Head-to-head reliability
Chevrolet Malibu vs Chevrolet Traverse
How the Chevrolet Malibu and Chevrolet Traverse 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 Traverse: The Malibu averages 293.3 complaints per year, while the Traverse averages 201.9. Malibu owners report engine power loss and starting issues, while Traverse owners face transmission failures and electrical glitches. Both have recalls, but the Traverse has more air bag-related recalls. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Chevrolet Malibu or Chevrolet Traverse 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, has a high complaint volume, averaging over 293 per year over the past decade. Owners frequently report issues with the engine, electrical system, and powertrain, often involving starting problems, reduced power, and hard shifting. These complaints suggest that while the car may be comfortable, it can be unreliable and potentially unsafe in traffic due to sudden power loss.
Chevrolet Traverse
The Chevrolet Traverse, a midsize SUV, also shows a significant number of complaints, averaging about 202 per year. The most common issues are in the powertrain, electrical system, and engine, with reports of transmission failure, accelerator pedal unresponsiveness, and electrical glitches. These problems can lead to unexpected vehicle behavior, such as lunging forward, which poses safety risks.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Chevrolet Malibu | Chevrolet Traverse |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 2,933 | 2,019 Better |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 29 | 23 Better |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 92 | 64 Better |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 293.3 | 201.9 Better |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 70 | 62 Better |
| Reported deathsTied to owner complaints | 2 | 1 Better |
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
- 01ENGINE1,017
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM802
- 03POWER TRAIN669
- 04UNKNOWN OR OTHER637
- 05VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL442
Owners report intermittent no-start conditions when pressing the start button and brake, 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 be dangerous when merging into traffic.
Electrical issues often manifest as the same starting problems and dashboard warning lights (ESC, parking brake) that stay on until the car is restarted. These can be intermittent and confusing, leading to uncertainty about the vehicle's reliability.
The powertrain complaints mirror engine issues, with reports of the car not starting, losing power, and jerking during shifts. This can cause hesitation when accelerating, increasing the risk of accidents.
“The contact owns a 2023 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that while driving 75 MPH, the vehicle jerked abnormally with several unknown warning lights illuminated and unknown messages were displayed. Additionally, there was a white fuel warning light illum…”
“The issue appears to involve the engine and turbocharger system. The vehicle has shown symptoms consistent with a turbo underboost condition, including loss of power and reduced acceleration. A mechanic indicated that the symptoms may be consistent with diagn…”
Chevrolet Traverse
- 01POWER TRAIN524
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM387
- 03UNKNOWN OR OTHER347
- 04ENGINE327
- 05AIR BAGS292
Transmission failures are a major concern, with some vehicles sitting at dealerships for a month awaiting repair. Others report the vehicle failing to respond to the accelerator pedal and gear shifter issues, which can lead to sudden loss of drive.
The center display may freeze, and the HVAC system can default to 76 degrees with A/C and defrost stuck on high, making it impossible to adjust climate controls. Additionally, a 'Service Battery Charging System' warning may appear, indicating alternator or electrical problems that persist even after battery replacement.
Engine issues include the same accelerator pedal unresponsiveness and gear shifter problems, as well as a check engine light related to thermostat/cooling issues, with the cooling fan running after shutdown.
“electrical, drivetrain, powertrain. While driving the vehicle a message popped up on the speedometer saying service battery chargeing system and battery saver mode. the is the second time that those messages have come up in the four years of ownership with th…”
“The contact owns a 2022 Chevrolet Traverse. The contact stated that while driving in first gear, the vehicle would independently enter limp mode as the check engine light would appear on the instrument panel. Due to the vehicle failing to accelerate above fir…”
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 2022-2023 Chevrolet Malibu vehicles. The front impact bar, a structural portion of the vehicle frame, may not be properly welded to the front frame rail.
The risk: An improperly welded front impact bar may result in the front crash sensors not performing correctly, increasing the risk of injury in a crash.
