2015 Chevrolet Malibu problems: recalls, complaints and whether this is a year to avoid
The 2015 Chevrolet Malibu has 270 owner complaints on record with NHTSA, which ranks it 1 of 3 Chevrolet Malibu model years by complaint volume. That is the highest of any year in the run — the 2023 car has 70. 3 recall entries cover this year.
Is 2015 a good year for the Chevrolet Malibu?
The spread across this nameplate is wide: the 2015 draws 4 times the complaints of the 2023. On a run like that the model year you buy matters more than the badge, and 2015 sits near the top of it.
| Model year | Owner complaints | Recall entries |
|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 70 | 2 |
| 2020 | 198 | 1 |
| 2015 ← this page | 270 | 3 |
Older years have been on the road longer and collect more complaints for that reason alone, and a year that sold in higher volume collects more while being no worse.
This retrieval holds 3 of the nameplate’s model years. 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021, 2022 are absent, which means no records came back for them — not that they were clean. The ranking above is among the years shown.
The 2015 accounts for 50% of every complaint filed against the Chevrolet Malibu in this retrieval, which works out to 24.5 complaints per year on the road across the 11 years since it was sold new — the figure to compare against other years, because it removes the advantage a newer car gets simply from having had less time to accumulate reports.
Which recalls cover the 2015?
Electrical System
Also, certain 2013 Buick Encore, 2011 Buick Regal, 2013-2014 Buick Verano…
Free remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and if necessary replace the key cylinder lock housing, free of charge. The recall began on October 14, 2016.
Air Bags
The affected vehicles have front seat-mounted side impact air bags whose inflator may rupture upon its deployment.
Free remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the side impact air bag modules, free of charge. The recall began on October 19, 2015.
Visibility
In the affected vehicles, the Slide or Tilt switch for the roof panel may not be adequately recessed to prevent the switch from inadvertently being pressed.
Free remedy: GM will notify owners, and dealers will update the Body Control Module (BCM) software to remove auto-close feature for certain switch positions, free of charge. The recall began April 21, 2015.
Take the campaign number to any franchised Chevrolet dealer. Recall repairs are free with no mileage or ownership limit, and they follow the car rather than the owner, so a used 2015 with an unrepaired campaign is a free repair you can claim. How recalls work.
Recall text is abridged from the NHTSA record. Search the campaign number at nhtsa.gov/recalls for the full notice and affected VIN ranges.
What do owners report on the Chevrolet Malibu?
Across every Chevrolet Malibu year, not the 2015 alone — NHTSA does not split component totals by model year.
- Electrical System — 106 reports
- Power Train — 88 reports
- Unknown or Other — 58 reports
- Air Bags — 53 reports
If your 2015 is doing something now, these are the guides for that system — each opens with whether it is safe to keep driving:
Which other Chevrolet Malibu years should you compare?
2020 Chevrolet Malibu → · All Chevrolet Malibu years
If you are deciding between years, the table above is the short answer and the Chevrolet Malibu page carries the full run with the component breakdown. Before money changes hands, run the VIN for open recalls and read the inspection checklist — ten minutes in the seller’s driveway finds most of what matters.
Check a 2015 before you commit
Affiliate links — we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. How this works.
ANCEL AD310 Classic OBD2 Scanner
The glovebox tool. Wired, no app, no pairing, no batteries — plug it in and it reads and clears engine codes. This is the one that saves you a diagnostic fee the first time the check engine light comes on. Its limits are honest: engine codes only, no ABS or airbag, no live graphing.
Best for: Anyone who just wants to know what the light means
Check price on AmazonBlueDriver Bluetooth Pro OBD2 Scanner
Pairs with your phone and reads far more than engine codes — ABS, airbag, transmission and HVAC on most vehicles — plus live data. The real feature is the repair reports, which map a code to the fixes that most often resolved it on your specific year, make, model and engine. No subscription.
Best for: Owners keeping a car past warranty, or checking used cars
Check price on AmazonNOCO Boost Plus GB40 Jump Starter
A lithium pack the size of a paperback that starts a car with no second vehicle and no stranger required, and charges a phone besides. It is the single most useful thing in a car emergency kit, and the reason jumper cables have become optional. Recharge it every few months.
Best for: Every car, every climate
Check price on Amazon