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2020 Chevrolet Malibu problems, recalls and owner complaints
What the 2020 Chevrolet Malibu has been recalled for and what owners report, from official government data. Updated October 25, 2026.
- 1safety recall
- 199owner complaints
- 10crash reports
- 0fire reports
- 7injuries reported
199 complaints, against an average of 405 for the other 13 Chevrolet Malibu model years.
Every Chevrolet Malibu model year with its number of owner complaints. Pick a year to compare.
What goes wrong with the 2020 Chevrolet Malibu?
The components named most often in the 199 owner complaints. One complaint can name several, so the shares can add up to more than 100%.
What symptoms do 2020 Chevrolet Malibu owners describe?
Found by reading the text of all 199 owner complaints. Tap a symptom for the answer, a real owner quote and any related recall.
- Why does my 2020 Chevrolet Malibu stall, lose power or shut off while driving?39 owners · 19.6%
- Why is the check engine light on in my 2020 Chevrolet Malibu?27 owners · 13.6%
- Why are the ABS and stability control lights on in my 2020 Chevrolet Malibu?12 owners · 6%
- Why does my 2020 Chevrolet Malibu idle rough, misfire or hesitate?8 owners · 4%
- Why do the brakes feel soft, fail or make noise on my 2020 Chevrolet Malibu?8 owners · 4%
- Why does the power steering fail or feel heavy on my 2020 Chevrolet Malibu?7 owners · 3.5%
Has the 2020 Chevrolet Malibu been recalled?
1 U.S. safety recall. Repairs are free at a franchised dealer; some are done over the air.
Seat Belts: Critical Fasteners 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: An improperly secured seat belt retractor may not function properly in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
Fix: 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.
What do 2020 Chevrolet Malibu owners report?
12 of the 199 complaints, the most recent for the most-reported components, as the owners wrote them. NHTSA removes names and VINs; long reports are trimmed. CarHooq has not verified individual claims.
The vehicle's transmission shifter mechanism has failed for a second time, preventing the vehicle's computer from communicating with the gear shifter. When shifting the physical gear lever forward into the "Park" position and attempting to shut off the engine, a warning message reading "Action Required: Shift to Park" appears on the driver instrument dashboard display.This exact failure previously occurred in 2022, two years after purchasing the vehicle. It was formally repaired and covered under an extended warranty policy. However, the underlying manufacturer defect has recurred, proving…
The contact owns a 2020 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that while attempting to depress the brake pedal, the brakes failed to respond and seized, causing the contact to engage the parking brake. The contact was able to pull over while awaiting tow truck assistance. The vehicle was towed to a dealer to be diagnosed. The contact stated that a Lexus engineer retrieved the EDR; however, there was no failure found with the braking system. The failure mileage was 120,000.
The contact owns a 2020 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that the message "Steering Assist Reduced - Drive with Care" was intermittently displayed on the instrument panel while driving. The contact stated that excessive force was needed to turn the steering wheel. In addition, the message "Service ESC" was displayed, and the steering failure became more frequent. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where the contact was provided with an estimate for a diagnostic test. The contact declined the diagnostic test.
I have a failed vacuum pump which caused my braking ability to be 100% reliant on my own strength to be able to “safely” stop the car. This is an ongoing and common problem with GM yet they have not recalled or given any solution. This is unsafe and should be illegal. I have now an underwater car loan and still a non-drivable car because not only do i have to repair the vacuum pump but also the camshaft exhaust as well as timing chain. All of these repairs are things GM willingly hides from customers if they already knew this was an issue.
My 2020 Chevrolet Malibu experienced a sudden and severe electrical failure after driving through normal roadway water. Immediately afterward, the vehicle displayed multiple safety‑critical warnings including loss of power steering assist, Electronic Stability Control (ESC) faults, brake control faults, and reduced propulsion. A GM dealership inspected the vehicle, scanned the modules, and found more than a dozen network and chassis‑related diagnostic trouble codes, including: B3979, U0164, B1325, B3122, U0121, C0196, C0460, B1011, B097B, B3205, C056E, C056D, U0420, U1510, C0545, U0422. These…
So while I was driving my car going 60 on the highway it seemed to be having electrical issues all the lights on my dash popped on then popped off and only a few lights actually stayed on I can't remember exactly but the check engine and my abs stayed on and then on my screen it read to me warning power steering fault my headlights were dimming on and off like my car was going to die, so I had to pull over for my safety and other drivers safety, so after I pulled over safely I shut my car completely off and waited about 5 minutes and turned it back on when it turned back on the only light that…
The contact owns a 2020 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that while attempting to shift the vehicle into park, the transmission failed to shift into park after several attempts. The contact referenced TSB: 19-NA-206; as a possible cause for the failure; however, the VIN was not included in the TSB. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed with gear shifter failure. The gear shifter was replaced, and the vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 50,198.
While driving, the brakes became hard and the vehicle was difficult to stop. The brake pedal required excessive force, brake assist was reduced, and the stopping distance increased, creating a serious safety hazard. The check engine light had been illuminated for approximately two years before the brake failure occurred. In January 2024, I reported brake-related concerns to a Chevrolet dealership while the vehicle was under warranty, but the root cause was not diagnosed. In November 2025, after the brake pedal became hard, an independent repair facility inspected the vehicle and determined the…
May 7, 2026 National Highway Traffic Safety Administration 1200 New Jersey Avenue SE Washington, DC 20590 RE: Safety Defect Complaint – Brake System / Vehicle Control Concerns 2020 Chevrolet Malibu Dear NHTSA, I am submitting a safety complaint regarding persistent braking and vehicle control issues involving my 2020 Chevrolet Malibu. Prior to December 31, 2025, the vehicle exhibited jerking during braking, all dashboard gauges go to the left, warning lights, reduced power (20-25mph), and inconsistent braking behavior. This situation happens without warning, at any given time, even in the flow…
I am writing to report a serious and dangerous issue that occurred with my 2020 Chevrolet Malibu LT on April 27th 2026. While driving on the interstate after work, my vehicle suddenly experienced a failure that made it extremely unsafe to operate. The brake pedal became extremely hard to press, and the vehicle did not want to slow down or stop properly. This created a very dangerous situation while I was driving at highway speeds. Additionally, I noticed that nearly all of the engine oil was gone, which is extremely concerning and may be related to the failure. Based on these symptoms, it…
The contact owns a 2020 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that while driving approximately 60 MPH on the freeway and depressing the brake pedal to slow down, the brake pedal was difficult to depress, and the vehicle failed to immediately stop. During the failure, the check engine and traction control warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was slowly driven to the residence and parked. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The local dealer was notified of the failure. The manufacturer was not yet contacted. The failure mileage was 85,547.
December 12, 2025 I had to drive 20-30 miles an hour the car would not break I had to use parking break. When I would try to Stop it would continue to roll. The pedal was Hard! This is very dangerous and other cars have crashed There are also class action lawsuits regarding just this! Vehicle vacuum pump The Bill was $5200 I am asking for reimbursement! Vehicle vacuum pump engine light on tire sensor light on Saw there have been more cases
2020 Chevrolet Malibu: questions owners ask
Is the 2020 Chevrolet Malibu reliable?
NHTSA data alone cannot rate reliability, but it shows what owners reported. Owners filed 199 complaints with NHTSA about the 2020 Chevrolet Malibu; the most common categories were engine (59, 29.6%), power train (58, 29.1%), electrical system (57, 28.6%). There is 1 safety recall. 10 complaints mention a crash, 7 injuries were reported.
What are the most common problems with the 2020 Chevrolet Malibu?
Across 199 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the categories mentioned most often are engine (29.6% of complaints), power train (29.1% of complaints), electrical system (28.6% of complaints), service brakes (24.6% of complaints), vehicle speed control (9% of complaints). One complaint can name several components.
Does the 2020 Chevrolet Malibu have any recalls?
Yes. NHTSA lists 1 recall for the 2020 Chevrolet Malibu; the most recent (campaign 21V649000, 2021-08-20) concerns Seat Belts: Critical Fasteners. Recall repairs are free at a franchised dealer; check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Why does my 2020 Chevrolet Malibu stall, lose power or shut off while driving?
39 of the 199 owner complaints NHTSA has on file for the 2020 Chevrolet Malibu (19.6%) describe the engine stalling, losing power or shutting off while driving. One owner wrote: "Shift to park displaying when car is in park so it won't turn off and stalling out randomly with no warning or anything and being hesitant to go" (NHTSA complaint 11736695, May 2026). If it happens to your car, check your VIN for open recalls at nhtsa.gov/recalls and report the problem to NHTSA; complaints are what trigger investigations.
Why is the check engine light on in my 2020 Chevrolet Malibu?
27 of the 199 owner complaints NHTSA has on file for the 2020 Chevrolet Malibu (13.6%) describe the check engine light coming on. One owner wrote: "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." (NHTSA complaint 11549390, October 2023). If it happens to your car, check your VIN for open recalls at nhtsa.gov/recalls and report the problem to NHTSA; complaints are what trigger investigations.
Why are the ABS and stability control lights on in my 2020 Chevrolet Malibu?
12 of the 199 owner complaints NHTSA has on file for the 2020 Chevrolet Malibu (6%) describe ABS, traction or stability control warnings or faults. One owner wrote: "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." (NHTSA complaint 11549390, October 2023). If it happens to your car, check your VIN for open recalls at nhtsa.gov/recalls and report the problem to NHTSA; complaints are what trigger investigations.
Why does my 2020 Chevrolet Malibu idle rough, misfire or hesitate?
8 of the 199 owner complaints NHTSA has on file for the 2020 Chevrolet Malibu (4%) describe rough idling, misfires or hesitation when accelerating. One owner wrote: "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." (NHTSA complaint 11549724, October 2023). If it happens to your car, check your VIN for open recalls at nhtsa.gov/recalls and report the problem to NHTSA; complaints are what trigger investigations.
Why do the brakes feel soft, fail or make noise on my 2020 Chevrolet Malibu?
8 of the 199 owner complaints NHTSA has on file for the 2020 Chevrolet Malibu (4%) describe brakes feeling soft, failing, grinding or squealing. One owner wrote: "Shift to park error, No power to car, reduced engine power, camshaft positioning error, brakes failed (completely went hard unable to press) almost causing crash." (NHTSA complaint 11497874, December 2022). If it happens to your car, check your VIN for open recalls at nhtsa.gov/recalls and report the problem to NHTSA; complaints are what trigger investigations.
Why does the power steering fail or feel heavy on my 2020 Chevrolet Malibu?
7 of the 199 owner complaints NHTSA has on file for the 2020 Chevrolet Malibu (3.5%) describe power steering failing, locking up or turning heavy. One owner wrote: "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." (NHTSA complaint 11549390, October 2023). If it happens to your car, check your VIN for open recalls at nhtsa.gov/recalls and report the problem to NHTSA; complaints are what trigger investigations.
Check your own Malibu
Counts are a starting point, not a verdict: popular models collect more complaints because more of them are on the road, and NHTSA does not verify individual reports. To see whether a recall is still open on your car, enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls (U.S.) or your registration at check-vehicle-recalls.service.gov.uk (UK). Had a safety problem? Report it to NHTSA; complaints are what trigger investigations and recalls.
Data: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation recall and complaint databases (public domain), retrieved October 25, 2026. Model year 2020 only.