Is the 2020 Chevrolet Malibu a bad year?
202 owner complaints to NHTSA. Transmission complaints: 60, 2.4× a quiet Malibu year.
Keep it, but watch the transmission
Half of the transmission complaints for this year were filed at 32k–88k miles, where you are now.
The verdict moves with mileage: the same car reads differently at 30,000 and at 150,000 miles.
What 2020 Malibu owners report, by mileage
Each system owners named in five or more complaints, with the mileage range where the middle half of those complaints were filed. Read at 56,000 miles.
| SYSTEM | COMPLAINTS | MIDDLE HALF FILED AT | TYPICAL US REPAIR BILLS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Transmission and drivetrainSTANDS OUT | 60 (30%) | 32k–88k miles · around this mileage | CV axle / CV joint replacement (one side) $300–$1,500 · Automatic transmission replacement $2,500–$7,000 |
| BrakesSTANDS OUT | 51 (25%) | 62k–90k miles · ahead | Brake pad replacement (one axle) $115–$390 · Brake pads and rotors replacement (one axle) $200–$1,084 |
| Engine | 62 (31%) | 22k–78k miles · around this mileage | Valve cover gasket replacement $110–$500 · Timing chain replacement $1,000–$4,000 |
| Electrical system | 57 (28%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Fuel system | 18 (9%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Speed control | 18 (9%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Steering | 16 (8%) | too few with a mileage | — |
Bills are typical US ranges from the sources named in the tool (J.D. Power, Kelley Blue Book, CarParts.com and others), printed only for systems that stand out or sit at or ahead of 56,000 miles. Not a quote.
What owners reported alongside their complaints
Of 202 complaints: 10 mention a crash · 5 report an injury · 19 say the car was towed.
43 complaints were filed in the last 12 months, the newest in Nov 2026.
Counts of what owners wrote in their complaints, not verified by anyone.
Recalls for the 2020 Chevrolet Malibu: 1
The rear seat belt retractors may be improperly secured with loose or missing fasteners. An improperly secured seat belt retractor may not function properly in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
A recall may cover only some cars of a model year; the campaign size counts every model and year it lists. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls: dealers fix open recalls free.
Service bulletins from Chevrolet: 283
Repair instructions Chevrolet sent its dealers for symptoms seen in the shop on the 2020 Chevrolet Malibu. Ask a dealer or mechanic for a bulletin by its number.
PIP6032B provides diagnostic direction for dealers when encountering transmission leaks
Correct a customer concern of Shift to Park Displayed on DIC When Vehicle is in- Park, No Start - DTC B000A Set
Normal transmission shift condition and the delay in throttle response when the throttle plate is opened rapidly and advises the customer that it is normal…
Recording transmission noises using the PicoScope For review
NHTSA defect investigations: 1
DTN Air Bag Inflator Rupture
Neighbouring years
2019 Malibu: 193 complaints, keep it, but watch the transmission · 2021 Malibu: 89 complaints, keep it.
Every Chevrolet Malibu year
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Questions
Is the 2020 Chevrolet Malibu a bad year?
202 owner complaints to NHTSA. Transmission complaints: 60, 2.4× a quiet Malibu year. At 56,000 miles the tool says: Keep it, but watch the transmission. Half of the transmission complaints for this year were filed at 32k–88k miles, where you are now.
What are the most common problems with the 2020 Chevrolet Malibu?
By owner complaints to NHTSA: transmission and drivetrain (60), brakes (51), engine (62), electrical system (57), fuel system (18). Half of the transmission complaints were filed between 32k–88k miles.
How many recalls does the 2020 Chevrolet Malibu have?
1 recall campaign list this model year: Seat belts (NHTSA 21V-649). A recall may cover only some cars; check by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Method: counts of unverified owner complaints filed with NHTSA, compared only with other years of the same model (sales volumes are unknown, so no failure rate is computed). A system stands out at 40+ complaints and at least twice the model's quiet (lower-quartile) year, or twice the share across every vehicle of that model year. The mileage range is the 25th to 75th percentile of the mileages owners reported. Data received by NHTSA through November 5, 2026. Repair prices are typical US ranges from named sources, not quotes. Not a diagnosis and not financial advice. PulsCar is not affiliated with NHTSA. Check this car at your own mileage.