Home · 2015 Chevrolet Malibu Eco · Complaints

What 268 owners told NHTSA about the 2015 Chevrolet Malibu Eco

These are the actual owner complaints behind this car’s reliability verdict, filed with the federal government, unedited. They’re unverified reports, not confirmed defects: read them as leads for your pre-purchase inspection, not a diagnosis.

All (268)Crash / fire / injury (28)Engine (69)Electrical system (66)Airbags (49)Transmission & drivetrain (31)Speed control (28)Fuel system (18)Electronic Stability Control (esc) (16)Brakes (15)Visibility & wipers (14)Body & structure (13)

Newest first · 268 complaints · page 4 of 11

Jun 15, 2021Electrical systemEngineFuel system

This 2015 Chevy Malibu has been serviced over 10 ten times for a stalling/check engine issue(s). Sometimes the check engine light will activate after stalling and other times it will not. This vehicle has only had 1 owner since the initial purchase with on-star showing all the times/dates that a problem was detected and reported via email (on star). The dealership has had ample attempts to fix the issues with the vehicle, as well as private ASE certified mechanic/shop after the issues continued with this problem vehicle. This vehicle is a lemon, it is not dependable, and the stalling issues seem to be an on-going issue with GM Chevy Malibu. On 05/15/2021 while in Natick Massachusetts, I was almost rear-ended after my vehicle stalled in traffic and I could not get to the BDL. As quickly as the vehicle stopped working, I was able to restart the vehicle and move it out of the road. This problem can not be ignored or downplayed, someone will eventual get hurt or killed because their vehicle stalls without reason or warning. I need a dependable vehicle and do not have the luxury to run to the dealership multiple times for an on-going problem.

NHTSA ODI 11421085

May 11, 2021Transmission & drivetrainEngineFuel system

2015 CHEVY MALIBU WITH 2.5L ENGINE WITH ROCKER ARM OIL CONTROL VALVE MALFUNCTIONING. CHECK ENGINE CAME ON THURSDAY MAY 6, 2021 AND HAD IT DIAGNOSED MONDAY MAY 10, 2021. 2014'S HAVE A RECALL, BUT 2015S DO NOT AND MY MECHANIC CAN'T EVEN FIND A GM PART TO FIX THIS.

NHTSA ODI 11416066

Apr 16, 2021Transmission & drivetrainElectrical system

I WAS PULLING OUT OF PARKING LOT WHEN MY CAR GEARS STARTED TO JERK THEN A "SERVICE POWER STEERING" ICON FLASHED ON THE DASHBOARD. MY ENGINE LIGHT READ A P305F CODE WHICH ONLY TOLD ME IT WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE DUAL BATTERY CONTROL MODULE (DBCM) I THEN TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO MY LOCAL DEALERSHIP AND THERE DIAGNOSTICS JUST SAID TO REPLACE THE MAIN BATTERY. HOWEVER I REPLACED BOTH BATTERIES AND CAR STILL HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. I DID MY PERSONAL RESEARCH AND I ENDED UP REPLACING THE BATTERY MODULE YET CAR STILL HAD SAME ISSUE. I'VE ALREADY BEEN TO THE DEALERSHIP TWICE AND CAN'T AFFORD TO KEEP SPENDING MONEY ON DIAGNOSTIC TEST. I ALSO NOTICED THAT THIS WAS A COMMON ISSUE FOR THIS VEHICLE AND THAT MULTIPLE PEOPLE HAD FILED COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS PARTICULAR PROBLEM. THIS PROBLEM HAPPENS TO ME AT RANDOM TIMES WHILE DRIVING OR WHILE PULLING OUT OF PARKING LOT AND IS A MAJOR HAZARD IF DRIVING ON BUSY STREET OR HIGHWAY. WHEN IT DOES THE AUTO STOP AT A RED LIGHT THE CAR JERKS AND SOMETIMES GEARS WILL LOCK UP AND TRANSMISSION WILL EXPERIENCE PROBLEMS AS WELL. OTHER TIMES THE CAR JUST JERKS AND A SERVICE POWER STEERING ICON WILL DISPLAY ON THE DASHBOARD

NHTSA ODI 11408334

Mar 24, 2021Speed control

I CAN BE DRIVING AT NORMAL SPEED AND I RECEIVE AN ERROR THAT THE ENGINE POWER IS REDUCING AND THE SPEED SHIFTS DOWN & I AM UNABLE TO EXCEED 25 MPH. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT POPS ON & ALSO AN ERROR REGARDING STABIL LOC NEEDS TO BE SERVICED. MY CAR HAS AUTOMATICALLY SHUT OFF IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC. I'VE HAD TO PULL OVER TO A SAFE MEDIUM ON THE HIGHWAY AND MOSTLY WHEN THE ERROR OCCURS, I'M NOT ABLE TO TURN A CORNER AT A SAFE SPEED. ALTHOUGH I AM ABLE TO START IT RIGHT BACK OFF THE ERROR STILL PERSISTS. I HAVE HAD WHAT "THEY SAY" IS THE ISSUE REPAIRED TWICE BUT AS SOON AS I GET THE CAR BACK, I HAVE THE SAME ISSUE 1-3 DAYS LATER.

