2020 Chevrolet Malibu vs 2020 Nissan Altima
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 | 2020 Chevrolet Malibu | 2020 Nissan Altima |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 194 | 177 |
| Recall campaigns | 1 | 6 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 769 | 148 |
| Investigations | 1 | 2 |
| Crash reports | 10 | 16 |
| Fire reports | 0 | 7 |
| NCAP overall rating | — | — |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 26–32 | 30–32 |
| Median reported incident mileage | 66,500 mi | 35,000 mi |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Chevrolet Malibu | Nissan Altima |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical System | 56 | 45 |
| Engine | 59 | 36 |
| Power Train | 57 | 17 |
| Service Brakes | 41 | 17 |
| Steering | 15 | 20 |
| Forward Collision Avoidance | 2 | 29 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 18 | 6 |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 14 | 7 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Check engine light | 29 | 10 |
| Loss of power | 21 | 11 |
| Stalling | 19 | 8 |
| Vibration / shaking | 7 | 6 |
| Hesitation / surging | 6 | 7 |
| Brake problems | 6 | 0 |
| Steering problems | 5 | 0 |
| Electrical failures | 0 | 5 |
2020 Chevrolet Malibu
2020 Nissan Altima
Compare all Chevrolet Malibu vs Nissan Altima 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.