Complaint volume
679 consumer-submitted complaints are matched to this model year. Treat the count as a research signal, then read the actual summaries for repeated symptoms.
Complaint records
2018 Chevrolet Malibu Complaints
679 consumer-submitted complaints on record for the 2018 Chevrolet Malibu, grouped by component category.
679 Total complaints
23 Crash reports
4 Fire reports
14 Injury reports
Complaint data reflects consumer-submitted reports. A complaint is not proof
of a defect, recall, or manufacturer fault. Enriched severity fields come
from official bulk records when the complaint can be matched by ODI number.
Buyer interpretation
How to use these complaints before buying
Complaint records are most useful when they turn into inspection points, seller questions, and comparison checks against nearby model years.
Pattern to inspect
The most common categories are engine, unknown or other, power train. Use those categories as a test-drive checklist instead of judging the vehicle from the total count alone.
Severity flags
Enriched records include 23 crash reports, 4 fire reports, 14 injury reports, and 0 fatality reports. These fields come from complaint records and should be read in context.
Mileage clue
Mileage is available on 303 complaints, with an average reported failure mileage of 47,477 miles. Compare that with the mileage on the listing.
Questions to ask the seller
- Have you had any problems related to engine, unknown or other, power train?
- Can I see recent maintenance and repair records?
- Has the vehicle ever been towed, involved in a crash, or repaired for the same issue twice?
- Can we also check the recall record for this 2018 Chevrolet Malibu?
Used-car checklist
Use these complaints before the test drive.
Build a buyer checklist to turn these issues into questions and inspection points.
2018 Chevrolet Malibu
Build buyer checklist Compare with other years Sends year, make, and model to pre-fill your checklist.
How severe are the 2018 Chevrolet Malibu complaints?
23 Crash
4 Fire
14 Injury
0 Fatality
32 Towed
10 Medical attention
What are the most common 2018 Chevrolet Malibu complaint categories?
ENGINE 74
UNKNOWN OR OTHER 70
POWER TRAIN 57
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 31
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 30
POWER TRAIN,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,UNKNOWN OR OTHER 18
STEERING 17
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,ENGINE 17
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE 16
POWER TRAIN,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,ENGINE 16
679 total complaints on record
Latest complaints
| Date | Component | Summary | Severity | Mileage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2023 | ENGINE | The contact owns a 2018 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated while driving 65-70 MPH and overtaking another vehicle, the vehicle decelerated to 45 MPH unintendedly, with the "Engine Power Reduced" message displayed. The contact exited the highway and continued driving. The contact stated that the failure had been reoccurring increasingly and also occurred while driving 25 MPH. The dealer and the manufacturer were not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 58,000. | Crash: No Fire: No | 58,000 |
| Mar 2023 | POWER TRAIN | The contact owns a 2018 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to recognize the gear shifter being shifted to park(P). The “Shift to Park” message was displayed on the instrument panel. The dealer was contacted and confirmed that the failure was a known issue. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 64,400. | Crash: No Fire: No | 64,400 |
| Feb 2023 | VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,UNKNOWN OR OTHER,ENGINE | 2018 Chevy Malibu over 5 times this happens since we bought it brand new it has "Reduced Engine Power" error come on and the car can't accelerate over 30 miles per hour. This is a continued problem all the time and very dangerous when we are on the tollway that has a 70-mph speed limit, and you can't get the car to go over 30 mph. This same problem happens on our 2017 Chevy Malibu that we bought brand new since we owned it too and I have already put in a complaint filed today! This is extremely dangerous and takes you a long time to get home when you can only go 30 mph or less because of the "Reduced Engine Power" Limit. GM needs to recall these Malibu's and fix the dangerous "Reduced Engine Power" error because it's dangerous to the driver in rush hour traffic and on the tollway traffic with no ability to go over 30 mph. All these Malibu's need to be fixed properly and its GM's responsibility to ensure safety for their customers lives. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Feb 2023 | VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,ENGINE | The car continuously is throwing a code P2138 and a warning comes up on dash saying reduced engine power. This happened 6 times to me yesterday wherein I was traveling on 1 lane winding roads in my neighborhood so the speed drops from wherever it is down to 10mph instantly. On 1 lane roads in the area where I reside there’s no safe place to pull over. This is extremely dangerous and a massive safety hazard and risk to my life! | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jan 2023 | SERVICE BRAKES,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE | While picking my kids up from school my car suddenly lost braking ability and I heard a weird noise under the hood. Like it needed an oil change. Tension from the brakes and couldn’t stop when tried. Definitely gained anxiety from this event. I did get the part replaced however I’m concerned for the engine and any possible damage that may have been caused. I still have the original part to the vehicle as well. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jan 2023 | POWER TRAIN,AIR BAGS | The contact owns a 2018 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that the check engine warning light was illuminated and flashing. While in the park position, the shift to park message was displayed. The vehicle was slow to move. While adding fuel to the tank, the fuel would bubble at the top and stop. While driving approximately 35 mph, a 2018 GMC Terrain crashed into the front end of the vehicle. The driver sustained injuries to her hip, soft tissue, lower back, whiplash, and neck and medical attention was provided. There was a police report filed. There was no reported fire or air bag deployment. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The approximate failure mileage was 20,000. | Crash: Yes Fire: No Injuries: 1 Medical attention | 20,000 |
| Dec 2022 | VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,ENGINE | I got P2138 code, i replaced the accelerator pedal on my cost because the dealer told me my car VIN is not include in the recall, the code keep coming back even after replacing the pedal. The problem it happen two time were I was driving on thruway "65 mph" the speed suddenly reduced to less than 30 mph which put me and the other drivers safety in dangerous situation | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Dec 2022 | STRUCTURE | The contact called on behalf of his daughter who owns a 2018 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that his daughter informed him that she had noticed moisture on the inside of the windows and the front and rear windshields. Additionally, the contact stated that the third brake light was not properly secured in place. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the third brake light needed to be replaced. The contact also stated that there was water leaking into the trunk. The contact stated that upon investigating the cause of the failure, he determined that the water leak might have originated from the third brake light. The contact stated that the failure had caused mold to develop inside the vehicle. The contact related the failure to GM Technical Service Bulletin Numbers: 20-NA-126 (Water Leak in Rear Compartment) and PIC5822E (Water on Front Floor and/or Carpet). The dealer informed the contact that the owner was responsible for the cost of the repair. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but provided no assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 54,000. | Crash: No Fire: No | 54,000 |
| Dec 2022 | VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,ENGINE | Suddenly loss of power at cruising speeds. Trouble with acceleration and loss of power. Unresponsiveness from the engine. The Check Engine Light illuminate, OBD2 call for code P2138. The speed stuck at 30 m/h on the 65 m/h thruway which cause unsafe situation for me and other drivers on the road. When googling this issue on the internet, reviews show it is common problem in this model. GM refuses to fix this issue at their cost because "according to the VIN number of my car, it is not included in the recall list" which it does not make sense. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Dec 2022 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE | On Nov. 18th 2022 while driving on county Rd at 55mph I slowed to make a left turn. As I went to accelerate at about 30mph the vehicle lost power, I pulled over shut off the vehicle. I started the vehicle and the engine symbol appeared, I continued to drive, I had power so I entered the interstate. About 2 min. of driving The vehicle went from 70mph to 40mph. I pulled into a dealership to see if I could get the vehicle looked at. They said they were booked up that it would be about ten days. I continued to my destination there were no other issues beside the engine light staying on. At a half tank of gas I filled up, when I went to leave the The engine light was off. No other issues since. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Dec 2022 | POWER TRAIN,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,ENGINE | Was driving to work when suddenly my check engine light comes on and I get a warning reading “reduce power to engine” could feel the power literally reduce. Car won’t go pass 30MPH could hear the engine trying to accelerate but struggling too. This is the second time it happens, have noticed other complain about this on going issue with 2016-2018 models | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Dec 2022 | VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,ENGINE | I keep getting a reoccurring message saying Engine Speed reduced, I can be driving going 60+MPH and randomly My car speed is reduced. This is becoming a safety issue as i have noticed this is a ongoing issue wit the 2016-2018 Chevy Malibu's. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Dec 2022 | POWER TRAIN | The contact owns a 2018 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated while the vehicle was in a park, he noticed that a warning light indicating that the vehicle was not in park was illuminated. The contact also stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, he heard a knocking noise at the rear-end of the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the shifter cable needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 21,000. The VIN was not included. | Crash: No Fire: No | 21,000 |
| Dec 2022 | POWER TRAIN | Please see General Motors Technical Service Bulletin 19NA206.745.57. There is a problem that occurs with the transmission shifter. Even though the driver has shifted into Park, the switch inside the shifter assembly triggers a message "Shift to Park." At times, the ignition cannot be turned off and the driver has to keep trying. My Malibu was affected by this issue. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Nov 2022 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE | I paid a significant amount to have my car fixed after bringing it initially the first time in May. Since then I have had to return my car multiple times every other month because the engine light continues to come on and they don’t know why. I have worked directly with JR and have gotten no result. The engine light continues to come on and they continue to not be able to know why, they keep my car for multiple days and can’t explain why the light is on or what they did to remove it and then it comes on a few days or months later with the same issue that they cannot explain. I bought my car in over five times already I have contacted corporate to no avail. When I brought it back the second time they claimed a bunch of things were wrong with it that weren’t wrong the first time, every time there is a new issue but they can’t describe what is the cause of the issue or can they give me an explanation on what keeps happening the last time they claim it was an electrical malfunction but could not explain any details and waited until they were closing to contact me. My engine light has since come back on which means I would have to bring it in again. I contacted corporate they were supposed to call me back, never heard from anyone. I’ve been working directly with JR who I constantly contact and he does not follow up at all or call me back like he says he would and the issue continues to happen and he is very aware of it for my initial review. They have to leave my car there for multiple days to not get updates to not get any information, they don’t look at it they don’t even know what’s going on with it, it doesn’t even make any sense at all now I’m driving a car that could potentially be unsafe and I’m bringing it to the only dealership that is closest to me Chevrolet and they can’t even help. My car is a 2018 Chevy Malibu that I take extremely good care of yet no one knows why the engine light keeps coming on. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Nov 2022 | POWER TRAIN,SERVICE BRAKES,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | Brake Power Booster, vehicle not starting. Not catching, brakes when completely out couldn’t stop | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Nov 2022 | POWER TRAIN | When I shift the car into park the dashboard gives me a message that the car needs to be shifted into park. This is an intermittent problem and does not occur every time I shift to park. When I get this message I am not sure if the vehicle is actually in park. The problem has been diagnosed by the dealership. The defective part has been replaced by the dealership. The only message I received is the one on the dash stating to "shift to park". | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Oct 2022 | STEERING,ENGINE | The steering wheel is jerking when in the position to turn, and waiting at a light. The STOP ENGINE Feature seems to make the jerk motion and also sends an ALERT MESSAGE which is a quick flash STATING "Steering Assist is REDUCED- Drive with Care". According to a SERVICE BULLETIN Provided by GM BULLETIN #19-NA-182 AUGUST 2019. This is a problem that needs to be corrected, for the safety of my family and others in the vehicle and on the road. Next, the car shut off and the command center went blank, | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Oct 2022 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER,ENGINE | Engine reduced while driving | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Oct 2022 | VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | As I was driving I was addressed with a speed reduction warning and it followed with a very abrupt problem with speed as it was reduced drastically and almost getting rear-ended in the process I was able to pull over but very unsafely and without warning | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Oct 2022 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | I am the first owner of a 2018 Chevy Malibu. This car was displayed on the showroom floor. Shortly after purchasing this vehicle a new “computer” was needed. Following the new computer, my Chevy Malibu would be at approximately 70MPH and would “engine lock” its speed causing it to suddenly go from 70MPH to 20MPH while on a freeway. During this time my Chevy Malibu would reeve at approximately 5,000 RPMS and would not go over 20MPH. I brought this to GMs attention and they appeared to have very little concern. As a mother of two and a Police Officer I was very upset with GM. My vehicle has “engine locked” itself multiple times and has been towed to a dealership. Fast forward, my car, will not turn off and I’m unsure if it is going into “park”. I have replaced the “wire harness” or “transition switch” where my shifter is located. It has been approximately two months since replacing this part. My Chevy Malibu is once again not going into park and will not turn off. I am concerned my car will roll away while I am at work or out in town and cause serious injuries. GM does not seem to care about these issues. Issues being, the “shift to park” and the “limp mode” issues that my car continues to have. As a Police Officer I know that this could be VERY dangerous and I would like a solution to this issue or a new vehicle. This vehicle is not safe. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Oct 2022 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | Shifter sometimes does not recognize it was put in park. Trouble getting it to recognize park and turn off electronics. Class action law suite may be in the process with multiple models. Happened multiple times and more frequently. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Oct 2022 | POWER TRAIN,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,ENGINE | What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? A defect in the cam shaft solenoids causes a notice that "Engine Power is Reduced." At that point, the engine begins to struggle to accelerate from a stop, and from increasing speed while on the highway. How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? The unpredictability of the defect and its affect while driving poses a large threat to safety, particularly on the highway. Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? Yes. The dealership service rep not only confirmed the defect, but also confirmed that the issue persists across multiple GM models yet no recall exists. Again, this is a KNOWN defect with GM engines, as confirmed directly by the dealership. Despite this, no remedy was offered, I was told it's neither covered by my manufacturer's warranty or recall. Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others? Yes. I was given a video explanation of the issue and also told directly of these persistence of the defect across multiple lines. Were there any warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did they first appear? No warning prior to the failure. The defect and "Engine Power Reduced" message both first presented in March of 2022, less than a year into my ownership of the car -- and while my car was still under its 60,000 mile warranty. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Oct 2022 | ENGINE,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | MOTOR DIED GOING DOWN THE ROAD Car is available for inspection If I had been crossing the street without the aid of a stoplight, I would have been T-Boned Vehicle problem has not been reproduced or confirmed by the dealer. Vehicle component has not been inspected by dealer or anyone else. The check engine light and logo came on as the engine was shutting down. I went into the trunk on the passenger side and shook and twisted the wires going into the control module mounted to the trunk wall. This was suggested for the 2016 Malibu which had a recall. There should be a recall on the 2018 also. After repeated shaking and attempting to start the motor, it finally started. I drove it home and parked it. When I went to read the code, the engine started and ran for a couple of minutes and stalled again. The code was P2BB3. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Oct 2022 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER,SERVICE BRAKES,ENGINE | 12/27/2021 I started my car to leave work & noticed a loud tap. I've worked for dealerships in the past & was part owner of my own repair shop for many years. Popped the hood, checked the oil level which was good, & figured I'd be fine to drive it home to park it & then hook the scanner up. Mid-way home I received an engine performance notification on my dash, but other than that it seemed safe with no diminished speed. Less than 3 miles from home I went to stop at a red light & had the hardest brake pedal I've ever felt in my life. I was fortunate nobody was around me so I put all the weight of my body on the pedal to stop the car at the light. The engine was sputtering & the steering felt tight & it felt like it was stalling, with a green turn arrow I risked crossing the highway & was able to safely park in the community's rec center. I'm not one who is quick to take anything to the dealership because many times the techs are lazy, so I hit the web & found two things. One - there is an extended warranty on the TPS sensor which is the entire gas pedal itself. This could explain the engine performance notification, but not the lack of brakes. Upon hours & hours of additional reading I found the problem - the vacuum brake pump. We ordered it & replaced it but I can tell you my engine likely needs an additional camshaft replacement for it to ever be right again. Two codes remain: P0014 & P0017 - Exhaust camshaft/crankshaft position not plausible. What was the condition of the vacuum pump? It was SHATTERED & had spewed chunks of metal directly into my engine. I was lucky that day, had I gotten 1/4 mile down the road I could have wound up in a lake instead of a parking lot. GM should be ASHAMED of this design & it's continued failure to not only address the issue, but lie about it in the process. First owner, failure occurred at 54,500 miles - no warranty. What scares me the most, is how many times the same owner has had this pump fail again & again. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |