Chevrolet Malibu is no new name in the midsize sedan market and is known to be a great pick for a small family who wants a great run for the money. With a J.D.Power rating of 89 in terms of reliability, it is almost certain about how Chevrolet sold over 102,500 units of the sedan. Regardless of how much praise the Malibu received, the car sure did come with certain issues that bugged some of its owners. NHTSA reported a total of 40 complaints and 1 recall for the model and the majority of concerns were regarding a sudden drop in power, which led to the drivers not being unable to accelerate, and also a sudden dip in the battery charge. The Malibu also had a lawsuit filed against the model in 2020 which caused some potential buyers to back off from striking a deal and sending them to pick one of its rivals. The major competition for the Malibu comes from the Honda Accord, the Kia Optima, and the Ford Fusion. Let's take a look at the issues in detail.
Electrical Problems
- Alternator – It was found that the car would fail to start after being parked overnight. Owners mentioned hearing a clicking noise when trying to turn the ignition on but would not result in the car running. This was inspected by a local dealer to find out that the battery had drained overnight. This was caused due to a faulty alternator which depleted the charge while parked and the unit needed to be replaced.
- Pedal sensor – Users complained that the car failed to accelerate when the gas pedal was depressed. Dealers found a similar issue with numerous owners and it was found that a lawsuit had been filed against a faulty gas pedal sensor. The manufacturers had to replace the sensor free of cost but the majority of the affected cars never received the replacement part as GM claims it to be on backorder.
Mechanical Problems
- Engine - The owner stated that the car lost power all of a sudden and failed to start upon multiple tries. The car had to be towed and on inspection, it was found that piston #2 had a burnt spot. Mechanics also found excess fuel in the piston chamber and have not been able to identify the issue. A sudden cutting off of power while driving increases the risk of an accident.
- Fuel propulsion – It was reported that the Malibu failed to accelerate at times even after depressing the gas pedal. This can lead to highly hazardous situations as a failure to accelerate while overtaking can result in collisions. The dealers found the issue to be caused due to a clogged fuel filter, which restricted the amount of fuel entering the engine. Users had to replace the fuel filter to fix this issue.
- Brakes – Users found the brake pedal to feel hard, resulting in the car not being able to stop when needed or within the required proximity. This was diagnosed and was found that the brake vacuum pump had a defect. Replacing the pump solved the issue.
Exterior Problems
- Water seals- The seals around the trunk were found to be of inferior quality by numerous owners and this resulted in water seeping through the gap which filled the spare wheel wells. Moisture accumulation for a prolonged period may cause corrosion and mold formation. The users had to get the seals replaced to fix this issue.
2020 Chevrolet Malibu recalls
|
S. No. |
Date |
NHTSA ID |
Issues Noticed |
Additional Remarks |
Remedy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
1. |
20th August 2021 |
21V649000 |
Rear seatbelt retractor is not secured properly |
Rear seat belt retractors may not be correctly attached due to missing or loosened fasteners. |
Rear seat belt retractors will be checked and adjusted by dealers free of charge as needed. In September 2021, letters of notification to owners were sent. |
Should you buy the 2020 Chevrolet Malibu?
For vehicles that are six years old or younger and have less than 75,000 miles on them, Chevrolet offers a certified pre-owned program. The date of the vehicle's initial sale determines eligibility. Under this program, the eligible car gets an extension on the original powertrain warranty to 6 years or 100,000 miles. Such added benefits further validate the reliability and build quality of the vehicle. However, the Chevy Malibu is still worth considering if it does not carry the certification but in such cases, we would recommend the buyers make sure that there are no major concerns. It is important to check if all the pedals in the car are responsive and also have water seals in good condition to avoid frequently visiting the dealership post-purchase. With that said, the 2020 Chevrolet Malibu is a great pick despite it having strong rivals from top brands like Honda, Kia, and Ford.
