2019 Chevrolet Malibu transmission and drivetrain problems
67 of the 193 complaints owners filed with NHTSA about the 2019 Chevrolet Malibu name the transmission and drivetrain (NHTSA’s “Power Train” heading — the transmission, transfer case, driveshafts, axles and differentials — NHTSA files them under one heading). Filed under the same heading: 171 manufacturer bulletins. Every figure below is a document in a federal file, linked; none is a failure rate, and none is a verdict on any one car.
What owners filed about the transmission and drivetrain
Source: NHTSA complaint database0 of the 67 reports a crash · 0 a fire · 0 injuries. Self-reported, unverified.
Filed per year: 2019: 2 · 2020: 3 · 2021: 4 · 2022: 13 · 2023: 18 · 2024: 11 · 2025: 11 · 2026: 5
Half of the 23 owners who gave an odometer reading reported the transmission and drivetrain problem between 22,000 and 71,000 miles. A median of reports, not the life of a part.
193 complaints in all about the 2019 Chevrolet Malibu, 5 filed in 2026. The whole picture, every system →
Counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects, and scale with how many of these were sold; nothing here is a rate. NHTSA groups complaints coarsely, so “Power Train” means the same area of the vehicle, not one fault.
Across model years: Chevrolet Malibu transmission and drivetrain problems, every year on file →
In owners’ own words
Source: NHTSA complaint databaseFiled with NHTSA by the people who own these cars, about the transmission and drivetrain. Quoted as written, with anything identifying removed; unverified reports — what was said, not a finding that it was true.
I can’t get car to go into park, I continuously get a “shift to park” error..This seems dangerous and from what I read online this is a chronic problem with this year malibu
Vehicles stuck in park. Unable to move vehicle. Waiting for dealer to call me back for repair. No info center messages. The white piece for the gear selector keeps coming loose. This is the second occurrence in two weeks since I’ve owned the vehicle
The contact owns a 2019 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that while the gear shifter was placed in Park, the "Shift to Park" warning message was displayed while turning off the vehicle with the push to start/stop button. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and diagnosed that the sensor and gear shifter needed to be replaced.
I bought this 2019 Chevy Malibu with 40,000 miles on it the second day I had it the transmission completely lost power and would not accelerate it barley moves ford it takes about 5 whole seconds for it to get power and move this has happend pretty much every day when I drive this vehicle it has put me and my family’s life in danger so…
The contact owns a 2019 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact states that the Auto STOP/START feature that caused the vehicle to turn off while idling however, the vehicle would fail to immediately start-up. The contact stated that the instrument panel would independently reset, and the vehicle would jolt forward before restarting.
What is on file about the transmission and drivetrain
Source: NHTSA recalls, investigations and manufacturer communications171 manufacturer bulletins filed under this heading
The 0 newest are listed; every one is on the model year’s page. Quote the document number at a service desk — it is a diagnosis the maker has already written down.
Trouble codes named on this system
P1101 P0299 P0101 P0172 P0506 P2797 P0747 P2714
Codes a bulletin or an owner’s complaint about the 2019 Chevrolet Malibu names on this model year; a code with a record of its own links it.
Other systems with a record on the 2019 Chevrolet Malibu
Source: the same files- engine problems 66 complaints
- electrical problems 64 complaints
Common questions
Source: NHTSA complaint database, recalls and manufacturer communicationsAre transmission and drivetrain problems common on the 2019 Chevrolet Malibu?
They are documented: NHTSA holds 67 owner complaints naming the transmission and drivetrain on this model year (35% of everything owners filed about it), and 171 manufacturer bulletins are filed under the same heading. Whether it is a problem on one particular car is a diagnosis, not a count, and a count says nothing about how many were sold.
Is there a recall for the transmission and drivetrain on the 2019 Chevrolet Malibu?
No recall campaign is filed under this heading for this model year (there are 1 filed under other headings). A bulletin is not a recall: it carries no federal duty to repair for free.
When do transmission and drivetrain problems show up on the 2019 Chevrolet Malibu?
Owners who gave an odometer reading reported it at a median of 39,737 miles; half of them between 22,000 and 71,000. That is when reports cluster, not the life of a part.
What does NHTSA's "Power Train" heading cover?
The transmission, transfer case, driveshafts, axles and differentials — NHTSA files them under one heading. Owners choose the heading when they file, so it says which area of the vehicle the complaint is about, not which part failed.