2018 Chevrolet Malibu Transmission & Powertrain Problems
NHTSA lists 170 transmission & powertrain complaints for the 2018 Chevrolet Malibu, 24% of all complaints that year, with a median failure mileage of 43,150 miles. A related recall (20V668000) covers the start-stop transmission accumulator.
- Transmission & Powertrain complaints
- 170
- 24% of 697
- Crashes reported
- 3
- Fires reported
- 0
- Injuries reported
- 1
- Median mileage
- 43,150 mi
- Related recalls
- 1
Typical transmission symptoms owners report
- Owners report a "shift to park" error message appearing on the instrument panel even though the shifter is in park, sometimes accompanied by the vehicle continuing to draw battery power.
- Some drivers describe hesitation or delayed acceleration from a stop, with the pedal pressed but the car not responding for several seconds before power returns.
- Several complaints describe the vehicle losing power or feeling stuck in a high gear while accelerating, especially after warm-up or from a cold start.
- Owners report the transmission failing to shift gears properly at highway speed, causing a sudden drop in speed and loss of vehicle control.
- One complaint describes the vehicle continuing to move forward even after attempting to shift into park or reverse, with check engine and low power warnings illuminated.
When 2018 Chevrolet Malibu transmission complaints were filed
First complaint Nov 23, 2018, latest Sep 18, 2026.
Transmission & Powertrain recalls for the 2018 Chevrolet Malibu
- 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.
Transmission & Powertrain complaints by Malibu model year
Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.
Frequently asked questions
- How many transmission and powertrain complaints does the 2018 Chevrolet Malibu have?
- NHTSA lists 170 transmission & powertrain complaints for the 2018 Malibu, which is 24% of the 697 total complaints filed for that model year.
- Is there a transmission recall for the 2018 Chevrolet Malibu?
- Yes. Recall 20V668000, reported in October 2020, covers the start-stop transmission accumulator; dealers inspect it and replace it if bolts are found loose.
- At what mileage do 2018 Malibu transmission problems typically show up?
- The median mileage at failure reported to NHTSA for this problem area is 43,150 miles.
- Did the 2018 Malibu transmission problems cause crashes?
- NHTSA data links 3 crashes and 1 injury to transmission & powertrain complaints for the 2018 Malibu, with no fires reported.