NHTSA ODI 11404710

Mar 2, 2021AirbagsSpeed controlEngine

WHEN TURNING LEFT FROM A STOP MY CAR ALL AT ONCE SAID ENGINE POWER REDUCED TO 25MPH, SERVICE AIRBAG, SERVICE STABILITRAC, AND SERVICE BRAKE ASSIST.

NHTSA ODI 11398628

Feb 4, 2021Airbags

CAR HAD AIRBAG LIGHT COME ON. THE VEH WAS DIAGNOSED WITH AIR BAG - CONTROL MODULE: C0196 C0186 C0287 B101D.. NEED TO START WITH REPLACING AIR BAG CONTROL MODULE .. CODES ARE ALL HISTORY CODES.. INTERMITTENT ISSUE.. COULD HAVE OTHER ISSUES AS WELL.

NHTSA ODI 11394593

Jan 30, 2021Electrical system

THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. THE CODE IS P305F WHICH MEANS THE BATTERY CONTROL MODULE IS AFFECTED. THIS POWERS THE ACCESSORIES. WHEN THE AUTO STOP FEATURE TRIGGERS, THE VEHICLE'S ACCESSORIES WILL TURN OFF AND HEADLIGHTS WILL TURN OFF. DANGEROUS AT NIGHT. THERE ARE NO CURRENT SOLUTIONS FOR THIS CODE AND MAKES THE CAR A FAILURE FOR EMISSIONS.

NHTSA ODI 11390741

Jan 26, 2021Visibility & wipers

THE BACK DEFROSTER QUIT WORKING OVER A YEAR AGO. FRONT DEFROSTER IS BLOWING OUT THE FRONT VENTS WHEN SET ON FULL DEFROST OR FEET AND DEFROST. NOTICED IT WHEN I STARTED MY CAR AND IT WASN'T WORKING ON THE WINDOWS AND IT WOULDN'T CHANGE.

NHTSA ODI 11390062

Jan 25, 2021Speed control

ON 1-24-2021, WHILE DRIVING THE CAR INITIALLY HAD ISSUES GAINING ACCELERATION DESPITE PRESSING THE GAS PEDAL. ONCE I WAS ABLE TO GET THE CAR TO REACH A SPEED OF 40MPH I RECEIVED A WARNING ON THE DASH STATING THE CAR'S SPEED IS BEING REDUCED TO 25MPH, FOLLOWED BY A MESSAGE THAT SAID REDUCED ENGINE POWER AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. THIS LED TO THE CAR STALLING AND EVENTUALLY SHUTTING DOWN ABOUT 2-3 MINUTES LATER. I WAS ABLE TO PULL TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD BEFORE THE CAR SHUT DOWN AND TURNED THE HAZARD LIGHTS ON. AFTER APPROXIMATELY 20 MINUTES I WAS ABLE TO START THE CAR. THE REDUCED ENGINE POWER MESSAGE REMAINED ALONG WITH A NEW MESSAGE OF SERVICE STABILITRAK. I WAS STILL UNABLE TO ACCELERATE BEYOND 25MPH WHICH WAS BELOW THE MINIMUM SPEED FOR THE ROAD I WAS DRIVING ON.

NHTSA ODI 11389903

Jan 6, 2021Electrical system

THE RADIO AUDIO SYSTEM GIVES A RANDOM STATIC INTERFERENCE, NOT EVERY DRIVE BUT 1/10 TIMES. NO MUSIC OR AUDIO CAN BE HEARD UNTIL THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN SHUT OFF FOR COUPLE OF MINUTES THEN THE SYSTEM WORKS FINE.

NHTSA ODI 11386792

Jan 4, 2021Airbags

2015 CHEVROLET MALIBU. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARD TO AIR BAG SAFETY ISSUES. *AS THE CONSUMER STATED THE AIRBAG LIGHT WAS ON AND WOULD NOT BE COVERED UNDER RECALL. *JS

NHTSA ODI 11385853

Jan 4, 2021

CAR DIES WHILE IN AUTO STOP. ONLY HAPPENS IN AUTO STOP, AT STOP LIGHTS, IN DRIVE THUR.

