2020 Chevrolet Malibu · symptom sheet
"Shift to Park" or "Service Shifter" warning comes on
- 42owner reports
- 51,000median miles
- 0involved a crash
Newest report May 8, 2026 · checked Sep 29, 2026
170 of the 198 complaints on this car are about the transmission and drivetrain. 42 of those describe shift to park warning. Only brake wear is reported more often on this car.
Tick what matches of 42 reports
Shift to park warning 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. Model years with too few reports of it for a sheet: 2014, 2015.
What this problem usually is
This sheet covers a dash message that says "Shift to Park" or "Service Shifter" when the car is already in Park, or when it's sitting in Drive with the shifter lights glowing. Owners say it won't let them turn the car off, or it flashes up on the highway.
What got replaced
Few of these reports name the part that was replaced.
Recalls and investigations
No recall on the transmission and drivetrain covers the 2020 model year as of Sep 29, 2026.
NHTSA investigations into the transmission and drivetrain on the Malibu
Fleet vehicle recall completion audit. Closed dec 28, 2015.
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 20,000 and 75,000 miles, from the 11 reports that gave a mileage.
Is this a known problem?
The manufacturer has sent NHTSA 1 service bulletin or notice 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 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.
What owners wrote
“Shift to park issue . When the car is shifted to park, the system does not recognize the car is in park mode even though the stick is in Park. It starts beeping and that dash board screen shows SHIFT to PARK. It happened several times in October 2024. The dealer says it does not cover under the warranty and it has on 20000 miles and bought in 2021.”
Filed Nov 5, 2024 · 20,000 miles
“Car is indicating "Shift to Park" after placing in park and turning off. Unable to lock vehicle. Lights remain on. Took vehicle to dealer though it's a widely known issue I will be required to pay? Transmission was replaced at 35K due to manufacturing defect. Every 20k miles I'm going to have more transmission issues? It's just not right!”
Filed Aug 25, 2024 · 20,000 miles
“About 3 months ago, I started experiencing the shift to park problem where my car would turn off completely and would be still and solid but the car wouldn't register being in park.”
Filed Jun 8, 2023
“My vehicle malibu2020. When I park sometimes It says shift to park sign. On dash board. The makes it difficult for car. To shut. off i have to keep pressing the plus and minus sign on the gear shift to cut off.”
Filed May 24, 2023
Should you keep driving it?
This page can't tell you that. 0 of 42 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
- Engine stalls or loses power while driving 38 reports
- Check engine light or misfire 30 reports