2020 Chevrolet Malibu Safety Report
2020 Chevrolet Malibu Safety Report
Safety Decision Cockpit for the 2020 Chevrolet Malibu
This page is the hub for deciding what to inspect next on the 2020 Chevrolet Malibu. It connects recall campaigns, owner complaint patterns, service bulletins, sibling model years, component issue hubs, and the model buying guide so a shopper or owner can move from a single report into the wider safety graph.
| Signal | Value | What to inspect next |
|---|---|---|
| Recall burden | Moderate (1) | Review campaign numbers, affected components, and dealer remedies below. |
| Owner complaints | High (180) | Scan complaint narratives for recurring symptoms, mileage, crashes, fires, injuries, and dates. |
| Crash and fire reports | 9 | Treat any crash, fire, injury, or fatality-linked pattern as a priority pre-purchase inspection item. |
| Primary component hub | Power Train | Compare power train issues across vehicles. |
| Cleaner nearby model year | 2023 | Compare against the 2023 Chevrolet Malibu with 24 complaints and 1 recalls. |
| Riskier nearby model year | 2017 | Check the 2017 Chevrolet Malibu before buying across this generation. |
Chevrolet Malibu Year-by-Year Comparison
The safest purchase decision usually comes from comparing neighboring model years, not reading a single page in isolation. The table below uses only validated Chevrolet Malibu years already present in the cleaned NHTSA dataset, so each comparison links to a real vehicle safety report rather than a generated combination.
| Model Year | Complaints | Recalls | Use case |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 Chevrolet Malibu | 62 | 2 | Compare as a potentially cleaner alternative. |
| 2019 Chevrolet Malibu | 182 | 1 | Inspect as a potentially higher-complaint year. |
| 2022 Chevrolet Malibu | 70 | 1 | Compare as a potentially cleaner alternative. |
| 2018 Chevrolet Malibu | 669 | 6 | Inspect as a potentially higher-complaint year. |
| 2023 Chevrolet Malibu | 24 | 1 | Compare as a potentially cleaner alternative. |
| 2017 Chevrolet Malibu | 711 | 4 | Inspect as a potentially higher-complaint year. |
2020 Chevrolet Malibu Complaint Theme Map
Complaint counts become more useful when they are grouped into inspection themes. For the 2020 Chevrolet Malibu, these are the component areas with the clearest NHTSA complaint signals. Use each link to jump from this single vehicle into broader component hubs and make-specific issue pages.
Power Train
25 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Power Train issues Chevrolet onlyElectrical System
19 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Electrical System issues Chevrolet onlyUnknown Or Other
16 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Unknown Or Other issues Chevrolet onlyEngine
14 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Engine issues Chevrolet onlyService Brakes,Engine
8 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Service Brakes,Engine issues Chevrolet onlyService Brakes
8 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Service Brakes issues Chevrolet onlyAI Safety Analysis for the 2020 Chevrolet Malibu
Reliability Score
The 2020 Chevrolet Malibu receives a reliability score of 45 out of 100 based on analysis of NHTSA complaint data, recall history, crash reports, and safety ratings. This indicates average reliability — some notable concerns exist that prospective buyers should be aware of.
NHTSA Safety Ratings for the 2020 Chevrolet Malibu
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) evaluates vehicles through controlled crash tests and assigns star ratings from 1 to 5, with 5 being the safest.
Known Issues for the 2020 Chevrolet Malibu
The following issues have been identified from NHTSA complaint data and owner reports for the 2020 Chevrolet Malibu:
| Issue | Severity | Frequency | Typical Mileage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brake System Failure Multiple reports of brake pedal becoming hard to push and inoperable at high speeds, indicating potential brake system issues. |
Medium | Occasional | 30k-60k miles |
| Electrical System Malfunction Several instances of unexpected RPM elevation and check engine light illumination, suggesting electrical system problems. |
Medium | Occasional | 30k-60k miles |
| Transmission Issues Transmission problems, including metal pieces in the transmission fluid and shifting issues, have been reported. |
High | Occasional | 30k-60k miles |
| Vehicle Vacuum Pump Failure The vehicle vacuum pump has failed multiple times, requiring frequent replacement. |
High | Occasional | 30k-60k miles |
Common Problems Reported by Owners
Based on NHTSA complaint data, the following components account for the majority of reported issues with the 2020 Chevrolet Malibu:
Issues with the service brakes, including brake pedal becoming hard to push and inoperable at high speeds.
