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
698 reports, newest first.
Engine, Mar 10, 2020
MY WIFE PURCHASED A NEW 2018 CHEVY MALIBU ON JULY 3, 2018. IN OCTOBER 2019, WE RECEIVED A SAFETY RECALL NOTICE (N192221960) INFORMING MY WIFE THE MALIBU HAD A SAFETY ISSUE. THE NOTICE STATED: "THIS CONDITION CAN CAUSE THE ENGINE TO STALL AT SPEED AND WITHOUT WARNING, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.' CONCERNED, I HEEDED THE WARNING. SINCE THEN THIS CAR BUT OUR LIVES AT RISK TWO TIMES. EACH TIME ANOTHER PART WAS REPLACED NUMEROUS MALIBU OWNERS ARE EXPERIENCING THIS TERROR AND NOTHING IS BEING DONE. I HAVE SPOKEN TO GM AND THE DEALER TO NO EFFECT. I DON'T BELIEVE THEY KNOW HOW TO FIX IT. IT IS PAST TIME FOR THE GOVERNMENT TO STEP IN.
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!!
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.
Engine, Mar 4, 2020
I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AND SUDDENLY I BEGAN TO LOOSE SPEED AND MY ENGINE CHECK LIGHT TURNED ON AND MY CAR SAID ENGINE POWER REDUCED. I ALMOST GOT INTO AN ACCIDENT BECAUSE OF THIS.
Engine, Mar 2, 2020
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH THE VEHICLE REDUCED SPEED INDEPENDENTLY. THE 'ENGINE POWER' REDUCED WARNING MESSAGE WAS DISPLAYED IN THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER AND RESTARTED THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO NEW ROCHELLE CHEVROLET (291 MAIN ST, NEW ROCHELLE, NY 10801) WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED. THE MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO RETRIEVE A FAULT CODE. THE GAS GASKET WAS REPLACED HOWEVER, THE ECM FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE BUT PROVIDED NO ASSISTANCE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 41,000.
Engine, Mar 1, 2020
WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE IN MOTION, I LOST POWER AND RECEIVED MESSAGE IN MESSAGE BOX THAT STATES, ENGINE POWER IS REDUCED. I WAS ONLY DOING 30 AND THERE WAS NO TRAFFIC BUT THE ENGINE BOGGING DOWN WHILE GOING UP HILL COULD HAVE CAUSED AN ACCIDENT DEAR [XXX], AN ISSUE WITH THE ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION SYSTEM IN YOUR 2018 CHEVROLET MALIBU HAS BEEN DETECTED. PLEASE SERVICE YOUR VEHICLE IMMEDIATELY. PLEASE DISREGARD THIS MESSAGE IF YOUR VEHICLE IS ALREADY IN FOR SERVICE. INACCURATE NOTIFICATIONS CAN BE GENERATED DURING SERVICE. PLEASE SEE YOUR DEALER FOR SERVICE. TASCA CHEVROLET 114 FORTIN DR WOONSOCKET, RI 02895 +14017693000 ACCOUNT INFORMATION ACCOUNT NUMBER: 015-9743-802 VIN: [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
Vehicle speed control, Engine, Fuel/propulsion system, Feb 25, 2020
AT A STOP LIGHT, WHEN LIGHT TURNED GREEN, PRESSED ACCELERATOR, "ENGINE POWER IS REDUCED" MESSAGED FLASHED, ENGINE AND TRACTION LIGHTS CAME ON. UNABLE TO ACCELERATE OVER 25MPH, RPM WOULD NOT GO ABOVE 3. RECALL MAINTENANCE FOR ECM WAS COMPLETED ON 01/11/2020.
