Head-to-head reliability
Chevrolet Silverado vs Chevrolet Malibu
How the Chevrolet Silverado and Chevrolet Malibu compare on NHTSA complaints, recalls and crash reports — and which is the lower-risk used buy.
Based on NHTSA owner-complaint & recall records
Chevrolet Silverado vs Chevrolet Malibu: The Silverado has 426 complaints per year and 99 recalls, while the Malibu has 293 per year and 29 recalls. Silverado owners report engine and transmission failures, while Malibu owners face electrical and shifting issues. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Chevrolet Silverado or Chevrolet Malibu more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Chevrolet Silverado
The Chevrolet Silverado, a full-size pickup, shows a heavy complaint load concentrated in the engine and powertrain, with owners reporting diesel particulate filter clogging, engine knocking requiring full replacement, and transmission line failures. Electrical and brake issues also surface, often with warning lights and system errors. This pattern suggests a truck that may demand frequent dealer visits for serious mechanical and electronic problems.
Chevrolet Malibu
The Chevrolet Malibu, a midsize sedan, has fewer complaints per year but still shows significant engine, electrical, and powertrain issues. Owners describe starting problems, reduced engine power warnings, hard shifting, and a persistent 'Shift to Park' error. These issues can affect drivability and safety, especially when power loss occurs in traffic.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Chevrolet Silverado | Chevrolet Malibu |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 4,261 | 2,928 Better |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 99 | 29 Better |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 104 | 92 Better |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 426.1 | 292.8 Better |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 74 | 70 Better |
| Reported deathsTied to owner complaints | 2 | 2 |
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 Silverado
- 01ENGINE1,384
- 02POWER TRAIN1,244
- 03ELECTRICAL SYSTEM754
- 04SERVICE BRAKES642
- 05UNKNOWN OR OTHER438
Owners report diesel particulate filter clogging (P2463) requiring dealer regeneration, and in some cases, a loud knocking noise leading to complete engine replacement with no warning lights.
Transmission fluid lines can fail at highway speed, causing rapid fluid loss and potential loss of drive, with no prior alerts.
Multiple owners report warning messages for traction control and brake system failure, sometimes while parked, indicating possible sensor or module issues.
Brake-related warnings and failures are reported, often linked to the electrical system, which could affect stopping ability.
“My 2026 Chevrolet Silverado 3500 with the 6.6L Duramax diesel has experienced three separate P2463 Diesel Particulate Filter excessive soot accumulation events at approximately 4,300, 5,500, and 10,280 miles. Each event required a Chevrolet dealer to perform…”
“At approximately 3,000 miles, the engine began making a loud knocking noise that became progressively worse while driving. The truck was diagnosed as needing a complete engine replacement. No warning lights, no check engine light, nothing. For someone inexper…”
Chevrolet Malibu
- 01ENGINE1,016
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM800
- 03POWER TRAIN669
- 04UNKNOWN OR OTHER635
- 05VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL442
Starting issues occur when pressing the start button and brake simultaneously, accompanied by 'Service ESC' and 'Engine Power is Reduced' messages. Some owners also report power loss and hard shifting without diagnostic codes.
ESC codes and warning lights (ignition, parking brake) appear after starting and persist until restart, indicating potential sensor or module malfunctions.
Transmission shifting problems, including hard jerks on cold start and delayed acceleration, are reported, which can be dangerous when merging into traffic.
A common 'Shift to Park' failure occurs even when the gear selector is in Park, which can lead to unintended rollaway or difficulty turning off the vehicle.
“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…”
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 Silverado — 99 recalls
The defect: General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2025 Chevrolet Silverado EV work trucks. The pedestrian alert sound system may not produce sound at a sufficient volume. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 141, "Minimum So…
The risk: A vehicle that fails to make sufficient sound may result in pedestrians being unaware of an approaching vehicle, increasing the risk of injury.
The fix: Dealers will update the software in the body control module (BCM), free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 22, 2025. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is N24…
The defect: General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2025-2026 Chevrolet Silverado 3500, and GMC Sierra 3500 vehicles with gasoline engines and dual fuel tanks (RPOs L8T and N2N). The rear fuel pump may not transfer adequate fuel to the front tank, causing an engine stall.
The risk: An engine stall increases the risk of a crash.
The fix: The vehicle's engine control module (ECM) will be updated by a dealer or through an over-the-air (OTA) update, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 8, 2026. Owners may contact GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782…
The defect: General Motors (GM) has decided that certain 2022 model year Chevrolet Silverado, and GMC Sierra vehicles equipped with an accessory sport bar. The accessory sport bar contains a high-mounted brake light that may not function. In addition, it may block the vehicle's existing high-mounted brake ligh…
The risk: An inoperative high-mounted brake light can reduce visibility to other drivers and increase the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will inspect the installation of the accessory bar and provide the correct vehicle wiring, if necessary, free of charge. Interim owner notification letters advising owners of the safety risk were mailed on August 10, 2022. Owner no…
The defect: General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2022 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 vehicles. The sensing diagnostic module (SDM) was left in manufacturing mode and not activated at the assembly plant prior to shipment. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle S…
The risk: An SDM in manufacturing mode will not deploy the vehicle's air bags in a crash, increasing the risk of occupant injury.
The fix: Dealers returned the vehicles to the GM assembly plant and the sensing diagnostic modules were activated. The vehicles had not been sold from dealer inventory and therefore no owner letters will be mailed. Owners may contact Chevrolet cust…
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…
Buyer analysis
Chevrolet Silverado or Chevrolet Malibu: which should you buy?
The Chevrolet Malibu has fewer complaints per year (292.8 vs 426.1) and fewer recalls (29 vs 99), suggesting a lower frequency of reported issues. However, both vehicles have serious engine and transmission problems that could affect reliability and safety.
Key differences
- Silverado has more than double the complaints per year and triple the recalls, indicating a higher rate of reported problems.
- Silverado owners report diesel particulate filter clogging and engine knocking leading to replacement, while Malibu owners face starting and 'Shift to Park' issues.
- Both have electrical gremlins, but Silverado's brake warnings and Malibu's ESC codes are distinct.
- Malibu's powertrain issues include hard shifting and power loss, while Silverado's include transmission line failures.
- Inspect the diesel particulate filter system for prior clogging or regeneration records, especially on Duramax models.
- Check for any engine knocking or unusual noises, and request service history for engine replacements.
- Test the start button and brake pedal interaction to see if 'Service ESC' or 'Engine Power is Reduced' messages appear.
- Verify the 'Shift to Park' issue by shifting to Park and checking if the warning appears, and inspect transmission behavior on cold starts.
Before you buy
- Obtain a full service history and check for open recalls on both vehicles.
- For the Silverado, have a mechanic inspect the transmission lines and engine for any signs of leaks or knocking.
- For the Malibu, test the start-stop system and check for any warning lights during a test drive.
- Ask about any prior repairs for the specific issues mentioned (DPF, engine replacement, shift to park).
- Consider a pre-purchase inspection by a certified mechanic familiar with these models.
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 Silverado | Chevrolet Malibu |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 0 | 10 |
| 2024 | 493 | 33 |
| 2023 | 0 | 58 |
| 2022 | 0 | 91 |
| 2021 | 905 | 82 |
| 2020 | 821 | 194 |
| 2019 | 1968 | 188 |
| 2018 | 0 | 693 |
| 2017 | 0 | 720 |
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 Silverado or Chevrolet Malibu in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Chevrolet Silverado vs Chevrolet Malibu
- Chevrolet Silverado total complaints
- 4,261
- Chevrolet Malibu total complaints
- 2,928
- Chevrolet Silverado total recalls
- 99
- Chevrolet Malibu total recalls
- 29
- Chevrolet Silverado avg complaints/year
- 426.1
- Chevrolet Malibu avg complaints/year
- 292.8
- More reliable overall
- Chevrolet Malibu
- Chevrolet Silverado top complaint area
- ENGINE
- Chevrolet Malibu top complaint area
- ENGINE