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2020 Chevrolet Malibu recalls and problems

The 2020 Chevrolet Malibu has 1 safety recall and 203 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at any Chevrolet dealer.

Recalls
1
Complaints
203
Crashes / fires
10 / 0
Injuries / deaths
7 / 1

Recalls may cover only some 2020 Chevrolet Malibu vehicles. Check your VIN at NHTSA ↗ to see open recalls for your exact car.

2020 Chevrolet Malibu recalls

Recall 21V-649: Seat Belts

Reported Aug 20, 2021 · 402 vehicles affected · General Motors, LLC

Problem: General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2016-2021 Chevrolet Malibu and 2019-2021 Cadillac XT4 vehicles. The rear seat belt retractors may be improperly secured with loose or missing fasteners.

Risk: An improperly secured seat belt retractor may not function properly in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.

Fix: Dealers will inspect and tighten the rear seat belt retractors, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on September 17, 2021. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020 and Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006. GM's number for this recall is N212333380.

2020 Chevrolet Malibu problems reported by owners

Problem areaReports
Engine61
Power Train60
Electrical System58
Unknown or Other45
Service Brakes43
Vehicle Speed Control18
Steering17
Fuel/Propulsion System14
Service Brakes, Hydraulic7
Fuel System, Gasoline4
Air Bags4
Engine and Engine Cooling3

Most reported parts

  • Structure › Body — 2
  • Service Brakes, Air › Antilock › Abs Warning Light — 1
  • Power Train › Automatic Transmission › Lever and Linkage › Floor Shift — 1
  • Fuel System, Gasoline › Fuel Injection System › Throttlebody/Manifold — 1
  • Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine › Crank/Camshaft Position Sensor — 1
  • Power Train › Automatic Transmission — 1
  • Power Train › Automatic Transmission › Control Module (Tcm/Pcm/Tecm) — 1
  • Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine › Gasoline › Turbo/Supercharger — 1

Typical mileage at the time of the problem: 70,000 miles (median of owner reports).

Problems that are not covered by a recall are paid repairs; labor rates follow local mechanic pay — see what auto mechanics earn in each state.

Recent 2020 Chevrolet Malibu complaints

Owner reports filed with NHTSA, as written (personal details removed). Complaints are not verified by NHTSA.

Engine · reported Nov 8, 2026
i am filing a formal safety complaint regarding my 2020 chevrolet malibu. my vehicle recently displayed a “service ESC” warning along with a flashing check engine light. these warnings appeared unexpectedly and have raised serious concerns about the safety and reliability of my vehicle. the electronic stability control system is an important safety feature, and a flashing check engine light may indicate a serious engine malfunction. i am concerned about the possibility of experiencing reduced engine performance, loss of power, or compromised vehicle control while driving. i am also aware…
Power Train · reported Nov 3, 2026
Automatic transmission failure, through engine code for solenoid “E” being stuck open which has been very common issue with every car that had this transmission in it. Recommended fix is to change entire transmission as no parts are serviceable
Service Brakes, Hydraulic · at 74,356 miles · reported Oct 30, 2026
The contact owns a 2020 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, the vehicle failed to start, with several unknown warning lights illuminated immediately before the failure. The contact stated that the brake pedal was extremely firm while attempting to shift into neutral(N). The contact stated that while driving 25 MPH, the brake pedal was depressed and the message "Brake System Failure" was displayed. The contact stated that the brake pedal was stiff and difficult to depress. Within 3 to 4 seconds, the brake pedal pushed back against the foot. The vehicle was…
Unknown or Other · reported Oct 19, 2026
The back up camera randomly fails. There appears to be no rhyme or reason to it. It will work completely fine for days sometimes weeks and the all of a sudden it will only show a black screen that states system failure. Sometimes it will remain in system failure or a day or a week, its completely random. I see that there was a recall on the cameras for the Chevy malibu not working on the 23-25 cars but I think this might be an issue that goes back further and needs to be addressed. My car only has 70k miles on it and basic functions shouldn't be failing. The 2020 rear cameras need to be added…
Service Brakes, Hydraulic · at 120,000 miles · reported Sep 8, 2026
The contact owns a 2020 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that while attempting to depress the brake pedal, the brakes failed to respond and seized, causing the contact to engage the parking brake. The contact was able to pull over while awaiting tow truck assistance. The vehicle was towed to a dealer to be diagnosed. The contact stated that a Lexus engineer retrieved the EDR; however, there was no failure found with the braking system. The failure mileage was 120,000.

Other Chevrolet Malibu years

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Compare all Chevrolet Malibu years · All Chevrolet models

Frequently asked questions

Does the 2020 Chevrolet Malibu have any recalls?

Yes — NHTSA lists 1 recall for the 2020 Chevrolet Malibu: 21V-649 (seat belts). Not every vehicle is affected, so check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

What is the most common problem with the 2020 Chevrolet Malibu?

Owners report engine problems most often (61 reports), followed by power train (60). The typical mileage when problems were reported is about 70,000 miles.

Are Chevrolet recall repairs free?

Yes. Safety recall repairs are free at authorized Chevrolet dealers, whether you are the first owner or bought the car used.