Most common 2021 Chevrolet Malibu problems
Share of the 90 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 →
2021 Chevrolet Malibu recalls (2)
Seats
General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2021 Chevrolet Malibu, 2022 Chevrolet Equinox, Blazer and Cadillac XT4 vehicles. The driver's seat cushion frame may have an improper weld in the power tilt-adjustment mechanism.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the driver's seat and replace the cushion frame, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 23, 2022.
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.
What 2021 Chevrolet Malibu owners say
Electrical system all 30 →
The contact owns a 2021 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that while starting the vehicle, all the lights on the instrument panel illuminated, and the engine started to choke. The Service Vehicle light remained illuminated after the other lights turned off. The engine started choking again and failed to start. The vehicle was towed to a certified mechanic and was diagnosed with an inoperable fuel pump power control module. The mechanic informed the contact about a recall associated with the failure and referred the contact to the dealer for assistance. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated that the failure reoccurred the next two days. The dealer was contacted and confirmed that the VIN was not under recall. The manufacturer was informed of the issue and confirmed that the VIN was not under recall. …
The contact owns a 2021 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that after parking the vehicle and pressing the START/STOP button, the vehicle did not immediately turn off with the message "Shift to Park" displayed. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The local dealer was notified of the failure. The manufacturer was not yet contacted. The failure mileage was 34,200.
Transmission & drivetrain all 28 →
The contact owns a 2021 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed and attempting to accelerate after a stop, the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended while depressing the accelerator pedal. In addition, the transmission unexpectedly downshifted before slamming into gear. The contact stated that when the vehicle slammed into gear, the contact was violently pushed into the back of the seat. No warning lights were illuminated, but the message "Shift to Park" was displayed on the instrument panel. The contact stated that during the failure, the brake pedal was depressed to reboot, and the contact had to manually move the leather cover on the shift lever to move the lever. The contact stated that whenever the temperature on the transmission was at 180 degrees, the transmission would downshift. …
The contact owns a 2021 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that while driving 70 MPH, the vehicle failed to accelerate as needed; however, the RPM was extremely elevated. The vehicle then lost motive power and went into LIMP Mode, and the vehicle failed to exceed 15 MPH. The vehicle was taken to a dealer on three separate occasions. After the first failure, the dealer stated that the failure was caused by an inoperable sensor, and the fuel pump was reprogrammed. The contact stated that after the second failure, which was associated with the turbo, the powertrain module was reprogrammed. The third failure was associated with the turbo seals. The failure reoccurred after all three repairs. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 96,035.
Engine & cooling
The contact owns a 2021 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that the vehicle lost power and failed to accelerate. After approximately 45 minutes of driving, the vehicle was turned off and restarted without the key fob. Additionally, the vehicle failed to start. The contact stated that the vehicle lost communication with the transmission, brakes, and engine. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed that di-electric grease was needed on the wires. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure persisted. The manufacturer was contacted, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 5,000.
The contact owns a 2021 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle lost motive power and stalled. During the failure, the power steering became inoperable, with a grinding sound present and unknown warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the local mechanic who was unable to determine the cause of the failure. After retrieving the vehicle, the failure persisted. The manufacturer and local dealer were not yet notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 68,000.
2021 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 / 33 / 26 |
EPA ratings. Class: Midsize car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2021 Chevrolet Malibu a good car?
Based on 90 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2021 Malibu rates better than average: 76% fewer complaints than a typical year of the Malibu at the same age. It is one of the best Malibu years by this measure. 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 2021 Chevrolet Malibu?
The electrical system — 30 complaints, 33% of all complaints for this model year, most often about starter assembly. Next are the transmission & drivetrain (28) and engine & cooling (15).
How many recalls does the 2021 Chevrolet Malibu have?
There are 2 recalls for the 2021 Chevrolet Malibu, the most recent from May 19, 2022 (seats). 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 2021 Chevrolet Malibu problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 54,000 miles; 47% 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.