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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 2020 | POWER TRAIN,ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC),ENGINE | 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. | Crash: No Fire: No | 58,000 |
| Sep 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. | Crash: No Fire: No | 38,000 |
| Sep 2020 | POWER TRAIN,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | SHIFT TO PARK WARNING WHEN EXITING VEHICLE WHEN THE VEHICLE IS IN PARK AND ENGINE IS OFF | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Sep 2020 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,STRUCTURE | 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. | Crash: No Fire: Yes | 24,000 |
| Sep 2020 | POWER TRAIN | MY 2018 CHEVROLET MALIBU HAS A PROBLEM WHEN SHIFTING FROM DRIVE INTO PARK. THE MESSAGE ON MY DASH SAYS " SHIFT TO PARK " EVEN THOUGH IT IS IN PARK. AND YOU CAN NOT SHUT OFF THE ENGINE. YOU CAN TRY SHIFTING IT BACK INTO DRIVE OR LOW AND THEN GO BACK TO PARK BUT WE GET THE SAME MESSAGE " SHIFT TO PARK " AND AGAIN EVEN THOUGH IT IS IN PARK, YOU CAN NOT SHUT OFF THE ENGINE. ISN'T THIS A DANGEROUS SITUATION ? | Crash: No Fire: No | 46,000 |
| Sep 2020 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | GET "SHIFT TO PARK MESSAGE" IT WONT TURN VEHICLE OFF. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Sep 2020 | VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,ENGINE | I WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE AND ALL OF A SUDDEN THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND THE DISPLAY READ ENGINE POWER REDUCED. I WASN'T SURE WHAT THAT MEANT SO I PULLED OVER. I TRIED TO PULL OFF AND I HAD NO BRAKES. APPARENTLY SOMETHING IN THE BRAKING SYSTEM BROKE AND MY ENGINE WAS DESTROYED. I TALKED WITH GM AND THEY TOLD ME THAT IT HAS HAPPENED BEFORE WITH THIS MODEL CAR. | Crash: No Fire: No | 77,000 |
| Aug 2020 | VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | WE HAD THE ECM SYSTEM RECAL FIXED (REPROGRAMMED) AND IT WAS OK, BUT NOW A COUPLE MONTHS LATER ITS DOING IT AGAIN. WHILE DRIVING THE TRACTION LIGHT AND THE ENGINE LIGHT COME ON AND POWER AND SPEED IS REDUCED, WITHOUT WARNING AND WON'T ALLOW ACCELERATION. USUALLY ON THE HIGHWAY. VERY DANGEROUS! | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Aug 2020 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,UNKNOWN OR OTHER | THE POWER SHIFTER IN THE CAR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. AS WITH MANY OF THE OTHER RECENT COMPLAINTS I SEE ON HERE, WHEN I WENT TO TURN OFF THE CAR IT POPPED UP THE "SHIFT TO PARK" WARNING EVEN THOUGH I WAS ALREADY IN PARK AND WOULDN'T POWER OFF THE RADIO OR LIGHTS. IT APPEARS THIS IS A CONSISTENT PROBLEM WITH ALL OF THE 2018 MALIBU'S AND SHOULD BE RECALLED. *TR | Crash: No Fire: No | 36,400 |
| Aug 2020 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | WHEN I PUT THE CAR IN PARK THE SHIFTER DOES NOT FULLY ENGAGE RESULTING IN THE INABILITY TO PARK THE CAR OR TURN IT OFF. THE MESSAGE ON THE DASH SAYS "SHIFT INTO PARK" EVEN THOUGH THE SHIFTER IS ACTUALLY IN PARK. | Crash: No Fire: No | 36,000 |
| Aug 2020 | STEERING | WHILE DRIVING IN SLOW MOVING TRAFFIC, I WILL GET A WARNING ON THE DASH THAT STATES "STEERING ASSIST REDUCED, DRIVE CAREFUL" THIS HAS HAPPENED MANY TIMES, WHEN TAKEN TO THE DEALERSHIP THEY CANNOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG. | Crash: No Fire: No | 8 |
