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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 2020 | POWER TRAIN,ENGINE | MY TRANSMISSION HAS HAD MULTIPLE REPAIRS SINCE I'VE GOTTEN MY VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE HAD TO GO IN FOR SEVERAL MONTHS WHILE THEY FIXED THE TRANSMISSION BUT ONCE I GOT IT BACK IT INSTANTLY HAD ANOTHER TRANSMISSION ISSUE. IT HAS ALSO HAD THE SHIFTER REPLACED, WHICH IS ANOTHER TRANSMISSION ISSUE. | Crash: No Fire: No | 36,000 |
| Mar 2020 | VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | THE RECALL ECM CAUSED ENGINE TO STALL AS I WAS DRIVING UP A HILL, I ACCELERATED TO MAKE UP FOR THE DELAY AND VEERED INTO A PARKED CAR CAUSING MY CAR TO OVER TURN ON THE HOOD. I WAS INJURED AND CAR RENDERED TOTALLED. THIS WAS MY SECOND ACCIDENT. I WAS SIDESTEPPED ON THE HIGHWAY CAUSING DAMAGE TO MY ENTIRE SIDE OF VEHICLE. ALSO HAD NEAR ACCIDENTS ON HIGHWAY WHEN CAR LOST POWER DUE TO ECM MALFUNCTION. (RECALL ISSUE THAT WAS LOOKED AT BUT NEVER RESOLVED). I HAVE PHOTOS AVAILABLE. I HAVE ASKED VARIOUS DDEPARTMENTS AT THE DEALERSHIP AND GM FINANCIAL FOR ASSISTANCE WITH THIS ISSUE BUT TO NO AVAIL. | Crash: Yes Fire: No Injuries: 1 Towed Medical attention | 41,000 |
| Mar 2020 | VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,ENGINE | MY CAR REDUCED ITS ENGINE POWER AND SLOWED DOWN FROM 60 MILES DOWN TO 20 MILES WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGH WAY WITH A TANK TRUCK BEHIND ME. I HAVE NEVER BEEN SO SCARED IN MY LIFE. THE ENGINE REDUCED ITS POWER THREE TIMES NOW! I WAS TOLD THERE WAS A RECALL ON THIS AND THE ISSUE WAS FIXED BUT CLEARLY IT WASN'T! I HAVE CHILDREN AND I AM TERRIFIED TO DRIVE MY CAR NOW BECAUSE OF THIS!!!!! | Crash: No Fire: No | 52,000 |
| Mar 2020 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC),ENGINE | CAR ENGINE WILL NOT TURN OVER. SYSTEM SAYS 'ENGINE POWER REDUCE' AND 'SERVICE STABILITRAK.' BRAKE CLICKS AND LOCKS WHEN BEEN PRESSED DOWN, STEERING WHEEL ALSO LOCKS. | Crash: No Fire: No | 51,555 |
| Mar 2020 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC) | TL* THE CONTACT CALLED ON BEHALF OF THE VEHICLE OWNER/DRIVER HER DAUGHTER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE HER DAUGHTER WAS DRIVING A 2018 CHEVROLET MALIBU AT APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE STABILITRAK WARNING LIGHT SUDDENLY ILLUMINATED AS POWER WAS REDUCED CAUSING THE DRIVER TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE CENTER MEDIAN CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE. NO INJURIES WERE REPORTED AND NO POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT STATED RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 19V642000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE, ENGINE). THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE LOCAL BODY SHOP. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE LOCAL DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 50,447. | Crash: Yes Fire: No Towed | 50,447 |
| Mar 2020 | ENGINE | MY WIFE PURCHASED A NEW 2018 CHEVY MALIBU ON JULY 3, 2018. IN OCTOBER 2019, WE RECEIVED A SAFETY RECALL NOTICE (N192221960) INFORMING MY WIFE THE MALIBU HAD A SAFETY ISSUE. THE NOTICE STATED: "THIS CONDITION CAN CAUSE THE ENGINE TO STALL AT SPEED AND WITHOUT WARNING, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.' CONCERNED, I HEEDED THE WARNING. SINCE THEN THIS CAR BUT OUR LIVES AT RISK TWO TIMES. EACH TIME ANOTHER PART WAS REPLACED NUMEROUS MALIBU OWNERS ARE EXPERIENCING THIS TERROR AND NOTHING IS BEING DONE. I HAVE SPOKEN TO GM AND THE DEALER TO NO EFFECT. I DON'T BELIEVE THEY KNOW HOW TO FIX IT. IT IS PAST TIME FOR THE GOVERNMENT TO STEP IN. | Crash: No Fire: No | 20,000 |
| Mar 2020 | STEERING,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC) | WARNING MESSAGES LIGHT UP "STEERING POWER IS DIMINISHED, DRIVE WITH CARE", SOMETHING PERTAINING TO BRAKES AND BATTERY, THE WARNINGS FLASH SO QUICKLY I CAN'T READ THEM ALL. THE CAR GOES DEAD WHEN I STOP, SHUTS DOWN COMPLETELY WITH DASH LIGHTS GOING COMPLETELY OUT, THEN A VERY SLOW RESTART AS THE LIGHTS BRIGHTEN VERY SLOWLY. AFTER THE THIRD TIME YESTERDAY AND TODAY I HAD TO PUT THE CAR IN "PARK FOR IT TO RESTART AT A STOP LIGHT AND NOW IT WILL NOT START AT ALL, | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Mar 2020 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE | AS I WAS EXITING THE FREEWAY AND STOPED ON THE OFF RAMP, I TRIED TO STEP ON THE GAS PEDAL TO GO BUT MY CAR DID NOT WANT TO GO. MY STEERING WHEEL WAS LOCKED, MY BLUETOOTH CUT OFF, AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WENT ON. I TURNED ON MY HAZARD LIGHTS AND PUT MY CAR IN PARK. I TRIED TO SHUT IT OFF BUT IT DIDN'T SHUT OFF RIGHT AWAY. I PUSHED THE OFF BUTTON A FEW TIMES BEFORE IT FINALLY SHUT OFF. WHEN I TURNED IT BACK ON, I DROVE TO TH E NEAREST PARKING LOT AND PUT IT IN PARK. ONLY THIS TIME, THE MESSAGE "SHIFT TO PARK" POPPED UP. MY VEHICLE WAS ALREADY SHIFTED TO PARK BUT THE SYSTEM OBVIOUSLY COULDN'T COMPREHEND. MY CAR ONLY HAS 61,845 MILES!! IT SHOULD NOT BE HAVING THESE ISSUES SO SOON!! | Crash: No Fire: No | 61,830 |
| Mar 2020 | POWER TRAIN,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AT SPEEDS OF UP TO 80 MPH AT RANDOM TIMES THE CAR WILL SUDDENLY SLOW ITSELF DOWN TO 20 MPH AND THE DASH WILL MESSAGE THAT ENGINE POWER IS REDUCED. IT'S A SERIOUS PROBLEM THAT IS DANGEROUS TO NOT ONLY THE PEOPLE IN THE VEHICLE BUT ALL OTHER VEHICLES ON THE ROAD ALSO. | Crash: No Fire: No | 43,000 |
| Mar 2020 | POWER TRAIN,ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC),ENGINE | VEHICLE EXPERIENCED REDUCED POWER BEFORE LEARNING ABOUT AND ADDRESSING THE RECALL. A COUPLE OF MONTHS FOLLOWING MY VEHICLE BEGAN TO SHUT OFF AND RESTART WHILE GIVING VARIOUS ERROR MESSAGES. THIS OCCURRED WHILE GOING SPEEDS LESS THAN 35 MPH AND WHILE STOPPED. THE DEALERSHIP DETERMINED IT WAS A FAULTY BATTERY CENSOR AND WAS NOT COVERED UNDER THE WARRANTY. I HAVE HAD THE PART REPLACED AND DID NOT EXPERIENCE ANY ISSUES FOR ROUGHLY 2 WEEKS. MY VEHICLE TODAY GAVE A ERROR MESSAGE THAT ENGINE POWER IS REDUCED AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS ON. IT IS ALSO HESITATING/JUMPING WHEN SWITCHING FROM DRIVE TO EITHER REVERSE OR PARK. | Crash: No Fire: No | 27,000 |
| Mar 2020 | POWER TRAIN,ENGINE,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | ENGINE POWER IS REDUCED WARNING AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ANTI SKID WARNINGS COME ON. | Crash: No Fire: No | 23,700 |
| Mar 2020 | POWER TRAIN,ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC),ENGINE | CHECK ENGINE LIGHT, TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT BOTH ON, REDUCED ENGINE POWER, SPEED AND TRANSMISSION SHIFTING LIMITED, CANT GO PASS 3 GEAR. STARTED RANDOMLY ON NUMEROUS OCCASION WHILE DRIVING. VERY DANGEROUS. | Crash: No Fire: No | 57,000 |
| Mar 2020 | ENGINE | I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AND SUDDENLY I BEGAN TO LOOSE SPEED AND MY ENGINE CHECK LIGHT TURNED ON AND MY CAR SAID ENGINE POWER REDUCED. I ALMOST GOT INTO AN ACCIDENT BECAUSE OF THIS. | Crash: No Fire: No | 62,000 |
