Head-to-head reliability
Chevrolet Malibu vs Chevrolet Colorado
How the Chevrolet Malibu and Chevrolet Colorado compare on NHTSA complaints, recalls and crash reports — and which is the lower-risk used buy.
Based on NHTSA owner-complaint & recall records
Chevrolet Malibu vs Chevrolet Colorado: The Malibu has 292.8 complaints per year, with engine and electrical issues like starting failures and reduced power. The Colorado has 102.3 complaints per year, but transmission failures can be severe. Both have recalls, but the Malibu's higher complaint rate suggests more frequent problems. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Chevrolet Malibu or Chevrolet Colorado more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Chevrolet Malibu
The Chevrolet Malibu, a midsize sedan, shows a high complaint rate of about 293 per year over the last decade, with the engine and electrical system being the most frequent trouble spots. Owners report intermittent starting failures, reduced power warnings, and hard shifting, which can be alarming and potentially dangerous in traffic. The high number of complaints suggests that these issues are not isolated but part of a broader pattern of reliability concerns.
Chevrolet Colorado
The Chevrolet Colorado, a midsize pickup, has a lower complaint rate of about 102 per year, but its powertrain and electrical issues are still notable. Owners report transmission failures, key getting stuck in the ignition, and cooling fan malfunctions, which can lead to unexpected breakdowns and safety risks. While less frequent than the Malibu, the severity of some Colorado issues, like a catastrophic transmission failure, is a significant concern.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Chevrolet Malibu | Chevrolet Colorado |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 2,928 | 1,023 Better |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 29 | 12 Better |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 92 | 31 Better |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 292.8 | 102.3 Better |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 70 | 42 Better |
| Reported deathsTied to owner complaints | 2 Better | 3 |
Source: NHTSA owner complaints & recall records.
What actually goes wrong
The problems owners report
The most-complained-about systems on each vehicle — what fails, and what owners say in their own words.
Chevrolet Malibu
- 01ENGINE1,016
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM800
- 03POWER TRAIN669
- 04UNKNOWN OR OTHER635
- 05VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL442
Owners report the engine may not start when pressing the start button, accompanied by 'Service ESC' and 'Engine Power is Reduced' messages. Others describe a loss of power and hard shifting, especially on cold starts, which can lead to near-misses in traffic.
The electrical system is implicated in starting failures and persistent warning lights (ESC, parking brake) that only clear after restarting. This suggests a possible issue with the vehicle's control modules or sensors, causing intermittent and confusing alerts.
Transmission-related complaints include hard jerking shifts and a 'Shift to Park' warning even when the gear is in Park, which can be a safety hazard if the vehicle rolls unexpectedly. These issues often occur without diagnostic codes, making them hard to fix.
“My vehicle sometimes will not start when I press the Start Button and press the brakes at the same time. The dashboard will light up with a message that says “Service ESC” followed by “Engine Power is Reduced”. When it does start, I can drive the vehicle for…”
“My 2024 Chevy Malibu has lost power and is not shifting properly yet it’s not displaying any codes. It shifts and jerks very hard when on a cold start but also will not get up and go when I pull into traffic. This has caused me to almost get hit numerous time…”
Chevrolet Colorado
- 01POWER TRAIN317
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM219
- 03UNKNOWN OR OTHER152
- 04ENGINE149
- 05SERVICE BRAKES116
The most serious complaints involve sudden catastrophic transmission failure, which can lead to loss of control and injury. Another common issue is the key getting stuck in the ignition, which can leave the vehicle inoperable and require repeated repairs.
Electrical problems include the cooling fan staying on after shutdown, which can drain the battery, and infotainment system failures that blank out or reload. These issues can be frustrating and may indicate underlying electrical gremlins.
Engine-related complaints often overlap with electrical issues, such as the cooling fan malfunction. There are also reports of sudden loss of power, though less frequent than in the Malibu, which can be dangerous in traffic.
