Check a VIN

Chevrolet Malibu vs Kia Optima: reliability compared

From 2006 to 2020, owners filed an average of 796 complaints per model year about the Chevrolet Malibu and 452 about the Kia Optima.

Side by side

Chevrolet MalibuKia Optima
Model years compared2006-20202006-2020
Owner complaints11,9456,784
Complaints per model year796452
Recalls3818
Years to avoid2009201120122013201420152016
Best years2019200820092010
Most common problemSteeringEngine
Crash ratingNo dataNo data
Fuel economy26-32 mpg combined (2020)24-41 mpg combined (2020)

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 Kia Optima: 15520062007 Chevrolet Malibu: 9772007 Kia Optima: 1672008 Chevrolet Malibu: 9892008 Kia Optima: 14420082009 Chevrolet Malibu: 1,5112009 Kia Optima: 1162010 Chevrolet Malibu: 1,3632010 Kia Optima: 7520102011 Chevrolet Malibu: 9782011 Kia Optima: 5942012 Chevrolet Malibu: 9072012 Kia Optima: 92320122013 Chevrolet Malibu: 8372013 Kia Optima: 1,3882014 Chevrolet Malibu: 3512014 Kia Optima: 59120142015 Chevrolet Malibu: 2702015 Kia Optima: 1,0112016 Chevrolet Malibu: 8412016 Kia Optima: 76220162017 Chevrolet Malibu: 7052017 Kia Optima: 2582018 Chevrolet Malibu: 7012018 Kia Optima: 23320182019 Chevrolet Malibu: 1932019 Kia Optima: 2142020 Chevrolet Malibu: 2032020 Kia Optima: 1532020
Chevrolet MalibuKia Optima

Problems compared

MalibuOptima
Steering3,933739
Electrical2,903809
Engine2,0283,331
Transmission1,332473
Driver assistance1,275169
Brakes1,112495
Fuel system734459

Questions about the Chevrolet Malibu vs Kia Optima

Which is more reliable, the Chevrolet Malibu or the Kia Optima?

Between 2006 and 2020, the Chevrolet Malibu has 1 year to avoid and the Kia Optima 6. The Chevrolet Malibu has been more consistent from year to year. By raw volume, the Kia Optima drew fewer complaints per model year (452 vs 796), though sales volume affects that number.

Which has more recalls, the Chevrolet Malibu or the Kia Optima?

From 2006 to 2020, the Chevrolet Malibu was covered by 38 recalls and the Kia Optima by 18.

What years of the Chevrolet Malibu and Kia Optima should you avoid?

Chevrolet Malibu: 2009. Kia Optima: 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015 and 2016.

More midsize cars comparisons

Honda Accord vs Toyota CamryNissan Altima vs Toyota CamryHyundai Sonata vs Toyota CamryChevrolet Malibu vs Toyota CamryFord Fusion vs Toyota CamryKia Optima vs Toyota CamryMazda MAZDA6 vs Toyota CamrySubaru Legacy vs Toyota CamryToyota Camry vs Volkswagen PassatHonda Accord vs Nissan AltimaHonda Accord vs Hyundai SonataChevrolet Malibu vs Honda AccordFord Fusion vs Honda AccordHonda Accord vs Kia OptimaHonda Accord vs Mazda MAZDA6Honda Accord vs Subaru LegacyHonda Accord vs Volkswagen PassatHyundai Sonata vs Nissan AltimaChevrolet Malibu vs Nissan AltimaFord Fusion vs Nissan AltimaKia Optima vs Nissan AltimaMazda MAZDA6 vs Nissan AltimaNissan Altima vs Subaru LegacyNissan Altima vs Volkswagen Passat

VIN decoder

See the problems and recalls for an exact car