Chevrolet Malibu Trailer Hitch Buyer’s Guide (Canada)
A hitch turns your Malibu into the one that takes a bike rack, a cargo carrier or a light utility trailer. CURT builds four hitches for the Chevrolet Malibu from 2004 to 2025, Class 1 to Class 2, rated 3,500 lb to 3,500 lb, from $274.95 CAD with free shipping anywhere in Canada.
Your year decides the part. Find it in the table, open the year page for the exact hitch, price and wiring, and you're done in a few minutes.
2016 through 2025 Malibu$274.95 CADSee the hitch →
Which hitch fits your Malibu, by year
| Years | Hitch | Class, receiver, rating | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
2016 through 2025 Malibu | CURT 12185 | Class 2, 1-1/4 inch receiver, 3,500 lb / 350 lb tongue | $274.95 CAD |
 |
2013 through 2015 Malibu 2016 Malibu Limited |
CURT 12115 | Class 1, 1-1/4 inch receiver, 3,500 lb / 350 lb tongue | $535.72 CAD |
 |
2008 through 2012 Malibu | CURT 12051 | Class 1, 1-1/4 inch receiver, 3,500 lb / 300 lb tongue | $334.03 CAD |
 |
2004 through 2007 Malibu | CURT 12272 | Class 1, 1-1/4 inch receiver, 3,500 lb / 350 lb tongue | $524.61 CAD |
Pick your Malibu year
Each year page has the hitch, the harness and the ball mount that go together, with the price of each.
Class 1 or Class 2 on a Malibu?
Class 1 is the lighter one, with a 1-1/4 inch receiver and 3,500 lb of trailer. It's plenty for a bike rack or a small cargo carrier. Class 2 moves you to a 1-1/4 inch receiver and 3,500 lb, which is what you want for a bike rack, a cargo carrier or a light utility trailer. Either way the Malibu's own tow rating in the owner's manual is the ceiling, and the lower number wins.
CURT parts for the Chevrolet Malibu
Wiring, ball mount and the rest
A bike rack needs nothing but the hitch. A trailer needs lights, and CURT 56013 ($61.12 CAD) is the four-flat harness that plugs into the Malibu's factory connector for 2004 through 2007. No cutting, no scotch-locks. Other years have their own harness; the year page shows the right one.
Then a ball mount sized to the receiver: CURT 45521 ($51.38 CAD) drops straight into a 1-1/4 inch receiver. Pick the drop or rise that keeps the trailer level, and match the ball to the coupler. The ball mount guide covers both in two minutes.
Canadian winters eat hitch hardware. Salt and brine get into the receiver and the trailer plug, so a smear of grease on the pin, a cap on the receiver and a rinse under the bumper in spring keep a CURT hitch looking new for years. The rust and salt care guide has the full routine.
Chevrolet Malibu hitch questions
Which CURT hitch fits my Chevrolet Malibu?
It depends on the year. CURT 12185 is the newest, for 2016 through 2025, and the table above matches every other year to its part. Open your year page and the exact hitch, price and wiring are on it.
Can I put a bike rack on a Malibu with this hitch?
Yes. The 1-1/4 inch receiver takes any 1-1/4 inch rack, and a loaded rack counts against the hitch's tongue weight (350 lb on CURT 12185), so a four-bike platform rack with bikes on it is the most you'd want on it.
Can I install the hitch myself?
Most owners do. CURT rates CURT 12185 a novice install, about 30 minutes with hand tools and a jack. The install video above is the real job, uncut.
How much can a Malibu tow with a CURT hitch?
The hitch is rated from 3,500 lb to 3,500 lb depending on the part, but the Malibu's own tow rating in the owner's manual is the ceiling. The lower of the two numbers is your limit, every time.
