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: steering
41 reports, newest first. Show all
Steering, Nov 9, 2020
I WAS DRIVING MY CAR THIS MORNING THIS HAPPENED 4 TIMES, I WAS IN A STOP WHEN I WOULD RESTART THE CAR TO GO MY STEERING WHEEL WOULD DO A QUICK SHIFT TO THE LEFT THEN BACK TO ITS ORIGINAL POSITION THEN I WOULD GET THE STEERING ASSIST REDUCED SIGN FOR SECOND THEN DISAPPEAR. IT DID IT 4 TIMES IN A MATTER OF AN HOUR AND A HALF. AND DID IT ONCE LAST WEEK WITH NO MASSAGE DISPLAY.
Steering, Electrical system, Engine, Oct 26, 2020
CAR IS STATIONARY WHILE WAITING FOR RED LIGHT TO CHANGE, THE CAR WILL SHUT OFF AND REDUCED DRIVING ASSISTANCE ERROR MESSAGE WILL POP UP BEFORE TURNING BACK ON. THE RADIO WILL ALSO CUT OUT IN PROCESS OF CAR TURNING BACK ON FRIM AUTO SHUT OFF. IT HAS BEEN HAPPENING FOR OVER A MONTH AND SEEMS TO GET WORSE. ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON TODAY ASWELL
Steering, Aug 25, 2020
WHILE DRIVING IN COLDER WEATHER ALONG THE INTERSTATE AT 65 MPH FOR 5 MILES OR LONGER THE STEERING WHEEL SLIGHTLY LOCKS IN AT THE TOP POSITION CAUSING A SLIGHT OVER CORRECTIONS WHEN NEEDING TO TURN THE WHEEL TO CHANGE LANES
Steering, Aug 25, 2020
WHILE DRIVING IN SLOW MOVING TRAFFIC, I WILL GET A WARNING ON THE DASH THAT STATES "STEERING ASSIST REDUCED, DRIVE CAREFUL" THIS HAS HAPPENED MANY TIMES, WHEN TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP THEY CANNOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG.
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,
Steering, Jan 3, 2020
THE STEERING WILL "STICK" AT THE TOP AFTER TRAVELING IN A STRAIGHT LINE FOR A PERIOD OF TIME. THIS WILL HAPPEN ON THE HIGHWAY AN IN THE CITY BUT IS MORE PRONOUNCED ON THE HIGHWAY. I HAVE REPEATEDLY TAKEN IT TO THE DEALER AND THEY CANNOT DUPLICATE THE ISSUE EVEN THOUGH IT HAPPENS FREQUENTLY. SEEMS TO BE WORSE IN COLDER WEATHER. THIS IS INDEED A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE WHEN IT RELEASES YOU OVER CORRECT YOUR STEERING AND WANDER AROUND IN YOUR LANE. IT HAS BEEN DOING THIS ALMOST SINCE NEW AND IT NOW HAS 18,500 MILES ON IT.
Steering, Dec 18, 2019
2018 CHEVROLET MALIBU WITH 15, 300 MILES. SINCE THE LAST RECALL WORK WAS COMPLETED, WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AROUND 65 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL HAD AN INCREASE OF TENSION THEN IT SUDDENLY RELEASES ALL TENSION WHICH COULD POTENTIALLY LEAD TO A RAPID OVER CORRECTION. THE PROBLEM FEELS SIMILAR TO A MAGNETIC BREAK RELEASE. NO FAULT CODES TRIP AND THE DEALERSHIP SERVICE CENTER SAYS THEY CAN'T DUPLICATE ON WHILE STATIONARY OR SHORT DRIVES BUT IT'S FELT ON LONGER DRIVES GREATER THAN 15 MIN. PROBLEM HAS REMAINED FOR APPROXIMATELY A MONTH.
Steering, Dec 15, 2019
AFTER DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE FOR A WHILE, THE STEERING SEEMS TO HAVE A FLAT SPOT, WHERE IT IS HARD TO TURN AND THEN IT JERKS SLIGHTLY.. MORE FREQUENTLY THE COLDER THE WEATHER.
