2015 Chevrolet Malibu Problems, Recalls & Reliability
399 owner complaints sit in the federal file for the 2015 Chevrolet Malibu, alongside 3 recall campaigns and 0 defect investigations. It scores 20/100 on the trouble index — one of this model's quieter years. Engine leads the reports, typically around 71,000 miles.
One of the quieter years. Relative to its siblings, the 2015 Chevrolet Malibu has drawn well-below-average complaint volume with at least four years on the road.
Better year
Where 2015 sits among all Malibu years
What owners report
“My dad was driving my car when the car dashboard said Engine Power is Reduced Speed reduced to 25 mph. He pulled off to the side of the road and turned off my car. He waited for about 2 minutes and turned it back on, but it still said Engine Power is Reduced. He turned it back off and waited for 5…”— owner report to NHTSA, 2015 Malibu
“I have a 2015 Chevrolet Malibu. I was driving in traffic and stopped. The auto stop engaged. When I put my foot on the gas peddle to continue on in traffic, the engine would not start. I had to set there for 5 minutes before the car would restart.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2015 Malibu
“Car dies while in auto stop. Only happens in auto stop, at stop lights, in drive thur.”— owner report to NHTSA, 2015 Malibu
“My airbag light came on and i can't it to jim taylor chevrolet they say is not a recall on that ls chevrolet malibu”— owner report to NHTSA, 2015 Malibu
“The contact owns a 2015 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that while driving at 40 MPH, the vehicle came to a complete stop independently. The contact stated that while attempting to reverse, the vehicle failed to respond. An independent mechanic was contacted. The vehicle was taken to the…”— owner report to NHTSA, 2015 Malibu
“I was going out for breakfast and my car dashboard said Engine Power is Reduced. I pulled off to the side of the road and turned off my car. I waited for about 5 minutes and turned it back on, but it still said Engine Power is Reduced. I turned it back off and waited for another 5 minutes and…”— owner report to NHTSA, 2015 Malibu
Mileage when trouble shows up
Among the 215 reports that include an odometer reading, problems most often appear around 54,670 miles. Half of those reports fall between 30,000 and 86,000 miles — a useful range to weigh against the mileage of the exact car you're looking at.
Recalls (3)
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…
Fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and if necessary replace the key cylinder lock housing, free of charge. The recall began on October 14, 2016. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer…
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2015 Buick LaCrosse, Cadillac XTS, Chevrolet Camaro, Equinox, Malibu, and GMC Terrain vehicles. The affected vehicles have front seat-mounted side impact air bags whose inflator may rupture upon its…
Fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the side impact air bag modules, free of charge. The recall began on October 19, 2015. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300,…
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2013-2015 Chevrolet Malibu vehicles October 24, 2011, to March 5, 2015. In the affected vehicles, the Slide or Tilt switch for the roof panel may not be adequately recessed to prevent the switch from…
Fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will update the Body Control Module (BCM) software to remove auto-close feature for certain switch positions, free of charge. The recall began April 21, 2015.…
Technical service bulletins
1,481 manufacturer communications — service bulletins, the biggest share on electrical and engine — are on file for the 2015 Chevrolet Malibu. A TSB is factory repair guidance, not a recall — the repair is not automatically free.
See the 2015 Malibu TSB list →
Complaint history for this model year
When owners filed their reports — a long tail means problems kept surfacing for years.
Questions buyers ask
Is the 2015 Chevrolet Malibu reliable?
The 2015 Chevrolet Malibu drew 399 complaints in federal safety records — one of this model's quieter years. Its trouble index is 20/100, scored against the model's worst year (2004).
What are the most common 2015 Chevrolet Malibu problems?
The top reported problems for the 2015 Chevrolet Malibu are engine (71 complaints), electrical (71), and other (52).
At what mileage do 2015 Chevrolet Malibu problems show up?
Owners most often report 2015 Chevrolet Malibu problems around 54,670 miles. Half of all reports that include an odometer reading fall between 30,000 and 86,000 miles.
Does the 2015 Chevrolet Malibu have recalls?
3 recall campaigns apply to the 2015 Chevrolet Malibu. Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer.
Every number on this page is a count of records in the federal complaint, recall, and investigation files published by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation. Check any specific vehicle's open recalls by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.