Home › Reliability › Chevrolet › Malibu › 2021

2021 Chevrolet Malibu Reliability & Recall Report

Based on 2 NHTSA recalls and 74 owner complaints. All data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — free, no signup required.

✅
This is one of the better years for the Chevrolet Malibu

The 2021 model year shows below-average complaints compared to other years of this model — a good sign for reliability.

B
81/100

Good Choice — 2021 Chevrolet Malibu

The 2021 Chevrolet Malibu has an acceptable safety and complaint profile with some areas to monitor. Review the open recalls and known problems below before buying.

2
NHTSA Recalls
2 recalls on record
74
Owner Complaints
Filed with NHTSA
0
Crashes + Injuries
1 fire report

Own or buying a 2021 Chevrolet Malibu?

Check your specific VIN for open recalls, market value, full specs, and a free AI buyer summary.

⚠️

NHTSA Recalls — 2021 Chevrolet Malibu (2)

All recalls listed below must be repaired by an authorized Chevrolet dealer at no charge to the owner.

🔧 Unknown Component
NHTSA #21V649000
🔧 Unknown Component
NHTSA #22V359000
💬

Most Common Problems — 2021 Chevrolet Malibu

Based on 74 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. Bars show relative complaint frequency.

Power Train
22
Electrical System
18
Unknown Or Other
13
Air Bags
5
Suspension
3
Fuel/propulsion System
2
Engine
2
Structure
2
📊

Chevrolet Malibu — Complaints by Year

Spike in a year = known problem year. The 2021 model year is highlighted.

2015 266 complaints 2016 854 complaints 2017 715 complaints 2018 682 complaints 2019 187 complaints 2020 188 complaints 2021 74 complaints 2022 81 complaints 2023 39 complaints 2024 20 complaints 2025 5 complaints

⚠ Years to avoid: 2016, 2017, 2018 — These model years show significantly elevated complaint activity.

✅ Best model years: 2021, 2022, 2023 — Lowest complaint rates for this model.

❓

Frequently Asked Questions — 2021 Chevrolet Malibu

Is the 2021 Chevrolet Malibu reliable?
Based on NHTSA data, the 2021 Chevrolet Malibu has 2 recalls and 74 owner complaints. This is generally considered a reliable model year.
How many recalls does the 2021 Chevrolet Malibu have?
The 2021 Chevrolet Malibu has 2 NHTSA recalls. Affected systems include: see recall details above. All recalls are repaired free at authorized dealers.
What are the most common problems with the 2021 Chevrolet Malibu?
The most commonly reported problems for the 2021 Chevrolet Malibu are: Power Train, Electrical System, Unknown Or Other, Air Bags. See the complaint breakdown above for full details.
Is the 2021 Chevrolet Malibu safe to buy?
The 2021 Chevrolet Malibu has some safety and reliability items to review before buying. Ensure all 2 recalls are completed at a dealer. A pre-purchase inspection by an independent mechanic is strongly recommended.
What year Chevrolet Malibu should I buy?
Based on NHTSA complaint data, the best years for the Chevrolet Malibu are: 2021, 2022, 2023. These show the lowest complaint rates. Years to avoid: 2016, 2017, 2018.
Data source: All recall and complaint data is sourced directly from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) public API. Data is cached and refreshed every 7 days. Recall and complaint counts reflect data available at the time of last cache update. For the most current recall status on a specific vehicle, enter the VIN above or visit NHTSA.gov/recalls.