Last updated: 2026-10-10

RELIABILITY SCORE: 80/100 (EXCELLENT)

2025 Chevrolet Malibu Reliability Report

The 2025 Chevrolet Malibu rates excellent for reliability, with 3 owner complaints and no federal recalls on record.

Full Breakdown Compare Models

Recalls

Complaints

Complaint Rate

3per 10,000 sold

Est. Repair Cost

$532

Annual Fuel Cost

$1,950

Detailed Score Breakdown

Complaint Severity71/100

Component-weighted complaints normalized by sales volume

Repair Costs80/100

Independent repair cost ratings

Recall Impact100/100

Recall count weighted by severity

Issue Diversity73/100

Breadth of reported problem categories

The Verdict

Buy

Final Ninth-generation year, with no recalls and only 3 owner complaints so far, against 8 complaints and one recall for the 2024 model.

Top Issues to Watch

POWER TRAIN (1)
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM (1)

Generation & Refresh (US)

Final Year

2025 is the last model year of the Ninth generation (2016).

Final-year models are typically the most refined version of a generation.
1 year after the last refresh (2024).
9th generation Malibu (US).

What this means for buyers

Final-year models are usually the most polished version of a generation, but resale value may dip as buyers anticipate the next redesign.

2016: Ninth generation (2016) Launch

Generation start — new platform.

2024: Mid-Cycle Refresh

Updated features and styling tweaks.

2025: This Model Year

2025 is the last model year of the Ninth generation (2016).

Should You Buy the 2025 Chevrolet Malibu?

Excellent reliability puts this final Ninth-generation Malibu above average among 2025 sedans. Within the Malibu's own scored years it lands in the middle of eight, and the 2024 model rates about the same. Neither year has a clear edge on standing. Federal crash testing gave it 5 of 5 stars.

Owners have filed 3 complaints, and federal recall records list no recalls. The data does not describe what those complaints are about, so no single failure can be named. A low count also reflects a newer car that has had less time to collect complaints. Independent repair-cost data puts yearly repairs at $532 across the model, close to the $526 class figure.

The 2024 year has 8 complaints and one recall, so the 2025 looks cleaner on paper. Still, ask for service records and run the VIN for open recalls before you buy.

See also the 2024 Chevrolet Malibu for an earlier comparison.

Pros

+Strong reliability score
+Infrequent unscheduled repairs
+Low major repair risk (11%)
+No recalls issued
+5-star NHTSA crash rating

Cons

−Above-average complaint rate for Sedan
−POWER TRAIN (1)

Compare 2025 Chevrolet Malibu With

2025 Toyota Camry

Reliability: 76/100

Good

2025 Nissan Altima

Reliability: 78/100

Good

2025 Kia K5

Reliability: 79/100

Good

2025 Hyundai Sonata

Reliability: 76/100

Good

2025 Subaru Legacy

Reliability: 80/100

Excellent

Common Problem Categories

Other

MODERATE

POWER TRAIN (1)
UNKNOWN OR OTHER (1)

See detailed breakdown by component ↓

Recall Overview

recalls on record

No recalls are on record for the 2025 Chevrolet Malibu — uncommon, and a strong signal of manufacturing quality.

NHTSA.gov →

Complaint Breakdown

per 10,000 sold

Segment avg: 2

LowAvgHigh

Low

Safety Incidents

Crashes

Fires

Injuries

Deaths

★★★★★

NHTSA 5/5 Stars

Data sourced from NHTSA complaint filings and manufacturer recall notices. Complaint narratives are owner-reported.

VIN History Report

Buying a used 2025 Chevrolet Malibu? Check its history first

Power train problems lead owner complaints about the 2025 Chevrolet Malibu, and 0 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

2025 Chevrolet Malibu NHTSA Safety Ratings

Overall Safety Rating

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, 2nd row)Advanced Belt Feature (Not Available)Seat Belt Pretensioners (Driver, Front Passenger)Seat Belt Load Limiters (Driver, Front Passenger)Adjustable Upper Belt Anchorage (Not Available)Seat Belt Reminder System (Driver, Front Passenger)Frontal Air Bag (Driver, Front Passenger)Head Protection (Driver, Front Passenger, 2nd row)Torso and/or Pelvis Protection (Driver, Front Passenger, 2nd row)Knee (Driver, Front Passenger)Additional Air Bags (Not Available)Meets Side Air Bag Out-of-Position Requirements (Yes)Unattended Child Reminder Direct Sensing System (No)LATCH Locations (2nd row)Safety Power Windows (Anti-Pinch) (Optional)Safety Power Windows (Anti-Pinch) locations (Driver,Roof)

View full safety data on NHTSA.gov →

Chevrolet MalibuRepair Costs & Maintenance

Maintenance Rating

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 2025 model year.

Value Retained: 58.3%
Depreciation: 41.7%
Listings Analyzed: 351

Listings observed in May 2021. 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

31 MPG

Running cost: $2,500/yr

Fuel + repair

28 city / 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 2025 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)	28	36	31	$1,950

Used Buying Checklist

Key things to inspect or verify before purchasing a 2025 Chevrolet Malibu.

Test backup camera for clarity when in reverse
Inspect vehicle for unintended movement when parked
Check radio for glitches or malfunctions
Verify if any service bulletins or recalls are issued for electrical system issues

2025 Chevrolet Malibu Common Problems by Component

3 owner complaints grouped by vehicle system.

POWER TRAIN (1)UNKNOWN OR OTHER (1)ELECTRICAL SYSTEM (1)

POWER TRAIN

1 complaint

2025-10-17

Vehicle was parked, all windows and doors closed. Key remained out of the vehicle. Car parked for several hours without being touched, when suddenly it began to roll forward on its own. The car continued forward and quickly went down a short hill into a rocky area of a field before coming to a stop.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

1 complaint

2025-08-15

Backup camera has blurred vision when in R, the view on the dashboard is extremely blurry and seems to be condensed/ wet. Please check and advise.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

1 complaint

2025-02-28

Chevy sold me a vehicle knowing that the radio was faulty and known to glitching out. I took it to the dealer and they replicated the problem. GM has known about the issue since 9/2024 when the issued the bulletin about the problem. They sold me the vehicle knowing that the problem existed and did not disclose that to me. That is a violation of CA law.

Best & Worst Chevrolet Malibu Years

Best Chevrolet Malibu Years to Buy

Based on reliability index score

Top Pick

Excellent

Chevrolet Malibu Reliability Score Trend

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

Chevrolet Malibu reliability scores by year
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

Reliability scores compared across model years
Year	Score	vs Prior Year	Rating	Recalls	Complaints
2025(selected)	80/100	0	Excellent	0	3
2024	80/100	-1	Excellent	1	8
2023	81/100	+1	Excellent	1	23
2022	80/100	+6	Excellent	1	66
2021	74/100	0	Good	2	61
2020	74/100	0	Good	1	178
2019	74/100	+12	Good	1	181
2018	62/100	—	Good	6	673

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the 2025 Chevrolet Malibu reliable?

Yes, its reliability standing is excellent and above average for 2025 sedans. Owners have filed only 3 complaints, and federal recall records show none. It also earned 5 of 5 federal crash-test stars. Among Malibu years it sits in the middle of eight scored years.

What are the most common problems with the 2025 Chevrolet Malibu?

No common problem shows up in the data. Owners have filed just 3 complaints, and the data does not break them down by symptom. With so few filings, no pattern has formed. Newer cars also have had less time to collect complaints, so the count may grow.

Does the 2025 Chevrolet Malibu have any recalls?

No. Federal recall records list 0 recalls for the 2025 Malibu. The 2024 model has one recall on record. Even so, check the specific VIN for open recalls before buying, since records can change after a car is built or sold.

How much does it cost to repair a Chevrolet Malibu?

Independent repair-cost data estimates $532 a year for the Malibu, compared with $526 for its class. That is slightly above the class figure, but the gap is small. The estimate covers the whole model, not only the 2025 year.

Is the 2025 Chevrolet Malibu more reliable than the 2024?

Both rate excellent and about the same. The 2025 has 3 complaints and no recalls, while the 2024 has 8 complaints and one recall. Part of that gap is time, since the older year has been on the road longer and collected more complaints.

Don’t buy a 2025 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 2025 Chevrolet Malibu

Of the four inputs behind this score, the 2025 Chevrolet Malibu does best on recall impact (100/100) and worst on complaint severity (71/100). 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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