Your 2020 to 2023 Chevy Malibu may become subject to an issue resulting in the “Shift to Park” message appearing in the car’s Driver Information Center, even when it is already in Park. This problem can sometimes be accompanied by a failure of the Malibu to start, though this is not always the case.
If this happens to your Chevy Malibu, GM TechLink has identified the cause of this issue as a park switch malfunction inside the vehicle’s shifter assembly, and has also worked out a fix that will correct the problem.
A diagnostic trouble code or DTC will usually only be generated by the Chevy Malibu if it is also subject to the failure to start problem. In this case, the DTC will be B000A, “Park Switch – Shift Lever Position Not Plausible.” Regardless of whether the DTC is present, the “Shift to Park” message should result in an inspection of the shifter assembly by dealership technicians.
If the inspection shows the park switch terminals inside the shifter assembly to be spread or damaged, the shifter assembly needs to be replaced to correct the issue. The assembly is shown in the GM image below.
To fix affected Chevy Malibu units, the dealership mechanics need to replace the entire shifter assembly by first disconnecting it. The cable bolt and the automatic transmission range selector lever cable should be removed together at the same time. After this, the shifter assembly can be removed from the vehicle.
A new shifter assembly with a functional park switch should be installed. To prevent rattling inside the transmission or a loose shifter feel, the bolt needs to be held in place while the nut is tightened to secure the shifter assembly firmly in the mounting bracket slot, as shown in the following image.
Finally, the service personnel will adjust the range selector lever cable. At this point, the “Shift to Park” message should no longer display and the vehicle should start as normal if it was subject to failure to start.
As a reminder, structure is provided to the Chevy Malibu under the body panels by the GM E2 platform, with production taking place at the GM Fairfax plant in Kansas City.
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Comments
Again, low quality suppliers provide low quality parts!
Has the supply chain VP been fired yet?
No one gets fired under Mary’s watch.
This issue isn’t limited to 2020-23; it goes back all Malibu models years beginning in 2016. The proposed fix is silly, just replacing the shifter assembly with an identical part, made with the same problematic switch, that may result in the same error message going forward.
The Malibu is a really good car, I have a 19, but this particular problem is something that the designers apparently are unable to inexpensively fix. So they throw out this type of nonsense to just patch the problem until it reappears over and over again. Whenever my car gets this error message, clicking the shifter button a few times clears it. But one day it won’t, and then my battery will drain – so keep an eye out for it and don’t leave your car with this message appearing.
GM doesn’t have this issue in other models because this particular switch wasn’t used in other models, and they cannot change it after the fact because that would likely require reprogramming the cars. So that is the one negative for this car, everything else in my 19 has been flawless.
Unfortunately the problem does exist in other Chevrolet vehicles because they utilize the same shifter assembly – Cruze, Equinox, and Traverse. When replacement shifter assemblies were in short supply because of the volume of affected Chevy vehicles, a GM TSB instructed GM service techs to install a ‘jumper’ around the switch. Sounds like there is now an ample supply of replacement assemblies based on this article.
I had this problem on my ’18 Malibu in June,2023. It cost $580 to repair it. Not in warranty all out of my pocket with a car at that time that had less than 25k miles.
So trailblazer has this issue and now the Malibu. What’s next every vehicle with console shifting? Same parts probably, great gm. I’ve been a gm person since the late sixties I may be done. Clearly no one is doing quality checks. When know parts fail gm doesn’t do the right thing and cover the costs. Poor way to treat repeat customers.
Didn’t we endure this nonsense with the Acadia? WTF, GM.
I own a 2023 Malibu and it is the biggest POS fleet rental car I have ever had. It will do 0 – 60 in just over a day thanks to its anemic 1.5 liter engine, it bucks like a wild mustang when you lightly push on the accelerator peddle regardless if it is warm or not. On start-up the Android play will go totally blank, and you will have to turn the car off and turn it back on to get to work. Mind you, the car only has 8,300 miles on it, so you already know what I get to look forward to….
8.5 seconds 0-60 is over a day. Really. Maybe you shouldn’t compare it to a Vette.