Vehicle speed control, Electronic stability control (ESC), Service brakes, Feb 21, 2020
LOW FUEL, ENGINE LIGHT, SERVICE STABILITY TRACK, SHIFT TO PARK LIGHTS COME ON. THE LOW FUEL LIGHT COMES ON FIRST. THE NEXT DAY THE ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON SOMETIMES IT STAYS ON THEN GOES OFF. THIS HAPPENS WHEN I'M DRIVING. I'VE HAD ALL THE RECALLS DONE. ECM REPLACED. 2 WEEKS LATER THE SAME THING. ALL DIALS GO TO ZERO. SLOW TAKE OFF AFTER I'VE STOPPED AT RED LIGHT OR STOP SIGN. IS AS IF THE TRANSMISSION IS GOING OUT. IF I PUT ON BRAKES THEY WILL THROW ME IN THE DASH LIKE I'VE CRASHED INTO SOMETHING. WHEN I TAKE IT DEALERSHIP-NO CODES ARE FOUND. TRYING TO TURN CAR OFF, IT SAYS SHIFT TO PARK. IT'S ALREADY PARKED. I'VE TAKEN IT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP SEVERAL TIMES FOR THIS SAME PROBLEMS-NO CODES. I'VE GOTTEN A RENTAL (FOR A WEEK)SO THEY CAN KEEP THE CAR TO TRY AND RECREATE IT- THEY CAN'T. THIS CAR WAS BOUGHT NEW IN AUGUST OF 2018.CHEVY MALIBULS 4DR SDN BLACK. THE DATE BELOW "WHEN DID THIS HAPPEN" OUTS THE LATEST DATE.
Fuel/propulsion system, Feb 21, 2020
AFTER MY 'RECALL' REPROGRAMMING UPDATE ON THE ECM... A MONTH OR 2 LATER, I STARTED TO HAVE LOSS OF POWER ISSUES WHILE DRIVING. GOT HOME IT SAT FOR A COUPLE OF MINS, THEN WENT AWAY. HAPPENED AGAIN. HAD MY CAR SCANNED TO SEE WHAT THE CODE WAS, AN 'APPS' P2138 CODE, ACCELERATOR PEDAL POSITION SENSOR ISSUE. IT HAPPENS WHILE DRIVING, WHEN IT HAPPENS CRUSE CONTROL TURNS OFF, AND TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT COMES ON PLUS THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. THIS CAN BE A SAFETY ISSUE WHILE TRYING TO MERGE ONTO HIGHWAY TRAFFIC... THIS HAD HAPPENED TO ME SEVERAL TIMES... FIRST TIME WAS AFTER A LONG DAY DRIVING, THEN A FEW DAYS LATER AFTER A VERY COLD NIGHT. THEN NOTHING, SEVERAL HUNDRED MILES NO ISSUE. THEN DROVE 120 MILES AND IT HAPPENED AGAIN ON 2-13-2020. AND TWICE TODAY 2-21-20202. IT ONLY HAPPENED TWICE DURING A TURN.
Fuel/propulsion system, Feb 19, 2020
PULLING INTO TRAFFIC CAR LOST POWER, ENGINE KNOCKING BIG TIME, ENGINE LIGHT ON, STABITRAK OFF. ALMOST REAR ENDED. PULLED OVER IN TRAFFIC RESTARTED. CAR HAS HAD SOFTWARE DONE. FILLING OUT AT DEALERSHIP. THES CARS SHOULD BE RECALLED. WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR
Engine, Feb 13, 2020
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE DECELERATED TO 30 MPH, THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE RECURRED TWICE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO HENDRICK CHEVROLET BUICK GMC SOUTHPOINT DEALER, (127 KENTINGTON DR, DURHAM, NC 27713) WHERE IT WAS REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 19V642000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE, ENGINE) HOWEVER, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REPAIR DID NOT CORRECT THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER AND WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000.
