2018 Chevrolet Malibu Problems, Recalls & Reliability
Verdict
CautionComplaint Index
67/100
#6 most-complained of 16 Malibu years
The 2018 Chevrolet Malibu has a complaint index of 67, ranking 6th worst of 16 model years, earning a Caution verdict. NHTSA lists 697 complaints, 6 recalls, 23 crashes, and 4 fires, with Engine issues the top problem area.
- Complaints
- 697
- Recalls
- 6
- Crashes / fires
- 23 / 4
- Injuries / deaths
- 17 / 0
- NHTSA overall rating
- 5 / 5 ★
- EPA combined MPG
- 28
- 24.5 city / 34 hwy
Top 2018 Chevrolet Malibu problems
NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Engine339 (49%)
- Electrical System198 (28%)
- Transmission & Powertrain170 (24%)
- Other153 (22%)
- Fuel System101 (14%)
- Brakes86 (12%)
- Steering41 (6%)
- Suspension, Wheels & Tires16 (2%)
- Airbags14 (2%)
- Collision Avoidance & Cameras12 (2%)
What owners report
- Owners report airbags failing to deploy in low-speed and moderate-speed crashes, sometimes with the warning indicator lit beforehand.
- Some describe the vehicle unexpectedly accelerating or moving forward on its own when trying to shift into park.
- Reports describe sudden stalling or loss of power while driving, including a 'engine power reduced' message that cut acceleration.
- Several drivers report the StabiliTrak warning light illuminating along with a sudden loss of power and loss of vehicle control.
- Owners describe brakes locking up unexpectedly or failing to stop the vehicle promptly during routine driving.
2018 Chevrolet Malibu recalls
6 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.
- NHTSA 21V649000Aug 20, 2021Seat Belts402 vehicles
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.
Risk: 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.
- NHTSA 20V668000Oct 29, 2020Transmission & Powertrain194,105 vehicles
Power train:automatic transmission
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.
Risk: 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.
- NHTSA 19V642000Sep 6, 2019Engine177,282 vehicles
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.
Risk: 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.
2018 Chevrolet Malibu fuel economy and fuel cost
- City
- 24.5 MPG
- Highway
- 34 MPG
- Combined
- 28 MPG
- Annual fuel cost (EPA)
- $2,600
- 15,000 mi/yr
- Fuel
- Regular
- Current regular gas
- $4.32/gal
- national avg.
EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.
2018 compared with other Malibu years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2018 Chevrolet Malibu reliable?
- NHTSA data gives the 2018 Malibu a complaint index of 67 and a Caution verdict, ranking 6th worst out of 16 model years covered. It has 697 complaints and 6 recalls, with Engine problems making up 49% of complaints.
- What are the most common problems with the 2018 Chevrolet Malibu?
- Engine issues account for 49% of complaints, followed by Electrical System at 28% and Transmission & Powertrain at 24%. The median mileage at failure for engine complaints is 50,000 miles.
- Does the 2018 Chevrolet Malibu have any recalls?
- NHTSA lists 6 recalls for the 2018 Malibu, covering seat belts, transmission accumulator bolts, ECM software affecting fuel injectors, brake system bleeding, airbag passenger presence system calibration, and the high-pressure fuel pump.
- How does the 2018 Malibu compare to other model years?
- The 2018 model's complaint index of 67 is worse than 2019 (33), 2020 (40), and 2021 (7), but better than 2010 (100) and 2011 (93). Overall it ranks 6th worst of 16 years tracked.
- What is the fuel economy of the 2018 Chevrolet Malibu?
- EPA rates the 2018 Malibu at 28 mpg combined (24.5 city / 34 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $2,600.