2015 Chevrolet Malibu: engine and transmission complaints
HIGH COMPLAINT SIGNAL
50%
107 of 214 relevant owner complaints are about the engine, transmission or fuel system
50% of relevant owner complaints filed with NHTSA on the 2015 Chevrolet Malibu are about the engine, transmission or fuel system. That is a model-level pattern, not bad luck.
Worse than 64% of the 1,230 model years we track (2010–2023).
Excludes 56 airbag, lighting and seat-belt recall complaints that would otherwise mask the signal (unadjusted: 40%).
The percentage is each model year's drivetrain complaint share. No elevated signal describes the model year, not any one car; a well-kept example of a flagged model can still be the right buy, and any of these still needs an inspection.
What owners reported
POWER TRAIN10/06/20251 INJURED
The contact owns a 2015 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that while driving approximately 45 MPH, the vehicle abruptly stopped in the middle of the road. The contact was able to continue driving. The vehicle was later taken to the local mechanic, who diagnosed that the torque converter was faulty and needed to be r…
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH THE VEHICLE STARTED TO DRIVE TO THE RIGHT AND THE WHEELS BEGAN TO LOSE TRACTION BEFORE THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME DIFFICULT TO TURN CAUSING THE DRIVER TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE STEERING. THE VEHICLE THEN SPUN OUT AND CR…
POWER TRAIN,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM08/02/2018CRASH1 INJURED
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 CHEVROLET MALIBU. AFTER ATTEMPTING TO EXIT THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT REMOVED THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION. HOWEVER, THE ENGINE REMAINED ON AND THE VEHICLE ROLLED BACKWARDS AND CRASHED INTO A UTILITY POLE. DURING THE INCIDENT, THE CONTACT WAS DRAGGED BY THE VEHICLE AND SUSTAINED FACIAL INJURIES A…
Three of 107 drivetrain complaints. The full report shows more, with quotes about the engine in the car you are looking at first.
Recall campaigns on this model year (3)
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2016-2017 Buick Verano and 2016 Chevrolet Malibu as the electronic park lock lever may allow the ignition key to b…
AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2015 Buick LaCrosse, Cadillac XTS, Chevrolet Camaro, Equinox, Malibu, and GMC Terrain vehicles. The affected vehi…
VISIBILITY:SUN/MOON ROOF ASSEMBLY
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2013-2015 Chevrolet Malibu vehicles October 24, 2011, to March 5, 2015. In the affected vehicles, the Slide or Ti…
This does not say whether a particular car has an open, unrepaired recall. That depends on the VIN.
Before you buy a 2015 Chevrolet Malibu
Ask the seller whether the engine has ever been repaired or replaced, and whether the car has shown stalling, loss of power, rough idle, oil consumption or a check-engine light.
Drive it from a cold start and long enough to warm up. Many engine faults hide once the car is warm.
Get an independent pre-purchase inspection from a mechanic you choose, and tell them to focus on the engine.
3 recall campaigns on this model year. Whether a specific car still has one open depends on the VIN; the report checks that.
Ask for service records. A engine already replaced under warranty is a different car from one that was not.
Have the VIN?Paste it and get the full report for that car. First report free, then a 30-day pass covers a whole car search.
Experimental model-level information. This is not a vehicle inspection, vehicle-history
report, financial advice or purchase recommendation. It describes patterns across a model year, not the condition
of any individual vehicle.
