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: power train
170 reports, newest first. Show all
Power train, Vehicle speed control, Engine, Nov 5, 2020
THE VEHICLE ENGINE REDUCED POWER WHILE ON THE HIGHWAY CAUSING ABRUPT DROP IN SPEED TO LOWER THAN THE SPEED LIMIT ALMOST CAUSING AN ACCIDENT AND A BUMPER TO BUMPER COLLISION.
Power train, Oct 30, 2020
THE CAR IS A 2018 AND THE DEALER SAYS THE TRANSMISSION CONTROL SHIFTER IS BAD. THE CAR READS IT'S IN PARK BUT SAYS SHIFT TO PARK TO SHUT CAR OFF. IN TALKING WITH OTHERS FOUND OUT SEVERAL PEOPLE HAVE REPORTED THIS PROBLEM AS WELL. I JUST BOUGHT IT USED IN JULY 2020 WITH 41000 MILES AND IT'S BEEN DOING THIS SINCE I GOT IT OFF AND ON. I TOOK IT TO DEALER TO REPORT PROBLEMS BEFORE I HAD IT 30 DAYS AND WAS TOLD THEY COULDN'T DUPLICATE THE ISSUES.
Power train, Engine, Oct 25, 2020
WHILE DRIVING CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON , DISPLAY SAID DIMINISHED ENGINE POWER , NO THROTTLE RESPONSE
Power train, Oct 18, 2020
WHEN PLACING MY CAR IN PARK, A WARNING COMES ON THAT MY CAR IS NOT IN PARK WHICH THEN CAUSES ME TO BE UNABLE TO TURN THE VEHICLE OFF. I THEN HAVE TO GO THROUGH EACH GEAR AND JIGGLE THE SHIFTER NUMEROUS TIMES TO GET IT TO TURN OFF THE VEHICLE. THIS SOMETIMES TAKES UP TO A HALF HOUR OF SITTING IN MY VEHICLE DOING THAT. IT IS BECOMING MORE AND MORE FREQUENT, TO THE POINT IT IS SEVERAL TIMES A DAY NOW. I HAVE READ WHERE MASSIVE AMOUNTS OF PEOPLE HAVE THIS PROBLEM AND FEEL THIS SHOULD DEFINITELY BE A RECALL ITEM AS IT IS DEFINITELY A MANUFACTURER DEFECT
Power train, Electronic stability control (ESC), Engine, Sep 25, 2020
VEHICLE ECM FAILS WHEN ACCELERATING. LOSES POWER/SHUTS DOWN. CANNOT ENTER FREEWAYS, PASS, OR PERFORM OTHER MANEUVERS REQUIRING SUDDEN INCREASE POWER DEMANDS. ECM FAILS TO RECORD INCIDENT. EVERY TIME. EVERY DAY. UPDATED ECM SOFTWARE DOES NOT WORK. RESET CHECK ENGINE MODE SHUTS DOWN OTHER VEHICLE FUNCTIONS. HAVE BEEN TOO CLOSE TO BEING RUN OFF THE INTERSTATE, HIT WHEN ENTERING FROM ON-RAMP, REAR-ENDED IN HEAVY TRAFFIC. NHTSA DOES NOT INVESTIGATE BECAUSE DEATH AND INJURY CANNOT BE LINKED TO FAILURES BECAUSE THE MODULE DOES NOT RECORD ISSUES/FAILURES. THERE IS NO FIX. EVERY DAY YOU GET IN YOUR CAR AND WONDER IF TODAY IS THE DAY YOU DIE BECAUSE YOUR VEHICLE FAILED TO PERFORM AT A CRITICAL MOMENT. NOW VEHICLE SHUT DOWNS WHILE DRIVING ON LEVEL SURFACES, AT CONSTANT SPEED, WITH NO ADDITIONAL DEMANDS. AM INSTALLING CAMS TO RECORD TRAFFIC CONDITIONS AND VEHICLE WARNINGS DISPLAYED ON DASH SINCE ECM DOES NOT RECORD FAILURES. I BELIEVE A THOROUGH INVESTIGATION INTO ALL REAR END COLLISIONS INVOLVING 2018 MALIBUS SHOULD BE CONDUCTED SINCE THE VITAL LINK, THE ECM RECORD, HAS BEEN DISABLED BY MANUFACTURER.
