Used Chevy Malibu Buyer's Guide (2016–2024)
Many are ex-fleet cars. Check the reduced power pedal sensor coverage, the Shift to Park fault, the 2019 on CVT and open recalls.
Photo: Kevauto, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0. A representative example, not a car we inspected.
The ninth generation Chevy Malibu is a roomy midsize sedan that you will find on nearly every used car lot. A big share went to fleets. Automotive Fleet named it Fleet Car of the Year several times, and many were rental cars. That can mean a cheap price, but also a hard life and patchy records.
GM ended Malibu production at its Fairfax plant in Kansas in November 2024 to retool for electric cars. Parts and dealer service are still widely available, but no new generation is coming.
Most Malibus have a 1.5L turbo four cylinder. From 2019 that engine uses a CVT. The stronger 2.0L turbo was offered through 2022, and a hybrid was sold through 2019. The things to check are a known accelerator pedal sensor fault on 2016 to 2018 cars, a Shift to Park warning, a loose intake tube that can cut power, and a long list of recalls.
- 1.5L turbo 4-cyl
- 2.0L turbo 4-cyl
- 1.8L 4-cyl hybrid (two-motor drive unit)
Used Chevy Malibu buyer's guide · Watch on YouTube. The narration is computer generated.
Ninth generation, sold as model years 2016–2024.
| Engine | Years | Transmission | What to know |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.5L turbo 4-cyl | 2016–2018 | 6-speed automatic | The base engine on most trims in the first three years. |
| 1.5L turbo 4-cyl | 2019–2024 | CVT | GM replaced the 6-speed with a CVT for 2019 on every 1.5L trim. This is the most common Malibu for sale. |
| 2.0L turbo 4-cyl | 2016–2022 | 8-speed automatic (2016 to 2018), 9-speed automatic (2019 to 2022) | GM rated it at 250 horsepower. It was dropped with the Premier trim for 2023. |
| 1.8L hybrid | 2016–2019 | Two-motor drive unit | Uses a drive system adapted from the Chevy Volt with a small lithium-ion battery. Sold through the 2019 model year and dropped for 2020. |
- L The bare base model.
- LS The common fleet and rental trim with the 1.5L turbo.
- LT Adds features. In 2016 the 2LT came with the 2.0L turbo.
- RS Sporty styling, added for 2019 with the 1.5L turbo and CVT.
- Premier The top trim with the 2.0L turbo, sold through 2022.
- 2LT Replaced the Premier for 2023 with the 1.5L turbo and CVT.
- Hybrid Sold 2016 to 2019.
- 2020 One recall in NHTSA's data (rear seat belt retractors), after the pedal sensor years and before the impact bar recall. Has the CVT, so the road test matters.
- 2019 Also one recall in NHTSA's data and 190 owner complaints, far fewer than 2016 to 2018. Last year for the hybrid and the first year of the CVT.
- 2016 First year, with the most recalls and 861 NHTSA owner complaints. Pedal sensor coverage applies.
- 2017 724 NHTSA owner complaints. Pedal sensor coverage and the fuel pump recall apply.
- 2018 697 NHTSA owner complaints and several extra recalls for the 1.5L turbo, transmission and rear brakes.
- 2022 Check the front impact bar weld recall (22V-923) before you buy.
- 2023 Check the impact bar weld recall and the rearview camera recall.
Picked from the recalls, bulletins and NHTSA complaint records below, not from a reliability rating. Any single car can be better or worse than its year.
On certain 2016 to 2018 Malibus, the wiring to the accelerator pedal sensor can lose connection. The car drops into a reduced power mode, the check engine light comes on, the Engine Power is Reduced message shows, and code P2138 sets. On the 1.5L, GM traced part of it to the engine wire harness. GM Special Coverage N182188250 covers the repair for 10 years or 150,000 miles from first use, for any owner.
WE CHECK We scan for code P2138 and other stored codes, road test under hard acceleration, and ask for any record of the pedal or harness repair.
SOURCE GM Special Coverage N182188250 (filed with NHTSA) · GM dealer message on N182188250 (filed with NHTSA) · NHTSA owner complaints, 2016 Chevrolet Malibu
GM says some 2018 to 2022 Malibus with the 1.5L turbo can lose power and set trouble codes when the charge air cooler outlet tube comes off the throttle body. Dealers reconnect or replace the tube, clip or throttle body if damaged.
WE CHECK We check the intake tube at the throttle body for a loose clip or missing seal, scan for boost and airflow codes, and test under load on the road test.
SOURCE GM Authority: Malibu reduced engine power, charge air cooler tube (Dec. 2022)
The Malibu can show a Shift to Park message even when it is already in Park, and some cars will not shut off or restart. GM bulletin 19-NA-206 blames the park switch in the shifter and covers the Malibu from 2016. GM later described the same fault on 2020 to 2023 cars, with a new shifter as the fix. A car stuck on this message can drain its battery.
WE CHECK We shift into Park, shut the car off and restart it several times, watch for the message, and scan for code B000A.
