Chevrolet Malibu vs Tesla Model 3
Owner complaints, worst years and recall history side by side, from official NHTSA data. Last verified Sep 22, 2026. Raw complaint counts are not adjusted for sales volume.
Chevrolet Malibu
- Total complaints
- 19,310
- Avg per model year
- 586
- Recall campaigns (all years)
- 51
- Most complained year
- 2009 (1,509)
Top problems: Steering, Electrical System, Engine
Tesla Model 3
- Total complaints
- 4,311
- Avg per model year
- 431
- Recall campaigns (all years)
- 36
- Most complained year
- 2018 (1,020)
Top problems: Forward Collision Avoidance, Unknown / Other, Vehicle Speed Control
Complaints by model year
| Year | Chevrolet Malibu | Tesla Model 3 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 11 | 115 | ||
| 2024 | 39 | 216 | ||
| 2023 | 69 | 424 | ||
| 2022 | 96 | 764 | ||
| 2021 | 88 | 662 | ||
| 2020 | 198 | 451 | ||
| 2019 | 190 | 612 | ||
| 2018 | 695 | 1,020 | ||
| 2017 | 702 | 26 |
Method. Complaints are unique NHTSA reports per model year. A model that sold more units will naturally accumulate more complaints — compare the shape across years, not just the raw totals, and read the year pages for what actually fails.