Last updated: 2026-10-10

2021 Chevrolet Malibu Reliability Report
The 2021 Chevrolet Malibu rates good for reliability, but a false "Shift to Park" warning is the problem owners report most.
Recalls
2
Complaints
61
Complaint Rate
15.5per 10,000 sold
Est. Repair Cost
$532
Annual Fuel Cost
$1,850–$2,300
Detailed Score Breakdown
Component-weighted complaints normalized by sales volume
Independent repair cost ratings
Recall count weighted by severity
Breadth of reported problem categories
The Verdict
Rates good but sits among the weaker Malibu years, with a false "Shift to Park" warning behind many of its complaints.
Top Issues to Watch
- POWER TRAIN (22)
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM (15)
- STRUCTURE (2)
Generation & Refresh (US)
2021 is year 6 of the Ninth generation (2016).
- Redesigned for the 2016 model year.
- Well-established in its generation — most early issues should be resolved.
- A refresh arrives in 2024.
- 9th generation Malibu (US).
What this means for buyers
Well into the generation cycle — most design and manufacturing issues should be resolved by now.
2016: Ninth generation (2016) Launch
Generation start — new platform.
2021: This Model Year
2021 is year 6 of the Ninth generation (2016).
2024: Mid-Cycle Refresh
Updated features and styling tweaks.
Should You Buy the 2021 Chevrolet Malibu?
Good, with one known flaw. Owner complaints and repair-cost data put this Malibu above the average 2021 sedan, though it ranks among the weaker of the eight Malibu years. The 2020 rates about the same. The 2022 rates better. Federal crash testing gave it 4 of 5 stars.
The problem to know about is a false "Shift to Park" warning. The shifter sits in Park, but the dash says it does not, and the car may not shut off or lock. Power that stays on after shutdown can drain the battery and has left drivers stranded. Reports start as early as 15,000 miles and run to 98,600. Dealers have traced it to a failed shift lever, and owners past warranty pay for the fix. A smaller group reports stalling and harsh downshifts. Federal recall records list 2 recalls, for seats and seat belts.
Ask the seller for shifter repair records and confirm both recalls were completed. Compare a 2022 before you commit.
Compared to the 2022 Chevrolet Malibu, which scored 6 points higher. See also the 2020 Chevrolet Malibu for an earlier comparison.
Pros
- +Acceptable reliability score
- +Infrequent unscheduled repairs
- +Low major repair risk (11%)
- +Low recall count
Cons
- −POWER TRAIN: Most of these reports describe a false "Shift to Park" warning (22 complaints)
- −ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: False "Shift to Park" message leads this category too (15 complaints)
Compare 2021 Chevrolet Malibu With

2021 Toyota Camry
Reliability: 82/100

2021 Nissan Altima
Reliability: 79/100

2021 Kia K5
Reliability: 71/100

2021 Hyundai Sonata
Reliability: 64/100

2021 Honda Accord
Reliability: 78/100
Common Problem Categories
Safety
LOW RISK- 2 manufacturer recalls issued
Other
HIGH RISK- POWER TRAIN (22)
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM (15)
Recall Overview
2
recalls on record
The 2021 Chevrolet Malibu carries 2 recalls — a low count. Authorized dealers repair any open recall free of charge, regardless of warranty status.
NHTSA.gov →Complaint Breakdown
15.5
per 10,000 soldSegment avg: 16.7
Safety Incidents
0
Crashes
0
Fires
1
Injuries
0
Deaths
NHTSA 4/5 Stars
Data sourced from NHTSA complaint filings and manufacturer recall notices. Complaint narratives are owner-reported.
2021 Chevrolet Malibu Recall Details
2 recalls have been issued for the 2021 Chevrolet Malibu. All recall repairs are performed free of charge at authorized dealerships.
SEATS
General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2021 Chevrolet Malibu, 2022 Chevrolet Equinox, Blazer and Cadillac XT4 vehicles. The driver's seat cushion frame may have an improper weld in the power tilt-adjustment mechanism.
Consequence
An improperly welded seat frame may not adequately restrain the driver in a crash, increasing their risk of injury.
Remedy
Dealers will inspect the driver's seat and replace the cushion frame, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 23, 2022. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020 or Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006. GM's number for this recall is N212356050.
SEAT BELTS
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.
Consequence
An improperly secured seat belt retractor may not function properly in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
Remedy
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.
Buying a used 2021 Chevrolet Malibu? Check its history first
Power train problems lead owner complaints about the 2021 Chevrolet Malibu, and 2 recalls were issued for it. A VIN check shows whether this car's recall work was done, plus accident, title, and odometer history.
- Accidents
- Open Recalls
- Title History
- Odometer Rollback
2021 Chevrolet Malibu NHTSA Safety Ratings
Overall Safety Rating
Crash Test Results by Configuration (expand)
Gas Powertrain
Rollover risk: 10.3%
Safety Technologies
Chevrolet MalibuRepair Costs & Maintenance
Maintenance Rating
4Maintenance rating: 4 out of 5Based on NHTSA complaint patterns, recall severity, and publicly available cost benchmarks.
Est. Annual Maintenance
$532
vs $526 avg for midsize cars
vs $652 avg for all vehicles
Repair Frequency
0.3
unscheduled repair visits per year
Severe Repair Probability
11%
chance of a major repair
Annual Cost Comparison
Category-level averages derived from publicly available industry reports (AAA, CarMD). Model-level estimates produced by Auto Reliability Index.
Chevrolet Malibu Resale Value
The Chevrolet Malibu is estimated to retain about 58.3% of its original value after 5 years, based on observed used-car listings.
This benchmark covers the Chevrolet Malibu model overall and is not specific to the 2021 model year.
- Value Retained
- 58.3%
- Depreciation
- 41.7%
- Listings Analyzed
- 351
after 5 years
over the same period
U.S. used-car listings
Listings observed in . This is a historical market benchmark, not a current price quote.
Explore Chevrolet Malibu depreciation and resale value on CarResaleValue.comMPG & Annual Running Costs
Gas
26–32 MPG
Running cost: $2,400–$2,850/yr
Fuel + repair
22–29 city / 33–36 hwy MPG
Running cost includes EPA fuel-cost estimate and independent repair-cost data (repair cost estimated at model level). Excludes routine maintenance, depreciation, and insurance. Data as of 2021 EPA label cycle.
Gas trims
| Trim | Drive | Trans. | City | Hwy | Comb | Fuel Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Malibu 1.5L 4-cyl | Front-Wheel Drive | Automatic (variable gear ratios) | 29 | 36 | 32 | $1,850 |
| Malibu 2.0L 4-cyl | Front-Wheel Drive | Automatic 9-spd | 22 | 33 | 26 | $2,300 |
Used Buying Checklist
Key things to inspect or verify before purchasing a 2021 Chevrolet Malibu.
Shift into Park and shut the car off several times. Walk away if "Shift to Park" appears or the car won't power down.
After each shutdown, confirm the dash, radio, and lights turn off and the doors lock from outside.
Run the VIN for open recalls, including the fuel pump power control module recall, and ask whether the shifter assembly was replaced.
Accelerate from a stop several times. Reject the car if it hesitates, jerks, or slams into gear.
Back up, then shift into Drive and listen for grinding or a delay before the gear engages.
Scan for stored trouble codes such as P0700 and watch the dash for a "Service ESC" warning on the test drive.
Have the battery tested, because a shifter fault that keeps power on can drain it repeatedly.
2021 Chevrolet Malibu Common Problems by Component
61 owner complaints grouped by vehicle system.
POWER TRAIN
22 complaintsMost of these reports describe a false "Shift to Park" warning. The shifter sits in Park, but the dash says it does not, and the car may not shut off, lock, or power down. Drivers wiggle the shifter or restart the car several times to clear the message. Reported mileages range from about 15,000 to 98,600. Dealers have traced the fault to a failed shift lever, and owners past warranty pay for the repair. A smaller group reports jerking, failure to accelerate, harsh downshifts that slam into gear, grinding, and stalling in traffic.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
15 complaintsThe false "Shift to Park" message leads this category too. Power stays on after shutdown, which drains the battery and has left drivers stranded. One report describes the car trying to roll while the warning was showing. Dealers replace the shifter assembly, and one out-of-warranty repair cost $500.15. A harness replacement on another car held for only about a week. Several owners say the related recall covers only certain VINs. More serious reports describe stalling while driving, a sudden shift to neutral, a "Service ESC" warning with reduced engine power, and steering lockup. Dealers often cannot reproduce the stalls or find codes.
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
13 complaintsNearly every report here is the same "Shift to Park" fault. The car is in Park, but a warning chimes and electrical power stays on, which drains the battery. Some cars will not turn off at all, and one restarted without the button being pressed. The fault comes and goes, so dealers sometimes cannot replicate it. Reports start as early as 15,000 miles and soon after purchase. Several owners say the recall covers only selected VINs, which leaves them paying for repairs, such as one $481.86 fix.
STRUCTURE (2 complaints)
STRUCTURE
2 complaintsTwo unrelated problems show up here. A windshield cracked nearly a foot, starting from a small chip, while the car was driven through a sandstorm at 5,360 miles. Separately, the upper center brake light leaked, and moisture and mildew built up inside. With only 2 complaints and no shared cause, this category shows no pattern.
STEERING (2 complaints)
STEERING
2 complaintsPower steering can cut out when the car stalls. One report at 68,000 miles describes the car losing motive power while moving, with grinding, warning lights, and no power steering. A mechanic could not find the cause, and the failure kept happening. The other complaint is the familiar "Shift to Park" alert that makes the car hard to shut off. Both problems match the stalling and shifter faults reported in other categories.
SERVICE BRAKES (1 complaints)
SERVICE BRAKES
1 complaintWhile driving when coming to a stop, my brakes became stiff causing me to almost hit the vehicle in front of me. Also, the car has been stopping while I am driving and on busy roads when I am at a stop light and press the accelerator to proceed, the vehicle just stop and cuts off completely leaving me stranded while trying to restart the vehicle. Also the vehicle has a long crank before it starts. I have been without my vehicle for a month now and it’s very inconvenient due to these issues. It has been to the dealership where they quoted me over 8,000 to fix the problem.
FUEL SYSTEM (1 complaints)
FUEL SYSTEM
1 complaintThe contact owns a 2021 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the check engine warning light illuminated. Additionally, the contact stated while attempting to drive from a complete stop, the vehicle hesitated while responding. The contact stated that the failure recurred several times. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where DTC: P1101 (Throttle body failure). The contact was informed that the throttle body had failed and needed to be replaced. The part was replaced; however, the failure recurred. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer, where DTC: P1101 was retrieved, and the dealer informed the contact that the throttle body needed to be cleaned. The vehicle was serviced; however, the failure recurred less than a month later. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that the vehicle was not covered under the Manufacturer's warranty. The failure mileage was unknown.
SUSPENSION (1 complaints)
SUSPENSION
1 complaintRear differential keeps going out and transmission keeps failing every 10k miles, apple car play doesn’t work and lags out. So hand free doesn’t work
ENGINE (1 complaints)
ENGINE
1 complaintMy 2021 Chevy Malibu's transmission is shredding. The car does not go into D right away, it acts like the engine is completely disengaged. If I go from R to D several times, the engine sometimes revs very high when I step on the gas and then lurches the car forward a few feet. Sometimes, when I try to get the car into first gear, the car will completely shut down with the vehicle in D, and I have to put it in P and restart it. Other times, I can put it in different gears a few times until R engages very sharply (the whole vehicle moves), and then it will engage into D just as sharp. My check engine light will come on and go off, although it never did before this problem started, and whenever it comes on, the car will stop working whenever I stop the vehicle and try to go again (i.e. red lights). I only have one car and am forced to continue to drive this vehicle while I wait on repairs. I have two kids and I am terrified that my transmission is going to completely give out while we're driving, or the engine is going to start shutting down while the vehicle is in motion! The dealership told me that two other Malibus were in with the same exact issue within days of each other. A GM inspector confirmed the transmission is shredding. My friend had a Chevy Impala that did the exact same thing
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL (1 complaints)
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
1 complaintThe contact owns a 2021 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that the vehicle lost power and failed to accelerate. After approximately 45 minutes of driving, the vehicle was turned off and restarted without the key fob. Additionally, the vehicle failed to start. The contact stated that the vehicle lost communication with the transmission, brakes, and engine. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed that di-electric grease was needed on the wires. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure persisted. The manufacturer was contacted, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 5,000.
When Do 2021 Chevrolet Malibu Problems Start?
Based on owner complaint patterns, here's when common issues tend to appear.
Best & Worst Chevrolet Malibu Years
Best Chevrolet Malibu Years to Buy
Based on reliability index scoreChevrolet Malibu Years to Avoid
Chevrolet Malibu Reliability Score Trend
Scores 0–100. Higher is better. Current year highlighted.
| Year | Score | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 62/100 | Good |
| 2019 | 74/100 | Good |
| 2020 | 74/100 | Good |
| 2021 | 74/100 | Good |
| 2022 | 80/100 | Excellent |
| 2023 | 81/100 | Excellent |
| 2024 | 80/100 | Excellent |
| 2025 | 80/100 | Excellent |
Chevrolet Malibu Reliability Compared to Other Years
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the 2021 Chevrolet Malibu reliable?
What are the most common problems with the 2021 Chevrolet Malibu?
What is the "Shift to Park" problem on the 2021 Chevrolet Malibu?
Has the 2021 Chevrolet Malibu been recalled?
Is the 2022 Chevrolet Malibu more reliable than the 2021?
Don’t buy a 2021 Chevrolet Malibu without checking its VIN first — hidden accidents, title issues, and open recalls could cost you thousands.
How we score the 2021 Chevrolet Malibu
Of the four inputs behind this score, the 2021 Chevrolet Malibu does best on how many systems draw complaints (88/100) and worst on complaint severity (60/100). Scores weight complaint severity at 35%, repair costs at 30%, recall impact at 20%, and the spread of complaints across systems at 15%, with complaint counts adjusted for US sales. Read the full methodology.
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