2009 BMW 535I vs 2009 Chevrolet Malibu
Complaints, recalls, TSBs, investigations and safety ratings side by side, from official federal data. Last verified Aug 8, 2026. Raw complaint counts are not adjusted for sales volume.
| Metric | 2009 BMW 535I | 2009 Chevrolet Malibu |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 71 | 1,509 |
| Recall campaigns | 1 | 5 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 70 | 1,098 |
| Investigations | 0 | 1 |
| Crash reports | 2 | 41 |
| Fire reports | 2 | 9 |
| NCAP overall rating | — | — |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 20 | 20–29 |
| Median reported incident mileage | 77,717 mi | 100,000 mi |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | BMW 535I | Chevrolet Malibu |
|---|---|---|
| Steering | 2 | 768 |
| Electrical System | 2 | 368 |
| Electronic Stability Control (esc) | 2 | 255 |
| Exterior Lighting | 2 | 172 |
| Service Brakes | 1 | 142 |
| Power Train | 6 | 121 |
| Engine | 21 | 61 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 0 | 73 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Loss of power | 18 | 87 |
| Stalling | 13 | 45 |
| Check engine light | 9 | 33 |
| Vibration / shaking | 5 | 64 |
| Steering problems | 0 | 111 |
| Electrical failures | 0 | 20 |
| Won’t start | 0 | 16 |
| Hesitation / surging | 0 | 15 |
2009 BMW 535I
2009 Chevrolet Malibu
Compare all BMW 535I 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.