Last refreshed in 2019, the 2022 Chevrolet Malibu has just a few minor updates for what is the seventh model of the midsize sedan’s ninth generation. Presenting it to potential buyers, the automaker states that “The street is its stage.” Whilst this is intended to show how positively the sedan performs, owners experiencing transmission and acceleration problems feel they are in the spotlight for the wrong reasons.
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Most Common Problems with the 2022 Malibu
There are only a handful of complaints lodged with the National Highway Traffic Administration (NHTSA) about the 2022 Chevy Malibu. But most relate to safety risks. While the most common problems are associated with transmission faults and acceleration issues, 8 components and systems are implicated in complaints. These are the airbags, engine, electrical system, exterior lighting, powertrain, seat belts, brakes, and backover prevention. Apart from powertrain issues, complainants have listed their problems under 2 or 3 categories.
For example, a complaint listed as an airbag and seat belt problem relates to an “unknown safety restraint system failure that Chevrolet can not fix.” And a problem linked to the electrical system, exterior lighting, and backover prevention highlights faults with the infotainment system, Bluetooth, and the car’s headlights.
There is also a recall for 2,018 2022-2023 Malibu sedans that may not have had the front impact bar welded to the front frame rail correctly. This is a structural issue that, the recall warns, may result in a failure of the front crash sensors to perform properly. The danger is that this increases the risk of a crash.
Dealers are bound to inspect the welds on both sides of the motor rail. If your Malibu is recalled and they find an incomplete weld, General Motors will repurchase your car. The NHTSA Campaign number for the recall is 22V923000.
2022 Chevrolet Malibu Complaint Summary
Complaint Category
Number of Complaints
Unknown Or Other
13
13
Electrical System
10
10
Power Train
9
9
Air Bags
3
3
Engine
2
2
Exterior Lighting
2
2
Fuel/propulsion System
2
2
Seat Belts
2
2
Back Over Prevention: Automatic System Braking
1
1
Service Brakes
1
1
Transmission and Acceleration Problems
Assuming there was a powertrain problem, a 2022 Malibu owner states, “My daughter was attempting to exit a parking lot. She put the car in Drive, pressed (the) accelerator pedal and there was no response.” She pressed the accelerator again and “the car took off and hit a 13 inch curb causing major front end damage to (the) vehicle. An initial diagnostic scan revealed a transmission fault code of P0826 Shift up and down failure.”
At the time of the complaint, the vehicle was with the dealer for further diagnostics before repairing it. However, a PO826 code usually means that the manual shifter is disabled. It may also indicate there is an issue in the electrical circuit of the upshift/downshift switch to the transmission circuit.
Additionally, it appears that this is not a new problem for the Chevy Malibu. In 2016, a Malibu owner reported his issue with the PO826 code in the Chevy Malibu Forum. His understanding was that the shift switch was stuck and/or there was a faulty wire to the shift column.
In another powertrain-related complaint, an owner states that the transmission “is jerking and slipping” and there is a lack of acceleration. “The car acts like it doesn’t want to go. When I take my foot off the gas pedal the transmission jerks hard.” Adding to the severity of the complaint, he says that the car’s original transmission has already been replaced “and now the new transmission is having the same issue.”
A third complaint, filed as a service brakes and engine issue, focuses on acceleration as well. “I was in a parking lot looking for a parking space with the brake down (my foot nowhere near the accelerator), and the engine was revving to over 3000.
“This car is currently unsafe to drive.”
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Electrical System, Lighting & Backover Prevention
A 2022 Malibu owner from Oklahoma describes problems with the Infotainment System, the headlights, and Bluetooth while driving. When “attempting to use the Infotainment System, the headlights became inoperable.” When the cell phone connected to Bluetooth, it became extremely hot. This didn’t happen while using the radio. Also, there were no warning lights to indicate any types of fault.
The local dealer repaired the headlight but not the Infotainment System, which appeared to be part of the problem. Even though failure mileage was only 1,900 the manufacturer didn’t provide any additional assistance.
What to do if your 2022 Chevy Malibu is a lemon?
If you think that your 2022 Malibu might be a lemon, you don’t have to live with problems. Every year automakers buy-back, replace, or trade-in lemon vehicles from unhappy owners. But it’s best to get legal opinion and legal assistance.
Lemberg Law is available to assess your problems free of charge. If we believe it is a lemon, we will help you get compensation or a settlement. The law says that GM must pay the legal fees for lemon law cases affecting Chevrolet vehicles. So, it’s not going to cost you anything.
Call our Helpline or fill out a contact form and we’ll see what we can do to help you.
About the Author:
Sergei Lemberg is an attorney focusing on consumer law, class actions related to automotive issues, and personal injury litigation. With nearly two decades of experience, his areas of practice include Lemon Law (vehicle defects), Debt Collection Harassment, TCPA (illegal robocalls and texts), Fair Credit Reporting Act, Overtime claims, Personal Injury cases, and Class Actions. He has consistently been recognized as the nation's "most active consumer attorney." In 2020, Mr. Lemberg represented Noah Duguid before the United States Supreme Court in the landmark case Duguid v. Facebook. He is also the author of "Defanging Debt Collectors," a guide that empowers consumers to fight back against debt collectors and prevail, as well as "Lemon Law 101: The Laws That Lemon Dealers Don't Want You to Know."
