Owners have reported 6 crashes, 1 fire and 6 injuries to NHTSA for the 2019 Chevrolet Malibu. These are unverified owner reports, not confirmed defect rates.
Owner complaints59
POWER TRAIN
Owners of the 2019 Chevrolet Malibu frequently report issues with the "Shift to Park" error, where the vehicle fails to recognize it is in park, leading to difficulties in turning off the vehicle and potential battery drainage. Complaints also describe problems with unintended acceleration or loss of power, often accompanied by diagnostic trouble codes such as P0299 and P2714. These issues typically arise around 50,000 to 100,000 miles and can pose safety risks, including roll-away hazards and sudden stalling in traffic. Buyers should be aware of these recurring problems, as they may require significant repairs or replacements of components like the gear shifter assembly or transmission.
Owner complaints50
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Owners report that the 2019 Chevrolet Malibu frequently experiences issues with the "Shift to Park" malfunction, where the vehicle does not recognize it is in park, preventing it from shutting off properly. This issue is often mentioned alongside problems with the vehicle's Start/Stop system, which can cause the car to stall unexpectedly at traffic lights or while driving. Some complaints indicate these malfunctions occur in vehicles with low mileage, around 13,500 miles, while others occur after several years of ownership. Safety implications are noted, including one crash reportedly linked to a malfunctioning Apple CarPlay system, and a fire originating from the driver's door electrical system. Buyers should be aware of these patterns when considering this model.
Severity signals: 2 crash, 1 fire, 3 injury reports
Owner complaints21
ENGINE
Owners of the 2019 Chevrolet Malibu frequently report engine-related issues, including the vehicle losing motive power while driving, often accompanied by warning lights such as the check engine, ESC, and traction control lights. Common symptoms include the vehicle stalling, shaking, or experiencing reduced engine power, sometimes requiring engine replacement or throttle body repairs. Several complaints mention these problems occurring at mileages ranging from approximately 7,000 to over 96,000 miles. One report involves a crash with an injury due to unintended acceleration, highlighting potential safety implications. Prospective buyers should be aware of these recurring issues, particularly the intermittent loss of power and "Shift to Park" errors that can lead to battery drainage.
Severity signals: 1 crash, 0 fire, 1 injury reports
Owner complaints21
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Owners report that the 2019 Chevrolet Malibu frequently experiences a "Shift to Park" error, where the vehicle does not recognize it is in park, preventing the car from turning off and leading to drained batteries. This issue often arises around 38,000 to 55,000 miles and can require multiple attempts to resolve temporarily. Additionally, some owners experience malfunctions with the auto start/stop feature, where the vehicle fails to restart at intersections, posing a potential safety risk in traffic. Complaints also mention sporadic issues with engine power loss and steering assist warnings, although these are less frequent. Buyers should be aware of these recurring issues as they consider this model, especially given the potential safety implications when the vehicle unexpectedly powers down.
Owner complaints14
SERVICE BRAKES
Owners of the 2019 Chevrolet Malibu frequently report issues related to the brake vacuum pump, with many describing sudden loss of braking power and hard brake pedals. Complaints often mention that the brake failure occurs without warning, sometimes accompanied by engine power reduction messages and check engine lights. Several reports indicate that the failures occur around 60,000 to 90,000 miles. Safety implications are significant, with at least two incidents involving crashes where vehicles failed to stop, resulting in collisions with ditches. Buyers should be aware of potential brake vacuum pump malfunctions that may lead to loss of control and require costly repairs, including engine damage.
Severity signals: 2 crash, 0 fire, 0 injury reports
Owner complaints4
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
Owners of the 2019 Chevrolet Malibu report issues related to vehicle speed control, primarily involving unexpected power loss and difficulty with acceleration. Some complaints describe the vehicle stalling without warning or being slow to respond when the accelerator pedal is pressed, with occurrences noted around 53,713 miles. Additionally, a common issue reported involves a "shift to park" alert that prevents the vehicle from being turned off, requiring manual intervention to resolve. These symptoms may present safety concerns, particularly in situations requiring immediate acceleration or deceleration. Buyers should be aware that some owners have encountered these problems, which may incur repair costs not covered by warranty or recall.
Owner complaints3
AIR BAGS
Owners of the 2019 Chevrolet Malibu report issues with the airbag system, often accompanied by other warning lights such as the check engine and ABS lights. Common symptoms include warning messages about the airbag system and audible alerts for the service safety restraint system. Some owners mention incidents where the airbag warning light activates following a loud popping sound and a reduction in engine power, attributed to a dislodged air intake hose. In one case, a service technician identified the need to replace the airbag clock spring, which affects airbag deployment, horn functionality, and steering wheel controls. No specific mileage patterns are evident from the complaints, but the safety implications include potential airbag malfunctions and impaired horn operation.
Owner complaints2
STEERING
Owners of the 2019 Chevrolet Malibu report issues related to steering, with symptoms often including the vehicle pulling to one side and the steering wheel shaking, particularly when braking or driving on the freeway. These issues typically arise around 71,000 miles, as noted in one complaint. Additionally, warning lights for power steering and electronic stability control (ESC) may illuminate during these events. Some owners also mention a need to tighten lug nuts on the front tires, but this does not consistently resolve the shaking issue. Safety implications include potential loss of control due to unexpected vehicle movements and steering difficulties.
