2018 CHEVROLET MALIBU Problems
Real NHTSA owner complaints for the 2018 Chevrolet Malibu. This model year has 675 NHTSA complaints — top issue: Engine Problems.
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This page shows the model year's reputation. The VIN tells you about the specific car — accidents, title issues, odometer rollbacks, and open recalls.
Worst 2018 Chevrolet Malibu Problems
Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.
Engine Problems
Electrical Faults
Transmission / Drivetrain
Considering a 2018 Chevrolet Malibu?
This page shows the model year's reputation. The VIN tells you about this specific car — accidents, title issues, odometer fraud. Full report just $4.99 (vs. Carfax $44.99).
All Problems by Category
Every NHTSA complaint category for the 2018 Chevrolet Malibu. A single complaint may appear in multiple categories.
| Component | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Avg Mileage | Volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine Problems | 275 | 3 | 1 | — | |
| Electrical Faults | 182 | 2 | 2 | — | |
| Transmission / Drivetrain | 164 | 3 | — | — | |
| Uncategorized Issues | 147 | 1 | 1 | — | |
| Unintended Acceleration | 108 | 3 | — | — | |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 83 | 1 | — | — | |
| Brake System | 67 | 7 | — | — | |
| Steering Defects | 38 | — | — | — | |
| Electronic Stability Control (Esc) | 21 | 1 | — | — | |
| Fuel System | 16 | 1 | — | — | |
| Gasoline | 16 | 1 | — | — | |
| Airbag Malfunctions | 14 | 9 | — | — | |
| Suspension Failures | 13 | — | — | — | |
| Hydraulic | 9 | 1 | — | — | |
| Headlight/Taillight Failures | 9 | — | — | — | |
| Structural Problems | 7 | 1 | 2 | — | |
| Back Over Prevention | 6 | — | — | — | |
| Forward Collision Avoidance: AEB | 5 | — | — | — | |
| Visibility/Wiper | 4 | — | — | — | |
| Seat Belt Issues | 3 | 1 | — | — | |
| Tire Issues | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Other/I Am Not Sure | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Wheel Issues | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Visibility | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Lane Departure | 2 | 1 | — | — | |
| Seat-Related Issues | 2 | — | — | — | |
| Chest Clip | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Buckle | 1 | — | — | — | |
| Harness | 1 | — | — | — |
Source: NHTSA Complaints Database. Complaint counts may exceed total complaints because one report can span multiple categories.
Search Owner Complaints
Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 2018 Chevrolet Malibu. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.
Showing 400 most recent complaints of 675 total. View all on NHTSA ↗
The contact owns a 2018 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that while his daughter was driving and stopped at a traffic light, while depressing the accelerator pedal, the vehicle failed to respond, and the vehicle lost automotive power. The contact stated that five minutes afte…
The contact owns a 2018 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that on several occasions while driving at various speeds, the message "Engine Power Reduced" was displayed, and the check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact stated that after 20 minutes of consecutive dr…
The contact owns a 2018 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, a fuel odor was detected, and the vehicle failed to accelerate above 30 MPH. The check engine warning light was illuminated. Additionally, the rearview camera intermittently f…
The contact owns a 2018 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that while driving very slowly into a parking space, the brake pedal was pressed to stop the vehicle, but the vehicle experienced unintended acceleration and suddenly accelerated forward at a very high rate of speed and…
The contact owns a 2018 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that there was an oil leak coming from the engine. While driving at an undisclosed speed, the message "Engine Power Reduced" and "Service Stabili-trak" were displayed. Occasionally, the automatic emergency braking activ…
I had a tire installed by a repair shop approximately one month ago. I recently discovered that the tire installed on my vehicle is the incorrect size. My vehicle requires size 225/55R17, but the shop installed size 245/45R17. This creates a safety concern due to improper fitmen…
The contact owned a 2018 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that while her son was driving down the road at 35 MPH, he switched lanes into a blind spot and was t-boned by another vehicle traveling at the same speed. The contact stated the impact occurred on the driver's side, l…
Shift to park indicator comes on after shifting parking gear to park. Car fails to detect that it is in park even when it is.
The contact owns a 2018 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle decelerated unintendedly. The contact stated that the brake was inoperable, and the contact was unable to properly stop the vehicle. The local dealer was contacted…
The rear camera comes “loose” and does not register all the time. It seems to be a simple electric issue; possibly an electrical short. I believe it can be easily “fixed” (temporarily) by opening the trunk and running fingers over the camera, it should not happen. I purchased my …
In 2020, I received multiple red recall notices in the mail regarding a safety issue. I scheduled an appointment with a Chevrolet dealership in Los Angeles and have a voicemail confirming the appointment. At the time, I did not follow through with ensuring the repair was fully co…
The contact owns a 2018 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that there was a failure near the fuse box. Additionally, there was a grinding sound coming from the vehicle while the brake pedal was depressed. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact stated that the eng…
Shift to park error message appears on dash after turning off the vehicle. I have to turn back on the vehicle and take it out of park and shift it back and forth from park to drive then back to park to get the vehicle to turn off. This first January 2020. It was fixed in Februar…
I was driving on the freeway with my kids in the car at 60 mph and without warning I get an engine power reduced message and then my car losing power and starts dropping speeds down to 35 mph within seconds. I have cars speeding up behind me and I can't go any faster than 35 mph …
2018 Chevrolet Malibu Premier with approximately 50,000 miles displayed a persistent “Shift to Park” message. The vehicle would not consistently recognize that it was in park, preventing the vehicle from shutting off properly and creating a safety concern. Dealer diagnosed a faul…
Hard braking, reduced engine power
I was driving and the reduced engine power came on. I almost crashed because I couldn't control the steering
The Vacuum pump continues to go out causes code P1101. I have replaced it 4 times and people just in my town are fighting this code for dear life like me! It causes our brakes to barely work and make it completely unsafe to drive as the check engine light goes in and out for MAF …
I've taken my car in now 4 times to Chevy dealers just to be told there was nothing wrong. Turnes out that my torque converter (transmission) is going bad. And I can't get a Chevy dealer to honor my almost expired warranty.
I was driving along and my car went into a reduced engine power mode. Code came up as the gas pedal sensor.
Source: NHTSA Complaints Database. Real owner reports for the 2018 Chevrolet Malibu.
Recalls for 2018 Chevrolet Malibu
6 campaignsNHTSA recall campaigns for the 2018 Chevrolet Malibu. Recalls are free to fix at any authorized dealer. Run a VIN check below to see if your specific vehicle has open recalls.
2018 Chevrolet Malibu — FAQ
Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.
Is the 2018 Chevrolet Malibu reliable?▾
Severe Issues. The 2018 Chevrolet Malibu has 675 NHTSA owner complaints, 23 crash-related, and 6 recall campaigns. The most reported issue is Engine Problems (275 complaints). Source: NHTSA via VinSpector AI.
What are the most common problems with the 2018 Chevrolet Malibu?▾
#1: Engine Problems (275 complaints). #2: Electrical Faults (182 complaints). #3: Transmission / Drivetrain (164 complaints)
At what mileage do problems start on the 2018 Chevrolet Malibu?▾
Mileage data is not available or insufficient for this model year.
How safe is the 2018 Chevrolet Malibu?▾
The 2018 Chevrolet Malibu has 23 crash-related complaints and 4 fire reports out of 675 total NHTSA complaints. 17 injuries were reported. For NCAP lab crash test star ratings, visit nhtsa.gov/ratings.
Does the 2018 Chevrolet Malibu have any recalls?▾
Yes — 6 NHTSA recall campaigns affect the 2018 Chevrolet Malibu. The largest issue: AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION. Check nhtsa.gov/recalls or run a VIN check to see if your specific vehicle has open recalls.
Should I buy a 2018 Chevrolet Malibu?▾
The 2018 Chevrolet Malibu has severe issues — review the top problems before buying. Pay particular attention to Engine Problems issues. Always run a VIN check on the specific car you're considering to check for accident history, open recalls, and title brands.
Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) complaint and recall databases, aggregated by VinSpector AI.
Wider context: See the full Chevrolet Malibu reliability report with year-by-year comparison.
Check Your Specific 2018 Chevrolet Malibu
Real owner complaints tell you about the model. The VIN tells you about your specific car — accidents, title issues, odometer fraud. Full report just $4.99.