These vendor sub-assembly issues continue to grow and plague all the Domestic brands, and I’m sure it will get worse. If you’ve ever been a vendor to an OEM automaker, you know they squeeze every tenth of a cent out of every part and hold the vendor accountable for costs savings at every opportunity. I can’t help but think some of this will worsen based on the new UAW contract and its generous benefits and raises. The result is the vendors cheapen the part and hasten assembly to maximalize their own profitability and the quality of their part suffers. Malibu shifters, Silverado valve lifters, Ford camshaft phasers, etc. all these problems could be solved with higher quality parts which may cost a few cents more. Seems impossible but I assume the accountants have done the math and the failure rates are cheaper than just upping the part quality and paying a bit more.
I am now having to fix this shifter part on my 2018 Chevy Malibu for the 2nd time. Once at about 55,000 miles and now at about 120,000 miles. It’s the “Shift to Park” error message, and it is another $850 for them to replace the part in the shifter. Despite numerous lawsuits, there is no recall for this defective part. What a lemon! I just spent $3500 fixing other issues with it (including the turbocharger) a few months ago. It has more problems than my husband’s Dodge, which has twice as many miles. How do we get our money back?
The only permanent fix to eliminate this problem to create a bridge between the ground and the cable that brings the signal to the system, by installing U-shaped wire about 2″ long in the connector on the rear of the shift block.
On my ’16 Malibu the dealer installed the GM fix (jumper harness) 3 years ago which has greatly reduced but not eliminated the issue. I discovered by accident that if I shift into Park, then into Reverse, then into Park again, it eliminates 95% of occurrences, and for the other 5%, the message stays on less than 10 seconds. That’s not enough of an inconvenience to have the whole shifter assembly replaced for $500+. Malibu is a great car…40 mpg on the highway and 0-60 in 8 secs with the 1.5L. The optional power leather seats with lumbar support are super confortable.
My 2019 Premier had this problem. At the time I took it to the dealer, it was repaired under warranty…however, I keep waiting for it to reappear. The Service Advisor at the dealer told me just about every “latest generation” Malibu had the problem and at some point would have to be brought in to “fix” it. He said I was lucky mine was covered under the warranty. It happened after about 12k on the odometer.
It’s a real shame that GM doesn’t demand quality parts from their suppliers.
It happens on the volt, too. The wiring harness was first identified as the fix but it’s actually the interlock button on the underside of the shifter. If you flick it back and forth it usually temporarily fixes the problem.
Also happens on 2019. This is my last Chevy.
Sick of all the problems and bad customer service.
This is why gm reduced its warranty, they knew all these cheap parts would break down after 3 yrs. Guaranteed dealer business. Might be time for a new brand with a better warranty.
Warning :
I have a 2021Malibu.
For years I have wanted and worked my hardest to save for a Malibu. I was really excited about it at first.
I have had it for about 4 months and have driven it about 2 thousand miles. The Shift to Park issue started, the issues worsened. At first, I was surprised as in the past I had a 1998 Toyota Camry that was well past 200,000 miles never costed me more than what I put in gas and the occasional oil change.
I searched online and hoped that since the issue is not from my neglect a driver but was a manufactured one GM/Chevrolet would step up and correct the issue.
I had too much hope for big business.
The Shift to Park issue was passed on to me and from my reading many other unsuspecting and trusting customers.
Today, a very rude (maybe tired) customer rep called and told me that my vehicle was going to cost me $500.00+.
I am a single mother the economy is hard as is. I work 40 hours a week just like every other American trying to afford and make a better life for themselves.
Thanks GM I really feel supported as a customer.
I have a 2017 Malibu and I had this issue fixed at the dealer May 2019 the cost was $497.40. Now it’s June 2024 and I am having the same issue again (Shift to Park). Most of the dealers in my area (Atlanta) system has been hacked going on 3 weeks now. They are backed up 2 weeks. One dealer had my car sitting for a week and still has not touched my car after advising my car would be ready by Monday. My car is paid off and I am trying not to trade it in but something has to give.
Hello I have a 2020 Malibu recently it gave me a shift to park on the console . Tried various ways to get it to clear but no luck . Now the vehicles instrument cluster gauges are not working. Fuel gauge reads empty when tank is full. Car will not crank. Help please
Last week my 2019 Chevy Cruze started to show the DTC. I keep it very well kept under my garage roof, and only has 23,000 miles. The dealer is charging me $120 for diagnose only. They are freaking crazy for doing that!
This is ridiculous. GM needs to do recall and get this problem fixed once and for all or this will be my last GM