2020 Chevrolet Malibu · symptom sheet
Engine stalls or loses power while driving
- 38owner reports
- 70,000median miles
- 0involved a crash
Newest report Sep 8, 2026 · checked Oct 2, 2026
148 of the 198 complaints on this car are about the engine. 38 of those describe stalling.
Tick what matches of 38 reports
Stalling on other Malibu years
Report counts are for each model year on its own, so a newer car has had less time to collect them.
What this problem usually is
Stalling reports are some of the most alarming on the site. The engine quits while the car is moving, sometimes on a highway and sometimes at a stop. Many owners say it restarted right away and the dealer found no stored code, which is part of why these complaints pile up before anything gets fixed.
What got replaced
Owners who name the part that was replaced mention the battery (8 reports).
Recalls and investigations
No recall on the engine covers the 2020 model year as of Oct 2, 2026.
NHTSA investigations into the engine on the Malibu
Erratic fuel gauge. Closed dec 30, 2003.
Engine stall due to fuel starvation. Closed nov 3, 2003.
Engine coolant boils over. Closed sep 24, 2002.
None of these investigations covers the 2020 model year.
When it happens
The middle half of failures fell between 25,379 and 90,000 miles, from the 13 reports that gave a mileage.
Is this a known problem?
The manufacturer has sent NHTSA 15 service bulletins or notices for the 2020 Chevrolet Malibu that deal with this problem. 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.
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.
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.
11 more on the 2020 Chevrolet Malibu page.
What owners wrote
“My vehicle displays a "shift to park" message on the dashboard, even when the gear selector is in the park position. This prevents the car from being shut off, and in sometimes, the doors may not be able to be locked. Not understanding the issue initially has thus caused me to have to replace my car battery numerous times for battery drainage.”
Filed Nov 25, 2025
“The steering assist is reduced will come on. The car randomly turns itself off and back on when at a stoplight; this has happened four times now. I worry that it will shut off and not restart creating a hazard on the road.”
Filed Nov 10, 2023
“The power train may be defective. The auto shut off on the vehicle completely shuts off when you stopped at a red light. The entire vehicle restarts, and then 12 lights appear on the dashboard. The car starts shaking sometimes when it's being driven. The vehicle is currently being looked at, at the dealership. I was told that the diagnostics is reading 19 codes and misfires.”
Filed Oct 13, 2023
“While driving on expressway, vehicle slows down suddenly. Service ESC, power steering, and engine light comes on and car tuns off. This has happened 8 times in two years with no fix from GM. This happens with no warning the car just stops driving and loss of power steering occurs. The dealership has tried to fix 8 times now with no real fix to the issue.”
Filed Oct 11, 2023
Should you keep driving it?
This page can't tell you that. 0 of 38 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. How reports land on this sheet.
Guide Taking it to a shop? How to describe this problem so it gets found
Other problems on this car
- Brakes grind, pulse or wear early 49 reports
- "Shift to Park" or "Service Shifter" warning comes on 42 reports
- Check engine light or misfire 30 reports