2024 Chevrolet Malibu: True Cost, Problems & Verdict
39 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. 2024 specifically: a year the record favours — 39 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 2024 — written and signed by Adir Trabelsi, 2026-09-01.
Owner complaints: 39 filed with NHTSA
Complaints per year on the road: 19.5
What owners say
Verbatim reports filed with the United States safety regulator (NHTSA) by owners of this exact model year. Public record.
My back up camera is inop. On my 2024 chev malibu vin no [XXX] Has a black screen when backing up. States to be setviced.Has been inop since XXX. purchased XXX Took it to Dalmer Chevrolet [XXX].Did not replace due to a recall that was not released per Chevrolet . Please fix. .Safety is important. afraid of an accident. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
My vehicle is a 2024 Chevrolet Malibu, VIN [XXX]. It is showing recall N262551720 (NHTSA 26V212) concerning the rearview camera. My rearview camera is currently clear and functioning normally, with no distortion or blank screen. I am requesting that NHTSA review whether my specific VIN is actually part of the affected population for this recall and whether the recall should apply to my vehicle. INFORMATION REDACTED P…
The contact owns a 2024 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 26V212000 (Back Over Prevention); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a fa…
Recalls: 2 campaigns
| Campaign | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|
| 24V575000 | Equipment:Other:Owners/Service/Other Manual | General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2024 Cadillac XT4 and Chevrolet Malibu vehicles. The vehicles may have the wrong owner's manual in the glove box. |
| 26V212000 | Back Over Prevention: Sensing System: Camera | General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2023-2025 Chevrolet Malibu vehicles. The rearview camera screen may display a distorted or blank image. |
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 31 MPG · estimated annual fuel cost $2,000
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 System17 complaints · typical job: Alternator, battery-drain or body-module diagnosis and replacement (3.0 h labour + parts)$540–$1,310
- Back Over Prevention10 complaints · typical job: Reversing camera or park-sensor replacement (2.0 h labour + parts)$420–$940
- Unknown Or Other8 complaints · typical job: Diagnosis and mixed repair (2.0 h labour + parts)$360–$940
- Power Train5 complaints · typical job: Transmission service or clutch-pack repair (7.0 h labour + parts)$1,290–$4,040
- Engine3 complaints · typical job: Cooling-system or timing-drive repair (6.0 h labour + parts)$1,040–$2,220
- Forward Collision Avoidance3 complaints · typical job: Radar or camera module replacement and calibration (3.0 h labour + parts)$780–$2,160
Other Chevrolet Malibu years
Chevrolet Malibu years to avoid, and the best years to buy →
FAQ
What is the most common problem with the 2024 Chevrolet Malibu?
The most-reported issue in NHTSA complaint data is Electrical System (17 complaints in our indexed sample).
Is the 2024 Chevrolet Malibu a good used car to buy?
Our data verdict is BUY with a reliability score of 88/100, computed from 39 NHTSA complaints and 2 recall campaigns. See the verdict card for the top reasons.
How much does it cost to fix the 2024 Chevrolet Malibu's most common problem?
17 of the NHTSA complaints filed against the 2024 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 2024 Chevrolet Malibu cost to run per year?
About $3,320 a year in fuel or energy plus the maintenance band — roughly $16,602 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 2024 Chevrolet Malibu have recalls?
Yes — NHTSA lists 2 recall campaign(s) for the 2024 Chevrolet Malibu, 0 of them touching fire, crash or stall risk, the most recent recorded 01/08/2024. Check this car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls before you buy.
Compare with
Other midsizes of about the same age.
What will a 2024 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.
Thin evidence — 39 complaints, 2 recalls on record
- 39 NHTSA complaints on record (19.5/yr of exposure) — better than a typical year of this model (30.2/yr)
- 2 recall campaigns, 0 touching safety-critical systems
- Thin complaint record — this score is held close to the model's own average rather than read as evidence of quality