Several instances of unexpected RPM elevation and check engine light illumination.
Transmission problems, including metal pieces in the transmission fluid and shifting issues.
The vehicle vacuum pump has failed multiple times, requiring frequent replacement.
Recall Details for the 2020 Chevrolet Malibu
The following 1 recall has been issued for the 2020 Chevrolet Malibu by NHTSA:
Summary: 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.
Consequence: An improperly secured seat belt retractor may not function properly in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
Remedy: 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 Complaint Summaries for the 2020 Chevrolet Malibu
Below are complaint narratives filed by owners of the 2020 Chevrolet Malibu with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. 1 complaint involved crashes.
While driving the brake pedal became hard to push out of no where. Once the car got to the shop it stopped cranking. The shop is stating that the brake vacuum pump is the cause of the brake pedal messing up, and that it also caused other engine damages estimating $3000.00
The contact owns a 2020 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that while driving approximately 60 MPH on the freeway and depressing the brake pedal to slow down, the brake pedal was difficult to depress, and the vehicle failed to immediately stop. During the failure, the check engine and traction control warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was slowly driven to the residence and parked. The...
Several things have been going wrong with this car. I have only had it for about 7 months. Minimal driving. Got the car with 84,000 miles and it now has 88,000 miles. About 2 months ago the check engine light came on. Got it into a shop and they said an oil change may possibly help with this. Got the oil change, cleared the code, drove it around and check engine light came back on. Brought it back...
The contact owned a 2020 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that while driving approximately 65 MPH, the brake pedal became inoperable. There was a warning light illuminated. The contact stated that the brake pedal failed to function properly while attempting to stop the vehicle. Additionally, while the vehicle was parked and turned off, the contact became aware that brake fluid was leaking onto...
The contact owns a 2020 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle hesitated and failed to properly accelerate while depressing the accelerator pedal. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a local independent mechanic, who associated the failure with TSB: N222372590. An appointment was scheduled with the dealer to inspe...
I was unaware that when I purchased this vehicle that when the oil is low, the breaks go out and the break power booster shatters. The beaks have gone out on me 2x already and thankfully I’ve only had to replace the break power booster only once. Now once the oil is changed the breaks go back to normal, there is no grinding of any sort heard, so now going forward I pay real close attention to my e...
The contact owns a 2020 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that while driving approximately 35 MPH, the vehicle started losing motive power. The contact stated that the vehicle stalled, with the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic, who diagnosed the vehicle and determined that the fuel injectors had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicl...
The contact owns a 2020 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that the RPM was unexpectedly elevated while driving, and the vehicle was hesitating. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, and the contact was informed that the throttle body needed to be cleaned. While driving approximately 35-40 MPH and depressing the accelerator pedal, the vehicle shuddered with white smoke coming from th...
The contact owns a 2020 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that while driving at 35 MPH, the check engine warning light illuminated. While the vehicle was stopped at a traffic light or a stop sign, the failure was more noticeable. The contact stated that the vehicle jerked abnormally and failed to accelerate as intended while depressing the accelerator pedal. The RPM fluctuated before the transm...
Got this car Oct 16 2025 and check engine lights on the place in Greenbriar dreka passed emmission and the shop explicit auto sold me car for 7500 been having problems with car since owner told me to do what I need to do no refund nothing in writing saying as is this car needs axles ball joint lower arm control and more car not safe for me and my kids this car go get emission passed so when u take...