| Mar 2020 | ENGINE | TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH THE VEHICLE REDUCED SPEED INDEPENDENTLY. THE 'ENGINE POWER' REDUCED WARNING MESSAGE WAS DISPLAYED IN THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER AND RESTARTED THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO NEW ROCHELLE CHEVROLET (291 MAIN ST, NEW ROCHELLE, NY 10801) WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS DIAGNOSED. THE MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO RETRIEVE A FAULT CODE. THE GAS GASKET WAS REPLACED HOWEVER, THE ECM FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE BUT PROVIDED NO ASSISTANCE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 41,000. | Crash: No Fire: No | 41,000 |
| Mar 2020 | ENGINE | WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE IN MOTION, I LOST POWER AND RECEIVED MESSAGE IN MESSAGE BOX THAT STATES, ENGINE POWER IS REDUCED. I WAS ONLY DOING 30 AND THERE WAS NO TRAFFIC BUT THE ENGINE BOGGING DOWN WHILE GOING UP HILL COULD HAVE CAUSED AN ACCIDENT DEAR [XXX], AN ISSUE WITH THE ENGINE AND TRANSMISSION SYSTEM IN YOUR 2018 CHEVROLET MALIBU HAS BEEN DETECTED. PLEASE SERVICE YOUR VEHICLE IMMEDIATELY. PLEASE DISREGARD THIS MESSAGE IF YOUR VEHICLE IS ALREADY IN FOR SERVICE. INACCURATE NOTIFICATIONS CAN BE GENERATED DURING SERVICE. PLEASE SEE YOUR DEALER FOR SERVICE. TASCA CHEVROLET 114 FORTIN DR WOONSOCKET, RI 02895 +14017693000 ACCOUNT INFORMATION ACCOUNT NUMBER: 015-9743-802 VIN: [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR | Crash: No Fire: No | 27,462 |
| Feb 2020 | VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,ENGINE,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | AT A STOP LIGHT, WHEN LIGHT TURNED GREEN, PRESSED ACCELERATOR, "ENGINE POWER IS REDUCED" MESSAGED FLASHED, ENGINE AND TRACTION LIGHTS CAME ON. UNABLE TO ACCELERATE OVER 25MPH, RPM WOULD NOT GO ABOVE 3. RECALL MAINTENANCE FOR ECM WAS COMPLETED ON 01/11/2020. | Crash: No Fire: No | 64,842 |
| Feb 2020 | FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | AFTER MY 'RECALL' REPROGRAMMING UPDATE ON THE ECM... A MONTH OR 2 LATER, I STARTED TO HAVE LOSS OF POWER ISSUES WHILE DRIVING. GOT HOME IT SAT FOR A COUPLE OF MINS, THEN WENT AWAY. HAPPENED AGAIN. HAD MY CAR SCANNED TO SEE WHAT THE CODE WAS, AN 'APPS' P2138 CODE, ACCELERATOR PEDAL POSITION SENSOR ISSUE. IT HAPPENS WHILE DRIVING, WHEN IT HAPPENS CRUSE CONTROL TURNS OFF, AND TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT COMES ON PLUS THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. THIS CAN BE A SAFETY ISSUE WHILE TRYING TO MERGE ONTO HIGHWAY TRAFFIC... THIS HAD HAPPENED TO ME SEVERAL TIMES... FIRST TIME WAS AFTER A LONG DAY DRIVING, THEN A FEW DAYS LATER AFTER A VERY COLD NIGHT. THEN NOTHING, SEVERAL HUNDRED MILES NO ISSUE. THEN DROVE 120 MILES AND IT HAPPENED AGAIN ON 2-13-2020. AND TWICE TODAY 2-21-20202. IT ONLY HAPPENED TWICE DURING A TURN. | Crash: No Fire: No | 53,000 |