| Aug 2020 | STEERING | WHILE DRIVING IN COLDER WEATHER ALONG THE INTERSTATE AT 65 MPH FOR 5 MILES OR LONGER THE STEERING WHEEL SLIGHTLY LOCKS IN AT THE TOP POSITION CAUSING A SLIGHT OVER CORRECTIONS WHEN NEEDING TO TURN THE WHEEL TO CHANGE LANES | Crash: No Fire: No | 15 |
| Aug 2020 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE | THE LOCKS WILL LOCK/UNLOCK ON THEIR OWN. THE BATTERY HAS TO BE CONSTANTLY JUMPED. THE CAR REJECTED THE ECW MODULE UPDATE. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Aug 2020 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE | MY CAR WAS RECALLED FOR A REDUCED POWER ISSUE IN APRIL 2020. THE VEHICLE WAS EXPERIENCING LOW POWER WHEN DRIVING, CAUSING SLUGGISHNESS AND TURNING OFF WHEN STOPPED AT TRAFFIC SIGNALS. THE CAR WAS TAKEN TO OURISMAN CHEVROLET IN MARLOW HEIGHTS, MD ON APRIL 4TH AND THE RECALL WAS ADDRESSED. AS OF THIS WRITING, I AM EXPERIENCING THE EXACT SAME ISSUE OF LOW POWER WHEN DRIVING/STOPPING AND AM CONCERNED THAT THE ISSUE (1) WAS NOT PROPERLY ADDRESSED, OR (2) WAS MISDIAGNOSED BY CHEVROLET. WHAT IS MY RECOURSE HERE? I HAVE ANOTHER APPOINTMENT TO HAVE THE VEHICLE LOOKED AT, AGAIN, AT A CHARGE OF $190, WHICH I DON'T FEEL I SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Aug 2020 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | THE SHIFT SENSOR ISN'T BEING TRIGGERED WHEN VEHICLE IS IN PARK. I HAVE A FRIEND WITH THE SAME VEHICLE AND SAME PROBLEM. HAVE LOOKED IT UP ON YOUTUBE AND MANY OTHERS ALSO DEAL WITH THIS PROBLEM. WHEN THE CAR IS IN PARK IT DOESN'T READ AS SUCH, MAKING THE BATTERY STAY RUNNING AND DRAIN OR YOU CANNOT TURN YOUR CAR BACK ON UNTIL IT THE SENSOR IS JAMMED. | Crash: No Fire: No | 20,000 |
| Aug 2020 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | SOMETIMES WHEN I PUT THE CAR IN PARK & TRY TO CUT THE CAR OFF, THE WARNING SIGNAL INDICATES THAT I NEED TO SHIFT TO PARK. | Crash: No Fire: No | 40,700 |
| Aug 2020 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,UNKNOWN OR OTHER | I PUT MY CAR INTO PARK AND TURN THE CAR OFF. THE DASHBOARD TELLS ME THAT I NEED TO 'SHIFT TO PARK' EVEN THOUGH MY CAR IS IN PARK. THE RADIO AND DASHBOARD WILL NOT TURN OFF UNTIL I GET MY CAR TO REGISTER THAT IT IS IN PARK. HAVE TO TURN THE CAR ON AND OFF, SHIFT INTO GEARS, AND BACK INTO PARK TO TRY AND GET IT TO REGISTER. EVENTUALLY AFTER DOING THAT MULTIPLE TIMES IT WILL REGISTER. ANOTHER ISSUE IS WITH THE RADIO AND BLUE TOOTH. I TURNED MY CAR OFF AND EVERYTHING WAS OFF. MY NEPHEW CAME OVER LATER AND ASKED WHY MY RADIO WAS ON. RADIO RANDOMLY TURNS ON WHEN CAR IS/HAS BEEN OFF FOR PERIODS OF TIME. I HAVE AUTOMATIC START AND I STARTED MY CAR FROM INSIDE WORK ONE DAY AND THEN MY BLUE TOOTH (MUSIC &PHONE CALLS) WOULD NOT PLAY OVER MY SPEAKERS. NO MUSIC WOULD PLAY FROM THE RADIO EITHER. THE VOLUME WOULD TURN UP AND DOWN BY ITSELF. TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP FOR THE RADIO ISSUES AND THEY SAID THEY COULDNT FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH IT. I TAKE IT IN SOON FOR THE 'SHIFT TO PARK' ISSUE. | Crash: No Fire: No | 53,000 |
| Aug 2020 | POWER TRAIN | WHEN VEHICLE IS SHIFTED INTO PARK AND THE VEHICLE IS TURNED OFF, "SHIFT TO PARK" DISPLAYS ON THE VEHICLES SCREEN AND WILL NOT ALLOW THE VEHICLE TO FULLY TURN OFF. IN ORDER TO HAVE THE LIGHT TURN OFF, SOMETIMES YOU HAVE TO WIGGLE THE GEAR SHIFT AROUND WHEREAS SOMETIMES YOU HAVE TO PRESS THE START BUTTON AND SHIFT BETWEEN GEARS A FEW TIMES. | Crash: No Fire: No | 38,934 |