December 12, 2025 I had to drive 20-30 miles an hour the car would not break I had to use parking break. When I would try to Stop it would continue to roll. The pedal was Hard! This is very dangerous and other cars have crashed There are also class action lawsuits regarding just this! Vehicle vacuum pump The Bill was $5200 I am asking for reimbursement! Vehicle vacuum pump engine light on tire se...
Transmission got metal pieces in transmission fluid and blew the transmission
Shift to park issue and fluid mixing in with engine
Vehicle vacuum pump failed I have changed it 4 times now. Saw there have been more cases
This is a 2020 Malibu with only 18,000 miles on it now. We are having intermittent loss of power. Car will be moving fine when suddenly it looses power when pulling into traffic from a stop. It has also happened on the highway(right after leaving the dealer service department) when going to pass a vehicle…all of a sudden power drops and rpms go up and car slows up. When it suddenly happens, pulli...
Throwing code p1101 for the mass air flow sensor. This is a listed recall amongst other Malibu's but does not include my vin number. Check engine is on.
My vehicle displays a "shift to park" message on the dashboard, even when the gear selector is in the park position. This prevents the car from being shut off, and in sometimes, the doors may not be able to be locked. Not understanding the issue initially has thus caused me to have to replace my car battery numerous times for battery drainage.
Problems with my transmission for over two years, I’ve searched the website and have taken it to a dealership since. The vehicle has had a hard shift and problems to accelerate. The issue continues to get worse and my car has stopped while in drive, only allowing me to go backwards. It was within warranty and low miles. I was told that that’s what new cars do. Transmission fluid has always been fu...
The contact owns a 2020 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle lost motive power and failed to accelerate while depressing the accelerator pedal properly. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, who discovered metal debris inside the transmission and advised the contact that the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not yet repaired....
Vacuum pump blew . Causing me to lose brakes on the highway. It led to a series of events. Camshaft broke in the midst of this so my car will not start again.
Showing 20 of 180 complaints. Additional complaints are available via the NHTSA database.
NHTSA Defect Investigations for the 2020 Chevrolet Malibu
NHTSA defect investigations are higher-signal than ordinary complaints because they indicate the agency opened a formal review of a potential safety defect. Some investigations later connect to recall campaigns; others close without a recall after review.
Component: Air Bags:Frontal:Driver Side:Inflator Module
Opened 2025-10-21
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 install...
Frequently Asked Questions About the 2020 Chevrolet Malibu
Has the 2020 CHEVROLET MALIBU been recalled?
Yes, the 2020 CHEVROLET MALIBU has 1 recall on record with NHTSA. Each recall addresses a specific safety defect identified by the manufacturer or NHTSA.
How many complaints does the 2020 CHEVROLET MALIBU have?
The 2020 CHEVROLET MALIBU has 180 complaints filed with NHTSA. Of these, 9 involved crashes. 6 injuries and 1 deaths have been reported.
What is the safety rating for the 2020 CHEVROLET MALIBU?
The 2020 CHEVROLET MALIBU received an overall NHTSA safety rating of good (4/5). Frontal crash: 5/5. Side crash: 4/5. Rollover: 4/5.
What are the most common problems with the 2020 CHEVROLET MALIBU?
The most commonly reported problems with the 2020 CHEVROLET MALIBU involve power train (25 complaints), electrical system (19 complaints), unknown or other (16 complaints). Other affected components include engine, service brakes,engine, service brakes.
How many crash reports does the 2020 CHEVROLET MALIBU have?
There are 9 crash reports associated with the 2020 CHEVROLET MALIBU out of 180 total complaints (5.0% of complaints involved crashes).
How many fire reports does the 2020 CHEVROLET MALIBU have?
There are no fire reports for the 2020 CHEVROLET MALIBU in the NHTSA database.
Are there any deaths reported for the 2020 CHEVROLET MALIBU?
