Chevrolet · Malibu · 2020
2020 Chevrolet Malibu
1
Recall
183
Complaints
4/5
Safety Rating
The 2020 Chevrolet Malibu has 1 recall and 183 owner-reported complaints on file with NHTSA. Overall safety rating: 4 out of 5 stars. Most reported issue: power train (25 reports).
Source: NHTSA Public Records · Updated Apr 28, 2026
Research Context
The 2020 Chevrolet Malibu page works best as a research starting point. Complaint totals show how much owner-reported activity exists, while recalls and investigations help show whether any of that activity turned into formal safety action.
Because this is a newer-era vehicle page, it usually helps to compare this year against nearby model years before deciding whether a complaint pattern looks isolated or persistent. On this page, the most prominent complaint area is power train with 25 reported complaints.
Best Research Moves
- Use the complaint log to understand what owners were actually reporting instead of relying only on the raw complaint total.
- Review the recall section even if the total is smaller, because a limited number of recalls can still point to meaningful safety actions.
- This page is primarily a complaints-and-recalls research surface, so compare nearby model years before treating the complaint total as a standalone verdict.
Key Takeaways
- The 2020 Chevrolet Malibu currently shows 1 NHTSA recall listed on this page and 183 owner-reported complaints.
- This page currently shows no linked NHTSA investigations.
- This page reflects complaint volume, recall history, and NHTSA test data, but it does not diagnose causes or rank reliability by itself.
- Safety data currently shows 4/5 overall NHTSA safety rating.
- The most frequently reported complaint categories on this page are power train (25), electrical system (20), unknown or other (17).
- Vehicle
- 2020 Chevrolet Malibu
- Recalls
- 1
- Complaints
- 183
- Safety Rating
- 4/5
How to Interpret This Page
This page combines three types of NHTSA data: recall campaigns (official manufacturer or government actions), owner complaints (unverified consumer reports), and crash test ratings (where available). A vehicle with many complaints is not necessarily less reliable — complaint volume correlates with sales volume and vehicle age. Recalls indicate identified defects, not overall quality. To compare this model year with others, use the year navigation in the sidebar or return to the model overview page.
If you are researching a used vehicle, start with the complaint categories, compare them against the recall list, and then check nearby model years to see whether the same issue profile repeats. That usually produces a better buying or research signal than treating the raw complaint total as a standalone safety ranking.
NHTSA Crash Test Performance
Frontal Crash Test
Side Crash Test
Overall Frontal Rating
Driver and Passenger Assessment
Driver Side
Passenger Side
Overall Side Rating
Side Barrier and Side Pole Tests
Driver Side
Passenger Side
Rollover Resistance
10.3% rollover risk in single-vehicle crash
Safety Features
ESC: StandardForward Collision Warning: OptionalLane Departure Warning: Optional
Recall Notices
NHTSANHTSA ID: 21V649000August 20, 2021
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.
Remedy Status
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.
Owner Complaints
183 totalUNKNOWN OR OTHER,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
Mar 31, 2026
Reduced Engine Power Light: The car limits acceleration, often accompanied by a check engine light. Stalling or Hesitation: Engine stalls or acts sluggish when accelerating, particularly in traffic. Limp Mode: The vehicle restricts speed, making it difficult to accelerate. The ca...
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SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
Mar 8, 2026
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 eng...
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POWER TRAIN,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE
Feb 13, 2026
Several things have been going wrong with this car. I have only had it for about 7 months. Minimal driving. Got the car with 84,000 miles and it now has 88,000 miles. About 2 months ago the check engine light came on. Got it into a shop and they said an oil change may possibly he...
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SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
Feb 12, 2026
The contact owned a 2020 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that while driving approximately 65 MPH, the brake pedal became inoperable. There was a warning light illuminated. The contact stated that the brake pedal failed to function properly while attempting to stop the vehicl...
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ENGINE
Feb 9, 2026
The contact owns a 2020 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle hesitated and failed to properly accelerate while depressing the accelerator pedal. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a local inde...
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SERVICE BRAKES,ENGINE
Feb 3, 2026
While driving the brake pedal became hard to push out of no where. Once the car got to the shop it stopped cranking. The shop is stating that the brake vacuum pump is the cause of the brake pedal messing up, and that it also caused other engine damages estimating $3000.00
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING,POWER TRAIN
Jan 30, 2026
The contact owns a 2020 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that while driving at 35 MPH, the check engine warning light illuminated. While the vehicle was stopped at a traffic light or a stop sign, the failure was more noticeable. The contact stated that the vehicle jerked abno...
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UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Jan 8, 2026
Transmission got metal pieces in transmission fluid and blew the transmission
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Dec 31, 2025
When braking, the vehicle experiences a system failure. There is a loud impact, the dashboard shuts down, warning lights activate all gauges go to the left, and the vehicle loses power and enters a reduced speed mode before recovering. This has been ongoing and creates a dangero...
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SERVICE BRAKES
Dec 23, 2025
I was unaware that when I purchased this vehicle that when the oil is low, the breaks go out and the break power booster shatters. The beaks have gone out on me 2x already and thankfully I’ve only had to replace the break power booster only once. Now once the oil is changed the b...
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Showing 10 recent complaints from 183 total
View Full Complaint LogCompare Related Vehicles
Why Compare These Pages
The strongest comparison flow is usually: exact vehicle-year page, then nearby years of the same model, then other 2020 Chevrolet models. That sequence helps separate one-off year spikes from broader make-wide patterns.
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many recalls does the 2020 Chevrolet Malibu have?
The 2020 Chevrolet Malibu has 1 recall recorded by NHTSA.
How many complaints have been filed for the 2020 Chevrolet Malibu?
NHTSA has received 183 owner-reported complaints for the 2020 Chevrolet Malibu.
What is the NHTSA safety rating for the 2020 Chevrolet Malibu?
The 2020 Chevrolet Malibu received an overall safety rating of 4 out of 5 stars from NHTSA.
What are the most common problems with the 2020 Chevrolet Malibu?
The most commonly reported complaint categories for the 2020 Chevrolet Malibu are power train (25 reports), electrical system (20 reports), unknown or other (17 reports).
Does the 2020 Chevrolet Malibu have any recalls?
Yes. NHTSA has 1 recall on record for the 2020 Chevrolet Malibu. Scroll up to review the published recall summaries, consequences, and remedies. To check for unrepaired recalls on your specific vehicle, use your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Check Another Vehicle
Look up recalls and complaints for any year, make, and model.
This page summarizes publicly available data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaint counts reflect reports submitted to NHTSA by vehicle owners and do not by themselves prove defect severity or vehicle safety. Safety ratings may not be available for all vehicle-years. This site is not affiliated with NHTSA or any vehicle manufacturer. For official information, visit the official NHTSA page for this vehicle.