The fix: Dealers will inspect the right-hand and left-hand side of the vehicle's motor rail for an incomplete weld. If the condition is found, the vehicle will be repurchased by GM. Owner notification letters were mailed January 20, 2023. Owners ma…
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…
Chevrolet Traverse — 23 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, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2020-2022 Chevrolet Traverse and 2021-2022 Buick Enclave vehicles. The harness connector to the left or right side roof rail air bag may have incompatible electrical terminals, which could prevent the air bags from deploying in a crash.
The risk: Roof rail air bags that do not deploy as intended increase the risk of injury in a crash.
The fix: Dealers will replace the harness connector to the roof rail air bags, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on April 29, 2022. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300 or Chevrolet customer service at 1-…
The defect: General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2023 Chevrolet Blazer and Traverse vehicles. The left-side half-shaft assemblies may be missing a retaining ring.
The risk: A missing retaining ring on the half-shaft can cause half-shaft inner joint separation, resulting in a loss of drive power or vehicle rollaway when the vehicle is placed in park. Either of these scenarios can increase the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will replace the left-side half-shaft assembly, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed February 23, 2023. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is N222390180.
The defect: General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2023 Cadillac XT6, GMC Acadia, Chevrolet Blazer, Traverse, and 2022-2023 Cadillac XT5 vehicles. The transmission may have been built with an incorrect sun gear, which can result in the driver-side half-shaft disengaging from the transmission.
The risk: A half-shaft disengaging from the transmission can result in a loss of drive power or vehicle rollaway when the vehicle is placed in park. Either of these scenarios can increase the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will replace the sun gears, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on July 27, 2023. The remedy is expected to become available August 31, 2023. Owners may contact Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006, Chevro…
Buyer analysis
Chevrolet Malibu or Chevrolet Traverse: which should you buy?
The Chevrolet Malibu has more complaints per year (293.3) compared to the Traverse (201.9), but both have serious reliability concerns. The Malibu's engine and electrical issues are more frequent, while the Traverse's transmission problems can be more severe. In practice, the Traverse may have fewer overall complaints, but its powertrain failures can be more costly and dangerous.
Key differences
- The Malibu has a higher annual complaint rate (293.3) than the Traverse (201.9).
- Malibu owners frequently report engine power reduction and no-start conditions, while Traverse owners report transmission failures and accelerator pedal unresponsiveness.
- The Traverse has more air bag complaints (292) compared to the Malibu (not in top components), suggesting potential safety system issues.
- Both have electrical problems, but the Malibu's are more tied to starting, while the Traverse's affect climate control and battery charging.
- Check for starting issues: try starting the car multiple times, especially with the brake pressed, and watch for 'Service ESC' or 'Engine Power is Reduced' messages.
- Test the transmission: drive on a cold start and see if it jerks or hesitates when accelerating.
- Inspect the transmission: ask for service records and test drive at various speeds to see if the accelerator pedal responds smoothly.
- Check the electrical system: start the car and see if the center display freezes or the HVAC defaults to 76 degrees with A/C on high.
Before you buy
- Obtain a vehicle history report to check for recalls and previous complaints.
- Have a trusted mechanic perform a pre-purchase inspection, focusing on the engine, transmission, and electrical systems.
- Test drive both vehicles under similar conditions, including cold starts and highway driving.
- Ask for maintenance records, especially for transmission fluid changes and battery/alternator replacements.
- Check for any open recalls and ensure they have been addressed.
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 Traverse |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 10 | 171 |
| 2024 | 34 | 130 |
| 2023 | 59 | 85 |
| 2022 | 91 | 95 |
| 2021 | 84 | 86 |
| 2020 | 194 | 218 |
| 2019 | 188 | 400 |
| 2018 | 694 | 454 |
| 2017 | 720 | 360 |
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 Traverse in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Chevrolet Malibu vs Chevrolet Traverse
- Chevrolet Malibu total complaints
- 2,933
- Chevrolet Traverse total complaints
- 2,019
- Chevrolet Malibu total recalls
- 29
- Chevrolet Traverse total recalls
- 23
- Chevrolet Malibu avg complaints/year
- 293.3
- Chevrolet Traverse avg complaints/year
- 201.9
- More reliable overall
- Chevrolet Traverse
- Chevrolet Malibu top complaint area
- ENGINE
- Chevrolet Traverse top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN