Head-to-head reliability
Chevrolet Malibu vs FORD F 150
How the Chevrolet Malibu and FORD F 150 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 FORD F 150: The Malibu averages 296 complaints per year, while the F-150 averages 1,131. Malibu owners report engine power loss and electrical starting issues; F-150 owners face transmission hard shifts and electrical camera failures. Both have recalls, but the F-150 has more. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Chevrolet Malibu or FORD F 150 more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Chevrolet Malibu
The Chevrolet Malibu is a midsize sedan that, over the past decade, has generated a high volume of complaints, averaging nearly 300 per year. Owners frequently report engine and electrical issues, including starting problems, power loss, and hard shifting, which can affect daily drivability and safety. The presence of multiple recalls for the rearview camera and other components adds to the ownership concerns.
FORD F 150
The Ford F-150 is a full-size pickup truck with a much higher complaint count, averaging over 1,100 per year, reflecting its popularity and widespread use. The most common issues involve the powertrain, particularly the 10-speed automatic transmission, which owners describe as shifting hard or failing, sometimes leading to loss of power. Electrical problems and exterior lighting issues are also frequently reported, along with numerous recalls.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Chevrolet Malibu | FORD F 150 |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 2,961 Better | 11,311 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 29 Better | 145 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 92 Better | 328 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 296.1 Better | 1131.1 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 70 Better | 287 |
| 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
- 01ENGINE1,023
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM807
- 03POWER TRAIN673
- 04UNKNOWN OR OTHER646
- 05VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL443
Owners report intermittent no-start conditions 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 be dangerous when pulling into traffic.
The same no-start issue is often attributed to electrical gremlins. Additionally, the rearview camera is subject to a recall (NHTSA Campaign 26V212) for intermittent failure, which can impair visibility when reversing.
Transmission problems manifest as hard jerks and shifting issues, sometimes without any diagnostic trouble codes. This can lead to sudden power loss, increasing the risk of collisions.
“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…”
FORD F 150
- 01POWER TRAIN3,553
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM2,071
- 03UNKNOWN OR OTHER1,401
- 04EXTERIOR LIGHTING1,164
- 05ENGINE847
The 10R80 automatic transmission is a major source of complaints, with owners experiencing hard and delayed shifts, clunks, and even sudden loss of power while driving, which can be terrifying in traffic.
Electrical issues include warning messages for front camera malfunction and pre-collision assist not available, which appear every time the truck is started. These can disable safety features and require dealer visits.
Headlight problems are common enough to have prompted recalls. Owners report issues that can reduce visibility at night, posing a safety risk.
“I started noticing hard and delayed shifts from 7th into 8th gear. My RPM's were not increasing when this happened, and then on a very crowded major road I lost all power, vehicle shut off and drifted, then started up and jerked again very hard. This failure…”
“I am reporting a safety-related transmission problem I experienced with my 2020 Ford F-150 equipped with the 10R80 automatic transmission. While driving normally, the transmission shifts hard (ie: jerks, clunks) between 4-5 and 5-6 gears, and has on occasion…”
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 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.…
FORD F 150 — 145 recalls
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018-2020 F-150 trucks equipped with high series LED headlamps with Autolamp (On/Off) functionality. The Daytime Running Lamps (DRL) may remain activated instead of dimming to parking lamps when the Master Lighting Switch (MLS) is manually rotated from…
The risk: DRL that cannot dim may reduce the visibility of other drivers, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the body control module, free of charge. The recall began March 10, 2020. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 20C03.
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2019-2020 F-150 vehicles. The fastener securing the Power Distribution Box (PDB) 12V cable and Battery Monitoring System (BMS) eyelets to the positive battery terminal may loosen and affect the vehicle's systems such as instrument panel displays and br…
The risk: Inoperative vehicle systems or an engine stall can increase the risk of a crash. Reduced braking and steering efforts increases the risk of a crash. This condition could also create a resistive short, increasing the risk of a fire.
The fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the positive battery cable/BMS/PDB joint for excess sealant adhesive and remove any excessive adhesive, reassemble the joint, and retorque the fastener, as necessary, free of charge. The re…
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2015-2019 Ford F-150 and 2017-2019 Ford F-250 Super Duty, F-350 Super Duty, F-450 Super Duty, and F-550 Super Duty pick-up trucks equipped with an engine block heater. Water and contaminants may get into the block heater cable's splice connector causin…
The risk: When the heater is plugged in, prolonged corrosion could cause a resistive short, increasing the risk of overheated or melted wiring which can increase the risk of a fire.
The fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will disable the block heater cable, free of charge. Once parts are available, Dealers will replace the engine block heater cable, free of charge. The recall began June 3, 2019. Owners may contact Ford…
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018-2020 F-150 and 2019-2020 F-250, F-350, F-450, and F-550 Super Duty pickup trucks, and 2018-2019 Ford Explorer, 2019-2020 Expedition, and 2020 Escape vehicles equipped with driver and/or passenger's manual front seat back recliner mechanisms. Also…
The risk: A seat back with an improperly assembled recliner mechanism may have reduced strength and may not adequately restrain an occupant in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
The fix: Ford will notify owners, and Ford and Lincoln dealers will inspect the seat structure and replace them, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began October 21, 2019. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's num…
Buyer analysis
Chevrolet Malibu or FORD F 150: which should you buy?
The Chevrolet Malibu has significantly fewer complaints per year (296) compared to the Ford F-150 (1,131), indicating a lower rate of reported issues. However, both vehicles have serious reliability concerns that buyers should investigate thoroughly before purchase.
Key differences
- The Malibu's engine and electrical issues often cause no-start or power reduction, while the F-150's transmission problems lead to hard shifts and loss of power.
- The F-150 has a much higher complaint volume, but it's also a top-selling vehicle, so the rate per vehicle may be lower.
- Both have recalls, but the Malibu's rearview camera recall is a specific safety concern, while the F-150's recalls cover headlights and other components.
- The F-150's electrical issues include camera and pre-collision malfunctions, whereas the Malibu's electrical issues are more tied to starting.
- Test the start button repeatedly to ensure the engine starts consistently without 'Service ESC' or 'Engine Power is Reduced' messages.
- Check the rearview camera for intermittent failures, especially if the vehicle is a 2023-2025 model covered by recall 26V212.
- Take a thorough test drive, paying close attention to transmission shifts between 4th and 8th gears for any hard jerks or clunks.
- Start the truck and see if any warning lights appear for front camera or pre-collision assist malfunction.
Before you buy
- Obtain a vehicle history report to check for open recalls and prior complaints.
- Have a trusted mechanic perform a pre-purchase inspection, focusing on the engine and transmission.
- Test all electronic features, including start button, cameras, and driver assistance systems.
- Check for any service bulletins or common issues online for the specific model year.
- Take the vehicle for an extended test drive, including highway speeds, to feel for transmission behavior.
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 | FORD F 150 |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 11 | 329 |
| 2024 | 39 | 617 |
| 2023 | 68 | 1507 |
| 2022 | 94 | 3432 |
| 2021 | 88 | 5234 |
| 2020 | 195 | 33 |
| 2019 | 189 | 36 |
| 2018 | 694 | 56 |
| 2017 | 723 | 43 |
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 FORD F 150 in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Chevrolet Malibu vs FORD F 150
- Chevrolet Malibu total complaints
- 2,961
- FORD F 150 total complaints
- 11,311
- Chevrolet Malibu total recalls
- 29
- FORD F 150 total recalls
- 145
- Chevrolet Malibu avg complaints/year
- 296.1
- FORD F 150 avg complaints/year
- 1131.1
- More reliable overall
- Chevrolet Malibu
- Chevrolet Malibu top complaint area
- ENGINE
- FORD F 150 top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN