2021 Chevrolet Malibu: True Cost, Problems & Verdict
87 NHTSA owner complaints · 2 recalls · data-computed verdict. No opinions — public data only.
Editor's note
The Malibu's record is defined by the 2013–2015 eighth generation's electrical and stop-start problems and by the 2016 ninth-generation launch, which brought a 1.5-litre turbo engine, a new eight-speed automatic and a spike to 1,669 complaints — hesitation, loss of power and transmission shudder. The 2017 and 2018 years are only marginally better. Read the full note on the model page. 2021 specifically: a year the record favours — 87 complaints, score 88/100. The caveats in the note apply to other years of this nameplate more than to this one.
Read the guide
Used Chevrolet Malibu, Cruze and Equinox: the four-cylinder years to watch, including 2021 — written and signed by Adir Trabelsi, 2026-09-01.
Owner complaints: 87 filed with NHTSA
Complaints per year on the road: 17.4
What owners say
Verbatim reports filed with the United States safety regulator (NHTSA) by owners of this exact model year. Public record.
The contact owns a 2021 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that while driving 70 MPH, the vehicle failed to accelerate as needed; however, the RPM was extremely elevated. The vehicle then lost motive power and went into LIMP Mode, and the vehicle failed to exceed 15 MPH. The vehicle was taken to a dealer on three separate occasions. After the first failure, the dealer stated that the failure was caused by an inoper…
The Chevy Malibu is displaying a “Shift to Park” message even when the gear selector is physically in the Park position. This indicates that the vehicle’s computer may not be recognizing that the vehicle has been placed in Park, which is commonly associated with a faulty or failing internal park-position sensor/switch. The issue is affecting the vehicle’s ability to shut down properly. It is necessary to turn the ve…
Failure - B000A-00 Body Control Module Error code - Shift Lever Position not plausible . Safety - This causes the car to upon attempting to turn off the car say "Shift into Park" on the dashboard and the car refuses to turn fully off. This can cause the battery to drain excessively from repeated constant start/stop attempts and leaves the car in an impossible state. You cannot safely leave the car in this state but …
Recalls: 2 campaigns (1 severe)
| Campaign | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|
| 22V359000 | 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. |
| 21V649000 | Seat Belts:Critical Fasteners | 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. |
What it costs to buy — and what owning it really takes
Class-level estimates, priced as a mid-size car of its model year, re-priced to your country. Not a quote, not a valuation of one specific car — condition, mileage and options move it. How these are computed.
What it costs to run
EPA combined 32 MPG · estimated annual fuel cost $1,900
Re-priced automatically from your country's retail fuel, electricity and parts indices — change country in the bar at the top. Estimates; see methodology.
What this car's problems cost to fix
Ranked by the components owners of this exact model year actually complain about. Each figure is flat-rate labour hours x the local shop rate plus a parts band — an estimate of what this kind of failure costs, not a quote, and not a prediction that this car will need it. Formula.
- Electrical System29 complaints · typical job: Alternator, battery-drain or body-module diagnosis and replacement (3.0 h labour + parts)$540–$1,310
- Unknown Or Other29 complaints · typical job: Diagnosis and mixed repair (2.0 h labour + parts)$360–$940
- Power Train28 complaints · typical job: Transmission service or clutch-pack repair (7.0 h labour + parts)$1,290–$4,040
- Engine14 complaints · typical job: Cooling-system or timing-drive repair (6.0 h labour + parts)$1,040–$2,220
- Fuel/Propulsion System8 complaints · typical job: Fuel pump or injector replacement (3.5 h labour + parts)$680–$1,620
- Air Bags6 complaints · typical job: Airbag module, clockspring or sensor replacement (2.5 h labour + parts)$600–$1,700
Other Chevrolet Malibu years
Chevrolet Malibu years to avoid, and the best years to buy →
FAQ
What is the most common problem with the 2021 Chevrolet Malibu?
The most-reported issue in NHTSA complaint data is Electrical System (29 complaints in our indexed sample).
Is the 2021 Chevrolet Malibu a good used car to buy?
Our data verdict is BUY with a reliability score of 88/100, computed from 87 NHTSA complaints and 2 recall campaigns. See the verdict card for the top reasons.
How much does it cost to fix the 2021 Chevrolet Malibu's most common problem?
29 of the NHTSA complaints filed against the 2021 Chevrolet Malibu sit in the Electrical System group — more than any other component on this model year. The representative job there is alternator, battery-drain or body-module diagnosis and replacement: about 3.0 hours of labour plus parts, roughly $540–$1,310 at a US independent shop and re-priced to your country at the top of the page. It is an estimate of what this class of failure costs, not a quote for this car.
What does a 2021 Chevrolet Malibu cost to run per year?
About $3,600 a year in fuel or energy plus the maintenance band — roughly $18,000 over five years, before purchase price, insurance and depreciation. Figures come from available EPA fuel-economy data and industry maintenance averages, and are re-priced to your country.
Does the 2021 Chevrolet Malibu have recalls?
Yes — NHTSA lists 2 recall campaign(s) for the 2021 Chevrolet Malibu, 1 of them touching fire, crash or stall risk, the most recent recorded 19/05/2022. Check this car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls before you buy.
Compare with
Other midsizes of about the same age.
What will a 2021 Chevrolet Malibu really cost YOU per year?
Fuel, maintenance band and depreciation — computed from public data in 10 seconds.
Open the true-cost calculatorData sources
Complaints & recalls: NHTSA ·
Fuel economy: EPA fueleconomy.gov ·
Scoring: our published methodology.
Maintenance bands are industry-average estimates (AAA Your Driving Costs, CarMD index) — labeled estimates, not measurements.
Last updated: 2026-10-04.
Moderate evidence — 87 complaints, 2 recalls on record
- 87 NHTSA complaints on record (17.4/yr of exposure) — better than a typical year of this model (30.2/yr)
- 2 recall campaigns, 1 touching safety-critical systems