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Chevrolet Malibu vs Hyundai Sonata: reliability compared

From 2006 to 2025, owners filed an average of 613 complaints per model year about the Chevrolet Malibu and 717 about the Hyundai Sonata.

Side by side

Chevrolet MalibuHyundai Sonata
Model years compared2006-20252006-2025
Owner complaints12,26614,345
Complaints per model year613717
Recalls4248
Years to avoid2009200620112012201320152017
Best years201920212022201020182020
Most common problemSteeringEngine
Crash ratingNo dataNo data
Fuel economy31 mpg combined (2025)27-32 mpg combined (2025)

A car that sells more collects more complaints, so the fairest test is the number of years to avoid, which compares each year with a typical year of the same car.

Complaints per model year

2006 Chevrolet Malibu: 1,1192006 Hyundai Sonata: 1,04720062007 Chevrolet Malibu: 9772007 Hyundai Sonata: 6962008 Chevrolet Malibu: 9892008 Hyundai Sonata: 42520082009 Chevrolet Malibu: 1,5112009 Hyundai Sonata: 4602010 Chevrolet Malibu: 1,3632010 Hyundai Sonata: 34520102011 Chevrolet Malibu: 9782011 Hyundai Sonata: 3,3802012 Chevrolet Malibu: 9072012 Hyundai Sonata: 1,55920122013 Chevrolet Malibu: 8372013 Hyundai Sonata: 1,9212014 Chevrolet Malibu: 3512014 Hyundai Sonata: 75020142015 Chevrolet Malibu: 2702015 Hyundai Sonata: 1,1572016 Chevrolet Malibu: 8412016 Hyundai Sonata: 73020162017 Chevrolet Malibu: 7052017 Hyundai Sonata: 7692018 Chevrolet Malibu: 7012018 Hyundai Sonata: 37520182019 Chevrolet Malibu: 1932019 Hyundai Sonata: 1622020 Chevrolet Malibu: 2032020 Hyundai Sonata: 18320202021 Chevrolet Malibu: 902021 Hyundai Sonata: 1352022 Chevrolet Malibu: 1002022 Hyundai Sonata: 9820222023 Chevrolet Malibu: 732023 Hyundai Sonata: 882024 Chevrolet Malibu: 462024 Hyundai Sonata: 4820242025 Chevrolet Malibu: 122025 Hyundai Sonata: 17
Chevrolet MalibuHyundai Sonata

Problems compared

MalibuSonata
Steering3,9452,282
Electrical3,0021,823
Engine2,1004,914
Transmission1,400924
Driver assistance1,322523
Brakes1,1291,109
Airbags7721,697
Fuel system764996

Questions about the Chevrolet Malibu vs Hyundai Sonata

Which is more reliable, the Chevrolet Malibu or the Hyundai Sonata?

Between 2006 and 2025, the Chevrolet Malibu has 1 year to avoid and the Hyundai Sonata 6. The Chevrolet Malibu has been more consistent from year to year. By raw volume, the Chevrolet Malibu drew fewer complaints per model year (613 vs 717), though sales volume affects that number.

Which has more recalls, the Chevrolet Malibu or the Hyundai Sonata?

From 2006 to 2025, the Chevrolet Malibu was covered by 42 recalls and the Hyundai Sonata by 48.

What years of the Chevrolet Malibu and Hyundai Sonata should you avoid?

Chevrolet Malibu: 2009. Hyundai Sonata: 2006, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2015 and 2017.

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