Last updated: 2026-10-10

2021 Chevrolet Malibu
RELIABILITY SCORE: 74/100 (GOOD)

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

Complaint Severity60/100

Component-weighted complaints normalized by sales volume

Repair Costs80/100

Independent repair cost ratings

Recall Impact80/100

Recall count weighted by severity

Issue Diversity88/100

Breadth of reported problem categories

The Verdict

Consider

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)

Post-Redesign (Year 6)

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

Common Problem Categories

Safety

LOW RISK
  • 2 manufacturer recalls issued

Other

HIGH RISK
  • POWER TRAIN (22)
  • ELECTRICAL SYSTEM (15)

See detailed breakdown by component ↓

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 sold

Segment avg: 16.7

LowAvgHigh
Moderate

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.

22V3590002022-05-19

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.

21V6490002021-08-20

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.

VIN History Report

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.

No VIN? Just hit “Check VIN” to look one up.

  • Accidents
  • Open Recalls
  • Title History
  • Odometer Rollback

2021 Chevrolet Malibu NHTSA Safety Ratings

Overall Safety Rating

Overall safety rating: 4 out of 5
Crash Test Results by Configuration (expand)

Gas Powertrain

Driver: 5/5Passenger: 5/5

Rollover risk: 10.3%

Safety Technologies

Dynamic Head Restraints (Not Available)Head Restraint (Driver, Front Passenger, Rear Seat)Advanced Belt Feature (Standard)Adjustable Upper Belt Anchorage (Not Available)Seat Belt Reminder System (Driver, Front Passenger)Frontal Air Bag (Driver, Front Passenger)Curtain (Driver, Front Passenger, Rear Seat)Torso/Pelvis (Driver, Front Passenger, Rear Seat)Knee (Driver, Front Passenger)Additional Air Bags (Not Available)Meets Side Air Bag Out-of-Position Requirements (Yes)LATCH Locations (Rear Seat)Safety Power Windows (Anti-Pinch) (Optional)Safety Power Windows (Anti-Pinch) locations (Driver)
View full safety data on NHTSA.gov →

Chevrolet MalibuRepair Costs & Maintenance

Maintenance Rating

4Maintenance rating: 4 out of 5

Based 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

Malibu
$532
Category Avg
$526
All Vehicles
$652

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%

after 5 years

Depreciation
41.7%

over the same period

Listings Analyzed
351

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.com

MPG & 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
TrimDriveTrans.CityHwyCombFuel Cost
Malibu 1.5L 4-cylFront-Wheel DriveAutomatic (variable gear ratios)293632$1,850
Malibu 2.0L 4-cylFront-Wheel DriveAutomatic 9-spd223326$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.

22
15
13
POWER TRAIN (22)ELECTRICAL SYSTEM (15)UNKNOWN OR OTHER (13)STRUCTURE (2)STEERING (2)SERVICE BRAKES (1)FUEL SYSTEM (1)SUSPENSION (1)Other (4)

POWER TRAIN

22 complaints

Most 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.

22 complaints total

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

15 complaints

The 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.

15 complaints total

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

13 complaints

Nearly 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.

13 complaints total
STRUCTURE (2 complaints)

STRUCTURE

2 complaints

Two 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.

2 complaints total
STEERING (2 complaints)

STEERING

2 complaints

Power 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.

2 complaints total
SERVICE BRAKES (1 complaints)

SERVICE BRAKES

1 complaint
2025-09-10

While 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 complaint
2025-07-14

The 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 complaint
2024-10-14

Rear 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 complaint
2024-02-01

My 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 complaint
2021-06-22

The 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.

15,000–98,600 milesFalse Shift to Park warning

Best & Worst Chevrolet Malibu Years

Best Chevrolet Malibu Years to Buy

Chevrolet Malibu Years to Avoid

Chevrolet Malibu Reliability Score Trend

Scores 0–100. Higher is better. Current year highlighted.

Chevrolet Malibu reliability scores by year
YearScoreRating
201862/100Good
201974/100Good
202074/100Good
202174/100Good
202280/100Excellent
202381/100Excellent
202480/100Excellent
202580/100Excellent

Chevrolet Malibu Reliability Compared to Other Years

Reliability scores compared across model years
YearScorevs Prior YearRatingRecallsComplaints
202580/1000Excellent03
202480/100-1Excellent18
202381/100+1Excellent123
202280/100+6Excellent166
2021(selected)74/1000Good261
202074/1000Good1178
201974/100+12Good1181
201862/100—Good6673

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the 2021 Chevrolet Malibu reliable?
Yes, it rates good and above average among 2021 sedans. It is among the weaker of the eight Malibu years scored, though. Owners filed 61 complaints, and many involve a shifter fault. Estimated annual repair cost is $532, close to the $526 class figure.
What are the most common problems with the 2021 Chevrolet Malibu?
The most common problem is a false "Shift to Park" warning, reported under power train and electrical complaints. A smaller group describes jerking, harsh downshifts, stalling, and a sudden shift to neutral. A few reports also mention steering that cuts out when the car stalls.
What is the "Shift to Park" problem on the 2021 Chevrolet Malibu?
The dash says the car is not in Park even though the shifter is. The car may then refuse to shut off, lock, or power down, and the battery can drain. Owners wiggle the shifter or restart the car to clear it. Dealers have traced it to a failed shift lever.
Has the 2021 Chevrolet Malibu been recalled?
Federal recall records list 2 recalls for this model year. They cover seats and seat belts. Ask the seller for proof that both were completed, or have a Chevrolet dealer check the VIN for open recalls before you buy.
Is the 2022 Chevrolet Malibu more reliable than the 2021?
By the data, yes. The 2022 rates excellent and better than the 2021, with 66 complaints and 1 recall. The 2021 rates good, with 61 complaints and 2 recalls. The 2022 has had a similar span on the road, so it is worth comparing.

Don’t buy a 2021 Chevrolet Malibu without checking its VIN first — hidden accidents, title issues, and open recalls could cost you thousands.

Look Up a VIN →

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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