2020 Chevrolet Malibu service brakes problems
42 owner complaints filed with NHTSA name the service brakes on the 2020 Chevrolet Malibu — 21% of all complaints for this model year.
What owners report
“I have a failed vacuum pump which caused my braking ability to be 100% reliant on my own strength to be able to “safely” stop the car. This is an ongoing and common problem with GM yet they have not recalled or given any solution. This is unsafe and should be illegal. I have now an underwater car…”
filed Aug 23, 2026
“My 2020 Chevrolet Malibu experienced a sudden and severe electrical failure after driving through normal roadway water. Immediately afterward, the vehicle displayed multiple safety‑critical warnings including loss of power steering assist, Electronic Stability Control (ESC) faults, brake control…”
filed Aug 5, 2026
Verbatim excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA. Reports are not independently verified.
Service Brakes problems in other Malibu years
| Year | Reports | Share |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 Malibu | 2 | 5% |
| 2023 Malibu | 2 | 3% |
| 2022 Malibu | 5 | 5% |
| 2021 Malibu | 2 | 2% |
| 2019 Malibu | 21 | 11% |
| 2018 Malibu | 60 | 9% |
| 2017 Malibu | 67 | 10% |
| 2016 Malibu | 94 | 11% |
| 2015 Malibu | 16 | 6% |
| 2014 Malibu | 42 | 12% |
| 2013 Malibu | 44 | 5% |
| 2012 Malibu | 65 | 7% |
Other reported problem areas on the 2020 Chevrolet Malibu
Counts are unique NHTSA complaints naming this component group. Complaints are unverified owner reports; mileage is computed only from complaints that included a usable odometer reading.