Ninth generation
2020 Chevrolet Malibu
The most reported problem on the 2020 Chevrolet Malibu is brake wear, with 49 complaints, usually around 75,000 miles.
- 198owner complaints
- 1recalls
- 10involved a crash
- 61,000median miles at failure
Newest report Sep 8, 2026 · checked Oct 2, 2026
What is your Malibu doing?
Each one opens a sheet built from the owner reports of that problem on the 2020 model year.
Is the 2020 Chevrolet Malibu reliable?
The 2020 Chevrolet Malibu has 198 owner complaints on file with NHTSA, close to the median of 201 for 2020 sedans on this site. Of the 12 Malibu model years since 2014, it has the 6th most complaints. Complaint counts rise with sales as well as faults, so read what owners report below before deciding.
At a glance
- Next to the 2019 and 2021
- At 28 complaints for each year on the road, the 2020 runs above the 2019 (24) and 1.9 times the 2021 (15).
- Top problem
- Two problems run close. Brake wear has 49 complaints and shift to park warning has 42, out of 198 in all. A quarter of the 15 owners who gave a mileage for brake wear saw it by about 40,000 miles, and half by about 75,000.
- Crash, fire and injury reports
- 10 of the 198 complaints (5%) report a crash, a fire or an injury, about the 6% typical of vehicles on this site. Counted separately (one report can carry more than one), 10 reports mention a crash and 7 people were hurt. The reports record 1 death. The most crash reports, 4 of 10, fall under brake wear.
- Recalls behind the top problems
- No recall on file is on the same system as brake wear, shift to park warning and stalling. For those, the complaints are all there is.
- When owners filed
- Complaints are still climbing. 2025 brought 46, the most of any year so far. So far in 2026, 31 more have come in.
When each problem shows up
Each bar covers the middle half of the mileages owners reported for that problem. A quarter saw it earlier, a quarter later. The tick is the median. Most reported: brakes grind, pulse or wear early, 49 complaints.
middle half of reports, median tick. The heavier grey bars have 75 or more reports.
Behind you
Around your mileage
Ahead of you
How this compares
198 complaints is about the median for a 2020 model on this site and about the median for a 2020 sedan. Among the 7 Malibu model years here it ranks 6th for complaints. Counts follow sales volume as much as reliability, so a truck that sells 700,000 a year draws more reports than a sedan that sells 200,000.
Service bulletins for the 2020 Chevrolet Malibu
Chevrolet filed 771 bulletins and other notices with NHTSA that list the 2020 Chevrolet Malibu. 54 of them deal with a problem owners have reported on this car. Newest first.
Federal rules make a manufacturer send NHTSA a copy of any notice about a defect that goes to more than one dealer or owner. Most of these are service bulletins, the repair instructions manufacturers send to dealers. NHTSA generally leaves safety recall bulletins out of this file, and recalls are listed separately.
Brakes grind, pulse or wear early 1 bulletin · 49 complaints
This service bulletin provides information for tire pressure monitoring (TPM) system concerns.
"Shift to Park" or "Service Shifter" warning comes on 1 bulletin · 42 complaints
This service bulletin provides service procedure information to correct a customer concern of Shift to Park Displayed on DIC When Vehicle is in- Park, No Start - DTC B000A Set.
Engine stalls or loses power while driving 15 bulletins · 38 complaints
This service bulletin provides repair information to correct a customer concern of No Crank, No Start, Quick Start/Stall, No FOB Detected, Key FOBs Inoperative, B3924 00, B3925 00, B3926 00, B3927 00, B3928 00 Set.
This service bulletin advises the tech that the rotational Clicking Noise Heard After Engine Shut Down may be normal characteristics of the vehicle.
13 more on this problem
This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that have an intermittent no crank, no start, or start stall concern with the security light coming on.
This technical bulletin provides repair information to correct a customer concern of No Crank, No Start, Quick Start/Stall, No FOB Detected, Key FOBs Inoperative, B3924 00, B3925 00, B3926 00, B3927 00, B3928 00 Set.
