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: vehicle speed control
113 reports, newest first. Show all
Electrical system, Vehicle speed control, Fuel/propulsion system, Nov 25, 2019
IN MOTION ON HIGHWAY AT 60 MPH, MY CAR ACCERATION SHUT DOWN AND I STARTED LOSING SPEED EVEN THOUGH I WAS PRESSING ACELLERATOR. AT THIS TIME MY CAR STARTED TO DOWN SHIFT AND THE MORE I STEPPED ON THE ACCELLERATOR NOTHING HAPPENED. MY CAR THEN TURNED OFF ON THE HIGHWAY. I IMMEDIATELY SHIFTED TO PARK AND STARTED THE VEHICLE AGAIN BECAUSE I WAS IN FEAR OF GETTING REAR ENDED. WE HAVE TAKEN THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP 4 TIMES FOR THEM TO FIX IT AND THE LAST TIME, THEY SAID THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH IT. WE STILL HAVE EXCELERATION ISSUES WITH THIS VEHICLE. WE GOT A RECALL NOTICE OF SOFTWARE FROM CHEVROLET BUT THE DEALER SHIP IS UNAWARE OF THE REPAIR AND I DO NOT BELIEVE THEY CAN CORRECT THIS PROBLEM. WE BOUGHT THIS CAR NEW AND IT HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP 4 TIMES FOR THIS RECALL. WE WISH TO RECEIVE A NEW CAR FOR SAFETY REASONS. WE ARE TAKING THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP AGAIN TODAY BUT I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE.
Vehicle speed control, Sep 30, 2019
THIS ISSUE HAPPENED TWICE IN ONE DAY...THE FIRST TIME I WAS GOING 55 MPH DOWN THE ROAD WHEN MY CAR LOST ALL POWER FROM THE GAS PETAL. I COASTED OFF THE ROAD AND WAS ABLE TO SHIFT BETWEEN REVERSE AND THEN BACK TO DRIVE TO GET THE GAS PEDAL TO WORK AGAIN. A COUPLE OF HOURS LATER THAT DAY I WAS GOING DOWN THE ROAD ABOUT 40 MPH WHEN I LOST POWER FROM THE GAS PETAL. ON THAT OCCASION, I WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER INTO A GAS STATION BUT BEFORE I COULD GET COMPLETELY STOPPED THE CAR STALLED OUT. I CALLED ONSTAR TO DO A DIAGNOSTIC REPORT ON THE VEHICLE, IT CAME BACK WITH A P0137 CODE THAT SAYS THE EMISSIONS SYSTEM IS NOT PERFORMING AS EXPECTED. AFTER DOING MORE RESEARCH ON THE PROBLEM I FOUND THAT THERE IS A NHTSA RECALL NUMBER 19V642 THAT IS THE TRUE ISSUE. THIS RECALL STATUS IS SHOWING INCOMPLETE, REMEDY NOT YET AVAILABLE.
Vehicle speed control, Sep 16, 2019
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45-50 MPH, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, BUT THE VEHICLE HESITATED. ADDITIONALLY, THE VEHICLE VIBRATED ABNORMALLY WHILE DRIVING ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO PETRO CHEVROLET (4012 14TH ST, PASCAGOULA, MS 39567, (228)813-0262) TO BE DIAGNOSED, BUT THE MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO RETRIEVE A FAULT CODE OR DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 20.
Vehicle speed control, Sep 12, 2019
I WAS DRIVING IN THE CITY, HEAVY TRAFFIC, WHEN WITH NO WARNING THE ENGINE LIGHT AND TRACTION LIGHT CAME ON, AND MESSAGE REDUCTION IN POWER ALSO CAME ON. I COULD NOT MOVE FASTER THAN 20 MILES AN HOUR. I OBSTRUCTED TRAFFIC TRYING TO GET OFF THE STREET, AND DRIVERS HONKED AND YELLED TRYING TO AVOID HITTING ME. I PARKED AND TURNED OFF CAR AND RESTARTED TWICE. IT DROVE NORMALLY BUT CHECK ENGINE LIGHT STILL REMAINED ON. I WILL SEE DEALER BUT NO WARNINGS OR ERROR MESSAGES ARE ON NOW. I AM TERRIFIED TO TAKE PASSENGERS OR DRIVE ON THE FREEWAY, OR AT NIGHT.
