2015 CHEVROLET MALIBU Complaints and Recall Information
The 2015 Chevrolet Malibu has 13 complaints and 4 recalls filed with NHTSA. Owners frequently report sudden stalling while driving and issues with the auto shut off system. Multiple complaints mention loss of power steering, hesitation on acceleration, and engine power reduction warnings. Some drivers report that the vehicle dies with no warning, causing safety concerns during operation.
Common Issues
- Sudden stalling. Vehicle stalls unexpectedly at low speeds or while driving, sometimes without warning, causing loss of power steering and control difficulties.
- Transmission failure. Complaints include transmission control module failure diagnosed by independent mechanics resulting in vehicle shutdown.
- Auto shut off malfunction. The auto shut off system activates while driving or at stops, causing the vehicle to shut down and restart, often resetting electrical components like headlights and radio.
- Engine hesitation. Drivers often feel hesitation or reduced engine power when accelerating, sometimes accompanied by the engine power reduced warning light.
- Engine power reduction warnings. The engine power reduced light illuminates while driving, limiting vehicle speed and causing drivability issues.
- Airbag system warnings. Service airbag light turns on and off; passenger airbag activation is intermittent.
- Skid warning activation. Skid warning lights activate during incidents of sudden slowing or stalling, signaling traction control or stability issues.
- Rocker arm malfunction. Diagnosed codes indicate rocker arm problems linked to vehicle stalling and shutdown while driving.
There are four recalls affecting this model covering airbags, ignition system, transmission control module and sunroof assembly. These recalls address safety-related defects in multiple vehicle systems.
Recalls
- Side impact airbags. (NHTSA campaign 15V666000, 395 vehicles) Front seat-mounted side impact airbag inflators may rupture during deployment. This can cause metal fragments to strike occupants or prevent proper inflation, increasing injury risk. GM will replace side impact airbag modules free of charge.
- Ignition park lock lever. (NHTSA campaign 16V502000, 8367 vehicles) Defective electronic park lock levers may allow key removal without the transmission in PARK, risking vehicle rollaway. Dealers will inspect and replace the key cylinder lock housing at no cost.
- Transmission control module. (NHTSA campaign 16V502000, 8367 vehicles) Vehicles serviced with defective park lock levers may not comply with theft protection and rollaway prevention standards. The same fix applies as the ignition park lock lever recall.
- Sunroof switch. (NHTSA campaign 15V164000, 87063 vehicles) Slide or tilt switch may be inadvertently activated causing the sunroof panel to auto-close unexpectedly, increasing pinch injury risk. Dealers will update the Body Control Module software free of charge.
Owners facing repeated repairs, especially for drivetrain failures or safety system malfunctions, as well as those dealing with unresolved recall repairs, may have rights under their state’s lemon law. Consulting an attorney knowledgeable in lemon law can help clarify potential remedies for persistent defects.
2015 CHEVROLET MALIBU Summary
2015
Model Year
13
Total Complaints
3
Total Recalls
95825
Vehicles Affected
Recalls
2015 CHEVROLET MALIBU
8367 vehicles affected
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:CONTROL MODULE (TCM/PCM/TECM)
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 be removed without the transmission being in PARK. Also, certain 2013 Buick Encore, 2011 Buick Regal, 2013-2014 Buick Verano, 2011-2016 Chevrolet Cruze, 2010-2013 Chevrolet Equinox 2013-2015 Chevrolet Malibu, and 2011-2013 GMC Terrain vehicles may have been serviced with similar defective replacement electronic park lock levers. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 114, "Theft Protection and Rollaway Prevention."
Risk: If the key is removed without the transmission in PARK, the vehicle may rollaway as occupants are exiting, increasing the risk of injury.
2015 CHEVROLET MALIBU
87063 vehicles affected
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 Tilt switch for the roof panel may not be adequately recessed to prevent the switch from inadvertently being pressed. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 118, "Power-Operated Window, Partition, and Roof Panel Systems."
Risk: The Slide or Tilt roof panel switch may inadvertently be pressed and the roof panel may auto-close unexpectedly, increasing the risk of a pinch injury.
2015 CHEVROLET MALIBU
395 vehicles affected
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 vehicles have front seat-mounted side impact air bags whose inflator may rupture upon its deployment.