Engine, Feb 9, 2020
ENGINE POWER REDUCED WHILE DRIVING. THREE TIMES. 2/9/20, 1/24/20, 12/8/19
Electrical system, Electronic stability control (ESC), Feb 4, 2020
POWER STEERING REDUCING AND THE CAR WILL SHUT OFF TEMPORARILY I HAD MY CAR SERVICED FOR THIS ALREADY 2 WEEKS AGO FOR THE SAME PROBLEM NOW IT'S HAPPENING AGAIN
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
Vehicle speed control, Jan 30, 2020
WHILE DRIVING CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON AND CONTROL PANEL SAYS ENGINE POWER REDUCED. THE CAR SLOWS DOWN AND YOU ARE NOT ABLE TO ACCELERATE.THIS HAS HAPPENED NUMEROUS TIMES SINCE I HAVE BOUGHT THE CAR AND TYPICALLY HAPPENS WHILE ACCELERATING.
Visibility/wiper, Jan 27, 2020
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH, WHEN SHE NOTICED THE BUG GUARD OF THE SUNROOF WAS DISCONNECTED. THE CONTACT STATED NO WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT STATED SHE WAS ABLE TO PARK ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND NOTICED THE SUNROOF HOUSING FRONT DRAIN HOUSE HAD MOLD AND WAS DISCONNECTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN LOCAL DEALER DEACON JONES GM OF SMITHFIELD LOCATED AT 1115 N BRIGHTLEAF BLVD, SMITHFIELD, NC 27577, WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE SUNROOF HOUSING FRONT DRAIN HOUSING NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 48,000.
Vehicle speed control, Other or unspecified, Jan 22, 2020
WHILE IN MOTION CARS REDUCED ENGINE POWER LIGHTS UP ON DASHBOARD AND CAR LOOSES POWER WHILE DRIVING
Engine, Jan 16, 2020, crash
FAULTY SENSOR ON MY CAR ALMOST CAUSED ME TO LOSE NY LIFE ON THE HIGHWAY TODAY. WHILE DRIVING MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND I GOT THE MESSAGE ' ENGIND POWER REDUCED ' CAR WOULD NOT LET ME ACCELERATE , HIT A WALL ON THE SHOULDER OF THE HIGHWAY RUSHING TO SAFETY I NOW HAVE A DENT IN MY CAR , SAD PART IS THIS IS A KNOWN PROBLEM! WE ARE ALSO GETTING A ' SHIFT TO PARK ' ERROR MESSAGE WHICH IS ANOTHER ISSUE , THAT THE DEALER SAID I HAD TO PAY FOR‼️ RIDICULOUS ABOUT TO CONTACT A LAWYER CHEVROLET HAS NO REGAURD FOR HUMAN LIFE.
Service brakes, Jan 14, 2020, crash
WELL I GOT IN A WRECK YESTERDAY AROUND 4 PM IN CITY LIMITS IN BUMPER-TO-BUMPER TRAFFIC AND THE LADY HAD STOP SOMEWHAT ABRUPTLY SO I HAD TO STOP ABRUPTLY AND MY BRAKES LOCKED UP ON ME AND THIS ISN'T THE FIRST TIME AT THESE BRAKES HAVE DONE THIS BEFORE JUST A SECOND WREAK I'VE HAD WITH THIS VEHICLE IN EIGHT MONTHS AND I DON'T HAVE WRECKED VEHICLES THIS IS ALL NEW SO I WANT TO GET MY CAR CHECKED OUT SEE IF THERE'S SOMETHING MALFUNCTIONING WITH MY BRAKES BECAUSE BOTH TIMES THE BRAKES LOCKED UP ON ME WHEN THEY SHOULD'VE STOPPED BECAUSE I WASN'T GOING TO FAST
Engine, Jan 8, 2020
WHILE DRIVING, ENGINE GOES INTO REDUCED POWER MODE WITHOUT WARNING AND UNABLE TO MAINTAIN SPEED. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT STARTS BLINKING AND ACCELERATION IS LOST. THIS HAPPENED TWICE, ON A HIGHWAY AND ON A ROAD. GETTING TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD SAFELY WAS VERY DIFFICULT. ONSTAR SENT AN EMAIL NOTIFICATION OF THE CRITICAL FAILURE.
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.
Engine, Jan 2, 2020
THE EXCELLARATOR SENSOR IS BAD AND KEEPS POWERING DOWN ENGINE EVEN ON THE FREEWAY