RoadVitals

2015 Chevrolet Malibu Driver assistance Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the driver-assistance system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Driver assistance reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
43
Latest May 24, 2024
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
16%
of 268 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
5
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
4

What this page shows

Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2015 Chevrolet Malibu submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 43 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming driver-assistance

The 25 most recent of 43, in the owner's own words

BrakesDriver assistanceElectrical
Filed May 24, 2024

Wheel hubs causes car to think that it’s going faster(200mph) causing car to drop speed, locks steering wheel making it impossible to turn away from traffic and drive it’s an accident waiting to happen not sure why there isn’t a recall. Also batteries causes the battery system warning to be a major problem even if alternator is good. I’m not sure if the two batteries is a good idea. The stop/start feature can cause radio issues it’s like cutting the car off and turn it back on when brake is released radio comes back on.

NHTSA ID
11590513
Incident
May 24, 2024
Driver assistanceElectrical
Filed Nov 12, 2022

I bought my 2015 Chevy Malibu in 2016 at 36k miles. No wrecks, 1 owner before myself. No warning lights on when driving from the lot and the car was just what I wanted… tho always a little doubtful because it was pre owned 1) there was always this random, unusual, indescribable smell from the vents where I couldn’t breathe but no one else could smell or experience it. I just kept getting sick. 2) I thought “MY” first 30k miles or so was rolling too fast and 3-5 months in, the ENGINE light popped on. Immediately took it to Chevy who said my engine light was on due to an “airbag” but wouldn’t tell me which unless I paid 70$. 3) Still, driving was not affected so I kept taking it to the Chevy dealer every 3-6 months for the proper maintenance. About 2 years in I go for an oil change at CHEVY: one guy pours RADIATOR fluid in my OIL compartment during the oil change. Just before he realizes it’s the wrong thing and looks to see if I saw, I alert the manager who immediately drains the oil and says it won’t be affected.. and assures me everything is fine. 🤷🏽‍♀️ 4) 4 years ownership, the service stability track message started appearing and the ENGINE POWER REDUCED SPEED LIMITED TO 25 MPH starts popping up on the screen and simultaneously the car DANGEROUSLY goes from highway speed to 25mph. ONLY Jesus mercy! That’s a death trap in itself. Still no recalls and no help. Temp fix (get to safety, turn off vehicle, wait 30 sec-1 min and restart) 5) At 150k miles, I returned to get transmission flush.change.check whatever the best procedure was. Chevy says, I wouldn’t because it doesn’t have to be serviced on these vehicle. yet they send me coupons for trans services. 6)JUST put on new tires, oil, oil cabin, and engine filters changed. Car riding smoothly then 4 days later I start it and up pops a message about SERVICE POWER STEERING: drive with care! No Gearshift lights. And it’s an EPS system! Something is WRONG with these cars. 7) Paint defects along pass. side

NHTSA ID
11493257
Incident
Nov 9, 2022
Driver assistanceEngine
Filed Nov 4, 2022

I was almost to work on the highway and my car dashboard said Engine Power is Reduced. It quickly started powering down from 74 directly to 50 then 40, then 35 and finally to 26 before I could safely pull off to the side of the road. This issue is getting worse it takes at least 10 minutes of waiting and turning my car off and on before it is back to normal. Others have said that they have gone to the garage and had it replaced and it just continues to happen. This needs to be a recall and not just a change of parts every few months.

NHTSA ID
11492235
Incident
Nov 4, 2022
Driver assistanceEngine
Filed Oct 31, 2022

I was on the highway traveling at around 68 mph and my car dashboard said Engine Power is Reduced speed Reduced to 45 mph and it instantly slowed to that speed. Fortunately I was able to pull of to the side of the road quickly and I turned off my car, waited for a bit and then turned it back on, it still said Engine Power is Reduced, so I turned it back off and waited again. This was at night, in the dark and it was not a pleasant experience to be pulled to the side of the road with your hazard lights on while traffic just buzzes by and your vehicle is disabled. This happened three times in one day during one trip. It's absolutely ridiculous and numerous other people have the same issue.

