23 complaints reported

2015 Chevrolet Malibu Electrical System

Owner-reported problems and safety issues filed with NHTSA. Review common failures, severity levels, and complaint trends over time.

Reports
23
Crashes
0
Fires
3
Injuries
0

Complaint Timeline

Chronological view of owner reports

Aug 2025

I was coming home from school pickup, and the light said the engine power was reducing. Then the screen said that I couldn't go past 25 miles per hour. The skid sign came on also. The car started slowing down on its own. The car then stopped. I had to put on emergency lights quickly. I had my daughter and grandaughter in the car. Thank God we didn't get rear ended. I turned off the car and waited. I turned it back on and went home a half a mile away thankfully. I looked up for a recall and Google said that there was a potential for the same thing. The check engine light came on too. This has never happened the whole time that I've had it.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2015 CHEVROLET MALIBU, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Aug 2025
May 2024

The contact owns a 2015 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated while the key was in the ignition switch in the off position, the vehicle attempted to start independently. There was no warning light illuminated. The local dealer was contacted, but the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 150,000.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2015 CHEVROLET MALIBU, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Jan 2024
Nov 2023

The contact owns a 2015 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle lost motive power and stalled without warning. The contact veered to the side of the road. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where the front and rear batteries, and the alternator were replaced; however, the failure reoccurred within a month. The dealer was notified of the failure and an appointment was scheduled for a diagnostic test. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that a recall had not been issued for the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 98,000.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2015 CHEVROLET MALIBU, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Nov 2023
Mar 2023

The contact owns a 2015 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that the vehicle was designed with the Auto START/STOP feature. The contact stated while at a complete stop, the vehicle turned off, causing the electrical features to cease and the instrument panel lights to turn off. The dealer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The contact related the failure to TSB Number: 10-00-89-005. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 67,000.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2015 CHEVROLET MALIBU, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Mar 2023
Feb 2022

The trunk will not open and if you force it open it will not close back. This has happened several times now and I’m not able to get into my trunk.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2015 CHEVROLET MALIBU, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Jan 2022
Jun 2021

THE RADIO AUDIO SYSTEM GIVES A RANDOM STATIC INTERFERENCE, NOT EVERY DRIVE BUT 1/10 TIMES. NO MUSIC OR AUDIO CAN BE HEARD UNTIL THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN SHUT OFF FOR COUPLE OF MINUTES THEN THE SYSTEM WORKS FINE.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2015 CHEVROLET MALIBU, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Sep 2018
Jan 2021

THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. THE CODE IS P305F WHICH MEANS THE BATTERY CONTROL MODULE IS AFFECTED. THIS POWERS THE ACCESSORIES. WHEN THE AUTO STOP FEATURE TRIGGERS, THE VEHICLE'S ACCESSORIES WILL TURN OFF AND HEADLIGHTS WILL TURN OFF. DANGEROUS AT NIGHT. THERE ARE NO CURRENT SOLUTIONS FOR THIS CODE AND MAKES THE CAR A FAILURE FOR EMISSIONS.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2015 CHEVROLET MALIBU, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Jan 2021
Oct 2020

I WAS AT A RED LIGHT ON A MAJOR HIGHWAY NO WARNING WHAT SO EVER. LIGHT TURNED GREEN TOOK FOOT OFF BRAKE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON THEN CAR COMPLETELY SHUT OFF. HAD POWER BUT I GUESS NOT ENOUGH TO TURN ON THE HAZARD LIGHTS. ALMOST GOT HIT IN THE REAR BECAUSE THEY THOUGHT I WAS GETTING READY TO MOVE BECAUSE THERE WHERE NO LIGHTS ON IN THE REAR. HAD TO PUSH IT OFF TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD THAT WAS HARD DUE TO THERE WAS NO POWER STEERING AT ALL. GOT MY SON TO COME GET ME BUT FIRST WE WANTED TO SEE IF THE CAR WOULD START WITH A JUMP START AND IT DID BUT CALLED FOR A TOW TRUCK BECAUSE I WAS SCARED IT WAS GOING TO SHUT OFF AGAIN. THERE WAS NO WARNING OR EVEN WARNING SIGNS PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT. BESIDE THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMING ON RIGHT BEFORE THE CAR SHUT OFF THAT WAS NOT A VERY GOOD WARNING. SO I BOUGHT A BATTERY FOR THE CAR AND EVERYTHING HAS BEEN FINE. I REALLY THINK THAT PUT ME IN A DANGEROUS SITUATION NOT BEING ABLE TO PUT MY HAZARD LIGHTS ON BEING ON A MAJOR HIGHWAY AND TRYING TO PUSH IT TO THE SIDE WITH NO POWER STEERING.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2015 CHEVROLET MALIBU, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Oct 2020
Oct 2020

