Last updated: 2026-10-10
2023 Chevrolet Malibu Reliability Report
The 2023 Chevrolet Malibu has excellent reliability, the best of its scored years, though owners report stalling at stop lights.
Recalls
1
Complaints
23
Complaint Rate
1.8per 10,000 sold
Est. Repair Cost
$532
Annual Fuel Cost
$2,000
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
Rated the best of the eight scored Malibu years, with a low complaint count led by electrical stalling and airbag reports.
Top Issues to Watch
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM (7)
- AIR BAGS (4)
- POWER TRAIN (3)
Generation & Refresh (US)
2023 is year 8 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.
2023: This Model Year
2023 is year 8 of the Ninth generation (2016).
2024: Mid-Cycle Refresh
Updated features and styling tweaks.
Should You Buy the 2023 Chevrolet Malibu?
Reliability is excellent, and this is the best of the eight scored Malibu model years. Among 2023 sedans it sits well above average. Owners filed 23 complaints, or 1.8 per 10,000 sold. The 2022 and 2024 rate about the same. The 2022 has 66 complaints, while the 2024 has 8 but has had less time to collect them.
Electrical trouble leads the complaints. Cars stall at stop lights, sometimes after auto-stop engages, and will not move until shut off and restarted. Others report a dash that goes dark while the engine runs. The airbag reports are the most serious. Side and curtain airbags did not deploy in rear passenger-side impacts, and in one case four airbags went off after two tires went flat. Some owners report sudden shutdowns with a check engine light. One fuel pump code caused a no-start at 40,000 miles. Federal records show one recall, in the structure area.
Ask the seller for proof the recall was completed and for repair records on any stalling or shutdowns.
Compared to the 2024 Chevrolet Malibu, which scored 1 points lower. See also the 2022 Chevrolet Malibu for an earlier comparison.
Pros
- +Strong reliability score
- +Infrequent unscheduled repairs
- +Low major repair risk (11%)
- +Low recall count
- +Below-average complaint rate for Sedan
Cons
- −ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: Stalling at stop lights is the most common report (7 complaints)
- −1 fire incident reported in owner complaints
Compare 2023 Chevrolet Malibu With
2023 Toyota Camry
Reliability: 79/100
2023 Nissan Altima
Reliability: 84/100
2023 Kia K5
Reliability: 71/100
2023 Hyundai Sonata
Reliability: 62/100
2023 Subaru Legacy
Reliability: 77/100
Common Problem Categories
Safety
LOW RISK- 1 manufacturer recall issued
Other
HIGH RISK- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM (7)
- AIR BAGS (4)
Recall Overview
1
recall on record
The 2023 Chevrolet Malibu carries 1 recall — a low count. Authorized dealers repair any open recall free of charge, regardless of warranty status.
NHTSA.gov →Complaint Breakdown
1.8
per 10,000 soldSegment avg: 14.4
Safety Incidents
3
Crashes
1
Fires
3
Injuries
0
Deaths
NHTSA 5/5 Stars
Data sourced from NHTSA complaint filings and manufacturer recall notices. Complaint narratives are owner-reported.
2023 Chevrolet Malibu Recall Details
1 recall has been issued for the 2023 Chevrolet Malibu. All recall repairs are performed free of charge at authorized dealerships.
STRUCTURE
General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2022-2023 Chevrolet Malibu vehicles. The front impact bar, a structural portion of the vehicle frame, may not be properly welded to the front frame rail.
Consequence
An improperly welded front impact bar may result in the front crash sensors not performing correctly, increasing the risk of injury in a crash.
Remedy
Dealers will inspect the right-hand and left-hand side of the vehicle's motor rail for an incomplete weld. If the condition is found, the vehicle will be repurchased by GM. Owner notification letters were mailed January 20, 2023. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020.
Buying a used 2023 Chevrolet Malibu? Check its history first
Electrical system problems lead owner complaints about the 2023 Chevrolet Malibu, and 1 recall was 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
2023 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 2023 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
30 MPG
Running cost: $2,550/yr
Fuel + repair
27 city / 35 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 2023 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) | 27 | 35 | 30 | $2,000 |
Used Buying Checklist
Key things to inspect or verify before purchasing a 2023 Chevrolet Malibu.
Let auto-stop engage at a red light, then accelerate and confirm the car pulls away without a restart.
Lock, unlock, and start the car several times with the fob and watch for a key fob not detected message.
With the engine running, check for Service ESC, airbag, or check engine lights, and scan for stored codes such as P023F.
Have a GM dealer check the VIN for open recalls and the turbocharger special coverage for the 1.5L engine.
Ask for a dealer airbag system diagnostic, including the driver airbag in the horn pad, before buying.
Inspect both front tires for tread separation and sidewall blisters, and ask about any past blowouts.
Smell the cabin for fuel and look under the car for fuel drips after a drive.
Drive on the highway with lane keep assist on and watch for steering tugs or false collision alerts.
2023 Chevrolet Malibu Common Problems by Component
23 owner complaints grouped by vehicle system.
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
7 complaintsSafety-relatedStalling at stop lights is the most common report. Sometimes it happens after auto-stop engages, and the car will not move until it is shut off and restarted. Owners also describe the dash going dark while the engine runs, the key fob going undetected, and the anti-theft system tripping on nearby keys, which disables the car or drains the battery. Other reports cover no-starts, a brake module losing communication, Service ESC and airbag warnings, and sudden braking on the highway. One complaint involves a fire while driving. Another describes side airbags failing to deploy in a crash.
AIR BAGS
4 complaintsSafety-relatedSide and curtain airbags fail to deploy in hard impacts to the rear passenger side, including one at 50 mph. One report describes front airbags deploying only partially in a combined rear and side collision. The opposite failure also shows up: four airbags went off without warning after two tires went flat, and the driver was hurt. A dealer diagnostic on a used car found a malfunctioning driver airbag in the horn pad that the buyer had not been told about.
POWER TRAIN
3 complaintsSudden shutdowns with a check engine light are the most serious complaint. They come with shuddering, brakes locking up, and reduced engine power. One car kept failing after multiple modules were replaced and spent 100 days in the shop. A fuel pump circuit fault, code P023F, caused a no-start at 40,000 miles and was not covered by the powertrain warranty. Turbocharger trouble also appears, and owners point to GM special coverage for 2022-2023 cars with the 1.5L engine. One complaint involves an injury.
TIRES (2 complaints)
TIRES
2 complaintsFront tires fail early. Reports describe tread separating on the driver front tire and a blowout of the same tire at highway speed at 11,000 miles. That car later turned up a sidewall blister on the other front tire. The affected tires were Continental ProContact in size 245/40/R19. Neither complaint names a cause. A highway blowout raises a clear loss-of-control risk.
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM (2 complaints)
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
2 complaintsA leaking fuel line dumped about 2 gallons of fuel and filled the cabin with fumes, and no warning light came on. That creates a real fire risk. The other complaint here is mostly about driver aids: crash avoidance system inoperable warnings, red collision alerts with no cars around, and a false low tire pressure warning. It also describes an engine surging problem that was still unfixed after visits to two GM dealers.
STEERING (2 complaints)
STEERING
2 complaintsUnwanted steering input from the driver-assist systems is the main problem. Lane keep assist pulls the car sideways while the wheel is held straight, nearly pushing it into a car in the next lane. After a hard evasive swerve at highway speed, one car steered itself back and forth several times before handing control back to the driver. Owners also report false front collision alerts and a rattle from the front end. Both complaints describe a real loss-of-control risk.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL (1 complaints)
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
1 complaintThe contact rented a 2023 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the accelerator pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended. Additionally, the contact stated that there was a grinding sound coming from underneath the vehicle. The rental agency was contacted and made aware of the failure. The contact returned the vehicle on the next business day, and the failure was reported. The failure mileage was approximately 38,706. The VIN was unavailable.
UNKNOWN OR OTHER (1 complaints)
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
1 complaintAfter purchasing a brand new chevrolet malibu, about 4 months into droving it; the check engine light illuminated and the next day, an error message of “engine power is reduced” was displaying on the dash. The vehicle was turned over to the dealership and two different sensors were replaced. After a day of having the vehicle back after repairs, the check engine light illuminated again. I returned the vehicle to the dealership and was later told that they were unable to duplicate the scenario and the check engine light did not appear anymore. I picked the vehicle up and after another day of driving, the check engine light illuminated for the third time, again with the same engine power reduced message. Vehicle was slow to accelerate from a stop position. The dealership claims to still be unable to duplicate the scenario with no fix at this point.
ENGINE (1 complaints)
ENGINE
1 complaintThis vehicle has been taken to Days Chevrolet on two different occasions no check engine lights will come on but as you drive it surges and almost cuts off at times I have taken it in for this problem may 1 2023 and June 19 2023 every time they tell me the car is running as it should it also has a popping and rattle in right rear and they say they can't duplicate the problem. This car is going to kill someone
Best & Worst Chevrolet Malibu Years
Best Chevrolet Malibu Years to Buy
Based on reliability index score2023
(Current Model)
2024
2022
Chevrolet 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 2023 Chevrolet Malibu reliable?
What are the most common problems with the 2023 Chevrolet Malibu?
Does the 2023 Chevrolet Malibu have airbag problems?
Does the 2023 Chevrolet Malibu have a recall?
Is the 2023 Chevrolet Malibu more reliable than the 2022 or 2024?
Don’t buy a 2023 Chevrolet Malibu without checking its VIN first — hidden accidents, title issues, and open recalls could cost you thousands.
How we score the 2023 Chevrolet Malibu
Of the four inputs behind this score, the 2023 Chevrolet Malibu does best on recall impact (88/100) and worst on complaint severity (78/100). 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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