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2022 Chevrolet Malibu: engine and transmission complaints

HIGH COMPLAINT SIGNAL
58%
53 of 91 relevant owner complaints are about the engine, transmission or fuel system

58% of relevant owner complaints filed with NHTSA on the 2022 Chevrolet Malibu are about the engine, transmission or fuel system. That is a model-level pattern, not bad luck.

Worse than 77% of the 1,230 model years we track (2010–2023).

Excludes 5 airbag, lighting and seat-belt recall complaints that would otherwise mask the signal (unadjusted: 55%).

NHTSA data checked September 13, 2026
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Drivetrain complaints
53
engine, transmission, fuel
Total complaints
96
this model year
Fires reported
0
owner-reported
Recall campaigns
1
4 crashes · 1 injuries

Complaints by component

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM32 · 33%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER29 · 30%
ENGINE29 · 30%
POWER TRAIN23 · 24%
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING10 · 10%
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM7 · 7%

The years either side

2010
25%
261 of 1,362
2011
40%
289 of 977
2012
30%
175 of 906
2013
35%
291 of 922
2014
51%
173 of 363
2015
50%
107 of 270
2016
55%
456 of 861
2017
58%
399 of 724
2018
64%
436 of 706
2019
65%
120 of 189
2020
58%
111 of 198
2021
51%
42 of 88
2022
58%
53 of 96
2023
34%
21 of 68

Manufacturers fix things mid-generation. A bad year next to a clean one is common; the fix usually arrived in between.

Cleaner alternatives

Same car, a better year

Other midsize sedans with no elevated signal in 2022

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

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM09/03/2026
Driving along the highway the CEL light came on followed by reduced engine power warning. Vehicle abruptly slowed down to 35mph (limp mode). Were there to be another vehicle behind me, they would have to do emergency braking. My vehicle would not start after pulling over to the shoulder. A tow truck was dispatched, and…
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING,ENGINE08/24/2026
The contact owns a 2022 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that while attempting to start the vehicle, the check engine warning light illuminated. An independent mechanic was contacted. No warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed and determined that the t…
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING07/30/2026
The contact owns a 2022 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the message “Engine Power Reduced” was displayed. The failure was a persistent failure. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed with turbocharger failure. The contact was informed that the turboch…

Three of 53 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 (1)

STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2022-2023 Chevrolet Malibu vehicles. The front impact bar, a structural portion of the vehicle frame, may not be properly w…

This does not say whether a particular car has an open, unrepaired recall. That depends on the VIN.

Before you buy a 2022 Chevrolet Malibu

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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.