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2018 Chevrolet Malibu

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

More warning signs than most Malibu years

Owner complaints for the 2018 Chevrolet Malibu are substantially higher than the model-year median of 310.5.

About this comparison →

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

307 reports with mileage · 388 unknown

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Engine. Review the 279 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 191 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Power Train. Review the 169 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

23 crash reports4 fire reports14 injury reports

What owners actually said

695 reports
43,300 miles · Oct 18, 2020
Power Train

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 BECO…

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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

NHTSA ODI #11364907

50,000 miles · Oct 14, 2020
Electronic Stability Control (esc)EngineFuel/propulsion System

I WAS DRIVING IN A NEIGHBORHOOD ABOUT 15 MPH. MY CAR BEGAN TO SHAKE, THE ENGINE LIGHT WAS BLINKING, STABILITY TRACK LIGHT WAS ON, AND AN ICON CAME UP SAYING THAT THE 'SERVICE STABLITREK.' I HAD LITTLE CONTROL OVER THE STEERING AND I FELT NO TRACTION WHILE TRYING TO PULL OVER. I ALSO HAVE A PROBLEM WHERE THE CAR PROMPTS A SHIFT T…

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I WAS DRIVING IN A NEIGHBORHOOD ABOUT 15 MPH. MY CAR BEGAN TO SHAKE, THE ENGINE LIGHT WAS BLINKING, STABILITY TRACK LIGHT WAS ON, AND AN ICON CAME UP SAYING THAT THE 'SERVICE STABLITREK.' I HAD LITTLE CONTROL OVER THE STEERING AND I FELT NO TRACTION WHILE TRYING TO PULL OVER. I ALSO HAVE A PROBLEM WHERE THE CAR PROMPTS A SHIFT TO PARK, EVEN THOUGH MY CAR IS IN PARK.

NHTSA ODI #11364304

11,259 miles · Oct 9, 2020
Unknown Or OtherFire

NARRATIVE FROM DRIVER: "ON TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 22, 2020, AT APPROXIMATELY 10:45 AM, I LEFT MY RESIDENCE LOCATED IN BOCA RATON, FL WITH MY GSA VEHICLE (TAG G10 3884V) TO DRIVE TO THE MOBIL LUBE OIL EXPRESS (MOBIL) LOCATED AT 90 NW SPANISH RIVER BLVD, BOCA RATON, FL. THE MOBIL IS APPROXIMATELY 3 MILES FROM MY RESIDENCE. I DROVE D…

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NARRATIVE FROM DRIVER: "ON TUESDAY SEPTEMBER 22, 2020, AT APPROXIMATELY 10:45 AM, I LEFT MY RESIDENCE LOCATED IN BOCA RATON, FL WITH MY GSA VEHICLE (TAG G10 3884V) TO DRIVE TO THE MOBIL LUBE OIL EXPRESS (MOBIL) LOCATED AT 90 NW SPANISH RIVER BLVD, BOCA RATON, FL. THE MOBIL IS APPROXIMATELY 3 MILES FROM MY RESIDENCE. I DROVE DIRECTLY FROM MY RESIDENCE TO THE MOBIL AND DID NOT MAKE ANY STOPS. AS I WAS DRIVING AROUND THE BACK OF THE MOBIL BUILDING TO PULL INTO ONE OF THE BAYS FOR AN OIL CHANGE, I NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE HOOD OF THE CAR. I IMMEDIATELY PARKED THE CAR IN A PARKING SPACE BEHIND THE MOBIL AND EXITED THE CAR. MOMENTS LATER, FLAMES WERE COMING FROM THE HOOD OF THE CAR. UPON SEEING THE FLAMES, I CALLED 911, WHO THEN CALLED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WHO CAME AND PUT OUT THE FIRE IN THE CAR. ADDITIONALLY, I CALLED GSA WHO CALLED A TOWING COMPANY (WESTLAKE TOWING) TO TOW THE VEHICLE AWAY FROM THE MOBIL PARKING LOT AS THERE IS EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE AND IT IS INOPERABLE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES OR PROPERTY DAMAGE TO ANYTHING OTHER THAN THE GSA CAR."

NHTSA ODI #11363564

Mileage unknown · Oct 7, 2020
Electrical SystemUnknown Or Other

CAR WON'T SHIFT TO PARK, WHILE IT'S ALREADY IN PARK AND CAR WILL NOT TURN OFF. CHEVROLET SHOULD RECALL THIS BECAUSE THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE WITH THE SAME ISSUE. MY CAR WAS BRAND NEW WHEN I BOUGHT IT AND NOW I'M HAVING THIS ISSUE AND I KNOW IT'S NOTHING I HAVE DONE TO CAUSE IT.

NHTSA ODI #11363192

Mileage unknown · Oct 6, 2020
Electrical SystemElectronic Stability Control (esc)Fuel/propulsion System

ENGINE POWER IS REDUCED WEN YOU GOING AT 50 TO 60 IN THE FREEWAY IS DANGEROUSLY

NHTSA ODI #11363093

55,000 miles · Oct 6, 2020
Unknown Or Other

WHEN MY CAR IS IN PARK, MY SYSTEM IS NOT PICKING UP THAT IT IS IN PARK WHICH MEANS I CANT TURN OFF THE VEHICLE WHICH WILL CAUSE THE VEHICLES BATTERY TO DIE. YOU HAVE TO LITERALLY JAM THE SHIFTER IN ORDER FOR THE CAR TO READ IT, WHICH EVENTUALLY DOESN'T WORK EITHER.

NHTSA ODI #11363076

58,000 miles · Sep 25, 2020
Electronic Stability Control (esc)EnginePower Train

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 …

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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.

NHTSA ODI #11361063

38,000 miles · Sep 21, 2020
Unknown Or Other

THE VEHICLE HAS A MESSAGE THAT POPS UP ON THE DASH SAYING "SHIFT TO PARK" WHEN THE CAR IS ALREADY IN PARK. THIS DOES NOT ALLOW YOU TO TURN OFF THE CAR. THIS HAPPENS WHEN THE CAR IS STATIONARY AND PARKED.

NHTSA ODI #11360305

Mileage unknown · Sep 16, 2020
Power TrainVehicle Speed Control

SHIFT TO PARK WARNING WHEN EXITING VEHICLE WHEN THE VEHICLE IS IN PARK AND ENGINE IS OFF

NHTSA ODI #11355318

24,000 miles · Sep 15, 2020
Electrical SystemStructureFire

AFTER TURNING ON MY HEATER AND DRIVING THE CAR 10 MINUTES THE CAR CAUGHT FIRE. I SMELLED SOMETHING BURNING WHEN I PARKED AND GOT OUT OF THE VEHICLE, BUT THOUGHT IT WAS COMING FROM OUTSIDE THE VEHICLE. I CAME BACK TO MY CAR 2 HOURS LATER AND THE FIRE DEPARTMENT HAD BEEN OUT AND THE FRONT END OF MY CAR WAS COMPLETELY CHARRED.

NHTSA ODI #11355089

Official recalls

6

21V649000 · Seat Belts:critical Fasteners; Seat Belts:rear/other:retractor

Aug 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.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: An improperly secured seat belt retractor may not function properly in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.

Remedy: 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.

Additional source detail variants (2)

Seat Belts:rear/other:retractor

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.

Consequence: An improperly secured seat belt retractor may not function properly in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.

Remedy: 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.

Seat Belts:critical Fasteners

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.

Consequence: An improperly secured seat belt retractor may not function properly in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.

Remedy: 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.

20V668000 · Power Train:automatic Transmission

Oct 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.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: 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.

Remedy: 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.

19V642000 · Electrical System:software; Engine; Fuel System, Gasoline:fuel Injection System:injectors

Sep 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.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: Disabled fuel injectors would prevent the engine from starting and may cause a stall, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: 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.

Additional source detail variants (3)

Engine

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.

Consequence: Disabled fuel injectors would prevent the engine from starting and may cause a stall, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: 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.

Electrical System:software

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.

Consequence: Disabled fuel injectors would prevent the engine from starting and may cause a stall, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: 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.

Fuel System, Gasoline:fuel Injection System:injectors

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.

Consequence: Disabled fuel injectors would prevent the engine from starting and may cause a stall, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: 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.

18V576000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:foundation Components:disc:caliper

Aug 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.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: A reduction of braking performance can increase the risk of a crash.

Remedy: 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.

18V400000 · Air Bags:sensor:occupant Classification

Jun 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.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: In the event of a crash, improper air bag deployment can increase the risk of injury.

Remedy: 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.

18V358000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:fuel Pump

May 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.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: A damaged fuel line can create a fuel leak, increasing the risk of a fire.

Remedy: 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.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.