2018 Chevrolet Malibu
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Engine is the leading concern among 698 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 15th highest complaint count among 26 Malibu model years with reports.
Of the 2018 reports, 23 involved a crash and 4 involved a fire. 17 people were injured.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
Seat belts, critical fastenersAug 20, 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.
An improperly secured seat belt retractor may not function properly in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
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 Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020 and Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006. GM's number for this recall is N212333380.
Campaign 21V649000 on NHTSA.gov
Power train, automatic transmissionOct 29, 2020
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Chevrolet Cruze and Buick LaCrosse, 2018-2020 Chevrolet Equinox, Chevrolet Traverse and GMC Terrain, 2018 Chevrolet Malibu, 2019-2020 Buick Encore, Buick Enclave, Cadillac XT4, Chevrolet Blazer and GMC Acadia, and 2020 Cadillac XT6 vehicles. The start/stop accumulator endcap may have missing bolts.
Missing bolts on the start-stop accumulator endcap could result in a transmission oil leak and may progress to a loss of propulsion, increasing the risk of a crash. A transmission fluid leak in the presence of an ignition source may increase the risk of fire.
GM will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the start-stop transmission accumulator and replace it if any bolts are missing, free of charge. The recall began December 15, 2020. Owners may contact GMC customer service at 1-888-988-7267, Buick Customer service at 1-866-608-8080, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020 or Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006. GM's number for this recall is N202313440.
Campaign 20V668000 on NHTSA.gov
Electrical system, softwareSep 6, 2019
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2018 Chevrolet Malibu vehicles equipped with 1.5L turbo engines. An error in the Engine Control Module (ECM) software may result in the fuel injectors being disabled.
Disabled fuel injectors would prevent the engine from starting and may cause a stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
GM will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the ECM software, free of charge. The recall began October 16, 2019. Owners may contact GM customer service at 1-800-630-2438. GM's number for this recall is N192221960.
Campaign 19V642000 on NHTSA.gov
Service brakes, hydraulic, foundation components, disc, caliperAug 30, 2018
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Chevrolet Equinox, Impala, Cruze, Volt and Bolt EV vehicles, GMC Terrain vehicles, Buick Lacrosse and Regal vehicles, Cadillac XTS and XTS Professional vehicles and 2018 Chevrolet Malibu vehicles. The rear brake caliper pistons may have an insufficient coating causing gas pockets to form, potentially reducing rear brake performance.
A reduction of braking performance can increase the risk of a crash.
GM will notify owners, and dealers will bleed the vehicle's brake system, free of charge. The recall began October 11, 2018. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300, Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, or GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is 18279.
Campaign 18V576000 on NHTSA.gov
Air bags, sensor, occupant classificationJun 14, 2018
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2016-2018 Chevrolet Malibu vehicles. During servicing, a Passenger Presence System (PPS) may have been installed that was not correctly calibrated to the vehicle's seat type. As a result, the PPS may not properly identify an adult passenger from a child passenger in the front passenger seat, potentially causing the air bag to not deploy when it should, or causing the air bag to deploy when it shouldn't.
In the event of a crash, improper air bag deployment can increase the risk of injury.
GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger PPS seat service kit, free of charge. The recall began August 7, 2018. Owners may contact Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020. GM's number for this recall is 18208.
Campaign 18V400000 on NHTSA.gov
Fuel system, gasoline, delivery, fuel pumpMay 31, 2018
General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2015-2018 GMC Canyon, 2016-2017 Buick Envision, 2016-2018 Chevrolet Colorado and Malibu, 2017-2018 GMC Acadia, 2018 Buick LaCrosse, Cadillac ATS, Chevrolet Equinox, and GMC Terrain vehicles. The high pressure fuel pump may detach from its mounting flange, possibly resulting in the pump damaging the high pressure fuel line.
A damaged fuel line can create a fuel leak, increasing the risk of a fire.
GM will notify owners, and dealers will replace the high pressure fuel pump, and high pressure fuel pipe, free of charge. The recall began July 2, 2018. Owners may contact Buick customer service at 1-800-521-7300, Cadillac customer service at 1-800-458-8006, Chevrolet customer service at 1-800-222-1020, or GMC customer service at 1-800-462-8782. GM's number for this recall is 18188.
Campaign 18V358000 on NHTSA.gov
Representative owner complaints: electrical system
192 reports, newest first. Show all
Electrical system, Electronic stability control (ESC), Oct 22, 2020
WHEN CAR IS STATIONARY WAITING FOR RED LIGHT TO CHANGE, THE CAR WILL SHUT OFF AND POWER CYCLE SHOWING STABILITRAK ERROR MESSAGE BEFORE TURNING BACK ON. THIS ALSO OCCURS WHEN THE CAR IS STATIONARY AND ENGINE IS OFF FOR SEVERAL HOURS.
Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Oct 7, 2020
CAR WON'T SHIFT TO PARK, WHILE IT'S ALREADY IN PARK AND CAR WILL NOT TURN OFF. CHEVROLET SHOULD RECALL THIS BECAUSE THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE WITH THE SAME ISSUE. MY CAR WAS BRAND NEW WHEN I BOUGHT IT AND NOW I'M HAVING THIS ISSUE AND I KNOW IT'S NOTHING I HAVE DONE TO CAUSE IT.
Electrical system, Electronic stability control (ESC), Fuel/propulsion system, Oct 6, 2020
ENGINE POWER IS REDUCED WEN YOU GOING AT 50 TO 60 IN THE FREEWAY IS DANGEROUSLY
Electrical system, Structure, Sep 15, 2020, fire
AFTER TURNING ON MY HEATER AND DRIVING THE CAR 10 MINUTES THE CAR CAUGHT FIRE. I SMELLED SOMETHING BURNING WHEN I PARKED AND GOT OUT OF THE VEHICLE, BUT THOUGHT IT WAS COMING FROM OUTSIDE THE VEHICLE. I CAME BACK TO MY CAR 2 HOURS LATER AND THE FIRE DEPARTMENT HAD BEEN OUT AND THE FRONT END OF MY CAR WAS COMPLETELY CHARRED.
Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Aug 26, 2020
THE POWER SHIFTER IN THE CAR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. AS WITH MANY OF THE OTHER RECENT COMPLAINTS I SEE ON HERE, WHEN I WENT TO TURN OFF THE CAR IT POPPED UP THE "SHIFT TO PARK" WARNING EVEN THOUGH I WAS ALREADY IN PARK AND WOULDN'T POWER OFF THE RADIO OR LIGHTS. IT APPEARS THIS IS A CONSISTENT PROBLEM WITH ALL OF THE 2018 MALIBU'S AND SHOULD BE RECALLED. *TR
Electrical system, Engine, Aug 24, 2020
THE LOCKS WILL LOCK/UNLOCK ON THEIR OWN. THE BATTERY HAS TO BE CONSTANTLY JUMPED. THE CAR REJECTED THE ECW MODULE UPDATE.
Electrical system, Engine, Aug 18, 2020
MY CAR WAS RECALLED FOR A REDUCED POWER ISSUE IN APRIL 2020. THE VEHICLE WAS EXPERIENCING LOW POWER WHEN DRIVING, CAUSING SLUGGISHNESS AND TURNING OFF WHEN STOPPED AT TRAFFIC SIGNALS. THE CAR WAS TAKEN TO OURISMAN CHEVROLET IN MARLOW HEIGHTS, MD ON APRIL 4TH AND THE RECALL WAS ADDRESSED. AS OF THIS WRITING, I AM EXPERIENCING THE EXACT SAME ISSUE OF LOW POWER WHEN DRIVING/STOPPING AND AM CONCERNED THAT THE ISSUE (1) WAS NOT PROPERLY ADDRESSED, OR (2) WAS MISDIAGNOSED BY CHEVROLET. WHAT IS MY RECOURSE HERE? I HAVE ANOTHER APPOINTMENT TO HAVE THE VEHICLE LOOKED AT, AGAIN, AT A CHARGE OF $190, WHICH I DON'T FEEL I SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR.
Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Aug 13, 2020
I PUT MY CAR INTO PARK AND TURN THE CAR OFF. THE DASHBOARD TELLS ME THAT I NEED TO 'SHIFT TO PARK' EVEN THOUGH MY CAR IS IN PARK. THE RADIO AND DASHBOARD WILL NOT TURN OFF UNTIL I GET MY CAR TO REGISTER THAT IT IS IN PARK. HAVE TO TURN THE CAR ON AND OFF, SHIFT INTO GEARS, AND BACK INTO PARK TO TRY AND GET IT TO REGISTER. EVENTUALLY AFTER DOING THAT MULTIPLE TIMES IT WILL REGISTER. ANOTHER ISSUE IS WITH THE RADIO AND BLUE TOOTH. I TURNED MY CAR OFF AND EVERYTHING WAS OFF. MY NEPHEW CAME OVER LATER AND ASKED WHY MY RADIO WAS ON. RADIO RANDOMLY TURNS ON WHEN CAR IS/HAS BEEN OFF FOR PERIODS OF TIME. I HAVE AUTOMATIC START AND I STARTED MY CAR FROM INSIDE WORK ONE DAY AND THEN MY BLUE TOOTH (MUSIC &PHONE CALLS) WOULD NOT PLAY OVER MY SPEAKERS. NO MUSIC WOULD PLAY FROM THE RADIO EITHER. THE VOLUME WOULD TURN UP AND DOWN BY ITSELF. TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR THE RADIO ISSUES AND THEY SAID THEY COULDNT FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH IT. I TAKE IT IN SOON FOR THE 'SHIFT TO PARK' ISSUE.
Electrical system, Electronic stability control (ESC), Aug 7, 2020
WHEN MY CAR CUT OFF AT THE LIGHT AND WHEN IT TRY TO START BACK UP IT STALE FOR A SECOND AND SAYS STABILIZE THEN START UP. WHEN I START THE CAR UP IT SAYS THE SAME THING. IT ERASE ALL MY FAVORITE ON THE RADIO AND RESET EVERYTHING. BEEN DOING THIS FOR ABOUT TWO WEEKS NOW
Electrical system, Jul 25, 2020
I HAVE A 2018 CHEVROLET MALIBU AND I HAVE TROUBLE PUTTING THE CAR INTO PARK. THE PROBLEM IS THE GEAR SELECTOR SWITCH. WHEN YOU PUT THE CAR FROM DRIVE INTO PARK A METAL BAR PUSHES UP ONTO A BLUE BUTTON WHICH SENDS A SIGNAL TO THE CAR'S COMPUTER THAT THE CAR IS NOW IN PARK. I SPOKE TO A DEALER AND THEY TOLD ME THAT 2017,2018 AND 2019 MALIBU'S ARE KNOWN FOR THIS PROBLEM AND IT WOULD BE $900 TO CORRECT THE DEALER KNEW WHAT IT WAS BEFORE I EVEN FINISHED TELLING THEM ABOUT THE PROBLEM.I NEVER KNOW IF THE IS IN PARK
Power train, Electrical system, Jul 21, 2020
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT GEAR SELECTOR WAS PLACED IN THE PARK POSITION AND THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF HOWEVER, THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM REMAINED IN OPERATION. THE CONTACT CALLED WALLY EDGAR CHEVROLET (3805 S LAPEER RD, ORION CHARTER TOWNSHIP, MI 48360) AND THE DEALER WAS INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE POWER TRAIN WAS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO BE DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 42,000.
Electrical system, Jul 14, 2020
WHEN I PUT MY CAR IN PARK, A MESSAGE APPEAR ON THE DASHBOARD 'SHIFT TO PARK'. IT WON'T LET MY CAR TURN OFF COMPLETELY
Power train, Electrical system, Engine, Jul 13, 2020
CAR SHUT OFF IN THE MIDDLE OF DRIVING. WITH NO ENGINE LIGHT ON. ENGINE LIGHT RANDOMLY COMES ON EVERY OTHER WEEK. TPS DOESN'T FUNCTION PROPERLY. IDLES HIGH SOME DAYS THEN DRIVES NORMALLY. SENSORS WAS CHANGED ENGINE LIGHT COMES BACK ON A WEEK LATER WITH SAME CODE VACUUM SENSOR, MAF,
Electrical system, Engine, Jul 8, 2020
CAR TURNED OFF IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. ENGINE WAS COMPLETELY OFF AS WELL AS NO LIGHTS WERE ON. SO I COULD NOT PUT IT ON NEUTRAL TO PUSH IT OUT OF THE ROAD. I HAD SEVERAL NEAR MISSES WHERE IT COULD HAVE GONE BADLY. ALSO, TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP AND NOTHING WAS FOUND. CAR STILL TURNS OFF FOR NO APPARENT REASON
Electrical system, Jun 22, 2020
WHEN PUTTING THE VEHICLE IN PARK, A MESSAGE COMES ON THE DASH SAYING 'SHIFT TO PARK'. THE VEHICLE IS ALREADY IN PARK, BUT THE CAR DOESN'T PICK THAT UP. IT IS A KNOWN CHEVY ISSUE THAT THEY HAVE YET TO RECALL. HAPPENS ALMOST EVERY TIME I DRIVE. *TR
Electrical system, Structure, Jun 18, 2020, fire
I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY WHEN I WAS FORCED TO GO OVER A CARDBOARD BOX THAT HAPPENED TO BE ON MY LANE. I FELT IT HIT THE UNDERSIDE OF MY CAR. A FEW MINUTES LATER, I SMELLED SMOKE AND I WAS ALSO ALERTED BY SURROUNDING DRIVERS TO PULL OVER. I IMMEDIATELY PULLED OVER AND RAN OUT OF THE VEHICLE TO ABOUT 100FT AWAY. I COULD SEE FLAMES IN THE FRONT OF THE CAR. BY THE TIME I REACHED OUT TO EMERGENCY SERVICES AND THEY GOT TO THE LOCATION, THE CAR WAS COMPLETELY ON FIRE. *TR
Electrical system, Jun 1, 2020
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO START WHILE PRESSING THE PUSH TO START BUTTON. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO REED CHEVROLET LOCATED AT 4500 RAEFORD RD, FAYETTEVILLE, NC 28304, WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ECM AND THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. A YEAR LATER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE SAME DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 88,000.
Electrical system, Other or unspecified, Engine, May 29, 2020
ONCE MY CAR IS STOPPED AND I SHIFT TO 'P'(PARK) AND I TRY TO TURN OFF MY VEHICLE IT STILL GIVES ME THE 'SHIFT TO PARK' MESSAGE. THE SHIFT GEAR HAS PREVIOUSLY BEEN REPLACED BY THE CAR DEALERSHIP. HOWEVER AND UNFORTUNATELY, IT STARTED TO DO IT AGAIN. IT HAS UNDER 36,000 MILES ON IT AND WE THOUGHT THE ISSUE HAD BEEN FIXED ALREADY BUT IT STARTED TO DO IT AGAIN LESS THEN A YEAR LATER. *TR
Electrical system, Electronic stability control (ESC), Engine, May 20, 2020
WAS DRIVING THE CAR ON THE HIGHWAY THE SPEED CONTROL WAS ON THE CAR POWERED DOWN ALMOST MADE US WRECK AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON FOLLOWED BY THE POWER DOWN ALERT THE CAR WAS DRAGGING IN SPEED AND COULD NOT ACCELERATE. THERE IS ONLY 35000 MILES ON THIS VEHICLE. *TR
Electrical system, Electronic stability control (ESC), May 4, 2020
IT KEEPS GIVING THE SHIFT TO PARK WHEN THE VEHICLE ITS IN FULL PARK ALREADY.
Electrical system, Apr 6, 2020
SHIFT TO PARK APPEARS WHEN CAR IS DEFINITELY IN PARK ALREADY
Electrical system, Electronic stability control (ESC), Engine, Mar 16, 2020
CAR ENGINE WILL NOT TURN OVER. SYSTEM SAYS 'ENGINE POWER REDUCE' AND 'SERVICE STABILITRAK.' BRAKE CLICKS AND LOCKS WHEN BEEN PRESSED DOWN, STEERING WHEEL ALSO LOCKS.
Electrical system, Electronic stability control (ESC), Mar 11, 2020, crash
TL* THE CONTACT CALLED ON BEHALF OF THE VEHICLE OWNER/DRIVER HER DAUGHTER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE HER DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING A 2018 CHEVROLET MALIBU AT APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE STABILITRAK WARNING LIGHT SUDDENLY ILLUMINATED AS POWER WAS REDUCED CAUSING THE DRIVER TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE CENTER MEDIAN CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE. NO INJURIES WERE REPORTED AND NO POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT STATED RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 19V642000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE, ENGINE). THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE LOCAL BODY SHOP. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE LOCAL DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,447.
Steering, Electrical system, Electronic stability control (ESC), Mar 10, 2020
WARNING MESSAGES LIGHT UP "STEERING POWER IS DIMINISHED, DRIVE WITH CARE", SOMETHING PERTAINING TO BRAKES AND BATTERY, THE WARNINGS FLASH SO QUICKLY I CAN'T READ THEM ALL. THE CAR GOES DEAD WHEN I STOP, SHUTS DOWN COMPLETELY WITH DASH LIGHTS GOING COMPLETELY OUT, THEN A VERY SLOW RESTART AS THE LIGHTS BRIGHTEN VERY SLOWLY. AFTER THE THIRD TIME YESTERDAY AND TODAY I HAD TO PUT THE CAR IN "PARK FOR IT TO RESTART AT A STOP LIGHT AND NOW IT WILL NOT START AT ALL,
Electrical system, Engine, Mar 9, 2020
AS I WAS EXITING THE FREEWAY AND STOPED ON THE OFF RAMP, I TRIED TO STEP ON THE GAS PEDAL TO GO BUT MY CAR DID NOT WANT TO GO. MY STEERING WHEEL WAS LOCKED, MY BLUETOOTH CUT OFF, AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WENT ON. I TURNED ON MY HAZARD LIGHTS AND PUT MY CAR IN PARK. I TRIED TO SHUT IT OFF BUT IT DIDN'T SHUT OFF RIGHT AWAY. I PUSHED THE OFF BUTTON A FEW TIMES BEFORE IT FINALLY SHUT OFF. WHEN I TURNED IT BACK ON, I DROVE TO TH E NEAREST PARKING LOT AND PUT IT IN PARK. ONLY THIS TIME, THE MESSAGE "SHIFT TO PARK" POPPED UP. MY VEHICLE WAS ALREADY SHIFTED TO PARK BUT THE SYSTEM OBVIOUSLY COULDN'T COMPREHEND. MY CAR ONLY HAS 61,845 MILES!! IT SHOULD NOT BE HAVING THESE ISSUES SO SOON!!