I WENT THRU A DRIVE THRU CARWASH , NOW MY BACK UP CAMERA ONLY SHOWS GUIDELINES , NO IMAGE , THE BACK UP CAMERA IS NOT WORKIMG PROPERLY. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2015 CHEVROLET MALIBU, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Dec 2020
May 2020

RUNS RUFF AND DIES AT STOPS (RED LIGHTS) IT'S HAPPENED 6 TIMES. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2015 CHEVROLET MALIBU, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: May 2020
Apr 2020

THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION ON A CITY STREET AND THE WHOLE RADIO CONSOLE CUT OFF FOR ABOUT 5 SECONDS AND CAME BACK ON. THE ENGINE LIGHT THEN POPPED ON.IT DID THIS TWICE IN A MATTER OF 10 MINS. THIS ISSUED HAS HAPPENED TWICE SPORADICALLY 3 TIMES BUT NEVER CONSECUTIVE ON THE SAME DAY. BOTH BATTERIES WERE TESTED AND THEY ARE GOOD. GOT THE CODE P305F. PERFORMED A CHECK ON ALL WIRES AND HARNESSES AND THEY WERE SECURE. THE MAIN BATTERY WAS REPLACED WITH A NEW AC DELCO ON FEBRUARY 22, 2020. MY CAR ALSO CUT OFF ON SEPTEMBER 30 WHILE IT WAS IN MOTION AND I WAS SWITICHING GEARS TO REVERSE.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2015 CHEVROLET MALIBU, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Mar 2020
Feb 2020

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VARIABLE TIMING OIL CONTROL SENSOR FAILED AND THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START. THE CONTACT MANUALLY DISCONNECTED AND RECONNECTED THE BATTERY TO BE ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO (NEIL HUFFMAN CHEVROLET BUICK GMC OF FRANKFORT 1220 VERSAILLES RD #102, FRANKFORT, KY 40601) TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO A DEFECTIVE OIL CONTROL SENSOR. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE PART WAS INDEFINITELY ON BACKORDER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100,000.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2015 CHEVROLET MALIBU, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Oct 2019
Oct 2019

INITIALLY, CIRCA TWO YEARS AGO, HAD AN ELECTRICAL FAILURE ON HARD BRAKING - THE RADIO DISPLAY SCREEN AND OTHER ELECTRICAL SHUT DOWN, CAR STALLED. AFTER RESTART, CAR WOULD ONLY MOVE FORWARD SLOWLY. EVENTUALLY THIS CLEARED. THE CAR HAS HAD A TOTAL OF ~5 INCIDENTS OF COMPLETE BATTERY DRAIN AND CONSEQUENT FAILURE TO START AFTER SITTING, EVEN THOUGH THE ALTERNATOR PREVIOUSLY WAS SPINNING, AND "BATTERY VOLTAGE" REPORTS AS SOMEWHERE IN THE 13-14 V RANGE. ON THREE SEPARATE REPAIRS, DEALER HAS REPLACED THE AFT BATTERY, THEN THE FORWARD BATTERY, THEN UPDATED FLASH MEMORY (OF BATTERY CONTROL? ANTILOCK BRAKE CONTROL, NOT SURE), PER A RECALL NOTICE AFFECTING OTHER NEARBY MODEL YEARS. AFTER THIS, THE CAR WENT SEVERAL MONTHS WITHOUT INCIDENT, BUT DRAINED BATTERY AND FAILED TO START AGAIN THIS WEEK. IT APPEARS THAT THE COMPLEX AUTO STOP/START ELECTRICAL SYSTEM IS FLAWED IN SUCH A WAY THAT THE LOCAL DEALER CANNOT DIAGNOSE WHY THE BATTERY KEEPS DRAINING. BECAUSE THE FORWARD BATTERY CAPACITY IS VERY LARGE, AND USAGE OF THE CAR IS LOW, IT TAKES SEVERAL MONTHS TO DRAIN THE BATTERY. WHEN THE BATTERY IS DRAINED, THE CAR NO LONGER FUNCTIONS - POWER STEERING, ELECTRONICS, ETC, HENCE IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE IF IT HAPPENS WHILE DRIVING.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2015 CHEVROLET MALIBU, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Jun 2019
Aug 2019

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT ARRIVED HOME AND TURNED OFF THE VEHICLE. WHEN HE ATTEMPTED TO RESTART IT, THE ANTI-THEFT CONTROL SYSTEM WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS ONLY WHEN THE VEHICLE IS IN PARK. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 75,000.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2015 CHEVROLET MALIBU, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Feb 2019
Oct 2018

A/C CONTROL DOES NOT TURN ON. IT HAPPENS RANDOMLY AND HAS OCCURRED MULTIPLE TIMES. IN THE PAST I HAD TWO INCIDENTS WHERE I WAS NOT ABLE TO DEFROST MY WINDSHIELD.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2015 CHEVROLET MALIBU, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Oct 2018
Oct 2018 Fire

VEHICLE FIRE NEAR THE BATTERY/BOX. NO BODY DAMAGE, DAMAGE LIMITED TO THE FUSEBOX AND HARNESS NEAR THE BATTERY. WIRES AND PART OF THE BATTERY/BOX BURNED.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2015 CHEVROLET MALIBU, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Nov 2018
Feb 2018 Fire

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED OUTSIDE, THE CONTACT OPENED THE DOOR AND SMOKE BILLOWED OUT. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE DASHBOARD WAS PARTIALLY MELTED AND THE CARPET WAS BURNT ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE. THE POLICE AND FIRE DEPARTMENTS WERE NOT PRESENT AND NO REPORTS WERE FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO STEVE RAYMAN CHEVROLET IN MARIETTA, GEORGIA WHERE THE HEAD MECHANIC FROM HEADQUARTERS DETERMINED THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE; HOWEVER, THE CONTACT WAS NEVER PROVIDED WITH THE DIAGNOSIS. THE DEALER OFFERED TO PURCHASE THE VEHICLE BACK. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 42,000.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2015 CHEVROLET MALIBU, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Oct 2017
Feb 2018 Fire

ON DECEMBER 10, 2017 AROUND 11AM I CAME OUT OF CHURCH, I OPENED MY CAR DOOR AND SMOKE CAME FLOWING OUT. THE DRIVERS SIDE SEAT AND FLOOR MATS WERE COVERED IN BLACK ASH AND MELTED AS WELL AS THE CONSOLE. THE INTERIOR WAS COVERED IN BLACK SOOT. I HAD TO DRIVE THE CAR HOME, THE EXTERIOR LIGHTS FUNCTIONED PROPERLY AND THE CAR CRANKED FINE. I CALLED GM, THEY ARE CLOSED ON SUNDAY, SO I FILED A REPORT WITH THE GM REPRESENTATIVE ON MONDAY, SHE WAS TOTALLY COMBATIVE. I HEARD NOTHING FOR 4 TO 5 WEEKS SO I CALLED THE ASME NUMBER AND COMPLAINED VEHEMENTLY. FINALLY I RECEIVED AN EMAIL TO CONTACT THE DEALRSHIP AND TAKE THE CAR THERE. THE DEALER, STEVE RAYMAN, WAS EXTREMELY HELPFUL, THEY ADVISED ME HOW TO PROCEED AND IN 2 DAYS I WAS ABLE TO RECEIVE A RENTAL FROM ENTERPRISE CAR RENTAL. FOUR WEEKS LATER I RECEIVED AN OFFER OF $13,000.00 AND A STATE THAT WOULD ABSOLVE GM OF ANY LIABILITY. ICALLED TO SEE IF I COULD SIMPLY SUBSITUTE A CAR I FOUND FOR $11,000. 00 , SAME MAKE MODEL AND YEAR, THIS WOULD HAVE REDUCED GM'S LOSS; I WAS TOLD "NO WAY." I ASKED WHY?, THEY RESPONDED "I DON'T KNOW." THE VECHILE WAS PARKED IN THE CHURCH PARKING LOT, IT WAS SNOWING, AROUND 32 DEGREES. *JS

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2015 CHEVROLET MALIBU, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Dec 2017
Feb 2018