NHTSA ODI 11386538

Dec 4, 2020Electrical system

THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION ON A CITY STREET AND THE WHOLE RADIO CONSOLE CUT OFF FOR ABOUT 5 SECONDS AND CAME BACK ON. THE ENGINE LIGHT THEN POPPED ON.IT DID THIS TWICE IN A MATTER OF 10 MINS. THIS ISSUED HAS HAPPENED TWICE SPORADICALLY 3 TIMES BUT NEVER CONSECUTIVE ON THE SAME DAY. BOTH BATTERIES WERE TESTED AND THEY ARE GOOD. GOT THE CODE P305F. PERFORMED A CHECK ON ALL WIRES AND HARNESSES AND THEY WERE SECURE. THE MAIN BATTERY WAS REPLACED WITH A NEW AC DELCO ON FEBRUARY 22, 2020. MY CAR ALSO CUT OFF ON SEPTEMBER 30 WHILE IT WAS IN MOTION AND I WAS SWITICHING GEARS TO REVERSE.

NHTSA ODI 11377912

Nov 30, 2020Body & structure

EVERY TIME IT RAINS OR I WASH THE CAR, WATER LEAKS INTO MY TRUNK. I'VE BEEN TOLD IT WAS DUE TO THE ANTENNA SEAL AND I HAVE HEARD THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THESE CARS, BUT I HAVENT SEEN ANYWHERE THAT THERE HAS BEEN A RECALL.

NHTSA ODI 11377024

Nov 24, 2020Airbags

AIR BAG CAME ON ALL AT ONCE ABOUT A MOUNTH AGO I PUT IN SHOP TO FIX . SHOP SAID IT WAS FIX THEY REPROGRAMED THE AIR BAG THEY SAY. ONE WEEK LATER WAS BACK ON . TOOK BACK TO SHOP SHOP SAY NEED A NEW COMPUTER. WAS" 700.00 TO FIX IT.

NHTSA ODI 11376214

Nov 10, 2020Electrical system

I WAS AT A RED LIGHT ON A MAJOR HIGHWAY NO WARNING WHAT SO EVER. LIGHT TURNED GREEN TOOK FOOT OFF BRAKE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON THEN CAR COMPLETELY SHUT OFF. HAD POWER BUT I GUESS NOT ENOUGH TO TURN ON THE HAZARD LIGHTS. ALMOST GOT HIT IN THE REAR BECAUSE THEY THOUGHT I WAS GETTING READY TO MOVE BECAUSE THERE WHERE NO LIGHTS ON IN THE REAR. HAD TO PUSH IT OFF TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD THAT WAS HARD DUE TO THERE WAS NO POWER STEERING AT ALL. GOT MY SON TO COME GET ME BUT FIRST WE WANTED TO SEE IF THE CAR WOULD START WITH A JUMP START AND IT DID BUT CALLED FOR A TOW TRUCK BECAUSE I WAS SCARED IT WAS GOING TO SHUT OFF AGAIN. THERE WAS NO WARNING OR EVEN WARNING SIGNS PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT. BESIDE THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMING ON RIGHT BEFORE THE CAR SHUT OFF THAT WAS NOT A VERY GOOD WARNING. SO I BOUGHT A BATTERY FOR THE CAR AND EVERYTHING HAS BEEN FINE. I REALLY THINK THAT PUT ME IN A DANGEROUS SITUATION NOT BEING ABLE TO PUT MY HAZARD LIGHTS ON BEING ON A MAJOR HIGHWAY AND TRYING TO PUSH IT TO THE SIDE WITH NO POWER STEERING.

NHTSA ODI 11373938

Nov 6, 2020Body & structure

MY REAR DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR WOULD NOT STAY CLOSED AND OPENED WHILE DRIVING. I FINALLY GOT IT TO STAY SHUT BUT NOW IT WILL NOT OPEN. OUTSIDE HANDLE PULLS EASILY BUT THE INSIDE HANDLE DOES NOT

NHTSA ODI 11373417

Oct 25, 2020Electronic Stability Control (esc)

MODEL: 2015 CHEVY MALIBU/ 80000 MILES WHILE DRIVING THE CAR (IN HIGHWAY) IT STOPPED ALL OF A SUDDEN. IF I STOP AT A RED LIGHT THE ENGINE COMPLETELY SHUTS DOWN AND THEN I HAVE TO PUT IT ON PARKING/NEUTRAL AND RESTART THE CAR AGAIN. MY CONCERN IS IF IT SUDDENLY STOPS WHILE I AM DRIVING IT, I MAY GET HIT FROM BEHIND AND GET SERIOUSLY INJURED (ALMOST GOT HIT THE OTHER DAY). WHILE I WAS HAVING THE ISSUES, "SERVICE STABILITRAK" SIGN APPEARS ON THE DASH.

