Is the Toyota Camry more reliable than the Chevrolet Malibu?

Yes, but only slightly. The Camry has lower yearly repair costs and 2.1 complaints per 10,000 sold, against 3.6 for the Malibu. Shop visits and the chance of a major repair are the same for both. The Camry's heavy recall count and air bag complaints keep the gap small.

Which has more recalls, the Camry or the Malibu?

The Camry has more. Federal recall records show 35 recalls across 9 Camry model years and 13 across 8 Malibu model years. Whichever car you pick, check its VIN for open recalls before you buy.

Which is cheaper to repair, the Camry or the Malibu?

The Camry is cheaper. Independent repair-cost data puts it at about $388 a year, against $532 for the Malibu. Over five years that difference adds up to roughly $720. Both cars have an 11% chance that any given repair is major.

What is the "Shift to Park" problem on the Malibu?

Owners report a false warning that the shifter is not in Park when it is. The car may not shut off or lock, and power left on can drain the battery. Dealers traced it to a failed shift lever, and owners past warranty paid for the repair. One fix cost $500.15.

Which Camry and Malibu model years should I avoid?

Avoid 2018 and 2019 on both cars, since those are the weakest years for each. For the Camry, 2022 is among the strongest years. For the Malibu, 2023 is among the strongest. Newest years have fewer complaints mostly because they have had less time on the road.

Last updated: 2026-10-10

Chevrolet Malibu vs Toyota Camry: Reliability Compared

Chevrolet Malibu

Good

More Reliable

Toyota Camry

Good

On reliability, the Toyota Camry edges out the Chevrolet Malibu because it costs less to repair and draws fewer complaints per car sold. The lead is slight, and the Camry has far more recalls on record. Each sedan has its own serious failure to check for.

How Do the Chevrolet Malibu and Toyota Camry Generations Compare?

Most of the years a shopper will weigh fall inside one design on each side. The Camry's eighth generation covers model years 2018 to 2023, which includes both of its weakest years, 2018 and 2019, and its strong 2022. The Malibu's ninth generation began in 2016 and ran through 2025, with a facelift in 2024 as the generation reached the end of production. Every Malibu from 2018 to 2025 therefore belongs to that single generation. Older years have had the longest time to collect complaints, so judge them with that in mind.

Verdict

The Toyota Camry is more reliable than the Chevrolet Malibu, scoring 78/100 vs 76/100.

Slight edge to the Camry. The two sedans stand equally well, make the same 0.3 unscheduled shop visits a year, and carry the same 11% chance that a repair is major. Cost and complaint rate break the tie. Camry owners spend less each year and file fewer complaints per car sold. The Camry also has far more recalls on record, and its air bag complaints are serious, so the lead is narrow rather than clear.

Key Differences

1Toyota Camry costs $144 less per year to repair
2Chevrolet Malibu has 22 fewer total recalls
3Toyota Camry scores 2 points higher in reliability

Category Scoreboard

1Chevrolet Malibu

—

3Toyota Camry

Reliability ScoreTotal RecallsComplaint RateAnnual Repair CostRepair FrequencyMajor Repair RiskSafety Rating

Chevrolet Malibu vs Toyota Camry: Which Is More Reliable?

Chevrolet Malibu vs Toyota Camry at-a-glance reliability comparison
Metric	Chevrolet Malibu	Toyota Camry
Reliability Score	76/100	78/100
Years Tracked	8	9
Total Recalls	13	35
Complaints per 10k Sold	3.6	2.1
Annual Repair Cost	$532/yr	$388/yr
Repair Frequency	0.3/yr	0.3/yr
Major Repair Risk	11%	11%
Safety RatingNHTSA overall	2025 NHTSA	2026 NHTSA
Frontal
Side
Rollover
Year Wins	3	5

What Are the Common Problems With the Chevrolet Malibu and Toyota Camry?

Different kinds of trouble show up on each car. Camry owners report the engine shutting off with the key removable while the shifter is still in Drive, front air bags not deploying in crashes, and a failing coolant bypass valve around 30,000 miles. Malibu owners report a false "Shift to Park" warning that drains batteries, sudden power loss at highway speed, and a failed brake vacuum pump that can send the pedal to the floor and wreck the camshaft, with quotes of $10,000 to $12,000. Air bag complaints with crashes are a Camry-only area. Vehicle speed control crashes appear only on the Malibu.

Chevrolet Malibu vs Toyota Camry common problem areas comparison
Component	Chevrolet Malibu	Toyota Camry
POWER TRAIN	0.9Very Low	0.4Very Low
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM	0.7Very Low	0.2Very Low
UNKNOWN OR OTHER	0.5Very Low	0.2Very Low
ENGINE	0.4Very Low	0.1Very Low
SERVICE BRAKES	0.2Very Low	0.2Very Low
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL	0.2Very Low	0.1Very Low
STEERING	0.2Very Low	0.1Very Low
AIR BAGS	0.1Very Low	0.2Very Low
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM	0.1Very Low	0.1Very Low
FUEL SYSTEM	—None	0.1Very Low
STRUCTURE	—None	—None
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING	—None	—None
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE	—None	—None
TIRES	—None	—None
SUSPENSION	—None	—None
SEAT BELTS	—None	—None
EXTERIOR LIGHTING	—None	—None
VISIBILITY/WIPER	—None	—None
VISIBILITY	—None	—None

Complaints per 10,000 units sold, aggregated across all tracked model years from NHTSA owner reports.

Which Is Cheaper to Maintain: Chevrolet Malibu or Toyota Camry?

A lower repair bill goes to the Camry, at an estimated $388 a year against $532 for the Malibu. That gap is $144 a year, or about $720 over five years. Shop visits are identical at 0.3 unscheduled visits a year, and both cars have an 11% chance that a repair is major. The Malibu costs more without visiting the shop more often. The bigger risk is a rare, expensive failure such as brake vacuum pump damage, which owners quoted at $10,000 to $12,000.

How Does Chevrolet Malibu vs Toyota Camry Reliability Compare by Year?

Chevrolet Malibu vs Toyota Camry year-by-year reliability scores
Year	Chevrolet Malibu	Toyota Camry	Edge
2025	80/1000R / 3C	76/1004R / 6C	Chevrolet Malibu
2024	80/1001R / 8C	83/1002R / 35C	Toyota Camry
2023	81/1001R / 23C	79/1004R / 47C	Chevrolet Malibu
2022	80/1001R / 66C	84/1002R / 47C	Toyota Camry
2021	74/1002R / 61C	82/1002R / 144C	Toyota Camry
2020	74/1001R / 178C	75/1005R / 253C	Toyota Camry
2019	74/1001R / 181C	70/1008R / 364C	Chevrolet Malibu
2018	62/1006R / 673C	65/1008R / 708C	Toyota Camry

Best years to cross-shop: The 2023 Chevrolet Malibu scored 81/100 and the 2022 Toyota Camry scored 84/100 — the strongest shared model years that have been on the road for at least two years, where available.

Who Should Buy the Chevrolet Malibu vs the Toyota Camry?

Pick the Camry if you want the lower running cost and fewer complaints per car sold. Target 2022, one of its strongest years, and avoid 2018 and 2019, its weakest. Run the VIN for open recalls, since the Camry has many on record. If you smell coolant or see an Engine Maintenance Required light, expect a valve repair. Pick the Malibu if you find a clean, well-priced example and can accept higher repair bills. Look at 2023, one of its strongest years, and skip 2018 and 2019. The 2025 model has had little time to collect complaints, so do not treat it as proven. Before buying, put the shifter in Park several times and watch the dash for a false warning. Ask whether the brake vacuum pump has ever been replaced. Out of warranty, a shifter repair is on you.

Chevrolet Malibu vs Toyota Camry: Common Questions

Is the Toyota Camry more reliable than the Chevrolet Malibu?: Yes, but only slightly. The Camry has lower yearly repair costs and 2.1 complaints per 10,000 sold, against 3.6 for the Malibu. Shop visits and the chance of a major repair are the same for both. The Camry's heavy recall count and air bag complaints keep the gap small.
Which has more recalls, the Camry or the Malibu?: The Camry has more. Federal recall records show 35 recalls across 9 Camry model years and 13 across 8 Malibu model years. Whichever car you pick, check its VIN for open recalls before you buy.
Which is cheaper to repair, the Camry or the Malibu?: The Camry is cheaper. Independent repair-cost data puts it at about $388 a year, against $532 for the Malibu. Over five years that difference adds up to roughly $720. Both cars have an 11% chance that any given repair is major.
What is the "Shift to Park" problem on the Malibu?: Owners report a false warning that the shifter is not in Park when it is. The car may not shut off or lock, and power left on can drain the battery. Dealers traced it to a failed shift lever, and owners past warranty paid for the repair. One fix cost $500.15.
Which Camry and Malibu model years should I avoid?: Avoid 2018 and 2019 on both cars, since those are the weakest years for each. For the Camry, 2022 is among the strongest years. For the Malibu, 2023 is among the strongest. Newest years have fewer complaints mostly because they have had less time on the road.

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Decided between Chevrolet Malibu and Toyota Camry? Run a VIN check before you buy — uncover hidden accidents, title issues, and open recalls.

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How we score the Chevrolet Malibu and Toyota Camry

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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