SOURCE GM bulletin 19-NA-206, Shift to Park message (filed with NHTSA) · GM Authority: why your Malibu shows Shift to Park (Feb. 2024)
Recall 18V-358 covers some 2016 to 2018 Malibus. The high pressure fuel pump can come loose from its mount and damage the fuel line. NHTSA says a fuel leak raises the risk of fire. Dealers replace the pump and fuel pipe for free.
WE CHECK We check the VIN for this recall and look and smell for fuel leaks around the engine.
SOURCE NHTSA recall 18V-358 · NHTSA recall data, 2017 Chevrolet Malibu
Recall 21V-649 covers some 2016 to 2021 Malibus. The rear seat belt retractors may have loose or missing fasteners, so a belt may not work in a crash. Dealers inspect and tighten them for free.
WE CHECK We check the VIN for this recall and pull and release each rear belt to confirm it locks and retracts.
SOURCE NHTSA recall 21V-649
Recall 22V-923 covers some 2022 and 2023 Malibus whose front impact bar may not be properly welded to the frame rail. NHTSA says the front crash sensors may not work right. Dealers inspect the welds, and if the bad weld is found, GM buys the car back.
WE CHECK We check the VIN for this recall and ask for the dealer inspection record. An open recall on this item is a reason to wait before you buy.
SOURCE NHTSA recall 22V-923
Recall 26V-212 covers some 2023 to 2025 Malibus whose rearview camera image may be distorted or blank. Dealers inspect and replace the camera as needed. Owner letters went out May 20, 2026.
WE CHECK We check the VIN for this recall and test the backup camera image in Reverse.
SOURCE NHTSA recall 26V-212
Several recalls touch the air bags on early cars. For 2016 they cover the driver front air bag (16V-125), side air bag mounting studs (16V-151) and side air bag fabric that can tear (16V-781). Some 2017 cars had a rear side air bag weld recall (16V-870). Recall 18V-400 covers 2016 to 2018 cars that got a passenger seat sensor that was not calibrated for the seat during service.
WE CHECK We check the VIN for each campaign, confirm the air bag light goes out after start, and watch the passenger air bag status light.
SOURCE NHTSA recall 16V-125 · NHTSA recall 16V-151 · NHTSA recall 16V-781 · NHTSA recall 16V-870 · NHTSA recall 18V-400
Some 2018 Malibus with the 1.5L turbo had an engine computer error that can disable the fuel injectors and cause a stall (19V-642). Some 2018 cars had missing bolts on the start/stop accumulator in the transmission, which can leak fluid (20V-668). Some 2018 cars had rear brake caliper pistons with a coating problem that can reduce rear braking (18V-576).
WE CHECK We check the VIN for all three, look for transmission fluid leaks, and test the brakes on the road test.
SOURCE NHTSA recall 19V-642 · NHTSA recall 20V-668 · NHTSA recall 18V-576
The Malibu sold heavily to fleets and rental companies, and Automotive Fleet named it Fleet Car of the Year several times. A former rental can have high miles for its age, many drivers and gaps in its service records.
WE CHECK We read the service records and history report, look for wear that does not match the odometer, and check that recall work was done.
SOURCE Automotive Fleet: GM ending Malibu production · The Drive: discontinued Malibu still third best selling midsize sedan
- Open recall check on the VIN
- Scan for stored codes, including P2138 and B000A
- Road test under hard acceleration for reduced power
- Shut down and restart tests for the Shift to Park message
- Intake tube and clip at the throttle body on 1.5L cars
- CVT or automatic shift quality from a stop and at highway speed
- Rear seat belts, air bag lights and backup camera
- Wear that fits the miles on an ex-rental
- Proof of the accelerator pedal or wire harness repair under Special Coverage N182188250 on 2016 to 2018 cars.
- Any shifter replacement for the Shift to Park message.
- Dealer records for each recall on the VIN, above all the fuel pump, rear seat belts and impact bar weld.
- Regular oil changes. The 1.5L and 2.0L are turbocharged engines.
- Rental or fleet ownership on the history report, and whether records cover that period.
Each year has its own guide. The engines, the transmission, and what changed that year.
A TSB is a note the maker sends to dealers about a known fix. They are not recalls. We check the bulletins so we know what to look for:
Cold-start noise, drivability, and idle issues for this vehicle. We test for each.
Shift quality and transmission fluid updates. We drive every gear.
Locks, wipers, infotainment, and trim items. Small, but good to know.
Bulletins stay with the maker, so we pull the current list for this exact vehicle during the inspection and tell you what applies.
Found a Chevy Malibu you like? A pre purchase inspection checks every trouble spot above on the car you are buying.
Why does my Malibu say Engine Power is Reduced?
Why does my Malibu say Shift to Park when it is in Park?
Does the Chevy Malibu have a CVT?
Is a used Malibu a former rental car?
Is the Chevy Malibu discontinued?
Which Malibu years have the most complaints?
How do I check a Malibu for open recalls?
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