What breaks most · 2008 to 2019 model years
Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid problems by year
Owners have filed 93 safety complaints with NHTSA about the Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid across model years 2008 to 2019. Three years stand out: 2009 for steering complaints, 2016 for electrical system complaints and 2017 for electrical system complaints. The quietest years are 2010 and 2008.
- Years to check closely: 2009, 2016, 2017
- Fewest complaints: 2010, 2008
- Complaints on file
- 932008 to 2019, all trims
- Worst year
- 200925 complaints
- Crashes reported
- 50 fires · 6 injuries · 0 deaths
- Typical failure mileage
- 42kMedian where owners gave mileage
- Recall campaigns
- 1Across the years shown
Complaints by model year
Raw filings with NHTSA, not adjusted for how many were sold.
| Model year | Complaints | Crashes | Recalls | Most-reported component |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7 | 1 | 0 | Steering (2) | |
| 25 | 1 | 0 | Steering (6) | |
| 2 | 0 | 0 | Air bags (1) | |
| 24 | 1 | 1 | Electrical system (11) | |
| 22 | 1 | 0 | Electrical system (11) | |
| 11 | 1 | 0 | Electrical system (4) | |
| 2 | 0 | 0 | Electrical system (1) |
What fails on the 2009 Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid
| Component | Share of complaints | Filings | Crashes | Parts for this job |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SteeringPower steering pumps, racks and hoses | 24% |
6 | 0 | Shop steering parts for the 2009 Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid |
| Stability controlABS and wheel speed sensors | 24% |
6 | 0 | Shop stability control parts for the 2009 Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid |
| Electrical systemAlternators, starters and ignition | 20% |
5 | 0 | Shop electrical system parts for the 2009 Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid |
| Powertrain and transmissionTransmission parts | 20% |
5 | 0 | Shop all powertrain and transmission parts, not filtered to this vehicle |
| Brakes (hydraulic)Brake pads, rotors and calipers | 8% |
2 | 0 | Shop brakes (hydraulic) parts for the 2009 Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid |
| EngineEngine gaskets and seals | 8% |
2 | 0 | Shop engine parts for the 2009 Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid |
| Air bags | 8% |
2 | 1 | Check recalls for air bags on NHTSA.gov |
| Exterior lightingHeadlights, tail lights and bulbs | 4% |
1 | 0 | Shop exterior lighting parts for the 2009 Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid |
One complaint can name more than one component, so shares add to more than 100%. "Unknown or other" is NHTSA's uncategorized bucket and is shown but never ranked.
In owners' words
Complaint narratives as filed with NHTSA, trimmed for length.
-
There is a recall of my vehicles battery hybrid pack. I brought in the car 2 weeks ago b/c the engine ceases and restarts by itself and jerks forward at every stop sign and red light. The dealer said today that the parts wont be in for another 2 weeks. The car is hazardous to drive and they wont give me a loaner.
-
Stability track warning randomly appears while driving and spontaneously causes total brake failure and the brakes fail to slow or stop vehicle. It has newer brakes but it’s very dangerous to drive. Currently being sent to Chevrolet dealership
-
Get "SHIFT TO PARK" after putting car in park to shut it off. I am unable to turn the car off - so do I leave it running in my garage? This is a known error that they charge to fix. https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/tsbs/2020/MC-10186071-9999.pdf Attached is my bill to have this known error fixed.
How to read this page
Every figure comes from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's public complaint database, which holds every safety-related defect complaint filed by owners since 1995. We refresh it monthly and count each complaint once per component it names. Data through September 6, 2026.
NHTSA only accepts safety-related complaints. Rattles, paint, infotainment bugs and other annoyances are under-reported here, so this page is a map of what fails in ways owners consider dangerous, not a full reliability score.
Counts are raw. Use the year-over-year shape and the component mix, not the absolute numbers. Where a component maps to parts we stock, the row links to that category filtered to the year you are viewing. Air bag and seat belt complaints link to the recall checker instead, because those repairs are almost always covered.
Common questions
Which Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid years have the most problems?
By NHTSA complaint volume, 2009, 2016, 2017 carry the most filings on the Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid. The 2009 alone has 25 complaints, led by steering.
What is the most common Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid problem?
On the 2009 model year, the most-reported component is steering with 6 complaints. The table above lists the top components for every year.
At what mileage do Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid problems start?
The median mileage at failure across all Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid complaints that include mileage is about 42,000 miles. Older model years skew higher; the per-year figure is in the "at a glance" card.
Are these complaints verified?
No. NHTSA publishes complaints as submitted and does not investigate individual filings. Patterns across hundreds of complaints are meaningful; a single one is not.