Chevrolet Malibu transmission and drivetrain problems, 2016–2025
685 of the 2,995 complaints owners filed with NHTSA about the Chevrolet Malibu 2016–2025 name the transmission and drivetrain (NHTSA’s “Power Train” heading — the transmission, transfer case, driveshafts, axles and differentials — NHTSA files them under one heading). The loudest years: 2018 (175), 2016 (174), 2017 (145). Filed under the same heading across these years: 2 recall campaigns. Every figure is a linked federal record; none is a failure rate, none a repair cost, and none a verdict on one car.
Chevrolet Malibu transmission and drivetrain problems by model year
Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer communicationsOne row per model year on file, newest first. A year marked in depth has its own page: the complaints, the owners’ words and every document under this heading for that year.
| Model year | Complaints naming the transmission and drivetrain | Share of the year’s | Typically at | On file under the heading | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 1 | 9% | — | 8 TSBs | the year → |
| 2024 | 6 | 14% | — | 34 TSBs | the year → |
| 2023 | 8 | 11% | — | 54 TSBs | the year → |
| 2022 | 23 | 23% | — | 78 TSBs | the year → |
| 2021 | 28 | 31% | — | 90 TSBs | the year → |
| 2020 in depth | 58 | 29% | 75k | 110 TSBs | the record → |
| 2019 in depth | 67 | 35% | 40k | 171 TSBs | the record → |
| 2018 in depth | 175 | 25% | 44k | 164 TSBs · 1 recall | the record → |
| 2017 in depth | 145 | 20% | 49k | 161 TSBs | the record → |
| 2016 in depth | 174 | 20% | 43k | 171 TSBs · 1 recall | the record → |
Two things the counts carry that are not the car: how many of each year were sold, and how long each has been on the road — an older year out-counts a newer one before anything is wrong with it. The share column is the honest comparison across years: what part of that year’s complaints named the transmission and drivetrain. Nothing here is a rate.
When the transmission and drivetrain complaints were filed, and at what mileage
Source: NHTSA complaint databaseFiled per calendar year, every model year together: 2016: 5 · 2017: 7 · 2018: 22 · 2019: 79 · 2020: 105 · 2021: 64 · 2022: 101 · 2023: 95 · 2024: 70 · 2025: 83 · 2026: 54
Across the model years, half of the 328 owners who gave an odometer reading reported the transmission and drivetrain problem between 27,000 and 66,000 miles. A median of reports, not the life of a part.
In owners’ own words
Source: NHTSA complaint databaseFiled with NHTSA by the people who own these cars, about the transmission and drivetrain, from the model years with the most to say. Quoted as written, with anything identifying removed; unverified reports — what was said, not a finding that it was true.
The car has a reoccuring problem where is stalls in the middle of driving the vehicle. A warning comes up to shift to park. The car then restarts, runs extremely rough and stalls out. It then signals to shift to park again. The car is extremely unsafe.
The contact owns a 2018 Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle lost motive power. The shift-to-park warning light was illuminated. The contact could pull to the shoulder of the roadway, where the vehicle failed to restart.
The contact owns a 2016 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that while shifting into park(P), the vehicle failed to recognize that the transmission was in park(P). The contact had to manipulate and maneuver the gear shifter several times before the vehicle recognized that the gear shifter was in park(P).
May car loses power when acceleration I don't why but there is something going on
The car completely lost power while being driven on a freeway in Sacramento, California. The car was towed to a Chevrolet dealer in Davis, California and they determined that the car lost power due to a faulty Auxiliary Battery Negative Cable Assembly (Part # 84085823).
What is on file about the transmission and drivetrain, across the years
Source: NHTSA recalls, investigations and manufacturer communicationsRecall campaigns filed under this heading, any model year
- 20V668000 HighOct 29, 2020 · 194,105 vehicles
- General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Chevrolet Cruze and Buick LaCrosse, 2018-2020 Chevrolet Equinox, Chevrolet Traverse and GMC Terrain, 2018 Chevrolet Malibu, 2019-2020 Buick Encore, Buick Enclave, Cadillac XT4, Chevrolet Blazer and GMC Acadia, and 2020 Cadillac XT6 vehicles. The start/stop accumulator endcap may have missing bolts.
- 16V502000 HighJul 5, 2016 · 8,367 vehicles
- General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2016-2017 Buick Verano and 2016 Chevrolet Malibu as the electronic park lock lever may allow the ignition key to be removed without the transmission being in PARK. Also, certain 2013 Buick Encore, 2011 Buick Regal, 2013-2014 Buick Verano, 2011-2016 Chevrolet Cruze, 2010-2013 Chevrolet Equinox 2013-2015 Chevrolet Malibu, and 2011-2013 GMC Terrain vehicles may have been serviced with similar defective replacement electronic park lock levers. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 114, "Theft Protection and Rollaway Prevention."
Other systems with a record on the Chevrolet Malibu
Source: the same filesEvery system, every model year: Chevrolet Malibu problems by year →
Common questions
Source: NHTSA complaint database, recalls and manufacturer communicationsWhich Chevrolet Malibu years have the most transmission and drivetrain complaints?
2018, 175; 2016, 174; 2017, 145. Raw counts, and an older year has had longer to collect them; by share of each year's own complaints the loudest is the 2019 (35%).
Is there a recall for the transmission and drivetrain on the Chevrolet Malibu?
Yes — 2 campaigns are filed under this heading across these model years: 20V668000 (2018), 16V502000 (2016). A recall is matched by VIN, and applies to specific years; check yours at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
When do transmission and drivetrain problems show up on the Chevrolet Malibu?
Owners who gave an odometer reading reported it at a median of 45,000 miles across the model years; half of them between 27,000 and 66,000. 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.