2019 Chevrolet Malibu engine problems

Filed Oct 20, 2026 · Engine, Transmission · CA

The vehicle experiences sudden transmission slipping, severe shuddering, and an unexpected loss of forward drive power while in motion. Specifically, while attempting to accelerate from a complete stop / merge onto the highway, the engine revs but the vehicle fails to accelerate properly or suddenly loses acceleration entirely. This creates a severe and immediate safety hazard as it leaves the vehicle moving incredibly slowly or stranded in active traffic, creating an imminent risk of a rear-end collision. The dealership has been unable to provide a permanent remedy.

Filed Sep 24, 2026 · Brakes, Electrical · 105,100 miles · TX

The contact owns a 2019 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that after purchasing the vehicle, the following morning while waiting at the school drop-off line with her foot on the brake pedal, there was an abnormal boom, and several warning lights illuminated and flashed on the instrument panel. The occupants inside the vehicle assumed that the vehicle was struck from behind. The vehicle attempted to surge and revved and started to choke and shut off. The vehicle was shifted into park and the ignition key turned to the off position. The vehicle was restarted but failed to move. The engine, traction control, and the radio were blinking. The vehicle was shifted to first gear but was moving slowly. The vehicle stalled and was restarted, but the failure recurred. The engine light remained illuminated, but the screen was dimmed. The vehicle was turned off. The contact associated the failure with TSB: 21-NA-045. The dealer was called and a voicemail was left. The vehicle was driven to the service center and the contact waited for 20 minutes to allow the vehicle to cool down and then restarted the vehicle. The gear shift indicator was not lit. The contact was able to drive to the residence. The radio started to work later. There was an abnormal hot odor. The contact was concerned about a fire. The local dealer responded and advised the contact not to drive the vehicle. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer, who was unable to determine the cause of the failure after the vehicle was test driven. The dealer confirmed there were no previous crash with the vehicle. There was one fault code displayed. The dealer stated that there might have been a backfire from the engine. The approximate failure mileage was 105,100.

Filed Sep 16, 2026 · Brakes, Engine · MI

Due to the vacuum pump failing during driving, metal shards broke inside of the car and went into the engine destroying it completely. Now i need a whole new engine

Filed Sep 1, 2026 · Engine, Transmission · MI

I understand that the vehicle is outside of its original warranty period. However, I do not believe that the expiration of the warranty should automatically make me responsible for a component failure that occurred at only approximately 39,000 miles. The PCV valve and orifice are not routine maintenance items that I would reasonably expect to require replacement at such low mileage. Unlike tires, brake pads, batteries, or other components that are expected to wear out and require periodic replacement, the PCV system is an integral part of the engine's emissions and crankcase ventilation system. A failure at only 39,000 miles seems premature and should not reasonably be characterized as ordinary wear and tear. More importantly, GM itself has acknowledged problems involving the PCV system in Chevrolet Malibu vehicles. GM Technical Service Bulletin and TSB 18NA246 and TSB 20-NA-047 specifically addresses plugged PCV orifices on 2016–2022 Chevrolet Malibu models and provides a diagnostic and repair procedure for this condition. The bulletin identifies the PCV orifice as the causal part associated with the condition being addressed. I recognize that a Technical Service Bulletin is not the same as a recall or an extension of the vehicle's warranty. I am not claiming that GM is necessarily obligated to repair the vehicle under the expired warranty. Rather, I believe GM's own technical documentation demonstrates that this is a recognized issue involving a specific component and is not simply an ordinary maintenance item that a customer should reasonably expect to replace at 39,000 miles. The approximate cost of this repair is $1300 for a failed $40 part!! Even GM changed the design of this component because in years past and newer years this part replacement was a 20 minute job, not a 5 hour complete replacement of the valve cover! Failure to repair this faulty design could lead to excessive oil loss and immediate loss of power due to the engine ceasing.

Filed Jun 4, 2026 · Brakes, Electrical · WI

Since 2024/2025 car has been malfunctioning, I’ve had it checked out but it just got worse and nothing was fixed l, it is I driveable and very unsafe. When driving it abruptly stops like it’s crashing Messages that pop up (Multiple ones at one time flashing as well) - service “ESC” -“service power steering drive with care” -“shift to park” -“low fuel” (but car has gas in it) - check engine light on -all lights flashing at once while jerking -car stops abruptly when you’re driving it -radio blacks out while driving -dashboard blacks out as vehicle is running -jerking while trying to stop -sensor malfunctions -transmission slippage -engine still on and running sounds like it’s cooling down and smells of it as well

Filed May 16, 2026 · Acceleration, Engine · CA

The first problem with my car was the tire pressure monitor. The location of each tire was wrong on the informant section. Soon after purchasing the car when ever I would park the car would not shut off and the DIC would display Shift to park message. Around 6 months after the purchase the brake pedal was getting harder the press down on and within a week from that while driving home from work the car completely shut off in the middle of traffic. It wouldn't start leaving me stuck on a busy street with heavy traffic blocking use of the lane. After 10 minutes it started back up and I barely made it into a parking lot of a shopping center with it shutting off again before I can park. I had to get a tow. I didnt go to an authorized dealer. I took it to a certified mechanic and had to replace the brake vacuum booster. The motor had to be cleaned out due to broken metal that got inside. After that repair car seemed okay until March 2026. The car now is in high idle and struggles to pick up speed. The message on DIC says engine power reduced. On the freeway the car can be going with the flow of traffic then suddenly engine power is reduce rpms go up high and it drops speed struggling to pick up. I paid the loan $16,000 off using what I had saved. I cant go out and purchase a new or used car.

Filed Mar 18, 2026 · Brakes, Engine · TX

The brake booster vacuum pump went out in my car it broke which caused hard breaking while driving vehicle. When the brake booster vacuum pump broke a piece of it damage my camshaft as well as my timing chain in my motor.

Filed Mar 18, 2026 · Acceleration, Engine · TX

Year 2019, code P1101- vehicle hesitates while drive, will reduce power while driving, while sitting idle at a stop the car will die and I will have to restart the vehicle. Multiple times while driving on the highway at 70mph my car has all of a sudden either reduced power causing the car to jerk and shudder very hard or has lost all power completely and forced me to pull over while avoiding other drivers on the road. SOMEONE IS GOING TO DIE BECAUSE OF THIS!!! THIS NEEDS TO BE ADDRESS AND RECALLED ASAP TO GET IT FIXED. I am not in a financial spot to just go buy a new car and I shouldn't have too either. I'm scared to even drive 10 miles down the road to take my children to daycare/school because of how bad it is.

Filed Mar 1, 2026 · Acceleration, Engine · GA

- started shutting shutting off at while in drive. - started having reduced power - started idiling high while driving - initially there was no codes - last night I drove, I put in drive gear but it was delayed so I had to keep moving from park to drive for it to full go into drive - the codes came P0325 P0505 P0507 P0700 P1101 P2714 After I was driving up an incline the car stopped moving forward and started reversing backwards. One other independent shop advised they were able to produce but couldn’t figure out the problem because no code were shown at the time. There has been many people having the same issues I started off with and I found the forum to file a report .

Filed Nov 25, 2025 · Engine, Fuel system · VA

My 2019 Chevrolet Malibu has severe safety defects involving the engine, powertrain, and speed control. The vehicle will sometimes accelerate on its own with my foot off the gas, and other times it loses all power while pulling into traffic. This creates an immediate risk of a crash. Multiple diagnostic codes appear repeatedly, including P0299 (turbo underboost), P0101 (mass air flow performance), P1101 (intake airflow performance), and P0506 (idle control RPM too low). The charge-air hose repeatedly blows off the throttle body while driving, causing sudden loss of power. The vehicle was sold to me by a dealer as safe and reliable, but these defects appeared shortly after purchase. The unintended acceleration and sudden loss of power make the car dangerous to drive. This appears to be a serious mechanical and safety-related defect that could cause an accident.