Skip to content
VINDecoder360
Menu

NHTSA recalls & complaints · 2008–2019

Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid recalls, complaints and VIN decoding

NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign and 93 owner complaints for the Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid, covering model years 2008 to 2019. The 2009 model year drew the most complaints (25), and Electrical System is the component owners name most often.

Source: NHTSA recall and complaint flat files, updated September 25, 2026.

Decode your Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid VIN

See the model year, plant and build details of one vehicle, then the recalls for its exact year.

  • 1 recall campaign on file
  • 93 owner complaints (unverified reports to NHTSA)
  • 7 model years with data (2008–2019)
  • most complaints: 2009 (25 for that model year)
  • top component: Electrical System (34 complaints)
  • latest recall 16V521000 (reported Jul 8, 2016)
  • 5 complaints reporting a crash (5.4%)
  • 0 complaints reporting a fire (0.0%)
  • 4 complaints reporting an injury (4.3%)
  • 0 complaints reporting a death (0.0%)

Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid complaints by model year

7 model years · NHTSA complaints

The 2009 model year has the most complaints: 25 of 93, or 26.9%. Next come 2016 (24) and 2017 (22). The fewest are for 2019, with 2 complaints.

Owner complaints per model yearHighest yearOther years
Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid owner complaints to NHTSA by model year, 2008–2019Column chart of 93 complaints across 12 model years. The highest is 2009 with 25. The full figures are in the table below the chart.2008: 7 complaints720082009: 25 complaints2520092010: 2 complaints220102011: 0 complaints20112012: 0 complaints20122013: 0 complaints20132014: 0 complaints20142015: 0 complaints20152016: 24 complaints2420162017: 22 complaints2220172018: 11 complaints1120182019: 2 complaints22019
Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid complaints by model year, with complaints reporting a crash, fire, injury or death
Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid complaints by model year, with complaints reporting a crash, fire, injury or death
Model yearComplaintsReporting a crashReporting a fireReporting an injuryReporting a death
200871000
2009251010
201020000
2016241010
2017221020
2018111000
201920000
All model years935040

Crash, fire, injury and death columns count complaints that report at least one of them, not people.

Most-reported Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid components

top 15 · NHTSA categories

Electrical System is the component named most often, in 34 complaints (36.6% of all 93), followed by Power Train (23) and Engine (17).

Components named most often in Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid complaints (top 15)
Components named most often in Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid complaints (top 15)
ComponentComplaintsShare of complaints
Electrical System3436.6%
Power Train2324.7%
Engine1718.3%
Unknown or Other1314.0%
Vehicle Speed Control1010.8%
Steering99.7%
Electronic Stability Control (ESC)88.6%
Fuel/Propulsion System77.5%
Air Bags66.5%
Service Brakes44.3%
Structure44.3%
Exterior Lighting33.2%
Service Brakes, Hydraulic33.2%
Equipment11.1%
Fuel System, Gasoline11.1%

One complaint can name several components, so the shares add up to more than 100%. Component names are NHTSA’s top-level categories.

What NHTSA owner complaints mean

These figures count complaints that vehicle owners and other members of the public have submitted to NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation. NHTSA uses complaints, together with other data, to spot safety issues that may warrant an investigation and to check whether existing recalls go far enough.

  • They are reports, not findings. Each complaint is the submitter's own account. Its presence in the database does not mean NHTSA has confirmed a defect.
  • Counts are not defect rates. The data doesn't say how many vehicles were sold, so a raw count can't tell you what share of vehicles had a problem.
  • Popular models collect more complaints. A model sold in large numbers will usually gather more complaints than a rare one, simply because more people own it.
  • One complaint can name several components. Totals by component can therefore add up to more than the number of complaints.
  • Coverage starts in 1995. NHTSA's complaint file contains complaints received since January 1, 1995.

Use complaint patterns as a prompt for questions: whether a recall covers the issue, whether the vehicle you are considering has had the fix, and what a mechanic finds on inspection. For confirmed safety defects, see the recall list for this model.

Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid recalls

1 campaign · newest first

Every vehicle recall campaign NHTSA lists under the model name Malibu Hybrid, newest first. The only campaign, 16V521000, covers model year 2016.

  • 1 recall campaign
Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid recall campaigns covering each model year
2016: 1 campaign

  1. NHTSA campaign 16V521000

    Reported

    Hybrid Propulsion System

    Model year 2016

    General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2016 Malibu Hybrid vehicles manufactured October 27, 2015, to June 3, 2016. The affected vehicles have a shut-off switch for the high voltage battery for use when servicing the vehicle. This manual service disconnect switch (MSD) may not be properly installed and thus may not lock into position, unexpectedly disconnecting the high-voltage power while driving, effectively stalling the vehicle.

    Consequence:
    A vehicle stall increases the risk of a crash.
    Remedy:
    GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the MSD and correct the installation, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on August 10, 2016. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is 51230.

    Filed by General Motors, LLC

Recall text is shown as NHTSA publishes it. NHTSA’s Vehicle Safety Hotline, 1-888-327-4236, also answers recall questions.

How to read this recall list

This list shows every safety recall campaign NHTSA has on file for this make, model and model year. It is not specific to one vehicle: a recall often covers only vehicles built in a certain date range or with a certain part, and many of the vehicles it covers will already have been repaired.

What each recall field means
What each recall field means
FieldWhat it tells you
Campaign numberNHTSA's unique ID for the recall, such as 20V771000. Quote it to a dealer or when searching NHTSA's site.
ComponentThe system or part involved, for example air bags, brakes or electrical software.
SummaryWhat the defect or non-compliance is and which vehicles are covered.
ConsequenceThe safety risk if the problem isn't fixed.
RemedyWhat the manufacturer will do, such as a repair, replacement or software update, and whether it is free.
  • Some recalls carry an NHTSA consumer advisory, “Do Not Drive” or “Park Outside”. Follow it until the repair is done.
  • A single campaign often covers several models or model years, so the same campaign number can appear in more than one list.
  • Recalls are shown as NHTSA publishes them. Very recent campaigns may take time to appear.

Does your vehicle have an open recall? Only a VIN check can tell you. Enter the VIN at NHTSA's recall lookup (opens in a new tab) or on the manufacturer's website. Our VIN recall check guide explains what each option covers.

Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid questions

5 questions

How many recalls does the Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid have?

NHTSA lists 1 vehicle recall campaign for the Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid, covering model years 2008 to 2019. The campaign, 16V521000, was reported on July 8, 2016 and is filed under “Hybrid propulsion system”.

Which Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid model year has the most complaints?

The 2009 model year, with 25 of the 93 complaints in NHTSA’s file (26.9%). The next are 2016 (24) and 2017 (22). Complaint counts also reflect how many vehicles of each year were sold and how long they have been on the road, so they are not a reliability ranking.

What is the most common Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid complaint?

Electrical System is the component named most often: 34 complaints, or 36.6% of all 93. Power Train (23) and Engine (17) follow. Complaints are unverified reports from owners, not confirmed defects, and one complaint can name several components.

Does every recall on this page apply to my Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid?

Not necessarily. Each campaign lists specific model years, and many cover only vehicles built in a certain period or fitted with a certain part; repairs already carried out aren’t shown. To see whether a recall is open on your vehicle, enter its VIN at NHTSA’s recall lookup (opens in a new tab) or ask a Chevrolet dealer.

How many Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid complaints report a crash, fire, injury or death?

Of the 93 complaints, 5 report a crash, 0 a fire, 4 at least one injury and 0 at least one death. These figures count complaints, not people, and each complaint is the submitter’s own unverified account.

Other Chevrolet models

8 models · most complaints first

The Chevrolet models with the most NHTSA complaints, and the Chevrolet VIN decoder with every Chevrolet model page, WMI code and VIN note.

All Chevrolet models and WMI codesLook up recalls by year

Data: NHTSA recalls and complaints flat files, updated September 25, 2026. Recall campaigns are vehicle (V) campaigns listed for this model name; complaints are counted once per NHTSA ODI number and model year.