Power train, Vehicle speed control, Sep 16, 2020
SHIFT TO PARK WARNING WHEN EXITING VEHICLE WHEN THE VEHICLE IS IN PARK AND ENGINE IS OFF
Power train, Sep 10, 2020
MY 2018 CHEVROLET MALIBU HAS A PROBLEM WHEN SHIFTING FROM DRIVE INTO PARK. THE MESSAGE ON MY DASH SAYS " SHIFT TO PARK " EVEN THOUGH IT IS IN PARK. AND YOU CAN NOT SHUT OFF THE ENGINE. YOU CAN TRY SHIFTING IT BACK INTO DRIVE OR LOW AND THEN GO BACK TO PARK BUT WE GET THE SAME MESSAGE " SHIFT TO PARK " AND AGAIN EVEN THOUGH IT IS IN PARK, YOU CAN NOT SHUT OFF THE ENGINE. ISN'T THIS A DANGEROUS SITUATION ?
Power train, Aug 7, 2020
WHEN VEHICLE IS SHIFTED INTO PARK AND THE VEHICLE IS TURNED OFF, "SHIFT TO PARK" DISPLAYS ON THE VEHICLES SCREEN AND WILL NOT ALLOW THE VEHICLE TO FULLY TURN OFF. IN ORDER TO HAVE THE LIGHT TURN OFF, SOMETIMES YOU HAVE TO WIGGLE THE GEAR SHIFT AROUND WHEREAS SOMETIMES YOU HAVE TO PRESS THE START BUTTON AND SHIFT BETWEEN GEARS A FEW TIMES.
Power train, Jul 22, 2020
ON, JULY 15, 2020 MY CAR GAVE A "SHIFT TO PARK"MESSAGE ON THE DASH AFTER I HAD PLACED MY CAR IN PARK. I CONTINUED TO HAVE THIS ERROR FOR THE NEXT FEW DAYS, I MADE AN APPOINTMENT WITH MY DEALERSHIP. THE ISSUE IS YOU ARE STRANDED IN YOUR CAR UNTIL YOU CAN WIGGLE THE GEAR SHIFT INTO PLACE SOMETIMES UPTO 20 MINUTES. THE VEHICLE IS STATIONARY AND IN THE PARK GEAR, HOWEVER THE CAR NEVER TURNS OFF. THE START BUTTON IS ILLUMINATED AMBER AND DINGS FOR ASSISTANCE. THIS CAN POSSIBLY DRAIN A BATTERY. THE DEALERSHIP CHARGED $518.00 TO REPAIR A KNOWN GM ISSUE. GM CUSTOMER SERVICE ADMITTED TO IT AND SO DID THE SERVICE ADVISOR, I RECEIVED A "NEW" IMPROVED VERSION OF TRANSMISSION CONTROL ASSEMBLY. PROBABLY SHOULD BE A RECALL OR CLASS ACTION SUIT.
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.
Power train, Jul 14, 2020
REDUCED ENGINE POWER NOTIFICATION IN MID DRIVE ON FREEWAY CAUSING CAR TO COME TO LOW SPEED IN A 70 MPH HEAVY TRAFFIC FLOW. MULTIPLE VEHICLES SWERVE TO AVOID CONTACT (ACCIDENT). UNABLE TO PULL OVER QUICKLY AS IT HAPPENED OUT OF NO WHERE. UNABLE TO ACCELERATE.
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,
Power train, Other or unspecified, Jul 9, 2020
SHIFT TO PARK MESSAGE DISPLAYS ONCE CAR IS PLACED IN PARK. CAR WILL NOT COMPLETELY TURN OFF ONCE IN PARK AND IGNITION IS SHUT OFF
Power train, Jul 7, 2020
WHEN PUTTING VEHICLE INTO PARK VEHICLE WILL GIVE MESSAGE SAYING THAT THE VEHICLE IS NOT IN PARK WHEN IT CLEARLY IS IN PARK. I SOMETIMES HAVE TO TURN THE VEHICLE OFF OR MESS WITH THE GEAR SHIFT FOR A LITTLE WHILE FOR THE MESSAGE TO FINALLY GO BECAUSE THE VEHICLE ITSELF WILL NOT POWER OFF UNTIL THE MESSAGE GOES AWAY. THIS COULD BE A SAFETY ISSUE AND CHEVY NEEDS TO ADDRESS THIS ASAP! THESE ARE BRAND NEW CARS THAT ARE DOING THIS AND THERE SHOULDN'T BE ANY ISSUES WITH IT BEING A BRAND NEW CAR. THEY NEED TO MAKE IT A SERVICE BULLTIN AND OR RECALL.
Power train, Electronic stability control (ESC), Engine, May 22, 2020
AUTO STOP JUST STOPED WORKING ALSO WHEN I PUT IT ON PARK IT SHOWS 'SHIFT TO PARK' BUT THE VEHICLE IS ON PARK ALREADY. *TR
Power train, May 21, 2020
VEHICLE TRANSMISSION NOT ENTERING IN PARKING , CAUSING VEHICLE TO MOVE FORWARD OR BACK IF PUT ON PARKING. THIS COULD CAUSE ACCIDENT AND SERIOUS INJURIES . THIS MIGHT BE A SENSOR OR AND ELECTRICAL FAILURE IN THE GEAR SELECTOR, BECAUSE IF YOU WIGGLE THE SELECTOR SOMETIMES IT WILL GO AWAY. VEHICLE WILL SHOW MESSAGE VEHICLE NOT IN PARKING. *TR
Power train, Engine, Fuel/propulsion system, May 16, 2020
SINCE JULY 2019 MY VEHICLE HAS CONTINUALLY SHOWN A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WITH THE MESSAGE, POWER ENGINE REDUCED ON THE DASHBOARD. WHEN THIS OCCURS, THE RPMS INCREASE DRASTICALLY AND VEHICLE CAN NOT GO OVER 30 MPH. THIS HAS HAPPENED ON HIGHWAYS AND MAIN ROADS. IT IS VERY DANGEROUS BECAUSE I CAN BE GOING 65 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY AND ALL OF A SUDDEN IT DROPS DOWN TO 30MPH. THIS HAS ALMOST CAUSED ACCIDENTS MULTIPLE TIMES. I HAVE ATTACHED MULTIPLE SERVICE RECORDS WHERE I HAVE HAD THE VEHICLE WORKED ON, BUT YET THE ISSUE STILL OCCURS AT ANYTIME. THE VEHICLE IS VERY UNSAFE TO DRIVE. THERE HAS BEEN RECALLS ON THIS ISSUE AND ALTHOUGH HE DEALERSHIPS SAY THEY FIXED IT FOR MY VEHICLE, IT STILL OCCURS. I HAVE CONTACTED GM AND HAVE NOT GOTTEN AN ANSWER OR HAD THE PROBLEM RESOLVED AND IT HAS BEEN OVER A MONTH I HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH THEM. THERE LAST REASONING FOR NOT GIVING ME A RESOLUTION WAS BECAUSE THEY WERE WAITING ON SERVICE RECORDS, YET I CALLED THE DEALERSHIPS AND HAD THE SERVICE RECORDS IN LESS THAN AN HOUR. *TR
Power train, Apr 20, 2020
CAR SAYS SHIFT TO PARK ON DASH MONITOR WHEN CAR GEAR SHIFT IS DEFINITELY IN PARK. CAR WAS STATIONARY IN A PARKING LOT AFTER DRIVING.
Power train, Engine, Apr 3, 2020
MY TRANSMISSION HAS HAD MULTIPLE REPAIRS SINCE I'VE GOTTEN MY VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE HAD TO GO IN FOR SEVERAL MONTHS WHILE THEY FIXED THE TRANSMISSION BUT ONCE I GOT IT BACK IT INSTANTLY HAD ANOTHER TRANSMISSION ISSUE. IT HAS ALSO HAD THE SHIFTER REPLACED, WHICH IS ANOTHER TRANSMISSION ISSUE.
Power train, Electrical system, Vehicle speed control, Mar 7, 2020
WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AT SPEEDS OF UP TO 80 MPH AT RANDOM TIMES THE CAR WILL SUDDENLY SLOW ITSELF DOWN TO 20 MPH AND THE DASH WILL MESSAGE THAT ENGINE POWER IS REDUCED. IT'S A SERIOUS PROBLEM THAT IS DANGEROUS TO NOT ONLY THE PEOPLE IN THE VEHICLE BUT ALL OTHER VEHICLES ON THE ROAD ALSO.
Power train, Electronic stability control (ESC), Engine, Mar 7, 2020
VEHICLE EXPERIENCED REDUCED POWER BEFORE LEARNING ABOUT AND ADDRESSING THE RECALL. A COUPLE OF MONTHS FOLLOWING MY VEHICLE BEGAN TO SHUT OFF AND RESTART WHILE GIVING VARIOUS ERROR MESSAGES. THIS OCCURRED WHILE GOING SPEEDS LESS THAN 35 MPH AND WHILE STOPPED. THE DEALERSHIP DETERMINED IT WAS A FAULTY BATTERY CENSOR AND WAS NOT COVERED UNDER THE WARRANTY. I HAVE HAD THE PART REPLACED AND DID NOT EXPERIENCE ANY ISSUES FOR ROUGHLY 2 WEEKS. MY VEHICLE TODAY GAVE A ERROR MESSAGE THAT ENGINE POWER IS REDUCED AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS ON. IT IS ALSO HESITATING/JUMPING WHEN SWITCHING FROM DRIVE TO EITHER REVERSE OR PARK.
Power train, Engine, Fuel/propulsion system, Mar 6, 2020
ENGINE POWER IS REDUCED WARNING AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ANTI SKID WARNINGS COME ON.
Power train, Electronic stability control (ESC), Engine, Mar 5, 2020
CHECK ENGINE LIGHT, TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT BOTH ON, REDUCED ENGINE POWER, SPEED AND TRANSMISSION SHIFTING LIMITED, CANT GO PASS 3 GEAR. STARTED RANDOMLY ON NUMEROUS OCCASION WHILE DRIVING. VERY DANGEROUS.
Power train, Vehicle speed control, Fuel/propulsion system, Feb 3, 2020
CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND REDUCED ENGINE POWER VEHICLE WON'T ACCELERATE ON HIGHWAY IN TRAFFIC
Power train, Vehicle speed control, Engine, Dec 18, 2019
I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE INTERSTATE DOING 74 MILES AN HOUR WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THE CAR JERKED AND STARTED SLOWING DOWN. THE DISPLAY SCREEN SHOWED A MESSAGING SAYING ENGINE POWER REDUCED. I PULLED OVER ON THE SHOULDER BECAUSE IT WOULDN'T LET ME ACCELERATE AND HAD SLOWED THE CAR DOWN TO 50 MPH. I SAT THERE FOR A MINUTE AND WAS GOING TO TRY TO DRIVE ON THE SHOULDER TO THE NEXT EXIT. WHEN I STARTED THE CAR THE MESSAGE WAS NO LONGER THERE BUT THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS STILL ON. THE CAR HAS DONE THIS MORE THAN 10 TIMES SINCE THIS DAY.