MY VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY. I WENT TO DEFROST MY WINDSHIELD AND THE ELECTRICAL SWITCH TO TURN ON THE HEAT WOULD NOT TURN ON. THIS HAS ALSO OCCURRED WHEN IT IS REALLY HOT OUTSIDE AND THE A/C WILL NOT TURN ON. I HAVE HAD THESE ISSUES OCCUR MULTIPLE OF TIMES IN HOT AND NOW COLD WEATHER.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2015 CHEVROLET MALIBU, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Mar 2018
Dec 2016

MY IGNITION KEYS (BOTH) SOMETIMES STICK IN THE 'START' POSITION WHEN STARTING. SOME DAYS THEY STICK SEVERAL TIMES AND SOME DAYS THEY DON'T. IT DEPENDS ON HEAT AND HUMIDITY. GENTLE PRESSURE EASILY RETURNS THE KEY TO THE 'RUN' POSITION. WE ALWAYS NOTICE THIS WHEN IT HAPPENS AND WE TURN THE KEY TO THE 'RUN' POSITION. BUT IF IT IS UNNOTICED IT COULD RELEASE WHEN HITTING A BUMP IN THE ROAD AND GO PAST 'RUN' AND INTO THE 'ACCESSORY' POSITION, SHUTTING OFF THE ENGINE. THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING SINCE THE CAR WAS NEW IN APRIL, 2015. THE DEALER CLEANED THE KEY AND LUBED THE IGNITION SWITCH BUT THE PROBLEM CONTINUES. THE DEALER WILL NOT REPLACE THE IGNITION SWITCH BECAUSE THE KEY DID NOT STICK WHILE THEY HAD THE CAR. THIS PROBLEM OCCURS OFTEN (ABOUT 10% OF THE TIME) WHEN THE WEATHER IS HOT AND/OR HUMID. IT OCCURS RARELY WHEN THE WEATHER ID COOL/DRY.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2015 CHEVROLET MALIBU, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Dec 2016
Jul 2015

WATER ENTERED THE CAR FROM BEHIND THE DASHBOARD AND FLOODED THE CARPET AND ALL THAT IS UNDER IT. I PERSONALLY SUCKED GALLONS AND GALLONS OF WATER OUT OF IT FOR 4 DAYS BEFORE I GAVE UP AND TOOK IT IN. THE SERVICE DEPT PULLED THE PROBLEM UP ON THE COMPUTER IMMEDIATELY. THAT TELLS ME THAT SOMEONE AT GM KNEW ABOUT IT AND THIS WASN'T THE FIRST TIME. B/C IT CAME IN BEHIND THE DASH, THE ELECTRONICS AND ELECTRICAL WILL BE AFFECTED B/C ALL THAT MOISTURE WILL NEVER GET OUT. RUSTING HAS ALREADY STARTED. THE CAR HAS BEEN AT THE DEALER FOR A WEEK. I AM GOING TO DEMAND A REPLACEMENT VEHICLE BECAUSE MOLD/MILDEW WILL BE GROWING, AND MOISTURE WILL AFFECT THE SAFETY OF THE CAR. I WILL NEVER GET A GOOD PRICE ON A TRADE-IN B/C OF THE WATER. THE CAR IS RUINED.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2015 CHEVROLET MALIBU, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Jun 2015
May 2015

DRIVING A LONG THAN STEERING GOES OUT WHEEL WILL NOT TURN DEALER SAID NEE NEW ELECTRIC MOTOR UNDER DASH 1.000 TO FIX

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2015 CHEVROLET MALIBU, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Oct 2014
Mar 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE AT A COMPLETE STOP, ALL OF THE ELECTRICAL LIGHTS, INCLUDING THE HEADLIGHTS, POWERED OFF WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT POWERED THE VEHICLE OFF AND BACK ON SEVERAL TIMES AND ALL OF THE LIGHTS RE-ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THERE WAS A STRONG SMELL OF FUEL IN THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, BUT THE FAILURE WAS UNABLE TO BE DETERMINED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 81.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2015 CHEVROLET MALIBU, Manufacturer: General Motors, LLC
Incident: Dec 2014

Trend Over Time

Complaints by year

Quick Summary

The 2015 Chevrolet Malibu has 23 Electrical System complaints on file. Review the timeline above for detailed owner experiences.