2019 Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid · symptom sheet

Burns oil or oil level rises

30owner reports
74,350median miles
0involved a crash

Newest report Aug 28, 2026 · checked Sep 9, 2026

417 of the 1,029 complaints on this car are about the engine. 30 of those describe oil consumption.

Tick what matches of 30 reports

adding oil between changes

the oil level rises

low oil light came on

the dealer called it normal

What got replaced

Owners who name the part that was replaced mention the piston rings (4 reports).

Recalls and investigations

No recall on the engine covers the 2019 model year as of Sep 9, 2026.

NHTSA investigations into the engine on the Malibu Hybrid

EA25-007opened Oct 23, 2025

Engine And Engine Cooling · model years 2019

Loss of motive power due to engine failure. Open.

NHTSA summary

The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) has received 1,157 reports of engine bearing failure failures in the L87 6.2L engine produced by General Motors (GM). Of the 1,157 reports received, 173 are outside of the scope of recall 25V-274. These engines are installed in Model Years (MY) 2019–2024 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 and GMC Sierra 1500, and 2021-2024MY Chevrolet Suburban and Tahoe, GMC Yukon/Yukon XL, and Cadillac Escalade/Escalade ESV vehicles. The subject engine failures were investigated as part of a Preliminary Evaluation (PE25001). GM determined that these engine failures were due to multiple supplier manufacturing and quality issues. GM issued recall 25V-274 to address the supplier manufacturing and quality issues produced between March 1, 2021, and May 31, 2024. Based on the issuance of recall 25V-274, NHTSA has closed PE25001. ODI continues to receive a significant number of reports of engine failure in vehicles outside the scope of 25V-274. This presents a potential safety risk that warrants further investigation. ODI is opening this Engineering Analysis (EA) to further evaluate the scope and severity of the potential problem and to fully assess the potential safety-related issues of vehicles built outside the recall scope. To review the ODI reports cited in the Opening Resume ODI Report Identification Number document, go to NHTSA.gov.

PE25-001opened Jan 16, 2025

Engine And Engine Cooling · model years 2019

Loss of motive power due to engine failure. Closed oct 23, 2025, led to recall 25V-274.

NHTSA summary

On January 16, 2025, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened Preliminary Evaluation PE25001 after receiving complaints and field reports concerning engine failures in MY2019-2024 GM’s full-size truck and SUV T1XX platform equipped with the L87 6.2L V8 engine. These complainants alleged engine bearing failures resulting in knocking and growling noises from the engine’s bottom end and in some cases more severe consequences such as broken connecting rods leading to engine damage, or engine failure. If the engine fails during vehicle operation, the vehicle will lose propulsion, increasing the risk of a crash. On April 24, 2025, GM issued recall 25V-274 to address the concern with L87 engines produced between March 1, 2021, and May 31, 2024. GM cited the root cause as a supplier manufacturing and quality issues. GM’s recall remedy will be either an oil change to an oil with a different viscosity or engine replacement depending on the results of the remedy inspection procedure. To date, ODI has received 1,157 allegations of engine bearing failure. GM submitted 55,464 reports in total, with 29,752 unique VINs. ODI continues to receive allegations of L87 engine failures which fall outside of the scope of recall 25V-274. Based on GM’s recall, ODI will close this PE. NHTSA will continue to investigate complaints of engine failure outside the scope of recall 25V-274 as part ofEngineering Analysis (EA25007). To review the ODI reports cited in the Closing Resume ODI

When it happens

The middle half of failures fell between 42,000 and 105,000 miles, from the 17 reports that gave a mileage.

120

222

123

924

1025

726

What owners wrote

“The transmission failed at 100,000 miles and the engine failed at 130,000 miles. Available for inspection. Yes the dealer confirmed both failures. No warnings. Immediate failure with engine light. Barely made it home with the transmission and the engine just stopped out of nowhere due to the dynamic fuel management system and oil consumption starvation.”
Filed Oct 17, 2025 · 100,000 miles

“When I was driving home the message center said low oil pressure shut engine off and I did then noticed that the oil cooler line blew apart from the crimp piece and sprayed oil all over the road and on my passenger side front tire and rotor and luckily it was raining because I feel it could have caught on fire from the oil hitting the hot rotor”
Filed Jun 5, 2025

“Engine oil Cooler Line completely popped out from the the crimp fitting. Low oil pressure chimed. immediately turned the truck off and oil flooded my driveway. Same issue outline in the N212326940 Engine Oil cooler Lines Detaching from Crimp July 2021 publication. Luckily this just happen while parked in the driveway so no one was hurt and no real damage to the truck.”
Filed Oct 2, 2024

“Engine cooler line is leaky. if I continue to operate the vehicle with low oil pressure, there may be a loss of propulsion. An engine operating with low oil pressure may also be prone to failure. In 2021, a TSB was issued to repair this problem, but it no longer is active.”
Filed Feb 13, 2024

Should you keep driving it?

This page can't tell you that. 0 of 30 reports involved a crash. Owners who file are the ones who had a bad experience, and nobody checks their reports. If the problem affects steering, braking, power or a fire risk, treat it as a safety fault and have it inspected before a long or high-speed drive.

File your own report with NHTSA. Complaint counts are how a problem gets an investigation.