Vehicle speed control, Jul 19, 2019
I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AT 75 MPH, WHEN AN ERROR MESSAGE CAME UP SAYING 'REDUCED ENGINE POWER' AND SOMETHING ABOUT TRACTION CONTROL. THEN MY SPEED WAS REDUCED AND I COULD NOT ACCELERATE. I HAD TO QUICKLY PULL OFF TO THE SHOULDER SO I WOULD AVOID BEING HIT BY ONCOMING 18 WHEELERS. I TURNED THE CAR OFF AND BACK ON. THE ENGINE LIGHT HAS REMAINED ON, BUT SPEED WAS OK. I READY THAT THIS COULD BE DUE TO THE THROTTLE BODY OR THROTTLE POSITIONING SENSOR. WHAT CAN I DO????
Vehicle speed control, Jul 5, 2019
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 CHEVROLET MALIBU. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO MERGE ONTO THE HIGHWAY, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, BUT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE. AFTER A FEW MINUTES, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED EVER SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED THREE MONTHS AGO. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO CHISWELL CHEVROLET OF THURMONT (111 FREDERICK RD, THURMONT, MD 21788) WHERE IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS PERFORMING ACCORDING TO STANDARDS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 4,000.
Vehicle speed control, Other or unspecified, Engine, Jul 2, 2019
MY CAR IS LAGGING WHEN I COME FROM A COMPLETE STOP. IT SPUTTERS AT TIMES WHEN I ACCELERATE. MY CAR IS ALSO MAKING A VIBRATION NOISE WHEN I ACCELERATE, SLOW DOWN, TURNING, ON HIGHWAY, CITY STREETS AND WHEN I'M COASTING. THIS START HAPPENING WHEN MY VEHICLE REACHED 13,000 MILES. I ALMOST GOT INTO FOUR ACCIDENTS DUE TO THIS ISSUE. THERE NEED TO BE A RECALL ASAP! I'M PRETTY SURE THAT IS NOT GOING TO BE ONE UNTIL SOMEONE DIES BECAUSE OF IT.
Electrical system, Vehicle speed control, Engine, Jun 18, 2019
WHILE DRIVING MY 2018 MALIBU WITH ONLY 7500 MILES ON IT, THE CAR WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. I PUSHED THE GAS PEDAL TO THE FLOOR AND THE CAR HAD NO POWER AND I ALMOST WAS IN A CRASH WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE. A LOT OF LIGHTS CAME ON THE DASHBOARD AND THE GAUGES WENT TO ZERO. AN ERROR MESSAGE DISPLAYED THAT SAID SOMETHING LIKE ENGINE POWER REDUCED AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. THE GAS GAUGE AND OTHERS ACTED LIKE THE CAR WAS SHUT OFF. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS FOR ME AND MY FAMILY AS TRAFFIC IN THE NORTHERN VIRGINIA AREA IS VERY HEAVY. I PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND SHUT THE CAR OFF. I TRIED TO RESTART IT AND IT WOULD NOT RESTART FOR 10 MINUTES. WHEN IT DID RESTART THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS STILL ON AND THE CAR STILL HAD VERY LIMITED POWER. THIS NEEDS FIXED ASAP. IT IS CURRENTLY AT THE DEALER WHERE I BOUGHT IT FROM IN NOVEMBER OF 2018. I TOLD THEM ABOUT THE POWER PROBLEM WHEN I HAD THE FIRST SERVICE OIL CHANGE DONE AND THEY SAID THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO ABOUT IT. I BOUGHT A NEW CAR SO THAT I WOULDN'T HAVE ANY PROBLEMS AND NOW I HAVE TO DEAL WITH THIS PRODUCT THAT NO ONE WANTS TO FIX. PLEASE FIND A SOLUTION TO THIS PROBLEM AS IT IS LIFE THREATENING.
