Complaint volume
74 consumer-submitted complaints are matched to this model year. Treat the count as a research signal, then read the actual summaries for repeated symptoms.
Complaint records
2021 Chevrolet Malibu Complaints
74 consumer-submitted complaints on record for the 2021 Chevrolet Malibu, grouped by component category.
74 Total complaints
0 Crash reports
1 Fire reports
1 Injury reports
Complaint data reflects consumer-submitted reports. A complaint is not proof
of a defect, recall, or manufacturer fault. Enriched severity fields come
from official bulk records when the complaint can be matched by ODI number.
Buyer interpretation
How to use these complaints before buying
Complaint records are most useful when they turn into inspection points, seller questions, and comparison checks against nearby model years.
Pattern to inspect
The most common categories are power train, unknown or other, electrical system. Use those categories as a test-drive checklist instead of judging the vehicle from the total count alone.
Severity flags
Enriched records include 0 crash reports, 1 fire report, 1 injury report, and 0 fatality reports. These fields come from complaint records and should be read in context.
Mileage clue
Mileage is available on 14 complaints, with an average reported failure mileage of 45,171 miles. Compare that with the mileage on the listing.
Questions to ask the seller
- Have you had any problems related to power train, unknown or other, electrical system?
- Can I see recent maintenance and repair records?
- Has the vehicle ever been towed, involved in a crash, or repaired for the same issue twice?
- Can we also check the recall record for this 2021 Chevrolet Malibu?
Used-car checklist
Use these complaints before the test drive.
Build a buyer checklist to turn these issues into questions and inspection points.
2021 Chevrolet Malibu
Build buyer checklist Compare with other years Sends year, make, and model to pre-fill your checklist.
How severe are the 2021 Chevrolet Malibu complaints?
0 Crash
1 Fire
1 Injury
0 Fatality
1 Towed
0 Medical attention
What are the most common 2021 Chevrolet Malibu complaint categories?
POWER TRAIN 13
UNKNOWN OR OTHER 13
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 8
AIR BAGS 5
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,UNKNOWN OR OTHER 5
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM 2
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,UNKNOWN OR OTHER,ENGINE 2
ENGINE 2
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM 2
POWER TRAIN,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,BACK OVER PREVENTION 2
74 total complaints on record
Latest complaints
| Date | Component | Summary | Severity | Mileage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jul 2025 | POWER TRAIN | The contact owns a 2021 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that upon arriving to her destination and shifting the vehicle into park, the message "Shift to Park" was displayed with the gear shifter already in park(P). The contact was able to turn off the vehicle however, the electrical features remained operable. The contact stated that after several attempts, the vehicle returned to normal functionality, but the failure became a regular occurrence. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer or an independent mechanic. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but provided no assistance. The failure mileage was 54,000. | Crash: No Fire: No | 54,000 |
| Jun 2025 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,UNKNOWN OR OTHER,ENGINE | I was driving the car on the highway and “SERVICE ESC” popped up on my dash. Engine power reduction kicked in which caused me to have to erratically pull over to the shoulder. Brakes did not engage properly. When the “Service ESC” warning comes on the dash, the engine, transmission, and brakes stop functioning properly. The gauges start fluctuating up and down and the gps goes out of whack. Transmission won’t shift gears and the car will sometimes shut off all together.This is a very common problem with the Chevy Malibu from 2017 to present. I did my research and there is a lot of disgruntled owners that have experienced this problem. Type in “service ESC Chevy Malibu” on google, Reddit, or YouTube and you will see. I personally know two other Malibu owners with the same issue different years and mileage on there Malibu. I honestly can’t believe with all the information out there on these Malibus having the same issue there has not been a recall yet! | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jun 2025 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | Vehicle is in park but getting shift to park error | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| May 2025 | POWER TRAIN,ENGINE,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | It says that my engine had a problem. It told me to press my brake to start my car. But then it just kept shaking like it was trying to start. I have also had a notification saying to put my car in park when it already was. Today my car just stopped in the middle of the road in heavy traffic. We could have been hit getting out of the car or someone could have hit my car. It was towed to the local Chevrolet dealership to get checked out to see if it could be a recall. I don’t know what is wrong with it yet. There were no warning lamps prior to the failure. They appeared right when it happened. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| May 2025 | POWER TRAIN | The contact owns a 2021 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that when the vehicle was shifted into park(P), the message “Shift to Park” was displayed on the instrument panel. The contact stated that during the failure, the contact was unable to turn off the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, but the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was informed of the failure and confirmed that the VIN was not under recall. The manufacturer referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 98,600. | Crash: No Fire: No | 98,600 |
