2021 Chevrolet Malibu Safety Report
2021 Chevrolet Malibu Safety Report
Safety Decision Cockpit for the 2021 Chevrolet Malibu
This page is the hub for deciding what to inspect next on the 2021 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 (2) | Review campaign numbers, affected components, and dealer remedies below. |
| Owner complaints | Moderate (62) | Scan complaint narratives for recurring symptoms, mileage, crashes, fires, injuries, and dates. |
| Crash and fire reports | 0 | 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 | 2024 | Compare against the 2024 Chevrolet Malibu with 8 complaints and 1 recalls. |
| Riskier nearby model year | 2018 | Check the 2018 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 Chevrolet Malibu | 70 | 1 | Inspect as a potentially higher-complaint year. |
| 2020 Chevrolet Malibu | 180 | 1 | Inspect as a potentially higher-complaint year. |
| 2023 Chevrolet Malibu | 24 | 1 | Compare as a potentially cleaner alternative. |
| 2019 Chevrolet Malibu | 182 | 1 | Inspect as a potentially higher-complaint year. |
| 2024 Chevrolet Malibu | 8 | 1 | Compare as a potentially cleaner alternative. |
| 2018 Chevrolet Malibu | 669 | 6 | Inspect as a potentially higher-complaint year. |
2021 Chevrolet Malibu Complaint Theme Map
Complaint counts become more useful when they are grouped into inspection themes. For the 2021 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
13 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Power Train issues Chevrolet onlyUnknown Or Other
13 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Unknown Or Other issues Chevrolet onlyElectrical System
6 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Electrical System issues Chevrolet onlyElectrical System,Unknown Or Other
5 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Electrical System,Unknown Or Other issues Chevrolet onlyElectrical System,Unknown Or Other,Engine
2 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Electrical System,Unknown Or Other,Engine issues Chevrolet onlyPower Train,Electrical System,Back Over Prevention
2 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Power Train,Electrical System,Back Over Prevention issues Chevrolet onlyAI Safety Analysis for the 2021 Chevrolet Malibu
Reliability Score
The 2021 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 2021 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 2021 Chevrolet Malibu
The following issues have been identified from NHTSA complaint data and owner reports for the 2021 Chevrolet Malibu:
| Issue | Severity | Frequency | Typical Mileage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Automatic Transmission Shift To Park Switch The vehicle has a repeated issue with the automatic transmission shift to park switch, causing the vehicle to fail to turn off properly and potentially restart without the button being pushed. |
Medium | Rare | 30k-60k miles |
| Seat Belt Fasteners General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2016-2021 Chevrolet Malibu and 2019-2021 Cadillac XT4 for critical seat belt fasteners. |
Medium | Common | 0-100k miles |
| Power Train Issues The vehicle has reported issues with the power train, including a check engine light and reduced power, which can affect vehicle performance. |
Medium | Rare | 30k-60k miles |
| Electrical System Issues The vehicle has reported issues with the electrical system, including the automatic transmission shift to park switch and the seat belts, which can affect vehicle safety. |
Medium | Rare | 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 2021 Chevrolet Malibu:
Issues with the automatic transmission shift to park switch are common, affecting 23% of the vehicles.
Issues with seat belt fasteners are common, affecting 13% of the vehicles.
Issues with the power train are common, affecting 13% of the vehicles.
Issues with the electrical system are common, affecting 6% of the vehicles.
Recall Details for the 2021 Chevrolet Malibu
The following 2 recalls have been issued for the 2021 Chevrolet Malibu by NHTSA:
Summary: General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2021 Chevrolet Malibu, 2022 Chevrolet Equinox, Blazer and Cadillac XT4 vehicles. The driver's seat cushion frame may have an improper weld in the power tilt-adjustment mechanism.
Consequence: An improperly welded seat frame may not adequately restrain the driver in a crash, increasing their risk of injury.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the driver's seat and replace the cushion frame, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 23, 2022. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020 or Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006. GM's number for this recall is N212356050.
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 2021 Chevrolet Malibu
Below are complaint narratives filed by owners of the 2021 Chevrolet Malibu with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
I was driving on the highway and the check engine light came on. The car slowed down due to lack of power. I got off at the nearest exit and the car stalled. I tried to start it but it kept clicking rapidly. The car died at a dangerous intersection so I put my hazard lights on and called 911. The police arrived and asked me to put the car in neutral, but it wouldn't shift. The officer was able to ...
The contact owns a 2021 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that the vehicle was taken to a dealer for a recall repair related to the fuel pump control module. After the repair was completed, the contact experienced a new failure. While attempting to turn off the vehicle, the vehicle became inoperable and could not be turned off. The message “Shift to Park” was displayed while the vehicle was shi...
Vehicle has a repeated issue recognizing that it is in park when trying to turn vehicle off. This causes concern that the vehicle may not actually be in park, will not fully power down therefore draining the battery and leaving driver stranded, or lead to other body control module/shifting problems. This is a known issue with GM spanning multiple years and multiple models. The only official fix ...
Transmission failed to engage gear properly after backing up. Grinding sounds heard when vehicle was in drive. Problem has been confirmed and inspected by Chevrolet dealership. Vehicle is available for inspection. Occupants safety was at risk because gears could have locked up during commute causing vehicle to be undriveable, leaving driver and passengers stranded. Blind spot feature is unavaila...
The component is D automatic transmission shift to park switch. The vehicle is and will be available for immediate inspection upon request. Safety was put at risk when the car lost power while they’re celebrating install in the floor of traffic, causing other cars to swerve around and blow horns. The underlying issue with the car was confirmed by independent service center. There was no reason to ...
While driving when coming to a stop, my brakes became stiff causing me to almost hit the vehicle in front of me. Also, the car has been stopping while I am driving and on busy roads when I am at a stop light and press the accelerator to proceed, the vehicle just stop and cuts off completely leaving me stranded while trying to restart the vehicle. Also the vehicle has a long crank before it starts....
Dear NHTSA: I am submitting this complaint because my vehicle, a 2021 Chevrolet Malibu (VIN [XXX] ), is included in Emission Recall N252516900 issued by General Motors concerning the Fuel Pump Power Control Module. Despite that inclusion, I have experienced the following: - A prior near-fatal incident in 2023 when the vehicle unexpectedly shut off while stopped at a red light (engine stall)...
The contact owns a 2021 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed and attempting to accelerate after a stop, the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended while depressing the accelerator pedal. In addition, the transmission unexpectedly downshifted before slamming into gear. The contact stated that when the vehicle slammed into gear, the contact was violently ...
I own a 2021 Chevrolet Malibu. Recently upon arriving at my destination and shifting the vehicle into park, the message "Shift to Park" was displayed with the gear shifter already in park(P). The primary engine was off but the electrical features remain on/operating. After abruptly jerking the vehicle into park a few times, I was able to turn off the vehicle. The most recent time, after several ...
Took my car to the dealer for a "shift to park" problem. Vehicle would not turn off and twice it restarted itself without the button being pushed. I checked my VIN number and there was no recall regarding this but Chevy stated that they were aware of the problem since the 2018 Malibu cars. Mine is a 2021. Apparently there was also a class action regarding this but I was never notified on one. I ha...
My car has about 82000 miles and while driving it stated that I was shifted to neutral and needed to be restarted. After a few seconds the steering wheel locks up and I can’t press the gas anymore, even though the car is still in drive. This happened about 6 times on the half mile drive home. I haven’t been able to diagnose it yet since the dealership is backed up for a month. I think it’s the neu...
After shifting into park and turning vehicle off -warning beep "place vehicle into park" comes on. It takes several "jerks" of gear shift to turn off. I'm scared its not in park and may roll.
The contact owns a 2021 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the check engine warning light illuminated. Additionally, the contact stated while attempting to drive from a complete stop, the vehicle hesitated while responding. The contact stated that the failure recurred several times. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where DTC: P1101 (Throttle body failur...
The contact owns a 2021 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that upon arriving to her destination and shifting the vehicle into park, the message "Shift to Park" was displayed with the gear shifter already in park(P). The contact was able to turn off the vehicle however, the electrical features remained operable. The contact stated that after several attempts, the vehicle returned to normal funct...
I was driving the car on the highway and “SERVICE ESC” popped up on my dash. Engine power reduction kicked in which caused me to have to erratically pull over to the shoulder. Brakes did not engage properly. When the “Service ESC” warning comes on the dash, the engine, transmission, and brakes stop functioning properly. The gauges start fluctuating up and down and the gps goes out of whack. Transm...
Vehicle is in park but getting shift to park error
It says that my engine had a problem. It told me to press my brake to start my car. But then it just kept shaking like it was trying to start. I have also had a notification saying to put my car in park when it already was. Today my car just stopped in the middle of the road in heavy traffic. We could have been hit getting out of the car or someone could have hit my car. It was towed to the local ...
The contact owns a 2021 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that when the vehicle was shifted into park(P), the message “Shift to Park” was displayed on the instrument panel. The contact stated that during the failure, the contact was unable to turn off the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, but the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was informed of the failure and...
SHIFTER ERROR - SCREEN READS SHIFT TO PARK ONCE CAR IS TURNED OFF ALREADY THE CAR TAKES TIME TO TURN OFF EVEN WHEN ITS OFF. IN AN EMERGENCY YOU CAN'T GET OUT OF YOUR CAR TO LOCK IT NO NO THE CHECK ENGIN LIGHT IS ON BUT IT READS FOR A FILTER
The contact owns a 2021 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated while the vehicle was parked, the "Shift to Park" message was intermittently displayed on the instrument panel and the vehicle intermittently failed to completely shut off or lock. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a dealer to be diagnosed; however, the vehicle was not yet diagnosed. The vehicle was not repaire...
