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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 2025 | ENGINE | Engine Reduced Power Light on dash. Vehicle stalling | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Aug 2025 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | The mechanic discovered that the Battery Control Module harness had been damaged by water intrusion inside the vehicle. This damage prevented the vehicle from powering on, rendering it completely non-responsive. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Aug 2025 | ENGINE | !Engine Power is Reduced | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Aug 2025 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | the dashboard displays “shift to park” when i try to turn off my car even though it’s in park | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jul 2025 | FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE | The contact owns a 2018 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to start. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed with a failure of the battery and fuel pump. The contact was informed that the ground wire and fuel tank needed to be replaced. The dealer informed the contact about a recall on the malfunctioning ECM. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure recurred. The manufacturer was contacted, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 50,206. | Crash: No Fire: No Towed | 50,206 |
| Jul 2025 | VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,UNKNOWN OR OTHER,SERVICE BRAKES | I was informed the vacuum pump went bad and rendered the vehicle inoperable. The vehicle would lose acceleration, shut off during auto stop and caused me to block traffic. The brakes also locked up, which almost caused me to crash in a residential neighborhood. I tried to see if there was a recall on this but I was told the recalls were handled in January of 2020 but I started driving the vehicle between July and August of 2020. This incident I'm reporting just happend 3 weeks ago. I realized there are many other issues regarding this matter and need this addressed because this almost caused bodily harm. The dealership wants me to pay for repairs on a vehicle that seem to have defective parts that jeopardise customer safety and is not being rectified. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jul 2025 | FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE | The contact owns a 2018 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated while driving 35 MPH, the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended while depressing the accelerator pedal. Additionally, there was an abnormal fuel odor coming from the engine and entered the vehicle through the A/C vents. No warning lights were illuminated. The contact pulled over to the side of the road. The contact exited the vehicle and upon inspecting the exterior of the vehicle, the contact noticed gasoline leaking on the ground. The contact drove the vehicle to the residence. An independent mechanic stopped by the residence and inspected the vehicle. The contact was advised that the fuel injectors and another unknown part had failed. The vehicle was not repaired. Upon investigation, the contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 18V358000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE). The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The contact parked the vehicle and the vehicle was no longer driven due to the safety concern. The failure mileage was approximately 100,000. | Crash: No Fire: No | 100,000 |
| Jul 2025 | SERVICE BRAKES | Vacuum pump stopped working and shattered into my engine. Breaks suddenly stopped working while driving. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jul 2025 | POWER TRAIN | The contact owns a 2018 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated while attempting to accelerate from a stop, the vehicle shuddered and jerked abnormally. On one occasion the vehicle stalled in the middle of a busy intersection. Additionally, while driving at an undisclosed speed, the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the local mechanic who diagnosed that the transmission accumulator sensor was faulty and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer and local dealer were notified of the failure, but no assistance was offered. The failure mileage was 130,000. | Crash: No Fire: No Towed | 130,000 |
| Jul 2025 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | when you put it in park it tells you to shift to park, even if it is already in park | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jul 2025 | SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC | The contact owns a 2018 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that while attempting to stop the vehicle, the brake pedal was firm while depressed, and the vehicle failed to immediately stop. The vehicle was taken to the independent mechanic who diagnosed that the brake vacuum pump was faulty and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The local dealer and manufacturer were notified of the failure, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was 104,000. | Crash: No Fire: No | 104,000 |
| Jul 2025 | SERVICE BRAKES,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE | [XXX] , hard brake vacuum pump something’s wrong car won’t push down break INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6) | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jun 2025 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | Continuously receiving warning for "ENGINE POWER REDUCED," causing check engine light to stay on, as well as a loss of power. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jun 2025 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | I have searched the prior recalls and I’m having the same problem that were said to be fixed. I would like the car check again for the recalls that said to be fixed and checked for all reacalls . The car turns of unexpected without warning . At random times the low power mode is always on and when I push down in the pedal it doesn’t respond well at all . I have invested countless money into fixing issues with this car . | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jun 2025 | ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING,ENGINE | The contact owns a 2018 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the check engine and the turbo charger warning lights illuminated. The accelerator pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed with turbo charger failure. The contact was informed that the turbo charger needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer was made aware of the failure but provided no assistance. The contact was instructed to schedule an appointment for diagnostic testing and provided the cost for the diagnostic test. The contact referenced an unknown recall; however, the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The contact was advised to contact the NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 140,741. | Crash: No Fire: No | 140,741 |