NHTSA ODI 11366260

Oct 23, 2020Transmission & drivetrain

I HAVE TAKEN MY CAR TO 2 DIFFERENT MECHANIC SHOPS TO TRY AND FIND THE ISSUE THAT I AM HAVING WITH ACCELERATION. THE CAR IS NOT ACCELERATING AND NO ONE KNOWS WHAT THE PROBLEM IS. IT IS CURRENTLY WITH BECK CHEVY AND I AM NOW AT THE $700 MARK AND MY CAR HAS YET TO BE FIXED. WHEN DRIVING THE CAR WILL JUST STOP ACCELERATING AND I HAVE BEEN STUCK IN THE MIDDLE OF A BUSY HIGHWAY TWICE.

NHTSA ODI 11365910

Oct 19, 2020Steering

STEERING OPERATION AT LOW SPEEDS MAKES CLICKING NOISE, BOTH IN FORWARD AND REVERSE, SOUNDS LIKE IT IS COMING FROM UNDER THE DASH. STEERING STILL OPERATES NORMALLY.

NHTSA ODI 11365073

Sep 24, 2020Electrical systemElectronic Stability Control (esc)Engine

THE CAR STALLS OUT WHILE IN TRAFFIC AND/OR IMMEDIATELY REDUCE SPEED FLASHING-ENGINE REDUCE CODE ON THE DASH, MINES IN PARTICULAR HAS FLASHED SERVICE TRACTION AND REDUCE ENGINE POWER ON THE DASH, DIAGNOSTIC TESTING IS NOT GIVING ANY CODES FOR A SPECIFIC REASON FOR THIS ISSUE, SEEM TO BE SOMETHING UP WITH THE SENSORS AND ELECTRICAL SYSTEM ON THIS CAR- CAUSING MULTIPLE ISSUES TO HAPPEN ALL AT ONE TIME. CHEVY DEALER NOT VERY HELP- SUGGESTING TO FIX RANDOM PARTS AND THE ISSUE CONTINUES. DECIDED NOT TO DRIVE ON THE HIGHWAY, BUT DID DRIVE ON A BUSY STREET IN BALTIMORE COUNTY.

NHTSA ODI 11361017

Sep 21, 2020Engine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING WHILE AT A STOP LIGHT. THE CONTACT RAISED THE HOOD AND JIGGLED SOME UNKNOWN WIRES AND THE VEHICLE RESTARTED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURRED THE FIRST TIME, IT WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE AN UNKNOWN SENSOR, ALTERNATOR, THE BATTERY, AND THE BATTERY CABLES WERE REPLACED HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT YET TAKEN TO A DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 55,000.

NHTSA ODI 11360296

Aug 30, 2020Airbags

CAR HAS 23,800 MILES ON IT AND THE SERVICE AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT HAS COME UP ON THE DASHBOARD AND DOESN'T GO OFF. DIAGNOSTIC IS NOT PULLING ANY CODE. MONTHLY DIAGNOSTIC REPORT FROM GM SAYS THERE IS NO PROBLEM. HAVE SEEN OTHER COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS ISSUE.

NHTSA ODI 11352120

Aug 27, 2020Airbags

MY AIRBAG LIGHT CAME ON AND I CAN'T IT TO JIM TAYLOR CHEVROLET THEY SAY IS NOT A RECALL ON THAT LS CHEVROLET MALIBU

NHTSA ODI 11351687

Jul 29, 2020Engine

GM PART NUMBER 12633613 VVT REAR OIL CONTROL SOLENOID IS FAULTY CAUSING ENGINE JERKING. GM DOES NOT HAVE THIS PART AVAILABLE OR ANY AFTERMARKET PART, AND APPEARS TO HAVE STOPPED PRODUCING IT.

NHTSA ODI 11342065

← NewerOlder →

Working with the data? Download all 268 complaints as CSV · fetched from NHTSA July 24, 2026

How to use these: a complaint is one owner’s report, filed voluntarily and published unverified. Patterns matter more than any single story. If several owners describe the same failure at similar mileage, put that system at the top of your pre-purchase inspection list. Back to the full 2015 Chevrolet Malibu Eco verdict →