Power train, Vehicle speed control, Engine, May 30, 2019
MY CAR WAS BOUGHT NEW IN DECEMBER 2018. STARTING IN APRIL OF 2018, WITH A LITTLE OVER 3000 MILES ON THE CAR, I BEGAN TO NOTICE THAT WHEN I DROVE THE CAR WITH A COLD START (MORNINGS AND AFTER A FULL DAY OF WORK) THE CAR WOULD NOT RESPOND TO ME PRESSING ON THE GAS PEDAL. I WOULD PUSH DOWN, AND IT WOULD TAKE ABOUT 5-8 SECONDS FOR THE CAR TO ACTUALLY ACCELERATE AT ALL. THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING ALMOST EVERY DAY FOR NEARLY A MONTH. MULTIPLE TIMES, I HAVE PULLED OUT OF A DRIVEWAY AND WAS ALMOST HIT BY CROSS TRAFFIC BECAUSE MY CAR LITERALLY WOULDN'T GO. WE HAVE TAKEN IT TO THE SERVICE CENTER TWICE NOW, AND THEY HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO PULL ANY CODES OR FIND ANY ISSUES WRONG WITH IT. THESE NEEDS TO BE RESOLVED BEFORE SOMEONE IS SERIOUSLY INJURED. ## VIN PASSED ## CHEVROLET, MALIBU, 2018 ##
Vehicle speed control, May 10, 2019
MY VEHICLE OFTEN DOESN'T NOT ACCELERATE AS IT SHOULD. RPM WILL READ BETWEEN 3 AND 4 RPM SPEED WILL NOT GO ABOVE 5 TO 10 MPH. THIS IS A RANDOM OCCURRENCE BUT HAS BECAME MORE FREQUENT IN THE LAST TWO WEEKS. IT'S HAPPENING ALMOST DAILY. LAST OCCURRENCE WAS THIS MORNING ABOUT 8:30AM. IT HAPPENS WHEN COMING FROM A STOP. I CAN PUSH THE GAS PEDAL ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR AND THE CAR STILL WILL NOT GO ABOVE 5 TO 10 MPH. RPMS WILL STILL SHOW NORMAL RANGE FOR ACCELERATION. I TOOK MY VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR THE 5TH TIME ONLY FOR THEM TO TELL ME IT COULDN'T BE REPAIRED JUST YET BECAUSE THE ACCELERATOR SENSOR HAS NOT FAILED COMPLETELY, ALTHOUGH IT IS CLEAR THAT IT IS DEFECTIVE. DEALER STATED REPAIR WOULD BE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY ON MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON, AND CAR WON'T ACCELERATE, INDICATING THAT THE SENSOR HAS FAILED COMPLETELY. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS BECAUSE I NEVER KNOW WHEN MY VEHICLE WILL ACCELERATE AT NORMAL SPEED.
Vehicle speed control, Engine, Mar 6, 2019
CAR WAS NOT ACCELERATING WOULD NOT GO PAST 20MPHTOOK TO DEALER SHIP TOOK 2 MONTHS TO FIGURE OUT IT WAS THE KNOCK SENSOR AND ALSO THE ECM WERE OUT MIND YOU MY CAR HAD LESS THAN 6K MILES I'M THE FIRST AND ONLY OWNER OF IT! I BOUGHT THIS CAR FROM DON RINGLER WITH 4 MILES. MY CAR WAS ON THE HIGH WAY WHEN THIS HAPPEN.
Power train, Vehicle speed control, Engine, Dec 3, 2018
BOUGHT THIS CAR BRAND NEW IN AUGUST 2018. WHEN I DRIVE IT SOMETIMES IT LOOSES POWER WHEN I'M DRIVING FROM A STOP OR WHILE PICKING UP SPEED AND IT DOESN'T MATTER IF IT'S ON THE FREEWAY OR ON THE STREET. THE ONLY WAY I CAN DESCRIBE IT IS IT'S LIKE THE TRANSMISSION GETS STUCK IN A HIGH GEAR AND SLOWLY BUILDS SPEED UP. IT IS VERY DANGEROUS TO DRIVE IT LIKE THIS.
Power train, Vehicle speed control, Engine, Nov 23, 2018
I BOUGHT THIS CAR BRAND NEW 9/28/2018 WITH 2 MILES ON IT. EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE THE CAR WILL STICK AT 3400 RPM'S, MAKING ALMOST NO POWER, WHILE TRYING TO ACCELERATE. THE CAR WILL DO THIS FROM A STOP OR TRYING TO PASS A CAR. BROUGHT TO DEALER FOR 4 DAYS, THEY COULDN'T DUPLICATE THE ISSUE AS IT DOESN'T HAPPEN ALL THE TIME(EYE ROLL) IT IS A MAJOR SAFETY CONCERN AS IT WILL GIVE YOU A FALSE SENSE OF SECURITY WHEN MOVING INTO OR AROUND TRAFFIC AND IS VERY DANGEROUS. MONITORING THE CAR THRU THE OBDII PORT I PERSONALLY FOUND IT NOT BUILDING BOOST FROM THE TURBO WHEN IT'S HAVING THIS PROBLEM, UNFORTUNATELY THE DEALERS CAN'T SEE THIS PROBLEM...