This service bulletin provides a procedure to inspect and possibly repair terminals that may be damaged to correct customer concerns of Loss of Power, Malfunction Indicator Lamp (MIL) Illuminated, Gauges Inoperative and/or Multiple Warning Lights/Messages ...
This engineering information (EI) closure ends the need for further information from technicians in regards to having Loss of Power, Malfunction Indicator Lamp (MIL) illuminated, Gauges Inoperative and/or multiple warning lights/messages Displayed on Driver ...
This engineering information (EI) is requesting information from technicians to perform the check list provided and contact the engineer listed in regard to having Loss of Power, Malfunction Indicator Lamp (MIL) illuminated, Gauges Inoperative and/or multiple ...
This service bulletin provides a procedure to replace the torque convertor if found the cause of the rattle or engine stalling when placing transmission in gear.
This Preliminary information communicates that a rotational clicking noise heard after engine shut down is a design characteristic and no repairs should be attempted.
This engineering information (EI) closure ends the need for further inforrmation from the field in regards to Loss of Power, Malfunction Indicator Lamp (MIL) Illuminated, Gauges Inoperative and/or Multiple Warning Lights/Messages Displayed on Driver ...
This service bulletin provides repair information to correct a customer concern of No Crank, No Start, Quick Start/Stall, Key Fobs Inoperative with DTCs B2924 00, B3925 00, B3926 00, B3927 00, or P0513 set.
This Preliminary information communicates how technicians should diagnose and repair a possible engine stall and/or rattle noise
Plus 3 older ones not listed here.
Check engine light or misfire 17 bulletins · 30 complaints
This service bulletin provides repair information to correct a customer concern of Vehicle Will Not Lock and Unlock (Loss of Active Functions) Crank or Start (Loss of Passive Functions) with DTC P0513 Set.
This service bulletin advises of a new fuel injection cleaner kit used for decarbonizing the intake valves to correct conditions of rough idle, Crank no start, extended crank or misfire, MIL with DTCs, and explains how Top Tier fuels should be used to reduce ...
15 more on this problem
This technical bulletin advises of a new fuel injection cleaner kit used for decarbonizing the intake valves to correct conditions of rough idle, Crank no start, extended crank or misfire, MIL with DTCs, and explains how Top Tier fuels should be used to ...
This technical bulletin provides repair information to correct a customer concern of Vehicle Will Not Lock and Unlock (Loss of Active Functions) Crank or Start (Loss of Passive Functions) with DTC P0513 Set.
This Preliminary information communicates information that will need to be provided to TAC to aid in diagnosing if a vehicle comes in with misfire and DTC Codes P0300 - P0308 and/or P050D
This Preliminary information communicates the possibility of dtc p0299 p0234 setting due to oil/moisture cndensate freezing in Turbocharger Wastegate Regulator Solenoid Valve (TCV) during cold weather driving
This service bulletin provides diagnostic tips/steps on testing for possible EVAP leaks in the system to correct a customer concern of an MIL Illuminated with DTCs P0442 and/or P0455 Set.
This service bulletin provides a repair procedure to correct a customer concern of Reduced Engine Power, Malfunction Indicator Lamp (MIL) Illuminated - DTCs P0101, P0172, P0299, P0506, and/or P1101 Set.
This Preliminary information communicates the possiblilty of the charge air cooler tube becoming disconnected from the throttle body and causing reduced power with dtc P0172 P0299 P0101 P0506 P1101
This service bulletin provides a repair procedure to correct a customer concern of a MIL Illuminated with DTC P0172, P06DE and/or P0521 Set.
This service bulletin provides repair information to correct a customer concern of No Crank, No Start, B2924 00, B3925 00, B3926 00, B3927 00, or P0513 set.
This service bulletin provides repair information to correct a customer concern of an Engine Misfire, Malfunction Indicator Lamp (MIL) Illuminated - DTC P0300 Set.
Plus 5 older ones not listed here.
Infotainment, screen or backup camera fails 8 bulletins · 19 complaints
This service bulletin provides radio software version 135120 (IOR) update procedures to correct customer concerns of software related issues.