| Feb 2020 | VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC),SERVICE BRAKES | LOW FUEL, ENGINE LIGHT, SERVICE STABILITY TRACK, SHIFT TO PARK LIGHTS COME ON. THE LOW FUEL LIGHT COMES ON FIRST. THE NEXT DAY THE ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON SOMETIMES IT STAYS ON THEN GOES OFF. THIS HAPPENS WHEN I'M DRIVING. I'VE HAD ALL THE RECALLS DONE. ECM REPLACED. 2 WEEKS LATER THE SAME THING. ALL DIALS GO TO ZERO. SLOW TAKE OFF AFTER I'VE STOPPED AT RED LIGHT OR STOP SIGN. IS AS IF THE TRANSMISSION IS GOING OUT. IF I PUT ON BRAKES THEY WILL THROW ME IN THE DASH LIKE I'VE CRASHED INTO SOMETHING. WHEN I TAKE IT DEALERSHIP-NO CODES ARE FOUND. TRYING TO TURN CAR OFF, IT SAYS SHIFT TO PARK. IT'S ALREADY PARKED. I'VE TAKEN IT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP SEVERAL TIMES FOR THIS SAME PROBLEMS-NO CODES. I'VE GOTTEN A RENTAL (FOR A WEEK)SO THEY CAN KEEP THE CAR TO TRY AND RECREATE IT- THEY CAN'T. THIS CAR WAS BOUGHT NEW IN AUGUST OF 2018.CHEVY MALIBULS 4DR SDN BLACK. THE DATE BELOW "WHEN DID THIS HAPPEN" OUTS THE LATEST DATE. | Crash: No Fire: No | 10,000 |
| Feb 2020 | FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | PULLING INTO TRAFFIC CAR LOST POWER, ENGINE KNOCKING BIG TIME, ENGINE LIGHT ON, STABITRAK OFF. ALMOST REAR ENDED. PULLED OVER IN TRAFFIC RESTARTED. CAR HAS HAD SOFTWARE DONE. FILLING OUT AT DEALERSHIP. THES CARS SHOULD BE RECALLED. WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR | Crash: No Fire: No | 20,000 |
| Feb 2020 | ENGINE | TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE VEHICLE DECELERATED TO 30 MPH, THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE RECURRED TWICE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO HENDRICK CHEVROLET BUICK GMC SOUTHPOINT DEALER, (127 KENTINGTON DR, DURHAM, NC 27713) WHERE IT WAS REPAIRED UNDER NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 19V642000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE, ENGINE) HOWEVER, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE REPAIR DID NOT CORRECT THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER AND WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000. | Crash: No Fire: No | 40,000 |
| Feb 2020 | ENGINE | ENGINE POWER REDUCED WHILE DRIVING. THREE TIMES. 2/9/20, 1/24/20, 12/8/19 | Crash: No Fire: No | 55,000 |
| Feb 2020 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC) | POWER STEERING REDUCING AND THE CAR WILL SHUT OFF TEMPORARILY I HAD MY CAR SERVICED FOR THIS ALREADY 2 WEEKS AGO FOR THE SAME PROBLEM NOW IT'S HAPPENING AGAIN | Crash: No Fire: No | 80,000 |
| Feb 2020 | POWER TRAIN,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND REDUCED ENGINE POWER VEHICLE WON'T ACCELERATE ON HIGHWAY IN TRAFFIC | Crash: No Fire: No | 61,300 |
| Jan 2020 | VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | WHILE DRIVING CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON AND CONTROL PANEL SAYS ENGINE POWER REDUCED. THE CAR SLOWS DOWN AND YOU ARE NOT ABLE TO ACCELERATE.THIS HAS HAPPENED NUMEROUS TIMES SINCE I HAVE BOUGHT THE CAR AND TYPICALLY HAPPENS WHILE ACCELERATING. | Crash: No Fire: No | 42,000 |
| Jan 2020 | VISIBILITY/WIPER | TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 CHEVROLET MALIBU. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH, WHEN SHE NOTICED THE BUG GUARD OF THE SUNROOF WAS DISCONNECTED. THE CONTACT STATED NO WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT STATED SHE WAS ABLE TO PARK ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND NOTICED THE SUNROOF HOUSING FRONT DRAIN HOUSE HAD MOLD AND WAS DISCONNECTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN LOCAL DEALER DEACON JONES GM OF SMITHFIELD LOCATED AT 1115 N BRIGHTLEAF BLVD, SMITHFIELD, NC 27577, WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE SUNROOF HOUSING FRONT DRAIN HOUSING NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 48,000. | Crash: No Fire: No | 48,000 |