2020 Chevrolet Malibu Recalls, Complaints & Specs
1 safety recall lists the 2020 Chevrolet Malibu, and owners have filed 198 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.
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1 safety recall for the 2020 Chevrolet Malibu
Most recent first. Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. Click a recall for the full defect, consequence and remedy text.
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Retractor (seat belts) and critical fasteners (seat belts)
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.
Remedy: 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…
198 owner complaints filed with NHTSA
Owners of the 2020 Chevrolet Malibu have filed 198 complaints with NHTSA; 10 describe a crash. Reports cite 7 injuries and 1 death. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 67,117 miles. Complaints peaked in 2025 with 46 filed that year.
Most-reported components
What owners are reporting
“The contact owns a 2020 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that while attempting to depress the brake pedal, the brakes failed to respond and seized, causing the contact to engage the parking brake.”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, September 8, 2026 · Service brakes, hydraulic
“The contact owns a 2020 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that the message "Steering Assist Reduced - Drive with Care" was intermittently displayed on the instrument panel while driving. The contac”
Owner complaint to NHTSA, September 8, 2026 · Steering
Fuel economy and specs
EPA ratings for the 2020 Chevrolet Malibu. Ranges cover every tested configuration.
| Combined | 26–32 mpg |
|---|---|
| City / Highway | 22–29 / 32–36 |
| Fuel | Premium, Regular |
| EPA class | Midsize Cars |
| Engine | 4 cyl, 1.5/2 L |
| Transmission | Automatic (variable gear ratios); Automatic 9-spd |
Compare Chevrolet Malibu model years
Recall and complaint counts for every Chevrolet Malibu model year in NHTSA's database.
Checking a specific 2020 Chevrolet Malibu
How do I know if my 2020 Chevrolet Malibu has an open recall?
Enter your 17-character VIN above. The VIN is on the driver's side dashboard (visible through the windshield), the driver's door jamb sticker, and your registration or insurance card. The check runs against NHTSA's live database and tells you which campaigns list your vehicle. 1 campaign currently lists the 2020 Chevrolet Malibu; your car may already have been repaired under it.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Under federal law, manufacturers must fix safety recalls at no charge for vehicles up to 15 years old from the date of sale to the first owner. Contact any authorised Chevrolet dealer with your VIN and the NHTSA campaign number (for example 21V649000).
What is the difference between a recall and a complaint?
A recall is a safety campaign filed by the manufacturer or ordered by NHTSA, with a defined defect and remedy. A complaint is a report an owner sent to NHTSA; it is not verified, but patterns of complaints are what trigger NHTSA investigations and, eventually, recalls.
Other Chevrolet models
- Silverado 150018,029 complaints
- Impala10,434 complaints
- Tahoe10,032 complaints
- Equinox9,161 complaints
- Silverado8,799 complaints
- Blazer8,192 complaints
- Suburban8,164 complaints
- Cobalt7,681 complaints
Source: NHTSA recall and complaint databases and EPA fuel economy data, October 2026. Complaint counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. Recall counts are safety campaigns that list this model year; whether a particular car was already repaired depends on its VIN. How this data is compiled.