2023 Chevrolet Malibu
The Verdict
The 2023 Chevrolet Malibu has 72 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. The most reported issues are body (34 complaints) and engine (21 complaints). With a Klunk Score of 81/100, it earns a "Smooth Ride" rating. If you're shopping for a Chevrolet Malibu, consider the 2025 model year which has 84% fewer complaints.
Safe Bet
The 2025 has 84% fewer complaints
View the 2025 Chevrolet Malibu dashboard →
Klunk Score: Smooth Ride
This vehicle year has significantly fewer complaints than average. A reliable choice.
How is this calculated?
The Klunk Score ranks this vehicle year against all others in our database based on total owner complaints filed with NHTSA. 100 = fewest complaints (top tier), 0 = most complained-about. Scores above 60 are better than average; below 40 means more problems than most.
Recalls 1
Active safety recalls from NHTSA for this vehicle year.
General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2023-2025 Chevrolet Malibu vehicles. The rearview camera screen may display a distorted or blank image.
Risk
A rearview image that does not display correctly reduces the driver's view behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy
Dealers will replace the rearview camera, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed May 18, 2026. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's nu...
Reported Feb 4, 2026
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Under the Hood
Each number is a complaint. Darker = bigger problem.
| Year | Body | Brakes | Electrical | Engine | Transmission |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 105 | 207 | 379 | 253 | 15 |
| 2001 | 95 | 73 | 355 | 205 | 14 |
| 2002 | 65 | 51 | 363 | 112 | 6 |
| 2003 | 119 | 56 | 294 | 129 | 13 |
| 2004 | 1120 | 77 | 314 | 100 | 84 |
| 2005 | 754 | 78 | 338 | 162 | 59 |
| 2006 | 922 | 76 | 177 | 161 | 51 |
| 2007 | 644 | 39 | 150 | 117 | 42 |
| 2008 | 480 | 75 | 257 | 125 | 77 |
| 2009 | 744 | 150 | 404 | 100 | 107 |
| 2010 | 540 | 185 | 370 | 153 | 115 |
| 2011 | 325 | 38 | 321 | 200 | 91 |
| 2012 | 281 | 60 | 385 | 147 | 33 |
| 2013 | 248 | 44 | 338 | 256 | 38 |
| 2014 | 97 | 35 | 56 | 142 | 33 |
| 2015 | 67 | 13 | 83 | 83 | 24 |
| 2016 | 215 | 75 | 112 | 339 | 122 |
| 2017 | 184 | 43 | 98 | 300 | 100 |
| 2018 | 147 | 35 | 83 | 322 | 112 |
| 2019 | 26 | 10 | 33 | 73 | 51 |
| 2020 | 23 | 32 | 31 | 66 | 46 |
| 2021 | 23 | 0 | 21 | 22 | 23 |
| 2022 | 23 | 4 | 15 | 40 | 17 |
| 2023 | 34 | 3 | 12 | 21 | 2 |
| 2024 | 21 | 3 | 12 | 4 | 3 |
| 2025 | 7 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 1 |
By Category
By Severity
Worst Problems
Complaints
October 7, 2026 this vehicle hydroplaned and I lost control of the vehicle. To the best of my knowledge, the steering wheel locked and when attempted to step on the brakes, no braking occurred. The vehicle slid into grass which then hit the guard railing on the interstate. After being inspected by collision shop techs, they have reason to believe the airbag sensor defected or was not installed to signal the airbags to deploy. The driver side door panel airbag did attempt to deploy but was unsuccessful.
I am reporting a potential safety concern involving the brake vacuum pump in Chevrolet Malibu vehicles. I have seen multiple reports from owners describing vacuum pump failures, brakes becoming difficult to press, and brakes reportedly stopping working. Some owners have reported having to replace their vacuum pumps multiple times, while others have described serious safety incidents involving brake problems. I am concerned that these reports may indicate a recurring safety defect that could put drivers, passengers, and other road users at risk. A vacuum pump failure that affects brake assist could make it difficult to stop a vehicle safely and potentially cause a serious crash. I became aware of these reported safety concerns on October 13, 2026, after seeing multiple Chevrolet Malibu owners discuss these problems. This specific vacuum pump failure has not happened to my vehicle personally. I am submitting this report to bring these concerns to NHTSA’s attention and request an investigation into whether the affected Chevrolet Malibu model years have a safety defect that warrants a recall to prevent further crashes, injuries, or deaths.
I own a 2023 Chevrolet Malibu with an open safety recall. General Motors/dealership has refused to repair the recall. The vehicle has also had multiple safety-related problems, including Service ESC warnings, jerking/poor acceleration, Service Safety Restraint System and airbag warnings, and a “Steering Assist is Reduced, Drive with Care” warning. On or about XXX, while driving, I experienced what felt like the brakes, wheel, and steering system locking up. I was unable to safely control the vehicle, resulting in a crash. During the incident, my head struck the steering wheel and I injured my hand, which has visible scars. No police were involved. I have a [XXX] daughter. She was NOT in the vehicle during the crash, but I do not feel safe transporting her in this vehicle because of the serious safety issues and what happened. The vehicle was later inspected through GM/dealership channels. I was told no diagnostic codes were found, and GM declined assistance. The dealership also stated the vehicle needs repairs related to the crash, including a passenger presence module. I am especially concerned that the open safety recall remains unrepaired. I have photographs of the vehicle damage and photographs of the scars on my hand. I can also provide my communications with GM and information regarding the recall. I am requesting that NHTSA review these safety concerns and the refusal to repair the open recall. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
I was inquiring about the front suspension and frame work is there a recall. My car is unstable in the front like frame is unbalanced
The contact owns a 2023 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, the contact noticed that the hard skin material on the steering wheel was crumbling. The contact stated that the right and left hands were severely peeled. The contact inspected the steering wheel and placed a white glove on each hand and rotated the steering wheel. The contact became aware of a black substance on both gloves. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. In addition, the contact stated that another vehicle that the contact had owned was parked in the same spot for fourteen years. The contact stated that the weather did not cause any issues with the other vehicle. The contact received medical treatment for contact dermatitis. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 58,000.
My back up camera just showing blank screen. It's a recall on my model. I was backing up it went blank. Causing me to hit a pole. I took it to Jerry's Chevrolet they said can fix it but out of pocket and reimbursed later. I can't afford that. So, I can't even park between cars . This have become and inconvenience. Chevrolet knows the problem fails to do anything about it.
camera blurred when backing up been having a recall no remedy or paper sent out for it yet
The contact owns a 2023 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that while reversing, the rear-view camera displayed a blue or black image. The vehicle was taken to be diagnosed, and it was determined that the rear-view camera needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact was informed that parts were ordered for the repair. The contact stated that the vehicle was taken back to the dealer three times; however, the parts were still unavailable. In addition, the contact stated that the dealer had been waiting for the delivery of the parts for more than three months. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 26V212000 (Back Over Prevention). The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 45,000.
The contact owns a 2023 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, the vehicle failed to turn off. The “Shift to Park” message was displayed. Additionally, after the vehicle was parked and the engine was turned off, the vehicle independently started. Several unknown warning lights were illuminated. The dealer was made aware of the failure. The vehicle was towed to the dealer as per the manufacturer's request. However, the vehicle was not inspected. The vehicle was taken to Auto Zone, where the portable diagnostic tester was attached to the vehicle. The diagnostic machine retrieved DTC: U0073, P0700, P25A2, U0101,U0129,U0146, U18D5, U18D7, U2413, U0073-00, U0100-00, U0140-00, U0151-00, U026A-00, U0420-00 and U0100. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure, and several cases were filed. The contact was informed that the vehicle would be scheduled to be towed to the dealer. The failure mileage was approximately 3,000.
The contact owns a 2023 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle hesitated and failed to accelerate as needed. No warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 70,000.
The contact owns a 2023 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that while the vehicle was in reverse(R), the rear-view camera displayed a blank screen. The contact associated the failure with NHTSA Campaign Number: 26V212000 (Back Over Prevention); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was not contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 88,000.
My 2023 Malibu VIN [XXX] has an active backup camera failure due to recall [XXX]. The remedy says unavailable, but the car is currently unsafe. I need to open a corporate case for a dealer loaner vehicle INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
My rear view camera is fuzzy and today it went out completely and the screen was black. Sometimes it shows what’s behind the car when I’m backing and then suddenly the screen goes black and I’m unable to see anything. It just started today 6/15/26z . I believe this is a safety hazard and could cause an accident while backing up putting myself and others at risk . There was no warning before this happened, I just noticed the screen was fuzzy on one side, then the fuzziness would go to the other side of the screen . I wasn’t sure what was happening until it completely went black .
My rear view camera went out in the beginning of April. It has been 4 months and I still have not received any notification that the recall is open.
The contact owns a 2023 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 26V212000 (Back Over Prevention). The contact was unable to list the vehicle on a rental site due to the open recall. An unknown local dealer was contacted and confirmed that the recall remedy was not yet available. The vehicle had not been diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer had not been notified of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure.
The contact owns a 2023 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that the rear-view camera became inoperable, and the camera image was blank. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 26V212000 (Back Over Prevention). The local dealer was contacted; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and confirmed that the part was not yet available and there was no estimated timeframe for parts to be available. The failure mileage was approximately 70,233.
The contact owns a 2023 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 26V212000 (Back Over Protection); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure.
I am writing to log an official safety complaint regarding my 2023 Chevrolet Malibu. This vehicle is included under active NHTSA Campaign Number 26V212000 (GM Internal Recall Number N262551720) for a defective rearview camera housing that allows moisture intrusion, causing the backup display to go blank.My vehicle has experienced a complete, permanent failure of the rearview camera screen. The backup display is entirely black/blank when the vehicle is placed in reverse, eliminating all rear visibility. This creates an immediate, active safety hazard during everyday backing maneuvers and non-compliance with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards.Despite the recall being announced months ago, General Motors has failed to provide a timely remedy or allocate replacement parts to my local dealership. Because my camera has actively failed, I am being forced to operate an unsafe vehicle indefinitely due to manufacturer parts delays. I request that the NHTSA investigate GM’s failure to supply remedy components to vehicle owners experiencing active component failures, as this delay leaves a known crash risk unresolved.
The contact owns a 2023 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that while driving from a complete stop or while driving at various speeds, the vehicle hesitated and jerked while depressing the accelerator pedal. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the used car dealer where the vehicle was purchased, but the contact was informed that the failure could not be duplicated. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.
The contact owns a 2023 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that while attempting to start the vehicle, the rear-view camera displayed a blank screen. Additionally, the system vision failure warning light was illuminated. The dealer was made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 26V212000 (Back Over Prevention); however, the part to do the recall repair wa unavailable. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 71,510.
72 total