2020 Chevrolet Malibu · symptom sheet

Brakes grind, pulse or wear early

48owner reports
75,000median miles
$10,000median quote
4involved a crash

Newest report Aug 23, 2026 · checked Sep 9, 2026

48 of the 195 complaints on this car describe brake wear, which makes it the most reported problem on the 2020 Malibu.

Tick what matches of 48 reports

grinding or squealing

pulsing or shaking when braking

pedal goes soft or to the floor

a brake warning light

the car did not stop in time

What got replaced

Owners who name the part that was replaced mention the ABS module (7 reports) and the booster (6 reports).

Recalls and investigations

No recall on the brakes covers the 2020 model year as of Sep 9, 2026.

NHTSA investigations into the brakes on the Malibu

EA86-006opened Nov 27, 1985

Service Brakes, Hydraulic · model years 1978 to 1981

Brake backing plate. Closed nov 28, 1988.

NHTSA summary

SUMMARY:GM IS CONDUCTING A VOLUNTARY RECALL CAMPAIGN (85V-048)INVOLVING 2,136,826 VEHICLES. THE RECALL IS LIMITED TO VEHICLES BUILT ATCERTAIN ASSEMBLY PLANTS WHICH, ACCORDING TO GM, OVERTORQUED THE BRAKEPIPE NUT,THEREBY OVERSTRESSING THE WHEEL CYLINDER SUPPORT AREA OF THEBACKING PLATE.ANALYSIS:FRONT BRAKES PROVIDE SUFFICIENT BRAKING FOR PASSENGER CARSIN MOST NON-EMERGENCY SITUATIONS. ALL AFFECTED TRUCKS ARE INCLUDED INTHE CURRENT RECALL.IN MOST CASES THE PROBLEM IS DISCOVERED DURING BRAKEMAINTENANCE.THE RECALL APPEARS TO COVER THOSE GROUPS OF CARS WITH THEHIGHEST FAILURE RATES.STATUS:ANALYZING GM IR RESPONSE AND NEW COMPLAINT DATA. DRAFT CLOSINGREPORT BY 5/15/88.===

None of these investigations covers the 2020 model year.

What owners paid

7 of the 48 reports quote a price. Each dot is one quote. The middle half runs $3,000 to $12,000.

$3,000$10,000$12,000

$0k$2k$4k$6k$8k

When it happens

The middle half of failures fell between 40,016 and 90,000 miles, from the 14 reports that gave a mileage.

421

322

923

1024

1125

1126

What owners wrote

“Very hard to brake, like stepping on a brick. Have to start breaking way in advance. Also keep getting a "shift to park" alert and car won't shut down and can't get out of it sometimes.”
Filed Mar 27, 2025

“Brake vacuum pump locked up causing camshaft to twist and reluctant wheel to turn which damaged the engine. I'm being quoted $10,000 to fix which was actually $1,000 more to fix but they accidentally under quoted me and have to honor the original estimate. I don't have that kind of money and still owe almost $14,000 on the car.”
Filed Jan 30, 2024

“I was driving down the hwy and all of a sudden, my engine lost power and my brakes harden. I could not brake and nearly lost my life and my sons.”
Filed Oct 6, 2023

“UNKNOWN Coming off a ramp to slow down and brakes were hard. Have to press down to brake.”
Filed Aug 25, 2023

Should you keep driving it?

This page can't tell you that. 4 of 48 reports involved a crash and 3 people were hurt. 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.