NHTSA ID
11491624
Incident
Oct 30, 2022
Driver assistanceEngine
Filed Oct 31, 2022

I was driving back home from Harrisburg, PA on the highway traveling at around 72 mph and my car dashboard said Engine Power is Reduced speed Reduced to 45 mph and it instantly slowed to that speed. It took quite a while to find a place to pull of to the side of the road because of the area I was in. It was quite frightening because everyone else is going the actual speed limit of 70 mph or over. By the time I found a place to pull over my car was reduced to less than 25 mph. As usual, I turned off my car, waited for a bit and then turned it back on, it still said Engine Power is Reduced, so I turned it back off and waited again. I turned it back on and it still said Engine Power is Reduced so I had to turn it back off again and wait. I turned it back on and it was fine again.

NHTSA ID
11491622
Incident
Oct 30, 2022
Driver assistanceEngine
Filed Oct 31, 2022

I was driving to Harrisburg, PA on the highway traveling at around 68 mph and my car dashboard said Engine Power is Reduced speed Reduced to 45 mph and it instantly slowed to that speed. Then it counted down very quickly to 35 and then 25 before I could find a safe place to pull off to the side of the road. I turned off my car, waited for a bit and then turned it back on, it still said Engine Power is Reduced, so I turned it back off and waited again. I turned it back on and it still said Engine Power is Reduced so I had to turn it back off again and wait. Sitting along side the road on the highway is not pleasant. I turned it back on and it was fine again.

NHTSA ID
11491619
Incident
Oct 30, 2022
Driver assistanceEngine
Filed Oct 28, 2022

I was on my way to work and my car dashboard said Engine Power is Reduced. I was in road construction and only going about 5 mph. I turned off my car and waited for about a minute as I just happened to be stopped waiting for the sign to turn for me to go and turned it back on, but it still said Engine Power is Reduced. I turned it back off and waited for another few seconds and turned it back on and it was ok again. This happens so frequently it's appalling.

NHTSA ID
11491297
Incident
Oct 26, 2022
Driver assistanceEngine
Filed Oct 28, 2022

My dad was driving my car when the car dashboard said Engine Power is Reduced Speed reduced to 25 mph. He pulled off to the side of the road and turned off my car. He waited for about 2 minutes and turned it back on, but it still said Engine Power is Reduced. He turned it back off and waited for 5 minutes and turned it back on and it was ok again.

NHTSA ID
11491294
Incident
Oct 23, 2022
Driver assistanceEngine
Filed Oct 17, 2022

I had almost gotten to the exit from the highway to get to my job, I was driving at approximately 56 mph. And my car dashboard started saying Engine Power is Reduced and then it started to flash slowing to 52 mph, slowing to 48 mph, etc. Fortunately I was able to safely make my exit and pull into a parking lot where I turned my car off and waited for 5 minutes and turned it back on it still said Engine Power is Reduced, so I repeated that procedure of turning off and turning on and was finally able to go to work. This is insane and needs to be recalled.

NHTSA ID
11489515
Incident
Oct 17, 2022
Driver assistanceEngine
Filed Oct 17, 2022

My vehicle dashboard says Engine Power is reduced. This has happened to me before and I know that it starts slowing down quickly and then just stops. I turned off my car and waited for three minutes, and turned my car back on - it still showed Engine Power is Reduced, so I turned it back off for about 5 minutes and turned it back on and then it was back to normal. I've reported this before. This is extremely dangerous on a regular road and it could be catastrophic if it would happen on the highway.

NHTSA ID
11489512
Incident
Oct 17, 2022
Driver assistanceEngine
Filed Oct 13, 2022

I was going out for breakfast and my car dashboard said Engine Power is Reduced. I pulled off to the side of the road and turned off my car. I waited for about 5 minutes and turned it back on, but it still said Engine Power is Reduced. I turned it back off and waited for another 5 minutes and turned it back on and it was ok again.

