What 191 owners told NHTSA about the 2020 Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid

Vehicle stalled/lost power while driving due to auto start/stop system.

NHTSA ODI 11734207

Got this car Oct 16 2025 and check engine lights on the place in Greenbriar dreka passed emmission and the shop explicit auto sold me car for 7500 been having problems with car since owner told me to do what I need to do no refund nothing in writing saying as is this car needs axles ball joint lower arm control and more car not safe for me and my kids this car go get emission passed so when u take title to DMV you can get a tag for a car that not passing emissions also purchase a second car same day Oct 16 2025 and this car need oil pump oil sensor brake sensor brake caliber and more and explicit auto wont fix cars the man that sell these cars are on Instagram and dolufree and explicit auto is the name of both Names if you look you'll see light on in every car he post and sell to people for high price and no results when you bring car back every car sold from them need to be investigated. We need help I have two cases that I cannot drive and I was charged 13,500 for both cars and this is illegal for someone to use someone else access and get these cars and sell them under someone else license the address for business have a old national address but cars being sold at 2263 metropolitan pkwy and I don't know what to do at this point

NHTSA ODI 11711718

The contact owns a 2020 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that while driving at 40 MPH, the vehicle decelerated to 15 MPH, and the brake pedal was depressed, but the vehicle failed to stop immediately. The vehicle crashed into a building before coming to a stop. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The air bags did not deploy. The contact shifted the transmission to park (P) and turned off the vehicle. When the contact attempted to restart the vehicle, the brake pedal was extremely firm and unable to depress. The vehicle failed to restart. Several unknown warning lights were illuminated. The contact did not sustain any injuries, and medical attention was not received. There was no police report filed. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, where it was determined that the vacuum brake booster and camshaft needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 106,000.

NHTSA ODI 11646026

The contact owns a 2020 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that while driving approximately 45 MPH and approaching a stop light the braking system malfunctioned when pressing the brake pedal causing the vehicle to crash into the rear of a second vehicle. The contact indicated that the vehicle did not reduce speed when pressing the brake pedal and the collision avoidance feature did not activate. A police report was taken at the scene. The police officer also confirmed no skid marks at the crash site. During the crash, the contact sustained injuries to the left arm and right shoulder that did not require medical attention. Both the driver and front seat passenger of the second vehicle sustained undisclosed injuries and were transported to the hospital. The vehicle was towed away and later deemed destroyed by the insurance company. The cause of the failure has not yet been determined. The manufacturer was notified of the incident. The local dealer was not contacted. The failure mileage was 57,000.

NHTSA ODI 11629724

I am writing to formally report a critical safety issue with my 2020 Chevrolet Malibu, which resulted in a severe accident and posed significant risks to my safety and the safety of The issue involves the brake vacuum pump, which failed while I was driving. The component is currently with the vehicle, which is stored in a parking facility, and is available for inspection upon request. The failure of the brake vacuum pump caused a sudden and complete loss of braking power while I was driving. This malfunction put my life and the lives of others at immediate risk. On the first occasion, in April, I narrowly avoided a serious collision. Four weeks later, I experienced a second instance of brake vacuum failure, which led to a severe accident. The inability to stop the vehicle safely was directly caused by this malfunction. I contacted General Motors (GM) in April 2024 to report the initial brake vacuum failure. At that time, the issue had not yet been reproduced or inspected by a dealer or service center. Following the accident, I have been unable to confirm whether GM or any other party has The vehicle and component have not been inspected by the manufacturer, police, or insurance representatives since the accident. I reported the issue to GM prior to the accident, but they have not provided any assistance or resolution. Prior to the initial brake vacuum failure in April, I did not observe any warning lamps, messages, or other symptoms indicating a potential problem. The failure occurred suddenly and without warning, making it impossible to anticipate or avoid. This situation is incredibly distressing, and I believe the brake vacuum pump defect poses a serious threat to public safety. I urge the NHTSA to investigate this issue thoroughly and take any necessary steps to ensure the safety of other drivers who may be at risk.

NHTSA ODI 11628427

The contact owns a 2020 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated while her daughter was driving at 65 MPH, the contact's daughter was run off the road by another vehicle. The contact stated that the air bags did not deploy. The contact stated that the vehicle was forced to crash into the guard rail. The contact's daughter was knocked unconscious and sustained a concussion due to hitting her head on the driver's door glass. The contact's daughter was transported to the local medical center. The contact stated that a police report was not filed because it was a single-vehicle crash. The vehicle was towed to a local tow yard. The vehicle was deemed a total loss. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure but provided no assistance. The contact was advised to contact the NHTSA Hotline and report the failure. The failure mileage was 94,073.

NHTSA ODI 11619365

When I was in a car accident, the airbag exploded. However, the airbag's balloon-like fabric material did not deploy, and a metal part even flew off the steering wheel and exploded, hitting me in the chin. So I lost about half of my lower jaw, most of my lower teeth, and some of my upper teeth. In the process, I underwent a total of three surgeries: emergency, infection, and reconstruction surgery. In the future, I may need to undergo additional implant surgery and additional reconstructive surgery as needed. There has been no formal component inspection by any agency since the accident and there were no relevant warnings or symptoms prior to the accident.

NHTSA ODI 11558832

Officer [XXX] filed on behalf of the deceased. The deceased owned a 2020 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that the deceased had a rear end crash with another vehicle which was stopped at a traffic signal. The contact stated the estimated speed of the crash was 30 MPH. The air bag deployed and had shredded, the contact stated that a steering wheel support had been sheared from the steering wheel. The contact stated that most of the damage to vehicle of the deceased was on the left front end and the leading edge of the hood was slightly buckled. The vehicle was towed to an impound lot. The deceased was alive at the time of the accident and transported to a shock trauma unit. The contact stated that the driver was pronounced dead at the hospital. The contact stated that she had suffered neck trauma to her jugular vein and blunt force trauma to her chest. The contact stated that the vehicle had been involved in another crash where the air bag had deployed in Sept. 2022. The contact stated that the vehicle was a rental fleet vehicle and following the accident had been sold by the rental company at auction. The origin and type of the replacement air bag had not yet been determined. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 63,000. INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

NHTSA ODI 11527380

This vehicle was purchased on February 10, 2023 under false pretenses, deceit, and fraudulent activities by Frank Leta Honda of Missouri. Frank Leta Honda and its Salesman failed to disclosed that this vehicle was in a major accident prior to me purchasing it. The front-end bumper and the front quarter-panel on the passenger side were damaged. This car was re-painted with non-factory paint, and it shows. Most importantly, the procedure and process required in painting a vehicle was not followed. I even questioned the salesman whether or not this vehicle was in a major accident, and the salesman said, "no." I had taken this vehicle to two professional auto body businesses, and two owners/auto body workers informed me without me asking that the vehicle had been in a major accident. Can you please give me a report on whether or not the previous owners of this vehicle reported an accident with this vehicle being involved in, and the original color of this vehicle. The dealer is calling it red. However, this vehicle is a deep dark burgundy.

NHTSA ODI 11518864

WHEN I BOGHT THE CAR WAS WITH OUT AIRBAGS

NHTSA ODI 11511474