| Aug 2020 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC) | WHEN MY CAR CUT OFF AT THE LIGHT AND WHEN IT TRY TO START BACK UP IT STALE FOR A SECOND AND SAYS STABILIZE THEN START UP. WHEN I START THE CAR UP IT SAYS THE SAME THING. IT ERASE ALL MY FAVORITE ON THE RADIO AND RESET EVERYTHING. BEEN DOING THIS FOR ABOUT TWO WEEKS NOW | Crash: No Fire: No | 59,610 |
| Jul 2020 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | THE CAR IS IN PARK BUT A WARNING POPS UP THAT'S SAYS SHIFT TO PARK AND THE CAR WON'T TURN OFF BECAUSE IT THINKS IT'S NOT IN PARK | Crash: No Fire: No | 65,000 |
| Jul 2020 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | I HAVE A 2018 CHEVROLET MALIBU AND I HAVE TROUBLE PUTTING THE CAR INTO PARK. THE PROBLEM IS THE GEAR SELECTOR SWITCH. WHEN YOU PUT THE CAR FROM DRIVE INTO PARK A METAL BAR PUSHES UP ONTO A BLUE BUTTON WHICH SENDS A SIGNAL TO THE CAR'S COMPUTER THAT THE CAR IS NOW IN PARK. I SPOKE TO A DEALER AND THEY TOLD ME THAT 2017,2018 AND 2019 MALIBU'S ARE KNOWN FOR THIS PROBLEM AND IT WOULD BE $900 TO CORRECT THE DEALER KNEW WHAT IT WAS BEFORE I EVEN FINISHED TELLING THEM ABOUT THE PROBLEM.I NEVER KNOW IF THE IS IN PARK | Crash: No Fire: No | 39,000 |
| Jul 2020 | VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | ON THE FREEWAY GOING ABOUT 70MPH.ENGINE POWER REDUCED LIGHT CAME ON. MY SPEED DROPPED TO 20MPH. VERY SCARY ESPECIALLY WITH A CHILD IN THE CAR. GLAD IT WAS NOT HEAVY TRAFFIC. I WENT TO AUTOZONE. (ERROR CODE P2138)...I CALLED THE WARRANTY DEPARTMENT AND IT IS NOT COVERED. | Crash: No Fire: No | 63,117 |
| Jul 2020 | POWER TRAIN | ON, JULY 15, 2020 MY CAR GAVE A "SHIFT TO PARK"MESSAGE ON THE DASH AFTER I HAD PLACED MY CAR IN PARK. I CONTINUED TO HAVE THIS ERROR FOR THE NEXT FEW DAYS, I MADE AN APPOINTMENT WITH MY DEALERSHIP. THE ISSUE IS YOU ARE STRANDED IN YOUR CAR UNTIL YOU CAN WIGGLE THE GEAR SHIFT INTO PLACE SOMETIMES UPTO 20 MINUTES. THE VEHICLE IS STATIONARY AND IN THE PARK GEAR, HOWEVER THE CAR NEVER TURNS OFF. THE START BUTTON IS ILLUMINATED AMBER AND DINGS FOR ASSISTANCE. THIS CAN POSSIBLY DRAIN A BATTERY. THE DEALERSHIP CHARGED $518.00 TO REPAIR A KNOWN GM ISSUE. GM CUSTOMER SERVICE ADMITTED TO IT AND SO DID THE SERVICE ADVISOR, I RECEIVED A "NEW" IMPROVED VERSION OF TRANSMISSION CONTROL ASSEMBLY. PROBABLY SHOULD BE A RECALL OR CLASS ACTION SUIT. | Crash: No Fire: No | 50,000 |
| Jul 2020 | POWER TRAIN,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT GEAR SELECTOR WAS PLACED IN THE PARK POSITION AND THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF HOWEVER, THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM REMAINED IN OPERATION. THE CONTACT CALLED WALLY EDGAR CHEVROLET (3805 S LAPEER RD, ORION CHARTER TOWNSHIP, MI 48360) AND THE DEALER WAS INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE POWER TRAIN WAS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO BE DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 42,000. | Crash: No Fire: No | 42,000 |
| Jul 2020 | ENGINE | THE VEHICLE ENGINE REDUCED POWER WHILE ON THE HIGHWAY CAUSING ABRUPT DROP IN SPEED TO LOWER THAN THE SPEED LIMIT ALMOST CAUSING AN ACCIDENT AND A BUMPER TO BUMPER COLLISION. | Crash: No Fire: No | 33,500 |