Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 1980 Malibu.
The 1980 Chevrolet Malibu sits on the GM A-body platform, a compact sedan that paired a robust inline‑six engine with a smooth-shifting automatic transmission, offering drivers a balanced blend of power and comfort; its 6 total owner complaints—primarily fuel‑system related—and 6 recalls underscore a relatively clean early‑model reliability record, a stark contrast to the 1997‑2025 era where the 2004 model year saw 1,697 complaints, the most of any year, while the 2025 model year languishes at just seven complaints, illustrating how the 1980 Malibu’s modest issue profile foreshadowed the brand’s later struggles in fuel system reliability.
Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.
| Overall length | 192.5 in |
| Overall width | 71.7 in |
| Overall height | 53.1 in |
| Wheelbase | 107.9 in |
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.
| Year | Trim / engine | 0–60 | ¼ mile | HP | Drivetrain |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1978 | Classic Landau Coupe 5.0L V8 | 10.80 sec | 18.40 sec | 145 hp | RWD |
Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.
The provided federal record spans 1997 through 2025 and contains no entries for the 1980 model year or its immediate predecessors and successors, precluding any comparative trend analysis against that timeline. Isolated data for 1980 shows minimal regulatory activity: six complaints distributed across fuel system, tire, visibility, and electrical categories, alongside one fire complaint and zero crash incidents. These figures represent a fraction of the volume seen in later model years documented—where complaints routinely reach into the hundreds or thousands—though this delta likely reflects reporting methodology and fleet attrition rather than inherent reliability. Without year-over-year context for the early 1980s or specified root causes for the isolated incidents, the data does not support a definitive reliability assessment. Consequently, 1980 remains an unverifiable outlier in this dataset, making it impossible to confirm whether it represents a sound purchase based solely on these federal metrics.
All 6 complaints on record, top 4 components.
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.
Showing 2 of 6 campaigns on record for this vehicle.
CERTAIN HONEYWELL FRAM RACING BRAND HP4 AND HP8 OIL FILTERS THAT WERE MANUFACTURED FROM MAY 25, 2006, THROUGH SEPTEMBER 14, 2007, AND SOLD FOR USE AS REPLACEMENT EQUIPMENT FOR VEHICLES LIST ABOVE. THE AFFECTED FILTERS… Remedy: HONEYWELL WILL REPLACE THE AFFECTED OIL FILTERS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN DURING NOVEMBER 2007. OWNERS CAN CONTACT FRAM CUSTOMER SERVICE TOLL-FREE AT 1-800-890-2075.
ACCELERATOR PUMP LEVER RETAINING PIN MAY LOOSEN AFTER REPEATED HEAVY ACCELERATOR PEDAL APPLICATIONS. THIS COULD CAUSE THE THROTTLE TO BECOME STUCK IN THE OPEN POSITION. Remedy: DEALER WILL INSTALL A SPECIAL COTTER PIN, TO RETAIN THE ACCELERATOR PUMP PIN, AND A SPRING CLIP THRUST WASHER ON THE ACCELERATOR PUMP LINK.
The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.
Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.
Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.
NHTSA lists 6 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.