NHTSA ID
11489091
Incident
Sep 17, 2022
Driver assistanceEngine
Filed Oct 13, 2022

My vehicle dashboard says Engine Power Reduced then proceeds to slowing to 35 then counts down quickly. This morning I was in an area that I couldn't pull off to the side for about 1/2 mile. It slows down to the point that it's frightening then it goes to zero and will not move! Fortunately I was in an area where I could finally pull off to the side of the road when it got to that point. This has happened numerous times in this vehicle. A quick search on Google shows that this is a HUGE problem with this make, model and year. This is extremely dangerous. I have to turn my car off for about 5 minutes before my car is back to working condition.

NHTSA ID
11489079
Incident
Oct 13, 2022
Driver assistanceEngine
Filed Sep 15, 2022

My vehicle dashboard says Engine Power reduced - slowing to 35. This has happened to me before and I know that it starts slowing down quickly and then just stops, so I pulled of to the side of the road and put on my flashers, turned off my car and waited for several minutes and then it was back to normal. I've reported this before. This is extremely dangerous on a regular road and it could be catastrophic if it would happen on the highway.

NHTSA ID
11484565
Incident
Sep 15, 2022
BrakesDriver assistanceSteering
Filed Apr 24, 2022

Drive in rain, went to follow a curve, lost steering and brakes. Ran right off the road. Was going 50 in a 55. Did not hyrdoplane just no response from the car

NHTSA ID
11461969
Incident
Apr 24, 2022
Driver assistanceEngine
Filed Nov 30, 2021

On 11-11-21 my check engine light came on and message came up reducing engine power and also my speed was reduced. Stability track light came on. Took to shop they repaired but a week later same exact problems occurred. Took back to shop. So far hasn’t happened again. My husband Chevy equinox all of a sudden car does the same exact thing. The check engine light went off so he’s watching it

NHTSA ID
11442121
Incident
Nov 11, 2021
Driver assistanceEngine
Filed Oct 31, 2021

P16cf dtc and check engine light after some engine noise and an incident where I was trying to accelerate around an obstacle but was unable to. The car bottomed out and would not accelerate until I took my foot off the gas and tried again more slowly. It's an issue with the intake solenoid rocker arm (oil control valve). The issue with this particular part was noted on earlier Malibu models but not mine. I have not taken it to the dealer yet as I am out of the power train warranty.

NHTSA ID
11438789
Incident
Oct 22, 2021
Driver assistance
Filed Mar 24, 2021

I CAN BE DRIVING AT NORMAL SPEED AND I RECEIVE AN ERROR THAT THE ENGINE POWER IS REDUCING AND THE SPEED SHIFTS DOWN & I AM UNABLE TO EXCEED 25 MPH. THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT POPS ON & ALSO AN ERROR REGARDING STABIL LOC NEEDS TO BE SERVICED. MY CAR HAS AUTOMATICALLY SHUT OFF IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC. I'VE HAD TO PULL OVER TO A SAFE MEDIUM ON THE HIGHWAY AND MOSTLY WHEN THE ERROR OCCURS, I'M NOT ABLE TO TURN A CORNER AT A SAFE SPEED. ALTHOUGH I AM ABLE TO START IT RIGHT BACK OFF THE ERROR STILL PERSISTS. I HAVE HAD WHAT "THEY SAY" IS THE ISSUE REPAIRED TWICE BUT AS SOON AS I GET THE CAR BACK, I HAVE THE SAME ISSUE 1-3 DAYS LATER.

NHTSA ID
11404710
Incident
Mar 24, 2021
Mileage
71,000 mi
AirbagsDriver assistanceEngine
Filed Mar 2, 2021

WHEN TURNING LEFT FROM A STOP MY CAR ALL AT ONCE SAID ENGINE POWER REDUCED TO 25MPH, SERVICE AIRBAG, SERVICE STABILITRAC, AND SERVICE BRAKE ASSIST.

NHTSA ID
11398628
Incident
Mar 2, 2021
Mileage
142,770 mi
Driver assistance
Filed Jan 25, 2021

ON 1-24-2021, WHILE DRIVING THE CAR INITIALLY HAD ISSUES GAINING ACCELERATION DESPITE PRESSING THE GAS PEDAL. ONCE I WAS ABLE TO GET THE CAR TO REACH A SPEED OF 40MPH I RECEIVED A WARNING ON THE DASH STATING THE CAR'S SPEED IS BEING REDUCED TO 25MPH, FOLLOWED BY A MESSAGE THAT SAID REDUCED ENGINE POWER AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. THIS LED TO THE CAR STALLING AND EVENTUALLY SHUTTING DOWN ABOUT 2-3 MINUTES LATER. I WAS ABLE TO PULL TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD BEFORE THE CAR SHUT DOWN AND TURNED THE HAZARD LIGHTS ON. AFTER APPROXIMATELY 20 MINUTES I WAS ABLE TO START THE CAR. THE REDUCED ENGINE POWER MESSAGE REMAINED ALONG WITH A NEW MESSAGE OF SERVICE STABILITRAK. I WAS STILL UNABLE TO ACCELERATE BEYOND 25MPH WHICH WAS BELOW THE MINIMUM SPEED FOR THE ROAD I WAS DRIVING ON.

NHTSA ID
11389903
Incident
Jan 24, 2021
Mileage
85,000 mi
Driver assistance
Filed Oct 25, 2020

MODEL: 2015 CHEVY MALIBU/ 80000 MILES WHILE DRIVING THE CAR (IN HIGHWAY) IT STOPPED ALL OF A SUDDEN. IF I STOP AT A RED LIGHT THE ENGINE COMPLETELY SHUTS DOWN AND THEN I HAVE TO PUT IT ON PARKING/NEUTRAL AND RESTART THE CAR AGAIN. MY CONCERN IS IF IT SUDDENLY STOPS WHILE I AM DRIVING IT, I MAY GET HIT FROM BEHIND AND GET SERIOUSLY INJURED (ALMOST GOT HIT THE OTHER DAY). WHILE I WAS HAVING THE ISSUES, "SERVICE STABILITRAK" SIGN APPEARS ON THE DASH.

NHTSA ID
11366260
Incident
Oct 23, 2020
Mileage
80,000 mi
Driver assistanceElectricalEngine
Filed Sep 24, 2020

THE CAR STALLS OUT WHILE IN TRAFFIC AND/OR IMMEDIATELY REDUCE SPEED FLASHING-ENGINE REDUCE CODE ON THE DASH, MINES IN PARTICULAR HAS FLASHED SERVICE TRACTION AND REDUCE ENGINE POWER ON THE DASH, DIAGNOSTIC TESTING IS NOT GIVING ANY CODES FOR A SPECIFIC REASON FOR THIS ISSUE, SEEM TO BE SOMETHING UP WITH THE SENSORS AND ELECTRICAL SYSTEM ON THIS CAR- CAUSING MULTIPLE ISSUES TO HAPPEN ALL AT ONE TIME. CHEVY DEALER NOT VERY HELP- SUGGESTING TO FIX RANDOM PARTS AND THE ISSUE CONTINUES. DECIDED NOT TO DRIVE ON THE HIGHWAY, BUT DID DRIVE ON A BUSY STREET IN BALTIMORE COUNTY.

NHTSA ID
11361017
Incident
Sep 19, 2020
Mileage
85,000 mi
BrakesDriver assistance
Filed Jun 19, 2020
Crash reported

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE AT A COMPLETE STOP; THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED INDEPENDENTLY ONCE HIS FOOT SLIPPED OFF THE BRAKE PEDAL AND CRASHED INTO THE VEHICLE AHEAD OF HIM WITHOUT WARNING. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AND NO INJURIES WERE REPORTED. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED AND THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO DRIVE AWAY FROM THE SCENE. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE PASSENGER SEAT HAD BROKE AS A RESULT OF THE ACCIDENT. THE CONTACT LINKED THE FAILURE TO THE AUTO ENGINE IDLE STOP FEATURE ON THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT SPOKE TO KEYES CHEVROLET (5949 VAN NUYS BLVD, SHERMAN OAKS, CA 91401) ABOUT DISABLING THE AUTO ENGINE IDLE STOP FEATURE ON THE VEHICLE AND HE WAS INFORMED THAT THE FEATURE COULD NOT BE DISABLED. THE MANUFACTURER HAD YET TO BE NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE HAD YET TO BE REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 40,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. *DT*JB

