2020 Chevrolet Malibu transmission and drivetrain problems
58 of the 198 complaints owners filed with NHTSA about the 2020 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: 110 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 58 reports a crash · 0 a fire · 0 injuries. Self-reported, unverified.
Filed per year: 2021: 2 · 2022: 7 · 2023: 6 · 2024: 16 · 2025: 20 · 2026: 7
Half of the 16 owners who gave an odometer reading reported the transmission and drivetrain problem between 56,000 and 80,000 miles. A median of reports, not the life of a part.
198 complaints in all about the 2020 Chevrolet Malibu, 7 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 put the car in park and it says a message that says shift to park but I am in park already and now my battery keeps draining and the lights on shifter blink continuously when I’m in park if I click shift button the message goes away but I don’t think it should be doing this and I’m not the only person from what I have read
Vehicle through a "service engine" and lost partial power. The vehicle slowed considerably and was not able to accelerate as expected. Fortunately, this was rush hour traffic and it was slow. Normally, the traffic moves at 60 MPH plus or minus 5 MPH. The loss of power on I10 can be extremely unsafe.
The contact owns a 2020 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the engine revved loudly while coming to a stop. Additionally, the vehicle lost motive power while driving uphill. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, and the dealer confirmed that the vehicle performed as designed.
Shift to Park Alarm will not stop beeping. Looked into it on the internet found it to be a known issue with GM. Can prevent the doors from unlocking and would drain battery and annoyance. Replaced shifter assembly at a cost of $567.28 I believe GM knows of the issue and should recall the defective parts.
Shift to park error, No power to car, reduced engine power, camshaft positioning error, brakes failed (completely went hard unable to press) almost causing crash
What is on file about the transmission and drivetrain
Source: NHTSA recalls, investigations and manufacturer communications110 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
P12A6 P1101 P0299 P0172 P0101 P0506 P2797 B000A
Codes a bulletin or an owner’s complaint about the 2020 Chevrolet Malibu names on this model year; a code with a record of its own links it.
Other systems with a record on the 2020 Chevrolet Malibu
Source: the same files- engine problems 62 complaints
- electrical problems 57 complaints
Common questions
Source: NHTSA complaint database, recalls and manufacturer communicationsAre transmission and drivetrain problems common on the 2020 Chevrolet Malibu?
They are documented: NHTSA holds 58 owner complaints naming the transmission and drivetrain on this model year (29% of everything owners filed about it), and 110 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 2020 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 2020 Chevrolet Malibu?
Owners who gave an odometer reading reported it at a median of 75,000 miles; half of them between 56,000 and 80,000. 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.