2021 Chevrolet Malibu recalls and problems

The 2021 Chevrolet Malibu has 2 safety recalls and 90 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at any Chevrolet dealer.

Recalls
2
Complaints
90
Crashes / fires
0 / 1
Injuries / deaths
1 / 0

Recalls may cover only some 2021 Chevrolet Malibu vehicles. Check your VIN at NHTSA ↗ to see open recalls for your exact car.

2021 Chevrolet Malibu recalls

Recall 22V-359: Seats

Reported May 19, 2022 · 221 vehicles affected · General Motors, LLC

Problem: General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2021 Chevrolet Malibu, 2022 Chevrolet Equinox, Blazer and Cadillac XT4 vehicles. The driver's seat cushion frame may have an improper weld in the power tilt-adjustment mechanism.

Risk: An improperly welded seat frame may not adequately restrain the driver in a crash, increasing their risk of injury.

Fix: Dealers will inspect the driver's seat and replace the cushion frame, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 23, 2022. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020 or Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006. GM's number for this recall is N212356050.

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.

2021 Chevrolet Malibu problems reported by owners

Problem areaReports
Unknown or Other31
Electrical System30
Power Train28
Engine15
Fuel/Propulsion System8
Air Bags6
Back Over Prevention3
Suspension3
Structure2
Service Brakes2
Steering2
Fuel System, Gasoline2

Most reported parts

  • Back Over Prevention › Warnings — 3
  • Structure › Body — 2
  • Fuel System, Gasoline › Fuel Injection System › Throttlebody/Manifold — 1
  • Lane Departure › Blind Spot Detection — 1
  • Electrical System › Starter Assembly — 1
  • Fuel System, Gasoline › Delivery › Fuel Pump — 1
  • Forward Collision Avoidance › Automatic Emergency Braking — 1

Typical mileage at the time of the problem: 54,000 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 2021 Chevrolet Malibu complaints

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

Electrical System · reported Oct 12, 2026
This car has the same issues even after you get it replaced . this car is not a good car I have spent so much money replacing the oz sensor .the radio, and the turbo keeps going out . this car has a lot of recall that should be handle to make sure that this car is running good . they should replace this turbo charge . the car always stall and cut off at a light or when you drive this is not safe to drive .
Unknown or Other · reported Sep 2, 2026
The problem with this model is the CVT Trasmission thats in the vehicle when put into drive mode it stalls to change gears and want change gears for about 5 min then it kicks in to go it does that very often i have took it to the dealership and spent tremendous mount of money the transmission are crapy and stalls the car when put into drive mode please help im not the only one experiencing this issue there is a Chevrolet malibu group chat on Facebook and other sites these transmission needs to be replaced by the dealership they sell these cars with this existing problems and jack the car…
Power Train · at 96,035 miles · reported Aug 21, 2026
The contact owns a 2021 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that while driving 70 MPH, the vehicle failed to accelerate as needed; however, the RPM was extremely elevated. The vehicle then lost motive power and went into LIMP Mode, and the vehicle failed to exceed 15 MPH. The vehicle was taken to a dealer on three separate occasions. After the first failure, the dealer stated that the failure was caused by an inoperable sensor, and the fuel pump was reprogrammed. The contact stated that after the second failure, which was associated with the turbo, the powertrain module was reprogrammed. The…
Electrical System · reported Aug 20, 2026
The Chevy Malibu is displaying a “Shift to Park” message even when the gear selector is physically in the Park position. This indicates that the vehicle’s computer may not be recognizing that the vehicle has been placed in Park, which is commonly associated with a faulty or failing internal park-position sensor/switch. The issue is affecting the vehicle’s ability to shut down properly. It is necessary to turn the vehicle off and back on multiple times before the system will recognize that the vehicle is in Park and allow it to shut off completely. If the vehicle does not recognize the…
Power Train · reported Aug 14, 2026
Failure - B000A-00 Body Control Module Error code - Shift Lever Position not plausible . Safety - This causes the car to upon attempting to turn off the car say "Shift into Park" on the dashboard and the car refuses to turn fully off. This can cause the battery to drain excessively from repeated constant start/stop attempts and leaves the car in an impossible state. You cannot safely leave the car in this state but you have no choice until you get lucky enough to hope an attempt is recognized as parked and shut off normally. This could jeopardize safety in situations you need to turn your car…

Other Chevrolet Malibu years

Compare all Chevrolet Malibu years · All Chevrolet models

Frequently asked questions

Does the 2021 Chevrolet Malibu have any recalls?

Yes — NHTSA lists 2 recalls for the 2021 Chevrolet Malibu: 22V-359 (seats), 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 2021 Chevrolet Malibu?

Owners report unknown or other problems most often (31 reports), followed by electrical system (30). The typical mileage when problems were reported is about 54,000 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.