Chevrolet Malibu years to avoidWhat NHTSA complaint data does and doesn’t say
We compared 29 model years of the Chevrolet Malibu by owner complaints to NHTSA, adjusted for how long each year has been on the road. 2009, 2010, 2016, 2018, 2004, 2017 stand out with at least twice the typical complaint rate.
Complaints per year on the road
| Year | Complaints | Per year on road | Index | Recalls | Crashes | Signal |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 12 | 6 | 0.2 | 1 | 1 | Fewest complaints |
| 2024 | 44 | 15 | 0.4 | 2 | 3 | Fewest complaints |
| 2023 | 73 | 18 | 0.5 | 2 | 5 | Typical |
| 2022 | 99 | 20 | 0.6 | 1 | 4 | Typical |
| 2021 | 90 | 15 | 0.4 | 2 | 0 | Fewest complaints |
| 2020 | 200 | 29 | 0.8 | 1 | 10 | Typical |
| 2019 | 193 | 24 | 0.7 | 1 | 8 | Typical |
| 2018 | 700 | 78 | 2.3 | 6 | 23 | Most complaints |
| 2017 | 727 | 73 | 2.1 | 4 | 17 | Most complaints |
| 2016 | 865 | 79 | 2.3 | 9 | 24 | Most complaints |
| 2015 | 270 | 23 | 0.7 | 3 | 18 | Typical |
| 2014 | 363 | 28 | 0.8 | 6 | 19 | Typical |
| 2013 | 924 | 66 | 1.9 | 10 | 38 | Typical |
| 2012 | 907 | 60 | 1.8 | 3 | 50 | Typical |
| 2011 | 978 | 61 | 1.8 | 4 | 40 | Typical |
| 2010 | 1,365 | 80 | 2.3 | 4 | 41 | Most complaints |
| 2009 | 1,511 | 84 | 2.4 | 6 | 41 | Most complaints |
| 2008 | 1,017 | 54 | 1.6 | 5 | 33 | Typical |
| 2007 | 992 | 50 | 1.4 | 6 | 37 | Typical |
| 2006 | 1,387 | 66 | 1.9 | 9 | 54 | Typical |
| 2005 | 1,393 | 63 | 1.8 | 6 | 65 | Typical |
| 2004 | 1,698 | 74 | 2.1 | 9 | 81 | Most complaints |
| 2003 | 611 | 25 | 0.7 | 3 | 37 | Typical |
| 2002 | 596 | 24 | 0.7 | 4 | 20 | Typical |
| 2001 | 739 | 28 | 0.8 | 4 | 37 | Typical |
| 2000 | 944 | 35 | 1.0 | 5 | 47 | Typical |
| 1999 | 800 | 29 | 0.8 | 3 | 45 | Typical |
| 1998 | 999 | 34 | 1.0 | 5 | 39 | Typical |
| 1997 | 452 | 15 | 0.4 | 6 | 22 | Fewest complaints |
- 202512 complaints · 1 recallFewest complaints
- 202444 complaints · 2 recallsFewest complaints
- 202373 complaints · 2 recallsTypical
- 202299 complaints · 1 recallTypical
- 202190 complaints · 2 recallsFewest complaints
- 2020200 complaints · 1 recallTypical
- 2019193 complaints · 1 recallTypical
- 2018700 complaints · 6 recallsMost complaints
- 2017727 complaints · 4 recallsMost complaints
- 2016865 complaints · 9 recallsMost complaints
- 2015270 complaints · 3 recallsTypical
- 2014363 complaints · 6 recallsTypical
- 2013924 complaints · 10 recallsTypical
- 2012907 complaints · 3 recallsTypical
- 2011978 complaints · 4 recallsTypical
- 20101,365 complaints · 4 recallsMost complaints
- 20091,511 complaints · 6 recallsMost complaints
- 20081,017 complaints · 5 recallsTypical
- 2007992 complaints · 6 recallsTypical
- 20061,387 complaints · 9 recallsTypical
- 20051,393 complaints · 6 recallsTypical
- 20041,698 complaints · 9 recallsMost complaints
- 2003611 complaints · 3 recallsTypical
- 2002596 complaints · 4 recallsTypical
- 2001739 complaints · 4 recallsTypical
- 2000944 complaints · 5 recallsTypical
- 1999800 complaints · 3 recallsTypical
- 1998999 complaints · 5 recallsTypical
- 1997452 complaints · 6 recallsFewest complaints
Fewest complaints for their age: 2025, 2024, 2021, 1997.
About this comparison
What Chevrolet Malibu years have the most complaints?
Adjusted for years on the road, 2009, 2010, 2016, 2018, 2004, 2017 drew at least twice the typical rate of NHTSA owner complaints among the 29 model years compared.
Is this a reliability rating?
No. These are counts of unverified owner complaints to NHTSA. They are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, so a popular year can collect more complaints. Use them to find patterns, then read the reports.
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.