2005 Acura RL vs 2005 Chevrolet Malibu
Complaints, recalls, TSBs, investigations and safety ratings side by side, from official federal data. Last verified Aug 7, 2026. Raw complaint counts are not adjusted for sales volume.
| Metric | 2005 Acura RL | 2005 Chevrolet Malibu |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 125 | 975 |
| Recall campaigns | 11 | 3 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 132 | 630 |
| Investigations | 3 | 1 |
| Crash reports | 4 | 46 |
| Fire reports | 1 | 34 |
| NCAP overall rating | — | — |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 19 | 23–25 |
| Median reported incident mileage | 75,000 mi | 90,000 mi |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Acura RL | Chevrolet Malibu |
|---|---|---|
| Steering | 2 | 506 |
| Exterior Lighting | 49 | 153 |
| Electrical System | 18 | 180 |
| Power Train | 3 | 65 |
| Seats | 0 | 62 |
| Air Bags | 36 | 25 |
| Engine | 2 | 49 |
| Service Brakes | 1 | 43 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Stalling | 8 | 65 |
| Steering problems | 0 | 101 |
| Clunking / rattling | 0 | 59 |
| Loss of power | 0 | 40 |
| Vibration / shaking | 0 | 34 |
| Check engine light | 0 | 32 |
| Won’t start | 0 | 17 |
| Overheating | 0 | 12 |
2005 Acura RL
2005 Chevrolet Malibu
Compare all Acura RL vs Chevrolet Malibu years →
Method. Complaints are unique NHTSA reports. A vehicle that sold more units will naturally accumulate more complaints — use shares and read the underlying reports before drawing conclusions.