This service bulletin provides repair information to correct a customer concern of Radio System Settings Lost or Returning to Default Values.
6 more on this problem
This service bulletin provides repair information to correct a customer concern of software issues with Radio Software Version V808.
This Preliminary information communicates a concern where the radio will reboot when adjusting the volume intermittently and that engineering is investigating.
This service bulletin provides information to aid a dealer/customer concern of Radio Unwanted Phantom Touch or Non-Responsive to Touch After Cleaning/Disinfecting Radio Display.
This technical bulletin provides repair information to correct a customer concern of Voice Recognition Launches or Radio Station Changes to an Adjacent Favorite Without Any Button Press.
This technical bulletin provides repair information to correct a customer concern of software issues with Radio Software Version V808.
This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that may have a missing Forward Collision System Selection in the radio menu.
Battery dies or the car will not start 5 bulletins · 13 complaints
This Preliminary information communicates the possibility of a crank no start or extended crank condition due to exhaust cam reluctor being out of position.
This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about a no start or another concern after swapping an Engine Control Module or other modules from one vehicle to another.
3 more on this problem
This service bulletin provides diagnostic/repair information to correct customer concerns of a Crank No Start or Extended Crank, Malfunction Indicator Lamp (MIL) Illuminated.
This service bulletin provides repair information to correct a customer concern of Possible Crank No Start or Extended Crank with DTC P12A6.
This Preliminary information communicates Possible Crank no start or extended crank with DTC p12A6 set current or history. Under Investigation
Power steering cuts out or goes heavy 1 bulletin · 11 complaints
Service Update - Certain vehicles may have a condition where the engine wiring harness clip may not be secured to the power steering gear housing. Dealers are to secure the harness clip at the power steering gear.
Transmission shudders, slips or shifts hard 6 bulletins · 5 complaints
This service bulletin provides information on some vehicles that may rock or move slightly forward or rearward while in Park at start up after cold soak. This condition may be accompanied by a clunk noise.
This service bulletin provides information on Driveline Clunk Noise and what is acceptable and what is considered normal operation.
4 more on this problem
This service bulletin advises the technician to replace valve body first to determine if that is the issue for and if not, to inspect internal parts of transmission for any signs of abnormal wear to correct customer concerns of Loss of Forward gear, slipping, ...
This informational bulletin provides information on Transmission Adaptive Functions and Correcting Low Mileage Harsh Shifts, Slips, or Flares.
This informational bulletin provides information on Driveline Clunk Noise and what is acceptable and what is considered normal operations.
This informational bulletin provides information on Some vehicles may rock or move slightly forward or rearward while in Park at start up after cold soak. This condition may be accompanied by a clunk noise.
Complaints filed by year
46 complaints came in 2025. Owners file in waves when a problem gets press or an investigation, so a spike measures attention as much as failures.
NHTSA investigations
Dtn air bag inflator rupture. Open.
NHTSA summary
Recalls that include the 2020 Chevrolet Malibu
Whether your car is included depends on its VIN. Check yours at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
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.
Risk and remedy
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.
The recall on the 2020 Chevrolet Malibu, with the owner complaints on each recalled system
Guide NHTSA has an open investigation on this car. What the investigation stages mean
Questions
What is the most common problem on the 2020 Chevrolet Malibu?
Brake wear, with 49 of the 198 complaints. Owners who gave a mileage for it put the median at about 75,000 miles.
At what mileage do 2020 Chevrolet Malibu problems start?
Of the 60 complaints that give a mileage, a quarter came by about 32,000 miles and half by about 61,000.
Is the 2020 Chevrolet Malibu better or worse than the 2019 and 2021?
Counted per year on the road, the 2020 has more complaints than both the 2019 and the 2021: 28 a year against 24 and 15.
How many 2020 Chevrolet Malibu complaints involve a crash, fire or injury?
10 of them (5%). The typical vehicle on this site is at 6%.
Is there a recall for brake wear on the 2020 Chevrolet Malibu?
No recall on file for the 2020 Chevrolet Malibu is on the same system as brake wear. Another recall may still cover your car, so check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.