
20061,387
2007992
20081,017
20091,511
20101,365
2011978
2012907
2013924
2014363
2015270
2016865
2017727
2018700
2019193
2020200
202190
202299
202373
202444
202512
Crashes reported
47
Fires reported
7
Injuries reported
37
Deaths reported
3
Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Oct 27, 2026 · Full problem breakdownNHTSA vehicle page
03 —Common problems

What owners report most

Verbatim excerpts from NHTSA complaints, by component

Exterior lighting

242 reports4 crashes1 fire
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TURN SIGNALS WOULD MALFUNCTION OR FAIL INTERMITTENTLY. THE CONTACT STATED THAT AFTER FIDDLING WITH THE HAZARD LIGHT SWITCH, THE INDICATOR WORKED INTERMITTENTLY. STEVENS CREEK CHEVROLET (3640 STEVENS CREEK BLVD, SAN JOSE, CA 95117; (408) 490-0013) WAS CONTACTED AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS ON THE VIN. THE FAILURE WAS RELATED TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 03V327000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 84,900.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 15, 2020Exterior lightingODI 11364507

Service brakes, hydraulic

224 reports13 crashes1 fire
“I PURCHASED MY 2000 CHEVY MALIBU IN MARCH OF 2001. IN EARLY 2003 I TOOK MY CAR IN FOR REPAIRS BECAUSE I HAD LOST STEERING ABILITY. I WAS TOLD THE SUB FRAME NEEDED TO BE REPLACED SO I HAD IT DONE. A WEEK LATER I HAD TO BRING THE CAR BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR BRAKE PROBLEMS. I WAS THEN TOLD THE ABS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED SO I HAD THAT DONE. SINCE THEN I HAVE HAD TO CHANGE MY BRAKES NUMEROUS TIMES. JUST LAST YEAR I HAD TO REPLACE THE PADS 3 TIMES IN A 9 MONTH PERIOD BECAUSE THE PADS HAD BEEN WORN ALL THE WAY DOWN. DURING THAT 9 MONTH PERIOD I ALSO HAD TO REPLACE THE CALIPERS AND ROTORS ONCE THEN A WEEK LATER THE ROTORS HAD TO BE RESURFACE AGAIN. NOW I AM HAVING TO HAVE MY BRAKE PADS REPLACED AGAIN THIS WEEKEND. SO THAT MAKES A TOTAL OF 4 BRAKE PAD CHANGES IN LESS THAN A YEARS TIME. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 14, 2009Service brakes, hydraulic, EquipmentODI 10280449

Electrical system

209 reports4 crashes2 fires
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START. THE CONTACT SHIFTED THE VEHICLE INTO NEUTRAL, TURN THE SWITCH TO THE OFF POSITION THEN BACK TO THE ON POSITION AND THE VEHICLE STARTED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 45 OR 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE LOSS MOTIVE POWER AND STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SEVERAL ATTEMPTS WERE NEEDED TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. ADDITIONALLY, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD LOSS POWER BEFORE SHE COULD SHIFT OUT OF PARK INTO REVERSE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SHE HAD RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 14V400000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM) AND HAD THE VEHICLE TAKEN TO WEST CHEVROLET, INC., (3450 AIRPORT HWY, ALCOA, TN 37701) WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED UNDER RECALL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH WAS NOT REPAIRED UNDER THE RECALL CAMPAIGN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER. THE CONTACT CALLED THE SAME DEALER AND INFORMED THEM OF THE FAILURE AND WAS ADVISED TO SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 104,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Dec 14, 2020Electrical system, EngineODI 11383345
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Oct 27, 2026
04 —Key specs

Engines, transmissions & drive

2 versions rated by the EPA
EPA class
Midsize Cars
Engines
2.4L 4-cyl · 3.1L 6-cyl
Transmissions
Automatic 4-spd
Drive
Front-Wheel Drive
Fuel
Regular Gasoline

Towing, payload and dimensions aren’t in the EPA or NHTSA data, so we don’t list them.

Data from EPA fueleconomy.gov · synced Oct 27, 2026EPA listing
05 —Fuel economy

EPA fuel economy by version

City / highway / combined, annual fuel cost and CO₂
EPA
VersionCityHwyComb.Fuel / yrCO₂ g/mi
Malibu
Auto 4-spd, 4 cyl, 2.4 L · Front-Wheel Drive
192823$2,800386
Malibu
Auto 4-spd, 6 cyl, 3.1 L · Front-Wheel Drive
182721$3,050423
  • Malibu
    Auto 4-spd, 4 cyl, 2.4 L
    19 city · 28 hwy · $2,800/yr
    23
    mpg comb.
  • Malibu
    Auto 4-spd, 6 cyl, 3.1 L
    18 city · 27 hwy · $3,050/yr
    21
    mpg comb.
Data from EPA fueleconomy.gov · synced Oct 27, 2026 · Fuel cost is EPA’s annual estimate (15,000 mi, 55% city)
06 —Safety

NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings

1 tested variant
NHTSA has not published 5-Star Safety Ratings for the 2000 Chevrolet Malibu as of Oct 27, 2026.
Data from NHTSA NCAP Safety Ratings API · synced Oct 27, 2026Vehicle 4153
07 —Maintenance

Maintenance basics

General guidance, not the OEM schedule. Check your owner’s manual.
General guidance
ItemMilesTimeNote
Engine oil & filter5,000–10,000 mi6–12 monthsFollow the oil-life monitor if fitted
Tire rotation5,000–7,500 miEvery oil changeCheck pressure monthly
Engine air filter15,000–30,000 mi1–2 yearsSooner in dusty areas
Cabin air filter15,000–25,000 mi1–2 years
Brake fluid—2–3 yearsAbsorbs moisture over time
Coolant60,000–100,000 mi5–10 yearsLong-life coolants last longer
Spark plugs60,000–100,000 mi—Iridium/platinum plugs at the long end
12V battery—3–5 yearsHeat shortens battery life
  • Engine oil & filter5,000–10,000 mi
    6–12 months
  • Tire rotation5,000–7,500 mi
    Every oil change
  • Engine air filter15,000–30,000 mi
    1–2 years
  • Cabin air filter15,000–25,000 mi
    1–2 years
  • Brake fluid—
    2–3 years
  • Coolant60,000–100,000 mi
    5–10 years
  • Spark plugs60,000–100,000 mi
    —
  • 12V battery—
    3–5 years
Typical intervals for modern cars. Severe service (towing, short trips, extreme heat or cold) shortens them.
09 —FAQ

2000 Malibu questions

How many recalls does the 2000 Chevrolet Malibu have?

5 safety recalls as of Oct 27, 2026, according to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at a dealer. Check your VIN to see whether your car is included and whether the repair was done.

What are the most common 2000 Chevrolet Malibu problems?

Owners filed 944 complaints with NHTSA. The most-cited components are exterior lighting (242), service brakes, hydraulic (224), electrical system (209). Complaints are unverified owner reports and aren't adjusted for how many cars were sold.

What MPG does the 2000 Chevrolet Malibu get?

The EPA rates the 2000 Chevrolet Malibu at 21–23 mpg combined, depending on engine and drivetrain (2 versions rated).

Data from NHTSA & EPA · synced Oct 27, 2026