2020 Chevrolet Malibu
Gas Midsize car
The 2020 Chevrolet Malibu is sold in the U.S. as a gas midsize car with 2 EPA-rated configurations. The most efficient version, the Malibu, is EPA-rated at 32 mpg combined. NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for this model year, which gives it a Safety Signal grade of A. Owners have filed 196 complaints, most often about engine. NHTSA crash-tested it at 4 stars overall.
Specs & fuel economy (EPA)
| Configuration | Powertrain | Drive | Engine / motor | City | Hwy | Comb | Annual fuel* |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Malibu | Gas | FWD | 1.5L 4-cyl turbo | 29 | 36 | 32 | $1,950 |
| Malibu | Gas | FWD | 2.0L 4-cyl turbo | 22 | 32 | 26 | $3,000 |
*EPA estimate at 15,000 miles/year and EPA reference fuel/electricity prices. Source: fueleconomy.gov vehicle records.
Out of factory warranty soon?
The 2020 Chevrolet Malibu is in the years where transmission, electronics and drivetrain repairs land on the owner. Compare extended-coverage quotes in about two minutes.
Compare coverage →Affiliate disclosure: some links on this page are affiliate links. If you request a quote or buy through them we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Data on this page is never influenced by that.
Recalls (1)
Seat Belts
highProblem: 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.
Risk: An improperly secured seat belt retractor may not function properly in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
Fix: Dealers will inspect and tighten the rear seat belt retractors, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on September 17, 2021. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020 and Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006. GM's number for this recall is N212333380.
NHTSA investigations
Air Bags:Frontal:Driver Side:Inflator Module — DTN Air Bag Inflator Rupture (open)
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. Six of those drivers sustained fatal injuries and two sustained severe injuries. In all eight incidents, the subject inflators had been installed as replacement equipment after the vehicle was involved in a previous crash. Information gathered during NHTSA’s initial analysis of these incidents indicates that the inflators were potentially
Opened Oct 21, 2025 · action EA25005
Owner complaints
196 complaints filed
10 involved a crash, 0 a fire, 7 injuries, 1 deaths reported by owners.
Filed by year — 2020: 5 · 2021: 17 · 2022: 23 · 2023: 36 · 2024: 40 · 2025: 46 · 2026: 29
Most-cited components
- Engine — 59
- Power Train — 58
- Electrical System — 57
- Unknown Or Other — 44
- Service Brakes — 42
Complaint counts are raw owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects, and scale with how many were sold. Use them to spot patterns, not to rank.
Crash ratings
| Configuration | Overall | Frontal | Side | Rollover | Rollover risk |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 DR FWD | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★☆ | 10% |
NHTSA New Car Assessment Program.
Other Malibu model years
2025 Malibu
1 recalls · 11 complaints
B2024 Malibu
2 recalls · 39 complaints
B2023 Malibu
2 recalls · 68 complaints
A2022 Malibu
1 recalls · 96 complaints
B2021 Malibu
2 recalls · 88 complaints
A2019 Malibu
1 recalls · 191 complaints
F2018 Malibu
6 recalls · 706 complaints
D2017 Malibu
4 recalls · 723 complaints
F2016 Malibu
10 recalls · 861 complaints
Sources & method
Safety Signal starts every model-year at 100 and subtracts points per open NHTSA recall campaign by severity: critical 15 (fire risk, park-outside or do-not-drive advisories), high 8 (brakes, steering, airbags, loss of drive power, structure, battery), moderate 6, minor 3 (software, labels, lighting fixed by an update). Floor 35. A ≥ 90, B ≥ 80, C ≥ 70, D ≥ 60, otherwise F. Complaint counts and NHTSA crash ratings are shown separately and are not blended into the grade.
EPA figures come from fueleconomy.gov vehicle records (ids 41492, 41425). Recalls, complaints, investigations and crash ratings come from NHTSA's public flat files, refreshed weekly.