NHTSA ID
11329771
Incident
Apr 1, 2018
Mileage
40,000 mi
Driver assistanceElectricalEngine
Filed May 18, 2020

I OWN A 2015 CHEVROLET MALIBU LTZ AND I CAN BE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AND THE 'SERVICE STABILITRACK' LIGHT WILL COME ON, THEN IT WILL SAY 'REDUCED ENGINE POWER'. I WILL HAVE TO PULL OVER, TURN CAR OFF, AND LET IT SIT FOR A MINUTE OR TWO, THEN CRANK BACK UP AND THOSE LIGHTS WILL GO OFF, BUT THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT WILL COME ON. SOMETIMES I HAVE TO DO THIS EVERY 5-10 MILES, DEPENDING ON THE DISTANCE OF MY DESTINATION, WHICH POSES A SAFETY ISSUE FOR ME, ESPECIALLY IF I'M TRAVELING AT NIGHT. THIS MOSTLY HAPPENS WHEN I'M DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. *TR

NHTSA ID
11325072
Incident
Apr 23, 2020
Mileage
41,000 mi
Driver assistance
Filed May 7, 2020

MY ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON ABOUT TWO WEEKS AGO. I TOOK IT TODAY MAY 7, 2020 TO THE PINE BELT CHEVROLET IN LAKEWOOD, NJ. I EXPLAIN TO THEM THAT MY CAR WOULD SHAKE AND STALL WHILE DRIVING. I EXPLAIN TO THEM THAT I DID NOT FEEL SAFE DRIVING ESPECIALLY WITH MY FOUR-YEAR-OLD SON IN THE BACKSEAT. I WANTED TO GET IT CHECKED OUT AND THAT WAS THE REASON WHY I BROUGHT IT THERE. THEY INFORMED ME THAT THIS WAS CAUSED DUE TO A ROCKER CONTROL ARM VALVE.THEY INFORMED ME THAT THEY WOULD HAVE TO ORDER THE PART, WHICH THEY DID, BUT THAT IT WOULD TAKE A VERY LONG TIME TO GET IT IN. THEY DID NOT OFFER ME A LOANER CAR AS THEY DID NOT KEEP MY CAR TO WORK ON. THEY SENT ME BACK ON THE ROAD WITH A SHAKING CAR THAT STALLS WHILE DRIVING. I DID MY RESEARCH AND HAVE SEEN THAT THERE WAS A PETITION OF OVER 1500 SIGNATURES WITH OWNERS OF 2014 CHEVY IMPALA'S AND 2015 CHEVY MALIBU'S WHO ALL COMPLAINS OF THE SAME THING AND INCLUDED THAT THEY HAVE BEEN WAITING 4 OR MORE MONTHS FOR THIS PART. I AM COMPLAINING FOR THE FACT THAT THIS IS UNSAFE, THERE HAS BEEN NO RECALL FOR THIS THOUGH THERE HAVE BEEN NUMEROUS COMPLAINTS AND WE ARE ALL PAYING FOR VEHICLES THAT ARE NOT SAFE TO DRIVE. I HAVE ATTACHED THE LINK TO THE PETITION THAT SHOWS THAT NUMEROUS PEOPLE HAVE BEEN COMPLAINING ABOUT THIS FAULTY PART. ALSO, I AM ATTACHING MY INVOICE. THIS NEEDS TO BE RECALLED. *TR

NHTSA ID
11323688
Incident
May 7, 2020
Driver assistanceEngine
Filed Apr 22, 2020

THE CAR REDUCED SPEED WHILE MY WIFE AND GRANDS WHERE IN TRAFFIC ALMOST CAUSING AN ACCIDENT REDUCED TO 25 MPH ON HIGHWAY

NHTSA ID
11321965
Incident
Mar 4, 2020
Mileage
125,000 mi

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

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Elsewhere on this vehicle

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