| May 2025 | POWER TRAIN,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,BACK OVER PREVENTION | SHIFTER ERROR - SCREEN READS SHIFT TO PARK ONCE CAR IS TURNED OFF ALREADY THE CAR TAKES TIME TO TURN OFF EVEN WHEN ITS OFF. IN AN EMERGENCY YOU CAN'T GET OUT OF YOUR CAR TO LOCK IT NO NO THE CHECK ENGIN LIGHT IS ON BUT IT READS FOR A FILTER | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Apr 2025 | POWER TRAIN | The contact owns a 2021 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated while the vehicle was parked, the "Shift to Park" message was intermittently displayed on the instrument panel and the vehicle intermittently failed to completely shut off or lock. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a dealer to be diagnosed; however, the vehicle was not yet diagnosed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 21,000. | Crash: No Fire: No | 21,000 |
| Mar 2025 | POWER TRAIN | When you put the car in park and shut the car off a message displays on the dash saying place vehicle in park. You have to wiggle the gear shifter for the message to disappear. It appears the gear shifter has a bad sensor | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Feb 2025 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,UNKNOWN OR OTHER,ENGINE | I own a 2021 Chevy Malibu and I have been having issues with my transmission since November 5,2024. I was driving along at about 30 miles per hour When all of a sudden the car would not accelerate so I put the car in park and put the car back in drive and accelerated but only revved up but still would not move. I called a mechanic to look at my vehicle and he checked that I had transmission fluid and it was full. Upon further inspection he plugged an OBD code reader on my vehicle and came up with a P0700 Transmission Control System Malfunction which is the output shaft speed sensor or the vehicle speed sensor? I spoke to a shop about the problem and they said that that year and model car has a lot of complaints from owners. They said that it could cost up to 3,000 and up to replace the transmission. I think that it should be investigated for that issue? | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Feb 2025 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,UNKNOWN OR OTHER | I recently purchased this vehicle. Within the first week I was trapped in the vehicle sporadically. When I try to put my car into park, the car keep repeating "shift to park". I have tried to put the car through all gears, backing up and parking repeatedly to attempt to put the car back into park. I have been trapped in my car for hours trying to put it in gear. When I reached out to the dealership they stated that even though there is a recall for most Malibu's; however, my VIN number does not qualify for the recall. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Feb 2025 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | Unknown. It’s been happening on and off since I took it off the dealership lot. Can’t turn off Malibu because it’s not in park when I have it in park. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jan 2025 | SUSPENSION,POWER TRAIN,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | Rear differential keeps going out and transmission keeps failing every 10k miles, apple car play doesn’t work and lags out. So hand free doesn’t work | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Dec 2024 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | Hello , in January 18,2024 I’ve purchased a 2021 Chevrolet Malibu from Toyota of Dallas on Forest Lane. Within the first 24 hours I got a flat due to a bad tire , but was informed they did a full inspection before giving me the car . I contacted my sales representative she informed me to to bring the vehicle up there once they were open to see if they could resolved the issue due to me paying for a new tire. Once arrived they stated they could not compensate because I bought a tire somewhere else . Within 48 days of having the vehicle , I contacted them sale representative which I still have messages the my vehicle is saying “shift to park” while in park . They stated that it could just be a “sensor” used to bring it . Once I brought it in the car was not doing it & they informed me theirs nothing they can do unless the car does it again when I bring it . The car ends up doing it again I contact them my sale person no longer work there so I disclose this issue with another sales person , which no one documented but I have the messages to prove I informed them. I brought the car up there again & one of the technicians informed me “ just push your gear shift forward a little & it will just turn off”. So I did so & it worked but not for long . My car kept continuously doing it afterwards & they suggested to bring it in for diagnostic , however they way my schedule is at the probation office I work Monday - Friday & that is my only transportation to work or my schedule would not align . So on December 3,2024 my check engine light comes on in the vehicle while driving home . I immediately took my car to the Auto Zone on Buckner which I also have the paperwork for their diagnostic suggest cleaning the throttle bottle & also code P1101. I notice on the paper it stated my car would not pass a inspection with those code & said transmission status - red . I immediately set me appointment for 12/04/24 to take my car to the dealership. I took my car there they stated I arrived | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Nov 2024 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,UNKNOWN OR OTHER | When I turn off the car it displays a 'shift to park' message and the car tries to roll if I take my foot off of the brake. My [XXX] was beside the car and was almost run over. This is a problem that the car rolls away. I have to restart the car continuously and toggle the gear shift to get it to stop. It will not let the lights turn off and radio and/or the other components in the car and is running the battery down. There is a recall for this problem but it is VIN specific and my car is not included. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6) | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Oct 2024 | POWER TRAIN,ENGINE | Placing the car in park, turn off the car and a message appears saying to shift to park. The vehicle is not recognizing when the car is in park not allowing me to turn it off. I have to turn the car on and off multiple times until it decides it wants to finally shut off. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Oct 2024 | POWER TRAIN,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | The contact owns a 2021 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that after parking the vehicle and pressing the START/STOP button, the vehicle did not immediately turn off with the message "Shift to Park" displayed. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The local dealer was notified of the failure. The manufacturer was not yet contacted. The failure mileage was 34,200. | Crash: No Fire: No | 34,200 |
| Oct 2024 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | The year and model of my vehicle has a known issue of shift to park and only selected Vin’s they will repair even though there is a recall and known issue. I can not safely park my car as it’s not reflecting it is in the park position | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Oct 2024 | POWER TRAIN | The contact owns a 2021 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that on several occasions while attempting to park the vehicle, the gear shifter was shifted to park(P); however, the vehicle did not recognize the gear selected. The contact stated that the "Shift to Park" message was displayed. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 15,000. | Crash: No Fire: No | 15,000 |
| Aug 2024 | ENGINE | My 2021 Chevy Malibu's transmission is shredding. The car does not go into D right away, it acts like the engine is completely disengaged. If I go from R to D several times, the engine sometimes revs very high when I step on the gas and then lurches the car forward a few feet. Sometimes, when I try to get the car into first gear, the car will completely shut down with the vehicle in D, and I have to put it in P and restart it. Other times, I can put it in different gears a few times until R engages very sharply (the whole vehicle moves), and then it will engage into D just as sharp. My check engine light will come on and go off, although it never did before this problem started, and whenever it comes on, the car will stop working whenever I stop the vehicle and try to go again (i.e. red lights). I only have one car and am forced to continue to drive this vehicle while I wait on repairs. I have two kids and I am terrified that my transmission is going to completely give out while we're driving, or the engine is going to start shutting down while the vehicle is in motion! The dealership told me that two other Malibus were in with the same exact issue within days of each other. A GM inspector confirmed the transmission is shredding. My friend had a Chevy Impala that did the exact same thing | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Aug 2024 | POWER TRAIN | The vehicle display states to "Shift to Park" when the vehicle has been put in park and the ignition turned off. I have seen model years from 2022 through 2025 have been recalled in California for the same issue. It also can affect the cars ability to start. it first appeared two weeks ago and i have tried all recommended suggestions of putting your foot on the brake when turning it off, letting is sit a minute before turning it off and those have not changed the situation. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Aug 2024 | POWER TRAIN | The transmission is not working in first gear. The dealership says it needs to be replaced and they have at least 2 other cars with the same problem of the same model and year. This problem has stranded us multiple times. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Aug 2024 | STRUCTURE,UNKNOWN OR OTHER | Upper center brake light leaked allowing moisture and mildew to accumulate. Safety issue in how it affects my severe asthma. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jul 2024 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,UNKNOWN OR OTHER | Car is not registering that is in park. When I put the car in park the message on the dash will ding and say "shift to park" even though it is already in park. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jun 2024 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | Parked car and it was dinging. Looked at dash and had shift to park warning. Car has 15000 miles. Had to hit shifter to get dash to turn off. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jun 2024 | POWER TRAIN,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | The computer was not recognizing my car being in the correct gear shift. It did this for a few days until finally, I couldn't drive it. The car would not recognize any part of the gear being in the correct position. The car would not move forward or reverse, resulting in a tow. The mechanic at Reed Lallier Chevrolet in Fayetteville NC was even able to guess my car make and model from the symptoms I reported (which was later discovered, in my case, the gear shift link had loosened), and confirmed that if this happened while in motion, it would have been very dangerous. He also said they had 3 other cars that SAME DAY that had different causes but the same exact faulty gear recognition, with all of them being recent-year Malibu Chevrolet models AND the following day when I was doing my follow-up call concerning my car, 2 more were brought in with the faulty gear recognition issue. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |