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2020 Chevrolet Malibu

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2020 Malibu.

The 2020 Chevrolet Malibu carries forward a nameplate whose owner-complaint history spans 1997–2025, with routine maintenance specified at 4.2 quarts of 5W-30 oil. For this model year, owners logged 191 complaints — power train being the dominant area — alongside a single recall, figures that sit well below the nameplate's peak of 1,697 complaints in 2004. Within the full timeline, which falls to just 7 complaints by 2025, the 2020 lands firmly in the lower-complaint era, suggesting Chevrolet had largely moved past the problems that defined earlier generations while leaving a narrow power train concern worth a researcher's attention.

Model year202520242023202220212020201920182017

Quick specs

Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.

Engine oil capacity4.2 qtOEM · verified
Engine oil type5W-30OEM · verified
Lug nut torque103.0 ft-lbsOEM · verified

Fitment & sizes

Replacement part sizes and factory part numbers — battery, bulbs, filters and belts.

From the factory this vehicle uses a BCI 47 · 525 CCA battery, OE oil filter 25206377. Each part links to every other vehicle that shares it, so a part you already stock may fit more of your fleet than you'd expect.

Battery groupBCI 47 · 525 CCAOEM · verified
Tire sizeP205/65R16 94HOEM · verified
Wheel / rim7.5 inOEM · verified

OE service part numbers OEM · verified

Engine oil filter25206377
Engine air filter23430312 alt 23430313
Spark plug12683541 alt 12681659
Battery88864541 alt 88866309
Front wiper blades84589418 alt 84574892
Serpentine belt12664598 alt 12658091
Thermostat12649163 alt 12630780
Cabin air filter13508023

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length193.7 in
Overall width72.8 in
Overall height57.5 in
Wheelbase111.4 in
Curb weight3126 lb
Track (front / rear)62.6 / 62.6 in
Weight distribution (front / rear)59/41

Performance & power Independent road tests

0–60 mph, quarter-mile, horsepower and torque from independent road tests.

Independent road tests for the Malibu of this era, listed by trim and engine — this page spans more than one engine, so no single horsepower figure is shown.

5.7–8.5 sec0–60 mph (tested)quickest 5.70 sec — 2017 2.0T Premier
YearTrim / engine0–60¼ mileHPDrivetrain
2019RS 1.5L Turbo I-47.80 sec16.10 sec160 hpFWD
2018LT Redline Edition 1.5L Turbo I-48.20 sec16.40 sec160 hpFWD
20172.0T Premier 2.0L Turbo I-45.70 sec14.30 sec250 hpFWD
20162.0T Premier 2.0L Turbo I-46.10 sec14.70 sec250 hpFWD
20162.0T Premier 2.0L Turbo I-46.20 sec14.70 sec250 hpFWD
2016Hybrid 1.8L I-4 + Elec 1.5-kWh7.40 sec15.70 sec182 hpFWD
2016Hybrid 1.8L I-4 + Elec 1.5-kWh7.40 sec15.80 sec182 hpFWD
20161LT 15L Turbo I-48.00 sec16.40 sec160 hpFWD

Service quick specs OEM factory data

Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.

This engine holds 4.2 qt of 5W-30 engine oil. Torque lug nuts to 103.0 ft-lbs. The firing order is 1-3-4-2.

Lubricants & capacities

Automatic Transmission FluidDEXRON®-VI GM P/N 89020661
Automatic Transmission Fluid Capacity5.3-6.3
Automatic Transmission FluidUse GM HP CVT fluid
Automatic Transmission Fluid Capacity8.8
Automatic Transmission FluidDEXRON®-VI GM P/N 89020661
Automatic Transmission Fluid Capacity5.3-6.3
Automatic Transmission FluidATF
Automatic Transmission Fluid Capacity8.8

Engine torques

Crankshaft Position (CKP) Sensor Bolt(s)7.4 ft-lbs
Camshaft Position (CMP) Sensor Bolt(s)7.4 ft-lbs
Crankshaft Position (CKP) Sensor Bolt(s)7.4 ft-lbs
Camshaft Position (CMP) Sensor Bolt(s)7.4 ft-lbs
Camshaft Bearing/Carrier Cap Bolts or Studs8.8 ft-lbs
Camshaft Bearing/Carrier Cap Bolts or Studs7.4 ft-lbs
Engine Coolant Temperature (ECT) Sensor Bolt(s)9.0 ft-lbs
Oxygen (O2S) Sensor Bolt(s)31.0 ft-lbs

Chassis torques

Lug Nuts103.0 ft-lbs
Automatic Transmission Drain Plug8.8 ft-lbs
Automatic Transmission Drain Plug7.7 ft-lbs

Ignition

Cylinder Firing Order1-3-4-2
Cylinder Firing Order1-3-4-2
Spark Plug ManufacturerAC Delco
Spark Plug Gap0.024-0.028 in
Spark Plug Torque13.0 ft-lbs
Spark Plug ManufacturerAC Delco
Spark Plug Gap0.037-0.043 in
Spark Plug Torque15.0 ft-lbs

Battery & A/C

RefrigerantR1234yf
Refrigerant Capacity1.32 lbs
Oil GroupPAG
Oil Capacity2.70 oz
Standard BCI Group Number47
Standard BCI Cranking Performance525 cca
Standard BCI Group Number48
Standard BCI Cranking Performance660 cca

Service checks

Key ON Engine OFF (KOEO)50-94
Engine CompressionMaximum pressure differential 100 kPa
Engine Oil Pressure29-36 psi
Engine Oil Pressure RPM@1500 RPM 100°C rpm
Engine Oil Pressure20-29 psi
Engine Oil Pressure RPM@700 RPM 100°C rpm
Intake Valve LashHydraulic in
Exhaust Valve LashHydraulic in

Brakes

Brake Caliper Bolt to Carrier TorqueFront: 30; Rear: 30
ABS Sensor TorqueFront: 6.6; Rear: 6.6
Minimum Pad ThicknessFront: 0.078; Rear: 0.078 in
Vented Rotor Minimum Thickness for ReplacementFront: .905; Rear: .393
Vented Rotor Minimum Thickness after RefinishFront: 0.913; Rear: 0.402
Vented Rotor Maximum Scoring DepthFront: 0.059; Rear: 0.059
Variation from Parallelism Thickness VariationFront: 0.001; Rear: 0.001
Maximum Rotor RunoutFront: 0.002; Rear: 0.002

Multi-step torque procedures OEM · verified

Steering Track (Rod End) Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages
130°-45°
Steering Track (Rod End) Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages
130°-45°
Front Wheel Hub — tightening sequence 1 stages
174.0 ft. lbs., 60°-75°74 ft. lbs
Rear Wheel Hub — tightening sequence 1 stages
174.0 ft. lbs., Step 2: 15.0°-30°74 ft. lbs
Camshaft Sprocket and/or Gear Bolt(s) — tightening sequence 1 stages
122.0 ft. lbs. Step 2: 100°22 ft. lbs
Connecting Rod (Large End) Bearings — tightening sequence 1 stages
118.0 ft. lbs. Step 2: 75°18 ft. lbs
Connecting Rod (Large End) Bearings — tightening sequence 1 stages
118.0 ft. lbs. Step 2: 110°18 ft. lbs
Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages
174.0 ft. lbs. Step 2: 180°74 ft. lbs
Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages
1140°
Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 1 stages
122.0 ft. lbs. Step 2: 240°22 ft. lbs
Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 1 stages
122.0 ft. lbs. Step 2: 190°22 ft. lbs
Flex or Driveplate Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages
115.0 ft. lbs. Step 2: 22.0 ft. lbs. Step 3: 70°15 ft. lbs
Flex or Driveplate Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages
115 ft. lbs. Step 2: 22.0 ft. lbs. Step 3: 40°15 ft. lbs
Engine Flywheel Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages
115.0 ft. lbs. Step 2: 22.0 ft. lbs. Step 3: 70°15 ft. lbs
Engine Flywheel Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages
115 ft. lbs. Step 2: 22.0 ft. lbs. Step 3: 40°15 ft. lbs
Main Bearings — tightening sequence 1 stages
111.0 ft. lbs. Step 2: 180°11 ft. lbs
Main Bearings — tightening sequence 1 stages
115.0 ft. lbs. Step 2: 140°15 ft. lbs

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the spark plugs every 60,000 mi.

Every 7,500 miAccelerator Pedal (inspect) · Body Latches, Locks & Hinges (lubricate) · Brake Shift Interlock Solenoid (inspect) · Brake System (inspect) · CV Joint Boot (inspect) · Engine Air Filter Element (inspect)
Every 15,000 miWindshield Wiper Blade (replace)
Every 22,500 miCabin Air Filter (replace)
Every 45,000 miEngine Air Filter Element (replace) · Fuel Evaporative Emission Control System (inspect)
Every 60,000 miSpark Plug Wires (inspect) · Spark Plugs (replace)
Every 75,000 miHood Hinge (inspect)
At 150,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect)

Reliability & federal safety record

Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.

For the 2020 Chevrolet Malibu, federal records indicate 191 complaints, 1 recall, 1 investigation, and 768 technical service bulletins, marking a slight uptick in complaints but a decrease in TSBs compared to 2019. The primary complaint areas for 2020 are Power Train (28), Electrical System (20), Unknown Or Other (18), and Engine (14), alongside 10 crash complaints and 0 fire complaints, though the data does not specify the root causes. Across the generation, complaints peaked in 2016 at 858 with 10 recalls, followed by a steady decline to just 188 complaints in 2019. The 2020 model year sits at the plateau of this downward trend, stabilizing with 2019 before complaints drop significantly in 2021, implying that the major issues of earlier years were largely resolved. Therefore, the 2020 Malibu represents a favorable year to buy, offering proven stability and relatively low federal complaint volume compared to the problematic earlier years of its generation.

1
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
768
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
1
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
191
Owner complaints
10 involved a crash · 0 a fire
NHTSA crash-test rating federal NCAP · out of 5 stars
Overall★★★★★
Frontal★★★★★
Side★★★★★
Rollover★★★★★
Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent
’97’98’99’00’01’02’03’04’05’06’07’08’09’10’11’12’13’14’15’16’17’18’19’20’21’22’23’24’25

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 191 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Power Train28
Electrical System20
Unknown Or Other18
Engine14
Service Brakes9
Service Brakes,Engine9
Power Train,Unknown Or Other5
Electrical System,Service Brakes5

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 1 of 1 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

21V649000Seat Belts:Critical FastenersReported 20/08/2021

General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2016-2021 Chevrolet Malibu and 2019-2021 Cadillac XT4 vehicles. The rear seat belt retractors may be improperly secured with loose or missing fasteners. Remedy: Dealers will inspect and tighten the rear seat belt retractors, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on September 17, 2021. Owners may contact…

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 768 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
PIP6032C2026-06-03Unknown Or OtherPIP6032B provides diagnostic direction for dealers when encountering transmission leaks
PIT3271Q2026-04-01Unknown Or OtherThis preliminary information communicates information about how to determine if a wheel…
PIP61042026-03-09Unknown Or OtherThis Preliminary information communicates the steps on how to save a GDS2 Session Log and…
PIP4902V2026-03-09Unknown Or OtherThis preliminary information advises a dealer on how to email GDS2 session logs into…
PIT6425D2026-03-02Unknown Or OtherThis Preliminary information communicates to the field on how to diagnosis a GPS issue…

Common OBD-II trouble codes

The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.

P0420
Catalyst system efficiency below threshold — Bank 1
P0300
Random / multiple cylinder misfire detected
P0171
System too lean — Bank 1
P0455
Evaporative emission system leak detected — large leak
P0128
Coolant thermostat below regulating temperature
P0442
Evaporative emission system leak detected — small leak

VIN tools

Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.

VIN
Decode a VIN to confirm the transmission and build data for a specific Malibu. OEM
Build data
Plant, GVWR class, engine and body data for any 17-character VIN.
Recalls
Check open recall campaigns against a specific vehicle by VIN.

Vehicles with shared specs

Find every vehicle that shares this one's battery, bulbs, oil capacity, platform or parts.

Group 47 batteryVehicles taking 4.2 qtEngine oil filter 25206377Engine air filter 23430312Spark plug 12683541Battery 88864541

Reference guides

Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.

Vehicle recalls & TSBsOBD-II trouble codesTorque specificationsMaintenance schedulesFluid capacities & specs

Frequently asked

How much oil does the 2020 Malibu take?

4.2 qt of 5W-30 Use GM Dexos 1 Oil or equivalent, per the factory manual.

Does the 2020 Malibu have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.