YearToAvoid

2020 Chevrolet Malibu Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Good

Complaint Index

35/100

#14 most-complained of 21 Malibu years

Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology

The 2020 Chevrolet Malibu has 198 owner complaints and 1 safety recall on file with NHTSA. Its Complaint Index is 35 out of 100 — #14 highest of 21 Malibu model years (verdict: Good). The most reported problem area is engine (70 complaints, 35% of the total). Complaints report 10 crashes, 7 injuries, and 1 death.

Complaints
198
Recalls
1
Crashes / fires
10 / 0
Injuries / deaths
7 / 1
NHTSA overall rating
4 / 5 ★
EPA combined MPG
29
25.5 city / 34 hwy

Top 2020 Chevy Malibu problems

NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Engine70 (35%)
  2. Electrical System58 (29%)
  3. Transmission & Powertrain58 (29%)
  4. Brakes51 (26%)
  5. Other44 (22%)
  6. Fuel System18 (9%)
  7. Steering16 (8%)
  8. Airbags4 (2%)
  9. Collision Avoidance & Cameras2 (1%)
  10. Structure & Body2 (1%)
2020 Chevrolet Malibu complaints: complaints filed per quarter242020 Q12021 Q32022 Q32023 Q32024 Q32025 Q32026 Q3
325 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2020 Q1 to 2026 Q3; peak 2024 Q3 (24).

2020 Chevrolet Malibu recalls

1 NHTSA recall campaign list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 21V649000Aug 20, 2021Seat Belts402 vehicles

    Seat belts:rear/other:retractor

    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.

    Remedy: 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 fuel economy and fuel cost

City
25.5 MPG
Highway
34 MPG
Combined
29 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$2,550
15,000 mi/yr
Fuel
Premium
Current regular gas
$4.32/gal
national avg.

EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.

2020 compared with other Malibu years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)0255075100’05’06’07’08’09’10’11’12’13’14’15’16’17’18’19’20’21’22’23’24’25
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2018Caution50697628
2019Good25190129
2020Good35198129
2021Best1089229
2022Best1597129

All Chevrolet Malibu years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2020 Chevrolet Malibu a reliable year?
Judged by NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, the 2020 Chevrolet Malibu ranks #14 of 21 among Malibu model years (Complaint Index 35/100, verdict: Good). It has 198 complaints and 1 recalls on file. This reflects reported safety-related problems, not an overall reliability rating.
What are the most common problems with the 2020 Chevrolet Malibu?
The most reported problem areas are engine (70 complaints), electrical system (58 complaints), and transmission & powertrain (58 complaints). The median mileage at the time of failure in complaints that report it is 68,000 miles.
Does the 2020 Chevrolet Malibu have any recalls?
Yes — NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for the 2020 Chevrolet Malibu, most recently reported 2021, covering seat belts.
What is the fuel economy of the 2020 Chevrolet Malibu?
EPA rates the 2020 Chevrolet Malibu at 29 MPG combined (25.5 city / 34 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $2,550. Where several configurations exist, the median is shown.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.