| Jun 2025 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | Ever since 2020 I’ve that shift to park issue. Luckily my car was under warranty the first time and was resolved only for the problem to reoccur again within 2 years. I then I got It fixed again in 2023 only for it to occur again less than a year later. I’ve had to buy a new battery because of this issue. What happens is I turn My car from the drive shift to park shift and push the shut off engine button. A message pops up on my screen stating “shift to park” the is in PARK. After 2-4 minutes of me waiting for he message to go off my battery is being drained. I refuse to pay hundreds of dollars again to get this fixed a third time only for it to return again. Please fix this issue. Myself and others with issue are seeking lawsuits for this defect | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jun 2025 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER,SERVICE BRAKES | I am writing to formally report a serious safety concern with my 2018 Chevy Malibu related to the brake booster vacuum pump. My vehicle has exhibited dangerous symptoms, including a hard brake pedal and reduced braking power, which I’ve now learned may be connected to a known defect affecting 2013–2022 Malibu models. These issues have significantly compromised my safety and that of others on the road. I’ve had to deal with sudden braking difficulties, and the repairs have caused financial stress I was not prepared for. I am now aware of the pending class action lawsuit (Johnson v. General Motors LLC) that details this same problem. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| May 2025 | POWER TRAIN | Micro switch for Park is faulty. “Shit to Park” error message. Vehicle is completely disabled and is not drivable. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| May 2025 | SERVICE BRAKES,ENGINE,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE | loud knocking or banging noises, the check engine light turning on and/or other driving performance issues, such as reduced propulsion cranksaft | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| May 2025 | ENGINE | The contact owns a 2018 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that the messages "Engine Power Reduced", "Shift to Park", and an unknown message were displayed intermittently. The contact stated that while her daughter was driving approximately 40 MPH and making a turn, the vehicle stalled. The driver was able to pull over to the side of the road. The vehicle failed to restart and was pushed to the residence. The vehicle was then towed to the dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired and was towed back to the residence. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown. | Crash: No Fire: No | 40 |
| Apr 2025 | ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING,ENGINE | The contact owns a 2018 Chevrolet Malibu. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, several unknown warning lights were flashing on the instrument panel. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where a diagnostic test was performed, and the contact was informed that there was no oil in the vehicle. The contact refuted the mechanics findings and had the vehicle towed back to the residence. The contact then stated that while driving at 50 MPH, the vehicle lost power with the message "Engine Power Reduced" displayed. The contact pulled over to the shoulder and turned off the vehicle. After restarting the vehicle, the vehicle hesitated while depressing the accelerator pedal, and the failure reoccurred. Despite the failure, the contact was able to drive the vehicle back to the residence. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and the contact was informed that there was a warranty on the vehicle that covered the failure; however, the warranty had expired. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 141,000. | Crash: No Fire: No Towed | 141,000 |
| Apr 2025 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | My vehicle will randomly tell me to "shift to park". Happens at least daily. I bought my car in October 2024 I do plan to take it in with my limited warranty. I don't think I should have to cover a rental for however long it will take them to see it happen, diagnose the problem, possibly wait for part(s) to come in them fix it. On top of running the chance it'll happen again in the future and possibly have no warranty as well as rental fees. I think it's very wrong that GM won't recall this and refuses to just fix it all. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Apr 2025 | SERVICE BRAKES | My breaks locked up on me pulling out of my driveway. The break pedal was hard to press down and I had to step on the braks really hard to stop . | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Apr 2025 | FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | On [XXX] while driving at highway speed on [XXX] in Columbia SC vehicle lost power and shut down. Was able to move to emergency lane. Car would not start. Called AAA for tow back to Chevrolet dealer in York SC. Dealer performed diagnostic test and found fuel pump driver control module had failed. Part was replaced and car returned to service. Car mileage at time of failure 70,949 INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6) | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Apr 2025 | SERVICE BRAKES | I am filing a complaint regarding a brake vacuum pump failure in my 2018 Chevrolet Malibu. The failure of the vacuum pump led to a complete loss of brake assist, making the brake pedal significantly harder to press. This issue directly resulted in a complete loss of braking ability, which posed a serious safety risk while driving. The vacuum pump in these models is camshaft driven, and its failure caused damage to the camshaft. This issue is documented under GM Technical Service Bulletin PIP5835 and is known to affect certain 2016-2022 Chevrolet Malibu models equipped with the 1.5L LFV engine. The brake failure due to this issue could have led to a life-threatening accident, and I am deeply concerned that other drivers may experience this same risk. Despite reaching out to GM and the dealership, goodwill assistance was denied for this known defect. I believe this is a major safety hazard that needs to be addressed immediately. Vehicle Mileage ~120,000 Repair Estimate: $2106 for camshaft, vacuum pump, and related components Incident: The brakes became unsafe leading to a dangerous life threatening driving situation | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |