2019 Chevrolet Malibu
Common Problems
Ranked from 93 federal NHTSA complaints. Every problem links to the complaint IDs behind it.
9 Common Problems
Ordered by how often owners reported each one to NHTSA. The bar shows how common a problem is relative to the most-reported on this vehicle. Expand any problem to see the federal complaint IDs.
- 1
Battery Drain and Shutdown Issues
29complaintsMedium severityElectricalThe vehicle's battery drains rapidly or the car shuts off unexpectedly, often due to electrical system malfunctions.
$150–$700est. parasitic-drain diagnosis + battery · 1–4 hrs laborGet local quotes - 2
Shift to Park Error
28complaintsHigh severityElectricalThe vehicle displays 'Shift to Park' error when in park, preventing the engine from shutting off.
$200–$2,500est. drivetrain diagnosis + repair · 1–8 hrs laborGet local quotes - 3
Engine Stall and Power Reduction
23complaintsHigh severityEngineThe engine stalls or experiences reduced power, often accompanied by the 'Engine Power Reduced' message on the dashboard.
$150–$1,200est. stalling / shutdown diagnosis + repair · 1–5 hrs laborGet local quotes - 4
Shift to Park Warning Light Issue
20complaintsMedium severityElectricalThe vehicle does not register that it is in park, leading to a 'Shift to Park' warning light that prevents the car from fully shutting off.
$200–$2,500est. drivetrain diagnosis + repair · 1–8 hrs laborGet local quotes - 5
Brake Booster Vacuum Pump Failure
17complaintsHigh severityBrakesThe brake booster vacuum pump breaks, leading to hard braking and potential damage to other components like the camshaft and timing chain.
$500–$1,300est. brake booster replacement · 2–5 hrs laborGet local quotes - 6
Engine Stall at Idle Due to Stop-Start System Failure
16complaintsMedium severityEngineThe engine frequently stalls or experiences reduced power at idle, especially when using the stop-start feature.
$150–$900est. stop-start system diagnosis · 1–4 hrs laborGet local quotes - 7
Transmission Failure Causing Power Loss
12complaintsHigh severityTransmissionThe transmission malfunctions, causing the vehicle to lose power and stall, especially during acceleration or while driving.
$2,500–$5,500est. transmission rebuild/replacement · 8–16 hrs laborGet local quotes - 8
Auto Start/Stop Feature Causes Unwanted Vehicle Movement
5complaintsMedium severityEngineThe auto start/stop feature causes the vehicle to lurch forward unexpectedly when the engine restarts.
- 9
Check Engine Light On with Reduced Power During Low Speed Driving
5complaintsMedium severityEngineThe check engine light illuminates, indicating reduced power and difficulty in accelerating at low speeds.
$100–$250est. professional diagnosis · 1–2 hrs laborGet local quotes
Other years & sources
Data source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) owner complaints and recalls. Problems are clustered and ranked from the complaint record; occurrence counts reflect corroborating complaints, not total incidence. Vehicle image is illustrative. Repair-cost figures are typical U.S. independent-shop ranges (parts + labor) for the class of repair shown — actual quotes vary by region, engine, and diagnosis; always confirm with a local shop.