Steering, Other or unspecified, Sep 18, 2019
I HAVE TAKEN MY CAR INTO THE DEALERSHIP 2 DIFFERENT TIMES NOW BECAUSE OF THE STEERING WHEEL RANDOMLY SHAKING WHILE GOING DOWN A STRAIGHT ROAD. THEY HAVE TRIED TO REPLICATE IT BUT IT SEEMS TO DO IT RANDOMLY. IVE NOTICED IT IS AROUND 38 MPH. IF MY HANDS BARELY COME OFF OF THE STEERING WHEEL IT STARTS SHAKING BACK AND FORTH. THIS IS HAPPENING JUST DRIVING AROUND THE CITY ON STRAIGHT ROADS. ONCE I PUT MY HANDS BACK ON THE WHEEL IT STOPS. THEY CANNOT SEEM TO FIGURE OUT WHAT IT IS. IT HAS HAPPENED RANDOMLY EVER SINCE I PURCHASED MY CAR BRAND NEW ABOUT A YEAR AGO.
Steering, Sep 16, 2019
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT RELEASED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL WHILE APPROACHING A STOP. THE CONTACT MANAGED TO STEER THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO BREDEMANN CHEVROLET (1401 W DEMPSTER ST, PARK RIDGE, IL 60068, (847) 655-1485) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING ASSIST SOFTWARE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 6,000.
Steering, Sep 16, 2019
MY CAR HAS BEEN IN AND OUT OF THE DEALERSHIP SERVICE DEPARTMENT FOR MONTHS BECAUSE OF A "STICKING" SENSATION IN THE STEERING WHILE DRIVING THE CAR AT HIGHWAYS SPEEDS. THE FIRST TIME I NOTICED THIS ISSUE WAS SHORTLY AFTER BUYING THE CAR IN SEPT OF 2018. DURING A TRIP OUT TO EAST TEXAS I NOTICED THE STEERING WASN'T RESPONDING TO THE SLIGHT ADJUSTMENT I WAS MAKING TO REMAIN IN MY LANE OF TRAFFIC, LIKE IT WAS STUCK OR "TURNED OFF". I HAD TO APPLY A LITTLE GREATER FORCE TO THE STEERING TO REMAIN IN MY LANE OF TRAFFIC AND WHEN I DID I OVERCORRECTED AND ALMOST HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE. THIS HAS BEEN ONGOING FOR MONTHS NOW, EVEN JUST ABOUT A YEAR NOW, AND GM DOESN'T SEEM TO TRULY CARE. THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT AT MY DEALERSHIP HAS DONE SO MANY TESTS ON THE CAR BUT EACH TIME THEY CANNOT SEEM TO DUPLICATE THE ISSUE, OR THAT IS WHAT I'M BEING TOLD AT LEAST. AND EACH TIME I TAKE IT TO THE DEALERSHIP I AM GIVEN ANOTHER GM CAR TO DRIVE AND STRANGELY ENOUGH I DON'T HAVE ANY ISSUE WITH THE LOANER CAR(S) I HAVE DRIVEN THAT HAVE THE ELECTRIC STEERING. THE CAR IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE ON THE HIGHWAY. THAT'S THE BOTTOM LINE AND GM IS NOT DOING ANYTHING TO ADDRESS IT.
Steering, Electronic stability control (ESC), Service brakes, Aug 23, 2019
DURING OPERATIONS WHILE TURNING CAR LOCKED UP; LOST POWER, LOST STEERING. WITH ENGINE RUNNING THE RADIO AND AC SHUT OFF. DRIFTED TO SHOULDER OF ROAD. ILLUMINATED DASH LIGHTS: POWER STEERING DRIVE WITH CARE, TRACTION CONTROL, EMERGENCY BRAKE, ABS LIGHT, TEMP SHOWED COLD, NO GEAR INDICATOR LIGHT. OPERATED CAR LESS THAN 5MPH APPROX. 1/4 MILE AND SHUT ENGINE OFF. DURING OPERATIONS IT SOUNDED AS THOUGH BRAKES WERE ON (SCREECHING/CLANKING). ONCE ENGINE SHUTDOWN STABILITRAK LIGHT ILLUMINATED INTERMITTENTLY WITH POWER STEERING. DOORS WOULD NOT UNLOCK, WINDOWS WOULD NOT GO DOWN (TRAPPED IN VEHICLE 10 MIN). BRAKE PEDAL LOCKED, CAR WOULD NOT START. 45 MIN LATER CAR STARTED. ALL ILLUMINATED LIGHTS CLEARED, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALERSHIP. DEALERSHIP INVESTIGATED. SEVERAL FAULT CODES WERE PRESENT. EACH FAULT CODE PERTAINED TO VEHICLES COMMUNICATION. VEHICLE LOST COMMUNICATION WITH EVERYTHING. DEALERSHIP STATED DIFFICULT/IMPOSSIBLE TO FOLLOW ANY SORT OF DIRECTION FOR FIX. DEALERSHIP DROVE CAR AND COULD NOT REPLICATE INCIDENT. ASKED ME TO DRIVE AND RECREATE PROBLEM THEN TO BRING BACK. CAR IS UNSAFE. INSTANTLY LOCKED UP DURING OPERATION, TRAPPED ME INSIDE, LEFT ME STRANDED AND SCARED ME. REFUSE TO DRIVE. GM WAS CONTACTED; AWAITING GUIDANCE.
Steering, Mar 25, 2019
I RENTED A 2018 CHEVY MALIBU. IT SEEMED TO DRIVE AND HANDLE GREAT IN TOWN, HOWEVER WHEN I BEGAN DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE I NOTICED PROBLEMS. WHILE DRIVING STRAIGHT FOR A FEW MILES THE STEERING WOULD 'STICK' MEANING I HAD TO APPLY EXTREME FORCE IN ORDER TO TURN THE WHEEL, ONCE IT BROKE FREE IT WAS BACK TO NORMAL BUT AFTER I'D DRIVE STRAIGHT FOR A FEW MILES I'D ENCOUNTER THE SAME ISSUE. WHEN I ARRIVED AT MY FIRST DESTINATION (ABOUT 750 MILES) I NOTICED THAT WHEN I WOULD TURN IN THE PARKING LOT THE STEERING WAS CLICKING. I WILL BE RETURNING THE CAR TO THE RENTAL AGENCY AS I DON'T BELIEVE THIS IS SAFE. UNFORTUNATELY YET ANOTHER REASON NEVER TO BUY A GM CAR.
Steering, Dec 16, 2018
STEERING WHEEL SEEMS TO STICK IN THE STRAIGHT-AHEAD POSITION AFTER DRIVING 10 MILES ON A STRAIGHT HIGHWAY ABOVE 60 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL CAN BE TURNED BUT IT REQUIRES INCREASED EFFORT
Steering, Dec 13, 2018
AFTER DRIVING THE CAR FOR 30 MINUTES OR MORE, THE STEERING WHEEL WILL STICK IN THE STRAIGHT POSITION. WHEN TRYING TO MAKE LANE CORRECTIONS, THE WHEEL WILL JERK LEFT OR RIGHT CAUSING THE CAR TO MOVE ABRUPTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A CHEVROLET DEALER FOR EVALUATION, THE SERVICE WRITER CALLED IT 'STICK/SLIP' AND SAID IT WAS COMMON ON OLDER MALIBUS. OF COURSE,THE CONCERN COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED BY THE DEALER. VEHICLE HAS ACTED UP SEVERAL TIMES SINCE DEALER VISIT.
Steering, Nov 21, 2018
I RENTED A 2018 MALIBU (11K MILES) WITH THE 1.5 ECOTECH ENGINE FROM HERTZ IN LAKEVILLE, MN STARTING 10/31/18. NO VIN BUT IT WAS RENTAL RECORD #147556754, VEHICLE #02298, LICENSE #IL AW71337. WE PUT APPROX 1100 MILES ON IT THE FIRST TWO DAYS - ALL INTERSTATE DRIVING. ON THE HIGHWAY, THE STEERING WHEEL BECAME 'STUCK'. TO MAKE SMALL LANE CORRECTIONS OR CHANGE LANES, I HAD TO MODERATELY FORCE THE STEERING WHEEL TO TURN. IT WAS COMPARABLE TO HAVING A 'CATCH' IN THE STEERING. ONCE THE FORCE WAS MADE, THE CAR AUTOMATICALLY MOVED 1/4 TO 1/2 A LANE LEFT OR RIGHT DEPENDING ON WHICH WAY I WAS TURNING. AFTER THE FIRST TWO DAYS, THE CAR SEEMED TO WORK FINE. MAYBE IT WAS BECAUSE THE WEATHER WAS COOLER AFTER THE FIRST COUPLE DAYS - NOT SURE. I DID REPORT THIS TO THE LOCAL HERTZ CUSTOMER SERVICE PERSON AND SHE SAID THEY WOULD LOOK AT IT. PERSONALLY, I CONSIDER THIS A GM ISSUE VS A HERTZ ISSUE.