Showing 20 of 62 complaints. Additional complaints are available via the NHTSA database.
Frequently Asked Questions About the 2021 Chevrolet Malibu
Has the 2021 CHEVROLET MALIBU been recalled?
Yes, the 2021 CHEVROLET MALIBU has 2 recalls on record with NHTSA. Each recall addresses a specific safety defect identified by the manufacturer or NHTSA.
How many complaints does the 2021 CHEVROLET MALIBU have?
The 2021 CHEVROLET MALIBU has 62 complaints filed with NHTSA. None of the complaints involved crashes. 1 injuries and 0 deaths have been reported.
What is the safety rating for the 2021 CHEVROLET MALIBU?
The 2021 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 2021 CHEVROLET MALIBU?
The most commonly reported problems with the 2021 CHEVROLET MALIBU involve power train (13 complaints), unknown or other (13 complaints), electrical system (6 complaints). Other affected components include electrical system,unknown or other, electrical system,unknown or other,engine, power train,electrical system,back over prevention.
How many crash reports does the 2021 CHEVROLET MALIBU have?
There are no crash reports associated with the 2021 CHEVROLET MALIBU in the NHTSA database.
How many fire reports does the 2021 CHEVROLET MALIBU have?
There are no fire reports for the 2021 CHEVROLET MALIBU in the NHTSA database.
Are there any deaths reported for the 2021 CHEVROLET MALIBU?
No deaths have been reported in NHTSA complaints for the 2021 CHEVROLET MALIBU.
How many injuries are reported for the 2021 CHEVROLET MALIBU?
1 injury has been reported in NHTSA complaints for the 2021 CHEVROLET MALIBU. These are self-reported by vehicle owners as part of their safety complaints.
Should I buy a 2021 CHEVROLET MALIBU?
Based on NHTSA data, the 2021 CHEVROLET MALIBU is acceptable with caveats. It has 62 complaints, 2 recalls, and a good (4/5) safety rating. Always have a pre-purchase inspection done by a qualified mechanic.
What components fail most on the 2021 CHEVROLET MALIBU?
The components with the most failures on the 2021 CHEVROLET MALIBU are: 1. POWER TRAIN (13 complaints), 2. UNKNOWN OR OTHER (13 complaints), 3. ELECTRICAL SYSTEM (6 complaints), 4. ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,UNKNOWN OR OTHER (5 complaints), 5. ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,UNKNOWN OR OTHER,ENGINE (2 complaints). POWER TRAIN is the single most-reported problem area with 13 complaints.
What should I know before buying a 2021 CHEVROLET MALIBU?
Be cautious of potential issues with the automatic transmission shift to park switch and seat belt fasteners. Schedule regular inspections and repairs as recommended by the manufacturer. The 2021 CHEVROLET MALIBU has 62 NHTSA complaints and 2 recalls on record. NHTSA rates it good (4/5).
How reliable is the 2021 CHEVROLET MALIBU?
The 2021 CHEVROLET MALIBU receives a reliability score of 45/100, indicating average reliability. This is based on 62 owner complaints, 2 recalls, and 0 crash/fire reports in the NHTSA database. Key known issues include Automatic Transmission Shift to Park Switch and Seat Belt Fasteners.
What are the known issues with the 2021 CHEVROLET MALIBU?
Known issues with the 2021 CHEVROLET MALIBU include: Automatic Transmission Shift to Park Switch, Seat Belt Fasteners, Power Train Issues, Electrical System Issues. These are based on patterns found across 62 NHTSA complaints. 2 of these patterns resulted in formal recalls.
What are the common issues with the 2021 Chevrolet Malibu?
Common issues include problems with the automatic transmission shift to park switch, seat belt fasteners, power train, and electrical system.
Are there any recalls for the 2021 Chevrolet Malibu?
Yes, there are recalls for issues with seat belt fasteners and power train problems.
What should I do if I experience issues with my 2021 Chevrolet Malibu?
Contact your local dealership for inspection and repair. Regular maintenance can help prevent these issues.
Buyer Advice
Our recommendation: Be cautious of potential issues with the automatic transmission shift to park switch and seat belt fasteners. Schedule regular inspections and repairs as recommended by the manufacturer.
NHTSA Data Summary for 2021 Chevrolet Malibu
This safety report is based on a comprehensive analysis of data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) for the 2021 Chevrolet Malibu. The data includes 62 consumer complaints filed by vehicle owners, 2 manufacturer-initiated safety recalls, 1 reported injuries, and safety rating assessments associated with this vehicle.
The NHTSA has assigned the 2021 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