Yes, 1 death has been reported in NHTSA complaints for the 2020 CHEVROLET MALIBU. These are self-reported by complainants and do not imply the vehicle caused the death.
How many injuries are reported for the 2020 CHEVROLET MALIBU?
6 injuries have been reported in NHTSA complaints for the 2020 CHEVROLET MALIBU. These are self-reported by vehicle owners as part of their safety complaints.
Should I buy a 2020 CHEVROLET MALIBU?
Based on NHTSA data, the 2020 CHEVROLET MALIBU is acceptable with caveats. It has 180 complaints, 1 recalls, and a good (4/5) safety rating. Note: 1 death(s) have been reported. Always have a pre-purchase inspection done by a qualified mechanic.
What components fail most on the 2020 CHEVROLET MALIBU?
The components with the most failures on the 2020 CHEVROLET MALIBU are: 1. POWER TRAIN (25 complaints), 2. ELECTRICAL SYSTEM (19 complaints), 3. UNKNOWN OR OTHER (16 complaints), 4. ENGINE (14 complaints), 5. SERVICE BRAKES,ENGINE (8 complaints). POWER TRAIN is the single most-reported problem area with 25 complaints.
What should I know before buying a 2020 CHEVROLET MALIBU?
Be cautious of brake and electrical system issues, as well as transmission and vacuum pump failures, which have been reported in this model. The 2020 CHEVROLET MALIBU has 180 NHTSA complaints and 1 recalls on record. NHTSA rates it good (4/5).
How reliable is the 2020 CHEVROLET MALIBU?
The 2020 CHEVROLET MALIBU receives a reliability score of 45/100, indicating average reliability. This is based on 180 owner complaints, 1 recalls, and 9 crash/fire reports in the NHTSA database. Key known issues include Brake System Failure and Electrical System Malfunction.
What are the known issues with the 2020 CHEVROLET MALIBU?
Known issues with the 2020 CHEVROLET MALIBU include: Brake System Failure, Electrical System Malfunction, Transmission Issues, Vehicle Vacuum Pump Failure. These are based on patterns found across 180 NHTSA complaints. 1 of these patterns resulted in formal recalls.
Are there any known issues with the 2020 Chevrolet Malibu's brakes?
Yes, several reports indicate brake pedal becoming hard to push and inoperable at high speeds.
What are the common electrical system problems in the 2020 Chevrolet Malibu?
Unexpected RPM elevation and check engine light illumination have been reported.
Are there any transmission issues with the 2020 Chevrolet Malibu?
Yes, transmission problems, including metal pieces in the transmission fluid and shifting issues, have been noted.
Buyer Advice
Our recommendation: Be cautious of brake and electrical system issues, as well as transmission and vacuum pump failures, which have been reported in this model.
NHTSA Data Summary for 2020 Chevrolet Malibu
This safety report is based on a comprehensive analysis of data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) for the 2020 Chevrolet Malibu. The data includes 180 consumer complaints filed by vehicle owners, 1 manufacturer-initiated safety recalls, 9 reported crashes, 6 reported injuries, and 1 fatalities associated with this vehicle.
The NHTSA has assigned the 2020 Chevrolet Malibu an overall safety rating of 4 out of 5 stars, with a frontal crash rating of 5 stars, a side crash rating of 4 stars, and a rollover rating of 4 stars. These ratings are determined through controlled crash testing conducted by the NHTSA.
All data presented in this report is sourced from public NHTSA databases. Our AI analysis identifies patterns across complaint narratives, correlates them with recall history, and produces the safety assessment above. This analysis is updated as new complaints and recalls are filed with the NHTSA.
Consumers are encouraged to report vehicle safety problems to the NHTSA at nhtsa.gov. If your vehicle is subject to a recall, contact your dealer to schedule the free repair.
Disclaimer: This analysis is AI-generated from NHTSA public data and does not constitute professional automotive or safety advice. Always verify recall status at NHTSA.gov and consult a qualified mechanic.
Analysis last updated: 2026-05-14