Most common 2020 Chevrolet Malibu problems
Share of the 199 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Chevrolet Malibu complaints by model year
Best Malibu years: 2025, 2021, 2019. Years to avoid: 2010. Compare all years →
2020 Chevrolet Malibu recalls (1)
Seat belts › Rear/other › Retractor
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.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and tighten the rear seat belt retractors, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on September 17, 2021.
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into a possible defect involving the 2020 Chevrolet Malibu:
DTN Air Bag Inflator Rupture
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) has become aware of eight vehicle crashes in which a rupture of a Jilin Province Detiannuo Automobile Safety System Co., Ltd. (DTN) air bag inflator occurred during the deployment of the driver side air bag. All eight drivers in these crashes sustained serious or fatal injuries that appear linked to the ruptures.
What 2020 Chevrolet Malibu owners say
Engine & cooling all 61 →
The contact owns a 2020 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that while driving at 40 MPH, the vehicle decelerated to 15 MPH, and the brake pedal was depressed, but the vehicle failed to stop immediately. The vehicle crashed into a building before coming to a stop. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The air bags did not deploy. The contact shifted the transmission to park (P) and turned off the vehicle. When the contact attempted to restart the vehicle, the brake pedal was extremely firm and unable to depress. The vehicle failed to restart. Several unknown warning lights were illuminated. The contact did not sustain any injuries, and medical attention was not received. There was no police report filed. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, where it was determined that the vacuum brake booster and camshaft needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. …
The contact owns a 2020 Chevrolet Malibu E2. The contact stated that while at a complete stop at the stop sign, the auto START/STOP mode engaged, however the vehicle failed to restart upon releasing the brake pedal. The message "Engine Reduced Power" was displayed. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to restart after several attempts. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the vacuum pump had failed and the camshaft reluctor was in improper position. The dealer diagnosed that the vacuum pump and camshaft needed to be replaced. The parts were replaced. However, the failure reoccurred while driving. The contact stated while driving at 80 MPH and merging lanes, the vehicle decelerated unintendedly and the message "Engine Reduced Power" was displayed. The contact was able to veer to the side of the road. …
Transmission & drivetrain all 58 →
The contact owns a 2020 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that while driving at 35 MPH, the check engine warning light illuminated. While the vehicle was stopped at a traffic light or a stop sign, the failure was more noticeable. The contact stated that the vehicle jerked abnormally and failed to accelerate as intended while depressing the accelerator pedal. The RPM fluctuated before the transmission slammed into gear. The vehicle then returned to normal functionality. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that the turbocharger had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle remained at the dealer unrepaired. …
The contact owns a 2020 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle experienced a loss of automotive power. The check engine warning light was occasionally illuminated. The contact pulled over to the shoulder of the road and restart the vehicle; however, the failure reoccurred. The contact stated that her husband scanned the vehicle and retrieved DTC: P1101(Mass Air Flow (MAF) Sensor Circuit Performance Issue). The vehicle was repaired but the failure reoccurred. The vehicle was diagnosed by another independent mechanic as a second opinion, with a Fuel/PCM Failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The local dealer was not contacted. The contact related the failure to an unknown recall however, the VIN was not under recall. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. …
Electrical system all 57 →
Got this car Oct 16 2025 and check engine lights on the place in Greenbriar dreka passed emmission and the shop explicit auto sold me car for 7500 been having problems with car since owner told me to do what I need to do no refund nothing in writing saying as is this car needs axles ball joint lower arm control and more car not safe for me and my kids this car go get emission passed so when u take title to DMV you can get a tag for a car that not passing emissions also purchase a second car same day Oct 16 2025 and this car need oil pump oil sensor brake sensor brake caliber and more and explicit auto wont fix cars the man that sell these cars are on Instagram and dolufree and explicit auto is the name of both Names if you look you'll see light on in every car he post and sell to people for high price and no results when you bring car back every car sold from them need to be …
The contact owns a 2020 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that while driving approximately 35 MPH, an unknown warning light illuminated, and the vehicle started to lose motive power. The contact stopped at a traffic signal and after depressing the accelerator pedal when the light changed, the vehicle stalled. The vehicle was restarted after several attempts, but the vehicle failed to exceed 5 MPH while accelerating. The contact stopped and the vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic. The vehicle was diagnosed, the battery was replaced, and the system was reset; however, the failure reoccurred and the vehicle was towed to a dealer. The vehicle was diagnosed, and it was determined that the front wiring harness needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was informed of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline. …
2020 Chevrolet Malibu engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.5L 4-cyl turbo | CVT | FWD | 29 / 36 / 32 |
| 2.0L 4-cyl turbo | 9-speed automatic | FWD | 22 / 32 / 26 |
EPA ratings. Class: Midsize car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2020 Chevrolet Malibu a good car?
Based on 199 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2020 Malibu rates better than average: 55% fewer complaints than a typical year of the Malibu at the same age. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 2020 Chevrolet Malibu?
The engine & cooling — 61 complaints, 31% of all complaints for this model year, most often about engine › crank/camshaft position sensor. Next are the transmission & drivetrain (58) and electrical system (57).
How many recalls does the 2020 Chevrolet Malibu have?
There is 1 recall for the 2020 Chevrolet Malibu, the most recent from August 20, 2021 (retractor). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Chevrolet Malibu?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2025, 2021 and 2019. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2010. See the full Chevrolet Malibu years comparison.
At what mileage do 2020 Chevrolet Malibu problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 68,000 miles; 24% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.