“Unknown on first appear - key gets stuck in the ignition. This happened for the first time shortly after we bought it. It was still under warranty and the Chevrolet dealership in Washington PA fixed it. We paid to have it fixed and now it’s out again and we c…”
“On [XXX] at approximately [XXX{}, my new 2025 Chevy Colorado Trail Boss which I purchased from the dealer brand new on [XXX], experienced a sudden catastrophic transmission failure which led to myself nearly being severely injured/possibly killed while drivin…”
Official recalls
Safety recalls on record
Federal recall campaigns — the defect, the risk, and the fix. Confirm any open recall was completed before you buy.
Chevrolet Malibu — 29 recalls
The defect: General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2023-2025 Chevrolet Malibu vehicles. The rearview camera screen may display a distorted or blank image.
The risk: A rearview image that does not display correctly reduces the driver's view behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will inspect, and if necessary, replace the rearview camera, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 20, 2026. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is N2625…
The defect: General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2023-2025 Chevrolet Malibu vehicles. The rearview camera screen may display a distorted or blank image.
The risk: A rearview image that does not display correctly reduces the driver's view behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will inspect, and if necessary, replace the rearview camera, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 20, 2026. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is N2625…
The defect: General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2024 Cadillac XT4 and Chevrolet Malibu vehicles. The vehicles may have the wrong owner's manual in the glove box. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 225, "Child Restraint Anchorag…
The risk: The wrong owner's manual may contain inaccurate information about vehicle functions and other safety relevant information, which could lead to improper operation of the vehicle and increase the risk of a crash or injury.
The fix: Dealers will provide owners with the correct manual, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 26, 2024. Owners may contact Cadillac's customer service at 1-800-458-8006 and Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020.…
The defect: 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.
The risk: An improperly secured seat belt retractor may not function properly in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
The 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 custom…
Chevrolet Colorado — 12 recalls
The defect: General Motors has decided that certain 2027 Chevrolet Bolt EV, 2025-2026 Cadillac OPTIQ, Chevrolet Colorado, Equinox EV, GMC Canyon, 2026 Buick Enclave, Envision, Cadillac CT5, Escalade, Escalade ESV, Escalade IQ, Escalade IQL, LYRIQ, VISTIQ, Chevrolet Blazer EV, Corvette Convertible, Corvette Cou…
The risk: Without an owner's manual to consult, owners may not know how to safely use and operate the vehicle, increasing the risk of injury in a crash.
The fix: Dealers will reset the vehicle radio, which will facilitate automatic download of the electronic owner’s manual, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 16, 2026. Owners may contact GM customer service at 1-866-467-970…
The defect: General Motors has decided that certain 2027 Chevrolet Bolt EV, 2025-2026 Cadillac OPTIQ, Chevrolet Colorado, Equinox EV, GMC Canyon, 2026 Buick Enclave, Envision, Cadillac CT5, Escalade, Escalade ESV, Escalade IQ, Escalade IQL, LYRIQ, VISTIQ, Chevrolet Blazer EV, Corvette Convertible, Corvette Cou…
The risk: Without an owner's manual to consult, owners may not know how to safely use and operate the vehicle, increasing the risk of injury in a crash.
The fix: Dealers will reset the vehicle radio, which will facilitate automatic download of the electronic owner’s manual, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 16, 2026. Owners may contact GM customer service at 1-866-467-970…
The defect: General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2022 GMC Canyon and Chevrolet Colorado vehicles equipped with a manual passenger seat. The front passenger seat may have a hook attachment that was not properly welded, allowing it to separate from the inboard track of the seat frame.
The risk: An improperly welded seat frame may not properly restrain the seat occupant, increasing the risk of injury in a crash.
The fix: Dealers will inspect the front passenger seat and replace the cushion frame, if necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 6, 2022. Owners may contact GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782 or Chevrolet customer…
The defect: General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2020 Chevrolet Bolt EV and 2021 GMC Canyon and Sierra 1500, 2500 and 3500, Yukon, Yukon XL, Cadillac Escalade and Escalade ESV and Chevrolet Blazer, Camaro, Colorado, Equinox, Silverado 1500, 2500 and 3500, Suburban and Tahoe vehicles. Incorrect bolts m…
The risk: If a seat belt assembly is not properly attached to the vehicle, the seat belt may not properly restrain an occupant in the event of a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
The fix: GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the suspect bolts, free of charge. The recall began January 29, 2021. Owners may contact GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8785, Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006, or Chevrolet cust…
Buyer analysis
Chevrolet Malibu or Chevrolet Colorado: which should you buy?
The Chevrolet Colorado has fewer complaints per year (102.3) compared to the Chevrolet Malibu (292.8), indicating a lower frequency of reported issues. However, the Colorado's powertrain problems can be more severe, including catastrophic transmission failures. In practice, the Malibu may require more frequent visits to the shop, while the Colorado might face more costly repairs when they occur.
Key differences
- The Malibu has a much higher complaint rate (292.8/yr) than the Colorado (102.3/yr), indicating more frequent issues overall.
- Malibu owners frequently report engine starting failures and reduced power warnings, while Colorado owners report transmission failures and key ignition problems.
- The Malibu's electrical system is a major source of complaints, with persistent warning lights, whereas the Colorado's electrical issues are more about cooling fan and infotainment glitches.
- The Colorado has had a recall for ADAS driver monitoring camera/sensor, while the Malibu has recalls for backup camera and seat belts, highlighting different safety-related concerns.
- Check for starting issues: press the start button and see if the engine cranks reliably; watch for 'Service ESC' or 'Engine Power is Reduced' messages.
- Test the transmission for hard shifts, especially on a cold start, and verify the 'Shift to Park' warning does not appear when in Park.
- Inspect the ignition for key sticking issues; try turning the key and removing it multiple times.
- Test the cooling fan by letting the engine run and then shutting it off to see if the fan continues to run; also check the infotainment system for blank screens or reboots.
Before you buy
- Have a mechanic perform a pre-purchase inspection, focusing on the engine and transmission for both vehicles.
- For the Malibu, ask about any open recalls related to the backup camera and seat belts, and check if the 'Shift to Park' issue has been addressed.
- For the Colorado, verify that the transmission has been serviced and check for any open recalls on the ADAS camera/sensor.
- Test drive both vehicles under various conditions, including cold starts and highway merging, to feel for any hesitation or jerking.
- Review the vehicle's service history for repeated repairs on the same components, such as the engine or transmission.
Year by year
Which model years to avoid
Complaints per model year for both vehicles — lower is better. The spikes are the years to scrutinize.
| Year | Chevrolet Malibu | Chevrolet Colorado |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 10 | 27 |
| 2024 | 33 | 114 |
| 2023 | 58 | 130 |
| 2022 | 91 | 49 |
| 2021 | 82 | 71 |
| 2020 | 194 | 79 |
| 2019 | 188 | 146 |
| 2018 | 693 | 180 |
| 2017 | 720 | 215 |
Check the actual car
Comparing models is smart. Checking the VIN is essential.
Brand averages tell you the trend. A VIN check tells you what's wrong with the specific Chevrolet Malibu or Chevrolet Colorado in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Chevrolet Malibu vs Chevrolet Colorado
- Chevrolet Malibu total complaints
- 2,928
- Chevrolet Colorado total complaints
- 1,023
- Chevrolet Malibu total recalls
- 29
- Chevrolet Colorado total recalls
- 12
- Chevrolet Malibu avg complaints/year
- 292.8
- Chevrolet Colorado avg complaints/year
- 102.3
- More reliable overall
- Chevrolet Colorado
- Chevrolet Malibu top complaint area
- ENGINE
- Chevrolet Colorado top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN