2020 Chevrolet Malibu — Known Issues & Recalls

While driving at 60 mph on the freeway, your brake pedal became hard to press and your car didn't slow down as expected when you applied the brakes. Your check engine and traction control warning lights came on during this incident. You were able to slowly drive the car home and park it safely. The cause hasn't been determined yet, but your dealer has been notified.

While driving at 65 mph, your brake pedal stopped working and a warning light appeared on your dashboard. You also noticed brake fluid leaking onto the engine when the car was parked. A mechanic found that the brake vacuum pump had failed, which prevented the brakes from functioning properly. The repair will likely involve replacing the brake vacuum pump.

Your transmission developed metal particles in the fluid and subsequently failed. This suggests internal wear or damage to transmission components that released metal debris into the fluid, ultimately causing the transmission to stop working.

Your car occasionally displays a 'shift to park' error message on the dashboard, even when you're trying to shift normally. You have to move the gear shifter multiple times before the error clears and disappears. This problem has been happening since you bought the vehicle, but the dealership couldn't make it happen during their inspection, so they didn't repair it.

Your transmission has been problematic for over two years, causing hard shifts, acceleration problems, and your car stopping while in Drive — leaving you only able to go in Reverse. The transmission fluid level has been maintained, but the dealership suggested replacing the entire transmission rather than diagnosing the issue. Additionally, your steering pulls to one side. Fixing this will likely require transmission replacement or a complete transmission rebuild after proper diagnostic testing.

Your car suddenly lost power and wouldn't accelerate when you pressed the gas pedal while driving at various speeds. A dealer inspection found metal debris inside the transmission, indicating internal damage. The transmission will need to be replaced to restore normal acceleration and power.

Your car hesitates and struggles to accelerate normally when you press the gas pedal, and the check engine light is on. A mechanic identified this as a known issue (TSB N222372590) that Chevrolet is aware of. The dealer can inspect and repair this, which likely involves diagnosing the engine control system or fuel delivery.

Your check engine light is on and your car is displaying an error code (P1101) related to the mass air flow sensor, which measures how much air enters the engine. While other 2020 Malibus have been recalled for this issue, your vehicle's identification number isn't included in that recall. The mass air flow sensor may need to be cleaned or replaced to resolve the code.

Your brake power assist may fail when your engine oil level drops low, causing your brakes to feel less responsive and potentially making a grinding noise. This issue has occurred multiple times and required replacement of the brake power booster at least once. The problem resolves after an oil change, and you've noticed it typically starts around 40% oil depletion, though your oil warning light has never illuminated to alert you beforehand. The fix will likely involve diagnosing why low oil affects brake system pressure and may require brake system inspection, fluid replacement, or brake booster service.

Your brake system's vacuum pump has failed multiple times — you've already replaced it 4 times. This component helps your brakes work properly, and repeated failures suggest an underlying issue. The repair will involve diagnosing why the pump keeps failing and replacing it again, possibly along with related brake system components.

Your car's check engine light came on, and after an oil change and code reset, it returned—the shop found the valve cover needs replacement. More seriously, while stopped at a red light, your engine completely shut down, cutting power to all displays, lights, and screens. When the engine restarted, the gas pedal wouldn't respond and the brakes locked up, leaving you stranded in traffic. The next time you started the car, the engine shook violently with horrible noises and is now undriveable. The fix will likely involve replacing the valve cover, diagnosing the electrical shutdown issue, and having a mechanic inspect the fuel system and brake components for the lockup problem.

Your 2020 Malibu has a check engine light and failed emissions testing. The vehicle needs suspension work (axles, ball joints, lower control arms), engine repairs (oil pump, oil sensor), and brake system repairs (brake sensor, brake caliper). This car should not be driven until these safety and emissions issues are properly addressed.

Your brake pedal became very hard and unresponsive, forcing you to drive slowly (20-30 mph) and use the parking brake to stop because the car continued to roll even when braking. The issue was traced to a faulty vacuum pump, which costs $5,200 to replace. Repairing or replacing the vacuum pump should restore normal brake function.

Your 2020 Malibu is experiencing sudden, unpredictable power loss while driving—especially when pulling into traffic or passing on the highway. When it happens, the engine RPMs increase but the car slows down significantly, and the only way to regain power is to turn off the traction control. A check engine light and "low power mode" message appeared once. The dealer has been unable to consistently reproduce the problem despite having the car for extended periods, making it difficult to identify and fix the underlying cause.

Your brake pedal suddenly became very hard to push while driving, and then your car stopped cranking when you tried to start it at the shop. The shop identified a failed brake vacuum pump as the cause of both the hard brake pedal and additional engine damage. Fixing this will likely require replacing the brake vacuum pump and repairing the related engine damage it caused.

While driving at 35 MPH, your vehicle lost power and stalled with the check engine light coming on. A mechanic found that the fuel injectors had failed and replaced them, but the same problem happened again—your car hesitated, lost power, and you noticed a gasoline smell inside the cabin. This issue may indicate a recurring fuel system problem that needs professional diagnosis to prevent a breakdown.

Your engine RPM unexpectedly spikes while driving and your car hesitates. When you press the accelerator at 35-40 MPH, the car shudders and white smoke comes from the exhaust, with a flashing engine warning light and reduced power message. A mechanic suggested the throttle body needs cleaning, while another suspected turbocharger issues. The dealer hasn't diagnosed or repaired the problem yet.

Your check engine light came on while driving at 35 mph, and you noticed the car jerking and hesitating when you pressed the accelerator, especially at stops. The engine RPM fluctuated before the transmission suddenly shifted hard, then the car returned to normal. The dealer diagnosed a failed turbocharger that needs replacement. This issue happened once before with similar symptoms (no acceleration response), but the dealer couldn't find a cause that time.

Your car is having trouble shifting into park, and fuel or transmission fluid appears to be mixing with your engine oil. This could indicate a serious internal leak or seal failure that needs immediate inspection. The repair will likely involve inspecting seals, gaskets, and fluid lines to locate and stop the leak.

Your car displays a "shift to park" message on the dashboard even when you've already moved the gear selector to park, which prevents you from turning off the engine. This issue can also prevent the doors from locking in some cases. Because the engine won't shut off properly, your battery drains repeatedly, requiring multiple replacements. The fix may involve diagnosing the shift-to-park switch sensor or transmission control module to correct the signal being sent to your dashboard.