2018 Chevrolet Malibu problems
What owners report to NHTSA, grouped by component, with the recalls that cover them.
NHTSA has 708 owner complaints on file for the 2018 Chevrolet Malibu, filed between 2017-10-24 and 2026-09-21. The most common problem areas are the engine (283, 40%), electrical system (195, 28%) and power train (174, 25%). Owners reported 24 crashes, 4 fires and 17 injuries in these complaints. NHTSA lists 6 recalls for this model year.
Last updated: · Source: NHTSA complaints and recalls databases
2018 Chevrolet Malibu complaints by component
| Component | Complaints | Share | Crashes | Fires | Injuries |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 283 | 40% | 3 | 1 | 2 |
| Electrical system | 195 | 28% | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Power train | 174 | 25% | 3 | 0 | 1 |
| Unknown or other | 154 | 22% | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Vehicle speed control | 114 | 16% | 4 | 0 | 2 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 86 | 12% | 2 | 0 | 1 |
| Service brakes | 60 | 8% | 6 | 0 | 3 |
| Steering | 41 | 6% | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Electronic stability control (esc) | 21 | 3% | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel system, gasoline | 18 | 3% | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Air bags | 15 | 2% | 9 | 0 | 11 |
| Suspension | 13 | 2% | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Exterior lighting | 10 | 1% | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Service brakes, hydraulic | 10 | 1% | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Back over prevention | 7 | 1% | 0 | 0 | 0 |
A complaint can name several components, so shares can add up to more than 100%. Crashes, fires and injuries are as reported by owners.
The top problem areas, in plain English
Each summary is built from the complaint counts and NHTSA recall notices, not from individual owner stories.
Engine: 283 complaints
- 283 complaints of 708 (40%) name the engine.
- 74 of them also name the electrical system; owners reported 3 crashes, 1 fire and 2 injuries in these complaints.
- No NHTSA recall for the 2018 Chevrolet Malibu covers this system.
Electrical system: 195 complaints
- 195 complaints of 708 (28%) name the electrical system — wiring, battery and charging, fuses, control modules and in-car electronics.
- 74 of them also name the engine; owners reported 2 crashes and 2 fires in these complaints.
- One NHTSA recall covers this system on the 2018 Chevrolet Malibu; the recall, campaign 19V642000, says: “An error in the Engine Control Module (ECM) software may result in the fuel injectors being disabled.”
Power train: 174 complaints
- 174 complaints of 708 (25%) name the power train — the transmission, transfer case, driveshafts and axles.
- 51 of them also name the engine; owners reported 3 crashes and 1 injury in these complaints.
- One NHTSA recall covers this system on the 2018 Chevrolet Malibu; the recall, campaign 20V668000, says: “The start/stop accumulator endcap may have missing bolts.”
Vehicle speed control: 114 complaints
- 114 complaints of 708 (16%) name the vehicle speed control — cruise control and accelerator/throttle control.
- 58 of them also name the engine; owners reported 4 crashes and 2 injuries in these complaints.
- No NHTSA recall for the 2018 Chevrolet Malibu covers this system.
Fuel/propulsion system: 86 complaints
- 86 complaints of 708 (12%) name the fuel/propulsion system — the fuel tank, pump, lines, injectors and fuel-system controls.
- 52 of them also name the engine; owners reported 2 crashes and 1 injury in these complaints.
- No NHTSA recall for the 2018 Chevrolet Malibu covers this system.
Service brakes: 60 complaints
- 60 complaints of 708 (8%) name the service brakes — the foot-brake system: pads, rotors, calipers, lines and ABS.
- 23 of them also name the engine; owners reported 6 crashes and 3 injuries in these complaints.
- One NHTSA recall covers this system on the 2018 Chevrolet Malibu; the recall, campaign 18V576000, says: “The rear brake caliper pistons may have an insufficient coating causing gas pockets to form, potentially reducing rear brake performance.”
When the complaints were filed
| Year filed | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 2017 | 1 |
| 2018 | 12 |
| 2019 | 85 |
| 2020 | 122 |
| 2021 | 127 |
| 2022 | 105 |
| 2023 | 87 |
| 2024 | 58 |
| 2025 | 66 |
| 2026 | 45 |
What is counted
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the model names MALIBU, MALIBU HEV, model year 2018. Complaints are unverified owner reports; a recall is NHTSA's confirmed safety defect. See the 2018 Chevrolet Malibu recalls.
Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 2018 Chevrolet Malibu?
By NHTSA owner complaints, the 2018 Chevrolet Malibu's most common problem areas are the engine (283 of 708 complaints), electrical system (195 of 708 complaints) and power train (174 of 708 complaints).
How many complaints does the 2018 Chevrolet Malibu have?
NHTSA has 708 owner complaints on file for the 2018 Chevrolet Malibu, including 24 reported crashes and 4 reported fires.
Is there a recall for the 2018 Chevrolet Malibu's problems?
NHTSA lists 6 recalls for the 2018 Chevrolet Malibu; 3 of the top 6 complaint areas have a matching recall. Recall repairs are free at a dealer; check your VIN for open recalls.