Chevrolet Malibu vs Tesla Model 3
Owner complaints, worst years and recall history side by side, from official NHTSA data. Last verified Aug 7, 2026. Raw complaint counts are not adjusted for sales volume.
Chevrolet Malibu
- Total complaints
- 19,259
- Avg per model year
- 584
- Recall campaigns (all years)
- 51
- Most complained year
- 2009 (1,509)
Top problems: Steering, Electrical System, Engine
Tesla Model 3
- Total complaints
- 4,204
- Avg per model year
- 422
- Recall campaigns (all years)
- 34
- Most complained year
- 2018 (993)
Top problems: Forward Collision Avoidance, Unknown OR Other, Vehicle Speed Control
Complaints by model year
| Year | Chevrolet Malibu | Tesla Model 3 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 9 | 112 | ||
| 2024 | 33 | 205 | ||
| 2023 | 57 | 413 | ||
| 2022 | 91 | 752 | ||
| 2021 | 81 | 655 | ||
| 2020 | 194 | 443 | ||
| 2019 | 188 | 605 | ||
| 2018 | 693 | 993 | ||
| 2017 | 698 | 26 |
Method. Complaints are unique NHTSA reports per model year. A model that sold more units will naturally accumulate more complaints — compare the shape across years, not just the raw totals, and read the year pages for what actually fails.