Risk: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of one or both of the side impact air bags, the air bag's inflator may rupture and the air bag may not properly inflate. The rupture could cause metal fragments to strike the vehicle occupants, potentially resulting in serious injury or death. Additionally, if the air bag does not properly inflate, the driver or passenger is at an increased risk of injury.
Complaints
2015 CHEVROLET MALIBU
ID: 2128568POWER TRAIN
Rocker arm malfunction. This car has repeatedly shut off while driving without warning and the rocker arm has been the only code. I saw this has been a problem for the 2014-2015 Malibu and Impala models and this should be recalled due to faulty equipment and not to be repaired at the cost of the owners.
2015 CHEVROLET MALIBU
ID: 2123821ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I was coming home from school pickup, and the light said the engine power was reducing. Then the screen said that I couldn't go past 25 miles per hour. The skid sign came on also. The car started slowing down on its own. The car then stopped. I had to put on emergency lights quickly. I had my daughter and grandaughter in the car. Thank God we didn't get rear ended. I turned off the car and waited. I turned it back on and went home a half a mile away thankfully. I looked up for a recall and Google said that there was a potential for the same thing. The check engine light came on too. This has never happened the whole time that I've had it.
2015 CHEVROLET MALIBU
ID: 2122008AIR BAGS
Service airbag light goes on and off. Also passenger air bag keeps turning on and off.
2015 CHEVROLET MALIBU
ID: 2111571UNKNOWN OR OTHER
I was driving on the interstate and the engine power reduced light came on twice. It was driveable but I got off the interstate to state roads so I could drive slower. It acts like it wants to stop. I have been afraid to drive it again.
2015 CHEVROLET MALIBU
ID: 2103644UNKNOWN OR OTHER
The engine power reduced light came on twice. I have been feeling a slight hesitation when driving for a couple of months but this is the first time that light came on. It happened on i65n about 140 miles from Montgomery. I got off the interstate at Montgomery so I could drive slower and made it home to Centre, AL. But now I'm afraid to drive it far.
2015 CHEVROLET MALIBU
ID: 2101050FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
My car has the auto shut off and when im driving it sometimes just dies while im driving with no warning and no power steering to pull over. Also when im at a red light and the auto shut off comes on when it starts back up all my head lights turning signals radio everything goes off and comes back on when the car restarts then when u go to take off it will die and everytime I push on the gas it hesitates to go if it dont die. I took my car to an independent car repair shop and they said they have tested everything and I have also replaced the front and back batteries and I was told it is the computer and he has had several of the same car come in with the exact problem.
2015 CHEVROLET MALIBU
ID: 2101049POWER TRAIN
My car has the auto shut off and when im driving it sometimes just dies while im driving with no warning and no power steering to pull over. Also when im at a red light and the auto shut off comes on when it starts back up all my head lights turning signals radio everything goes off and comes back on when the car restarts then when u go to take off it will die and everytime I push on the gas it hesitates to go if it dont die. I took my car to an independent car repair shop and they said they have tested everything and I have also replaced the front and back batteries and I was told it is the computer and he has had several of the same car come in with the exact problem.
2015 CHEVROLET MALIBU
ID: 2101048ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
My car has the auto shut off and when im driving it sometimes just dies while im driving with no warning and no power steering to pull over. Also when im at a red light and the auto shut off comes on when it starts back up all my head lights turning signals radio everything goes off and comes back on when the car restarts then when u go to take off it will die and everytime I push on the gas it hesitates to go if it dont die. I took my car to an independent car repair shop and they said they have tested everything and I have also replaced the front and back batteries and I was told it is the computer and he has had several of the same car come in with the exact problem.
2015 CHEVROLET MALIBU
ID: 2090794POWER TRAIN
Transmission failed while driving in traffic.
2015 CHEVROLET MALIBU
ID: 2085351UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Unknown
2015 CHEVROLET MALIBU
ID: 2085350SEAT BELTS
Unknown
2015 CHEVROLET MALIBU
ID: 2085349AIR BAGS
Unknown
2015 CHEVROLET MALIBU
ID: 2052134POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:CONTROL MODULE (TCM/PCM/TECM)
The contact owns a 2015 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated while driving 15 MPH and approaching a stop, the vehicle stalled. The power steering warning light illuminated. The contact then veered to the left as the vehicle lost power. The vehicle was driven back to the residence where an independent mechanic diagnosed that the transmission control module had failed. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and confirmed that the VIN was not under recall. The failure mileage was approximately 151,000.