Seat belts: critical fasteners
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.
NHTSA lists 1 safety recall and 193 owner complaints for the 2019 Chevrolet Malibu. Most complaints involve power train (68) and engine (65). The EPA rates it 26–32 mpg combined, and NHTSA gives it 4 stars overall.
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.
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.
Complaints for each Malibu model year we’ve synced.
| Model year | NHTSA complaints |
|---|---|
| 1997 | 452 |
| 1998 | 999 |
| 1999 | 800 |
| 2000 | 944 |
| 2001 | 739 |
| 2002 | 596 |
| 2003 | 611 |
| 2004 | 1,698 |
| 2005 | 1,393 |
| 2006 | 1,389 |
| 2007 | 992 |
| 2008 | 1,017 |
| 2009 | 1,511 |
| 2010 | 1,365 |
| 2011 | 978 |
| 2012 | 907 |
| 2013 | 924 |
| 2014 | 363 |
| 2015 | 270 |
| 2016 | 865 |
| 2017 | 727 |
| 2018 | 700 |
| 2019 | 193 |
| 2020 | 200 |
| 2021 | 90 |
| 2022 | 99 |
| 2023 | 73 |
| 2024 | 44 |
| 2025 | 12 |
“The vehicle experiences sudden transmission slipping, severe shuddering, and an unexpected loss of forward drive power while in motion. Specifically, while attempting to accelerate from a complete stop / merge onto the highway, the engine revs but the vehicle fails to accelerate properly or suddenly loses acceleration entirely. This creates a severe and immediate safety hazard as it leaves the vehicle moving incredibly slowly or stranded in active traffic, creating an imminent risk of a rear-end collision. The dealership has been unable to provide a permanent remedy.”
“The contact owns a 2019 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that after purchasing the vehicle, the following morning while waiting at the school drop-off line with her foot on the brake pedal, there was an abnormal boom, and several warning lights illuminated and flashed on the instrument panel. The occupants inside the vehicle assumed that the vehicle was struck from behind. The vehicle attempted to surge and revved and started to choke and shut off. The vehicle was shifted into park and the ignition key turned to the off position. The vehicle was restarted but failed to move. The engine, traction control, and the radio were blinking. The vehicle was shifted to first gear but was moving slowly. The vehicle stalled and was restarted, but the failure recurred. The engine light remained illuminated, but the screen was dimmed. The vehicle was turned off. The contact associated the failure with TSB: 21-NA-045. The dealer was called and a voicemail was left. The vehicle was driven to the service center and the contact waited for 20 minutes to allow the vehicle to cool down and then restarted the vehicle. The gear shift indicator was not lit. The contact was able to…”
“Since 2024/2025 car has been malfunctioning, I’ve had it checked out but it just got worse and nothing was fixed l, it is I driveable and very unsafe. When driving it abruptly stops like it’s crashing Messages that pop up (Multiple ones at one time flashing as well) - service “ESC” -“service power steering drive with care” -“shift to park” -“low fuel” (but car has gas in it) - check engine light on -all lights flashing at once while jerking -car stops abruptly when you’re driving it -radio blacks out while driving -dashboard blacks out as vehicle is running -jerking while trying to stop -sensor malfunctions -transmission slippage -engine still on and running sounds like it’s cooling down and smells of it as well”
Towing, payload and dimensions aren’t in the EPA or NHTSA data, so we don’t list them.
| Version | City | Hwy | Comb. | Fuel / yr | CO₂ g/mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Malibu Auto (variable gear ratios), 4 cyl, 1.5 L, Turbo · Front-Wheel Drive | 29 | 36 | 32 | $2,000 | 281 |
| Malibu Auto 9-spd, 4 cyl, 2.0 L, Turbo · Front-Wheel Drive | 22 | 32 | 26 | $3,050 | 344 |
| Item | Miles | Time | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine oil & filter | 5,000–10,000 mi | 6–12 months | Follow the oil-life monitor if fitted |
| Tire rotation | 5,000–7,500 mi | Every oil change | Check pressure monthly |
| Engine air filter | 15,000–30,000 mi | 1–2 years | Sooner in dusty areas |
| Cabin air filter | 15,000–25,000 mi | 1–2 years | |
| Brake fluid | — | 2–3 years | Absorbs moisture over time |
| Coolant | 60,000–100,000 mi | 5–10 years | Long-life coolants last longer |
| Spark plugs | 60,000–100,000 mi | — | Iridium/platinum plugs at the long end |
| 12V battery | — | 3–5 years | Heat shortens battery life |
1 safety recall as of Nov 4, 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.
Owners filed 193 complaints with NHTSA. The most-cited components are power train (68), engine (65), electrical system (62). Complaints are unverified owner reports and aren't adjusted for how many cars were sold.
The EPA rates the 2019 Chevrolet Malibu at 26–32 mpg combined, depending on engine and drivetrain (2 versions rated).
NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program gives the 2019 Chevrolet Malibu 4 out of 5 stars overall.